The Legend of the Cruel Giant

Once upon a time there lived a poor fisherman in a dilapidated dugout on the seashore. He went to the sea on a boat, he was fishing. And once he caught an old bottle on which was the inscription that the one who opens this bottle, will receive untold treasures, become noble and rich. The fisherman, of course, without hesitation, opened the bottle, and from there the Genie burst out. He laughed at the fisherman, called him a bitch, but he fulfilled the promise, giving him a lot of gold. And the fisherman became the richest and most revered, but this did not bring any treasures to him, because the release on freedom the Genie, caused many troubles - as a result of the storms many fishermen fell. The fisherman, suffering with conscience, went to a wise wizard to ask how to rid the world of the cruel Genie. And he replied that there is only one way out.

Directed by Ivan Ivanov-Vano, Vladimir Danilevich, The Legend of the Cruel Giant leans on a strong ensemble — Anatoliy Papanov, Dmitriy Zhuravlyov — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about animation titles of 1967.