The Legend of the Cruel Giant (1967) Plot Summary Explained

Release, runtime and language

1967 · 10 mins · Russian

Directed by

Ivan Ivanov-Vano, Vladimir Danilevich

Starring

Anatoliy Papanov, Dmitriy Zhuravlyov

A destitute fisherman lives in a crumbling shack by the sea. While out fishing he reels in an ancient bottle bearing a promise of untold riches and noble status to whoever opens it. He breaks the seal, releasing a sarcastic genie who, despite mocking him, grants a massive hoard of gold. Though he becomes the wealthiest man in the village, the freed genie unleashes violent storms that wreck other fishermen’s boats. Tormented by guilt, the fisherman consults a wise wizard, who tells him the only way to rid the world of the cruel genie is a single, dire remedy.