CrawlerChunky In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

2freensel I saw this movie before reading any reviews, and I thought it was very funny. I was very surprised to see the overwhelmingly negative reviews this film received from critics.

Griff Lees Very good movie overall, highly recommended. Most of the negative reviews don't have any merit and are all pollitically based. Give this movie a chance at least, and it might give you a different perspective.

Janis One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

dlee2012 Arguably Liselotte Pulver's finest film, Das Wirtshaus im Spessart is like a German fairytale come to life. Like the real fairy tales in their original forms, it is not solely aimed at children but contains moral lessons and warnings for all, young and old.The colours and atmosphere of the film are warm and there is delightful comedy throughout from Liselotte as the Contesse disguised as a boy, from the inept highwaymen and from the other hostages.As the other reviewer, Robert Lander, noted, the film can be read as an allegory of life in post-war West Germany with women returning to their traditional roles and the men, so many of whom formerly supported the Nazi regime, continuing in their crooked ways unpunished.Perhaps the fairy tale nature of the story, then, is a way to turn the volkisch ideals back against the Nazis who promoted them. With their true morals restored, they end up condemning the gangsters who ran the regime.Despite these serious moral issues, the film has a lightness and charm, reinforced by delightful musical numbers and slapstick that make the message all the more palatable. This is also a return to a more innocent age where villains can be out-thought and out-charmed and a nostalgic view of a Germanic fiefdom long before the troubles brought about by the Second and Third Reichs. A lovely film.

marias21 For the first time I saw The Spessart Inn when I was a child, and it made a huge impression on me, especially the charming "Räuberhauptmann" :) and the song sang by Paruccio and the Count. And I just recently saw it again for the second time - and still enjoyed it very much - I had such a pleasant feeling, all the troubles seemed to be blown away. It's a very pleasant and lovely and romantic film, done with a good sense of humour, with wonderful leading actors, the best of the three "Spessart-series" from my point of view - a mixture of adventure and a true-German-Spirit fairy-tale, a film that will put you in high spirits and lovely mood:) The best of the three, I promise you!

Robert-Lander Its comical nature notwithstanding, this movie is of historical interest in its implicit portrayal of the West German society: The men are either crooks or completely inept or imprisoned, so the women have to take over the men's jobs. But once the men return from detention the women have no choice but to resume their traditional role as house wife. Furthermore, you have the mobsters who hope to get away with their committed crimes and dream about spending the rest of their lifes with gardening (Gardening of course being one of the things Himmler wanted the Germans to do in the 'Lebensraum im Osten').

PlanecrazyIkarus This is the first movie centering around the robbers living in the Spessart forest. They kidnap a contessa, who falls in love with their leader. It is basically a straight love story with some humour thrown in, and lots of sidekick robbers. Loveable, and one of my favourite movies as a kid.