Die Weihnachtsgans Auguste

Short Summary (English)

Luitpold Löwenhaupt, the opera singer, buys a goose to roast for Christmas dinner—a month early, in November! His children have other plans for the goose, however. They name her Auguste or "Gustie" and want to keep her as a pet and playmate. Problems inevitably ensue: the parents think Gustie should sleep in the basement, but the children bring her up to their rooms. Little Peter becomes especially attached to the goose and shares his bed with her. Although their mother tries to persuade Luitpold to let the children keep their pet, father is determined to have roasted goose for Christmas dinner. Grandmother is firm: if Luitpold wants roasted goose, he must slaughter Gustie himself. But try as he might, Luitpold just can't do it: he tries once, twice - and seems to succeed. But in the end, Gustie is welcomed back into the family and shares Christmas Eve with the Löwenhaupts. Based on Friedrich Wolf’s story of the same title.

(Quelle: DEFA Film Library)

Film Crew

Director

• Günter Rätz

Script

• Günter Rätz

Camera

• Rudolf Uebe

Film Editing

• Anita Uebe

Production Design

• Walter Rehn
• Gert Morzinek

Script Editing

• Rudolf Thomas

Music

• Manfred Pieper

Sound

• Manfred Mammitzsch (Tonregie)
• Detlev Weber (Geräusche)

Props

• Hans Claus

Production Management

• Helga Kurth

Design

• Walter Rehn (Puppengestaltung)
• Sybille Härtel (Puppengestaltung)

Animation

• Günter Rätz (Puppenführung)
• Sibille Zumpe (Puppenführung)

Narrator

• Katarina Tomaschewsky
• Hildegard Alex
• Ruth Kommerell
• Wolfgang Dehler
• Anja Bräunlich
• Antje Mosch
• Jens Scharge

Short Summary (German)

Herr Kammersänger Löwenhaupt kauft für das bevorstehende Weihnachtsfest eine lebende Gans, die einen vortrefflichen Braten abgeben soll. Die Mitglieder der Familie freunden sich schnell mit der Gans Auguste an, und keiner ist bereit, das Tier zu schlachten, geschweige denn zu essen. Also versucht der Kammersänger, ein starker Mann zu sein, aber auch er scheitert. So bleibt Auguste in der Familie und wird der Spielkamerad der Kinder.

(Quelle: Die Trick-Fabrik. DEFA-Animationsfilme 1955-1990)