A Very Old Story
1968, Russian. Directed by Nadezhda Kosheverova.
Based on the famous fairytale "The Tinderbox" by Hans Christian Andersen. The main character of the film is a puppeteer who lives in a poor and gray world. He composes a fairy tale in which he himself, in the guise of a brave soldier, finds a flint and is helped by a kind wizard. The soldier falls in love with a spoiled, capricious princess who, as befits a princess, poses riddles to her numerous suitors. Her father, the king, is eager to see the soldier as her husband, as he believes the soldier has a great deal of gold. In the fairy tale, everything ends well, but in real life, not so much. "But life is not a fairy tale," his beloved girl says to him as she bids him farewell.
- Runtime
- 1h 30m
- Post-credits
- None listed
- Language
- Russian
- Rated
- Check local
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Where to watch A Very Old Story
A Very Old Story isn’t streaming on any OTT platform in India yet; it released on 31 December 1968.
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Cast & crew
- Nadezhda KosheverovaDirector
- Oleg DalSoldier / Puppet master
- Marina NeyolovaPrincess / innkeeper's daughter
- Vladimir EtushKing / Innkeeper
- Georgiy Vitsingood wizard
- Vera Titovawitch / davil's grandmother
- Viktor PerevalovPrince-chimney sweep
- Georgiy ShtilEastern Prince
- Anatoly Korolkevichdoorman
- Georgi Georgiu"thick"
- Lev Lemke"thin"
- Igor DmitrievCast
- Boris LyoskinCast
Details
- Released
- 31 December 1968
- Original title
- Старая, старая сказка
- Country
- Soviet Union
- Written by
- Valeri Frid, Yuli Dunsky
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News & fan talk
What A Very Old Story is based on
A Very Old Story is based on The Tinderbox (1835) by Hans Christian Andersen, The Swineherd, an 1841 fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen, and Blockhead Hans, an 1855 literary fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen.
1835
The Tinderbox
By Hans Christian Andersen
Fairy tale · 1841
The Swineherd
By Hans Christian Andersen
Literary fairy tale · 1855
Blockhead Hans
By Hans Christian Andersen
Source details from Wikidata and TMDB.
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A Very Old Story: quick answers
Is A Very Old Story worth watching?
A Very Old Story doesn’t have enough ratings for a verdict yet.
How long is A Very Old Story?
A Very Old Story runs 90 minutes (1h 30m).
Does A Very Old Story have a post-credits scene?
None is listed for A Very Old Story. Viewers tag these on TMDB, so a brand-new film may not be tagged yet.
A Very Old Story parents guide: is it suitable for kids?
No age rating is listed for A Very Old Story yet.
Which OTT platform is A Very Old Story on?
A Very Old Story isn’t streaming on any OTT platform in India yet; it released on 31 December 1968. (Checked 12 November 2026.)
What movies are like A Very Old Story?
If you liked A Very Old Story, try Princess, A Fairy Tale After All, Hansel and Gretel.
Who directed A Very Old Story?
A Very Old Story (1968) was directed by Nadezhda Kosheverova and stars Oleg Dal, Marina Neyolova, Vladimir Etush.
What is A Very Old Story based on?
A Very Old Story is based on The Tinderbox (1835) by Hans Christian Andersen, The Swineherd, an 1841 fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen, and Blockhead Hans, an 1855 literary fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen.