Storybook International (also known as Stories and Fables) is a British children's television series, produced for ITV by Harlech Productions, a part of HTV and written by Barry Levinson and Virginia Boston.^[1] The weekly, half-hour show was a collection of folk tales and fairy stories from all over the world, based on an anthology of stories for children published by Gollancz in 1981, edited by Veronica Kruger.^[2]

Filmed in such locales as Russia, Ireland and Scandinavia, the series' live-action playlets were based on stories which originated in England, Czechoslovakia, France, Romania, Turkey, Wales, Israel, Norway, China, Africa, India and elsewhere. A few of the stories were campfire legends derived from the Native Americans of New England and the Maori of New Zealand.

Broadcasting

First broadcast in 1981,^[3] it consisted of 65 episodes, aired as three separate seasons. Although its distribution was originally confined to Britain and Europe, Storybook International enjoyed extensive cable play in the USA, Scandinavia and the Middle East in subsequent decades. In 1984 they released Stories and Fables under Walt Disney Home Video. Fitfully released on VHS throughout the 1980s and 1990, the full series was finally made available on DVD in 2006.^[4]

Theme song

The show famously began with an animated title sequence with a troubadour singing the theme song, The Storyteller, accompanied by a friendly anthropomorphic fox. The original version was sung in a traditional English folk style, but subsequent international versions had different versions of the song. Notably the USA's version replaced the line "In England, I am John" with "In America, I'm John".

episodes

• Clever Manka -Czechoslovakia.
• Moses and the lime kiln-Middle East.
• Cap O'Rushes-England.
• The Soldier Who Didn't Wash-Russia.
• The widow's lazy daughter-Ireland.
• The grief of Pi Kari-Maori
• The pedlar's dream-England
• The priest knows all-Norway
• The foolish brother-Turkey
• The emperor and the abbot-Austria
• The forbidden door-arabia
• Sorrow-Hungary
• The straw hat-Germany.
• The well at the world's end-Scotland
• Riches or happiness-India.
• Hinemoa-Maori.
• Five Loaves-Rumania.
• The island of drums-Samoa.
• The Twelve Months-Hungary.
• Nikorima-Maori.
• Simpleton Peter-England.
• The haunted pasture-England.
• Morwen of the woodslands-Wales.
• The Russian and the tartar-Russia.
• The hired help-Eastern Europe.
• A hundred cattle-Africa.
• The black cape-Spain.
• The Perfect Prince-India.
• Minu-Africa.
• Basket of flowers-Scandinavia.
• The talking pony-Spain.
• The spoiled son-Rumania.
• The king's secret-China.
• The miraculous doctor-Eastern Europe.
• Rich man, poor man-Africa.
• The woodcutter and the devil-France.
• The Surprise Gift-India.
• The robber chief-Scandinavia.
• The Enchanted King-Rumania.
• The three coins-Spain.
• The foolish lad-Eastern Europe.
• The blacksmith-Africa.
• The bar of gold-Eastern Europe.
• The clever thief-China.
• The squires bride-Scandinavia.
• The lost ruby-India.
• The blind beauty-Philippines.
• The wise merchant-Arabia.
• Two for one-Arabia.
• The little beggar-Arabia.
• Great Heart-North American Indian.
• The old kitbag-Canada.
• The strange guest-Canada.
• The clever trapper-Canada.
• Myself-Canada.
• The magic stone-Serbia.
• Bags of silver-Croatia.
• The ambitious taylor-Slovenia.
• The stubborn princess-Eastern Europe.
• The great slayer-Eastern Europe.
• The princess who never laughed-Slovenia.
• The three helpers-Turkey.
• Secret Soup-Wales.
• The discontented daughter-Wales.

References