The Polar Bear King (1991/1994)

[feed_the_giraffes 0]

Originally released in Norway as "Kvitebjørn Kong Valemon " in 1991, the English-language film "The Polar Bear King" shows us the unique struggle a marriage faces when a Winterland princess with the abillity to talk to animals marries a man who is cursed by a sorceress he refused to wed and bed to be a polar bear by day, and mystery man by night,

After many years of bumping uglies in the dark, the princess finally breaks the rules and looks at her man while he's sleeping.  This dick-move transports him into the clutches of the horny witch who cursed him.

Taking with her some magical items, the unnamed princess makes the trek to the witch's fortress and heroically saves her baby-daddy.

 

With a 68% on RT, "The Polar Bear King" is an uncomfortable 87 minute look into Norwegian puppetry, special effects, dialogue choices, and surprisingly decent voice over narration.  You will not be sorry you watched it!

DVD available for purchase on Amazon.

Rotten Tomatoes says, "Filmed in Scandanavia, The Polar Bear King is a visualization of an old folk tale. A handsome prince is slated to marry the less-than-attractive Queen of Summerland. He refuses, whereupon she calls upon her skills as a sorceress. Transformed into a polar bear, the luckless prince must seek out a human to help him break the spell. Filling the bill is a beautiful princess, who joins the hirsute prince on a perilous journey back to Summerland. Though ostensibly family fare, The Polar Bear King does carry a PG rating, so please exercise your own judgement before screening this one for the kids." ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

IMDb Summary: "After his father is killed, King Valemon ascends the throne, only to be turned into a polar bear by a bitter witch who wants to be his queen. Valemon must find a bride in the seven year span that he'll be a polar bear, and so he travels to Winterland and finds a wife to take home. Although they are happy, she is not allowed to look upon his face when he turns back into a man at night. When she breaks this rule, Valemon will be trapped to the witch forever."

IMDb Trivia: "The story of the king coming to his bride at night so she cannot see him, and her sisters convincing her to use a lantern to see him (which has negative consequences), is based off the Greek story of god Eros (Cupid) and his bride Psyche, which was also the basis for Beauty and the Beast."