I do not remember the last time I was so positively surprised by a movie as I have been with "Das Wirtshaus im Spessart". When I went to the cinema to see it, my expectations were low. But actually this one is a fantastic adventure film! The story drags you in right aways and is told in a fast pace, held together by good camera work and jump edits. The colours have this irresistable look of 50s german cinema with colours brighter then reality, especially in the brand new digitalised version I saw, looks fresh after all these decades. Some of the jokes work even 60 years later, such a silly feel good-humour it catches you by surprise at times because as a modern viewer you're not used to it anymore - but refreshed each time. The love story is corny to a likable degree. The songs are rare, short and memorable which makes them enhance the story instead of interrupting it. The acting is what you'd expect - in the best way possible. If you get a chance to see this, at the movies or on a lazy afternoon zapping - catch it. Won't change your life but guaranteed to give a good time!

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.

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!

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.