The King and the Mockingbird

Based on a Hans Christian Andersen story, The King and the Mockingbird follows a chimney sweep and a shepherdess on the run from a tyrannical king who has designs on the young girl. Cowritten by director Grimault and legendary poet and screenwriter Jacques Prévert, the film was first released by the producer in 1952 in a truncated version, and it took Grimault nearly 30 years to reclaim the rights and finish the film as originally envisioned. The work has been cited as an inspiration by scores of animators ranging from Studio Ghibli co-founder Hayao Miyazaki to The Iron Giant creator Brad Bird. In French with English subtitles. (82 mins., DCP)

Restored by Studio Canal and released by Rialto Pictures.