The Soldier's Tale (1948)

When a solider returning from the war encounters an old man, he gives him his last scrap of bread. In return, he is given a sack into which he can command just about anything he wishes. He starts off luring in a few geese, then some vodka - this really is a marvellous gift. Meantime, a young girl is out scavenging the forest floor until she is attacked by an angry owl but quickly rescued by the soldier. He wishes her well and continues on his journey bent on travelling far away - indeed, determined to go anywhere but home. His next meeting is with some sleeping soldiers and an avuncular king who reveals that his castle is riddled with evil spirits. The brave soldier offers to help and the king promises him half his kingdom if he succeeds. Into the creepy building he goes armed with only a lamp and his sack, but can he outwit what lurks within: the bats, the shadows, the creepy crawlies - or the shape-shifting witches? Will the king keep his word even if he does? Given it was made just after the end of WWII, this is quite a cheery Soviet animation that mixes the magical and mystical with the courageous and the mischievous and still delivers a message of decency as well as the tiniest hint of romance. Perhaps all the maidens didn't throw him flowers, but this is a soldier who might have deserved them and I quite enjoyed this.