The Little Mermaid (Russian: Русалочка, romanized: Rusalochka) is a 1976 Soviet fantasy film directed by Vladimir Bychkov based on the 1837 fairy tale of "The Little Mermaid" by Hans Christian Andersen.

He enlists the help of a local witch who demands her hair and sweet voice for transforming her tail into legs.

The traveling handyman contacts the prince who is recovering at the palace and tells him about the mermaid.

However, the challenger stabs the prince in the back when he was not looking; only to have his victory (as well as his marriage proposal) rejected by the princess before the furious crowd chase him out.

He marries the princess and the mermaid is destined to die on the same day, but she is uncaring; feeling satisfied that her actions have ensured peace for the people.

In gratitude for her actions, the princess arranges for the mermaid to have new clothes made for her and the promise of marriage to a knight.