Although I saw many points of communist manipulation in the film, the presence of alcohol in the film was what drew my attention. In a movie intended for children it seems odd from U.S. cultural standards to have the consumption of alcohol be such a central point of the film. However, the film vilifies alcohol consumption as well as those that indulge in it. The king, who is spineless ruler, is defined mostly by his dependance on alcohol. During the letter swap we see the leader of the robber's berating his comrade's for being lazy and apathetic from wine, and finally the devil indulges in the end in a disgusting amount of wine as well. It is interesting that the final punishment to the over indulgent ruler is to strap him down into labor and deprive him of his flask. This focus on alcohol seems to be part of the producer's wider arching plan to warn their future workers against the evils of frivolity and the importance of hard work.