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In the fairy tale, the central conflict turns out to be the physician's pride, his deliberate attempt to defy death so that he can win the beautiful daughter of a King. At the end of "Godfather Death," the King tells the doctor that if he can heal his daughter he can have her hand in marriage. When Death appears at her head and denies her healing, the doctor turns the bed around and angers death with his disobedience. In an act of revenge Death takes his life.

Galvadon makes a radical departure from the Grimm fairy tale and thereby transforms its theme and overall meaning. In the film, the central conflict is not Macario's pride but rather, Church politics. When word gets out that Macario is healing the sick through miraculous powers, the Church sends an inquisition after him and accuses him of sorcery. The council sentences him to...
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