Sergei Eisenstein: post 1932Sergei Eisenstein: post 1932

In May 1932 returns In May 1932 returns from Mexico to USSR.from Mexico to USSR.

In 1936-7 makes In 1936-7 makes Bezhin Meadow.Bezhin Meadow.

Attacked by the Attacked by the authorities, work authorities, work halted by Boris halted by Boris Shumiatski (head of Shumiatski (head of film policy, later film policy, later executed on Stalin’s executed on Stalin’s order).order).

Bezhin Bezhin MeadowMeadow

Film based on a story of a 14-year old boy, Pavlik Film based on a story of a 14-year old boy, Pavlik Morozov, killed by his father and grandfather in Morozov, killed by his father and grandfather in 1932 for revealing their criminal activity1932 for revealing their criminal activity

Contains biblical motifs (Abram and Isaac)Contains biblical motifs (Abram and Isaac)

The film was accused of promoting “religious The film was accused of promoting “religious mythology” and having insufficient ideological mythology” and having insufficient ideological and artistic value; Eisenstein was told to provide and artistic value; Eisenstein was told to provide “an optimistic ending”“an optimistic ending”

Shumiatski insisted on destroying the filmShumiatski insisted on destroying the film

Alexander Alexander NevskyNevsky (1938)(1938)Eisenstein’s first sound filmEisenstein’s first sound film

Created with team: Created with team:

Co-director Dmitri Vasiliev (author of a “heroic Co-director Dmitri Vasiliev (author of a “heroic epic” epic” Chapaev, Chapaev, 19341934 – – popularpopular film about a Civil film about a Civil War hero)War hero)

Scenario with Piotr Pavlenko (giftless writer Scenario with Piotr Pavlenko (giftless writer skilled at pleasing Stalin) skilled at pleasing Stalin)

Music: Sergei Prokofiev (classical scoreMusic: Sergei Prokofiev (classical score))

Alexander NevskyAlexander Nevsky

Return to traditional values. Russians defend Return to traditional values. Russians defend themselves against “dog-knights” – the Teutonic themselves against “dog-knights” – the Teutonic order (battle in 1242)order (battle in 1242)

Set: created 13th Century Pskov and Novgorod; Set: created 13th Century Pskov and Novgorod; filmed battle on ice in mid-summer (chalk powder, filmed battle on ice in mid-summer (chalk powder, liquid glass, wooden “ice”). “Hollywoodization”: sets liquid glass, wooden “ice”). “Hollywoodization”: sets as opposed to shooting on location.as opposed to shooting on location.

Starring: Nikolai Cherkasov as Alexander Nevsky, Starring: Nikolai Cherkasov as Alexander Nevsky, Nikolai Okhlopkov as Vasili Buslaj.Nikolai Okhlopkov as Vasili Buslaj.

Back to mainstream cinema: tells a story, has a love Back to mainstream cinema: tells a story, has a love interestinterest

Influence on cinemaInfluence on cinema

Images from Images from Alexander NevskyAlexander Nevsky were used were used in countless documentaries about in countless documentaries about medieval history (Russian and non-medieval history (Russian and non-Russian) Russian)

Inspired Western feature films (Inspired Western feature films (Star WarsStar Wars, , Lord of the Rings, Lord of the Rings, etcetc..))

Sets the example for the genre of the Sets the example for the genre of the historical filmhistorical film

AfterAfter Alexander Nevsky Alexander Nevsky

Alexander NevskyAlexander Nevsky is a great success. is a great success.

Eisenstein back in favour; receives the Stalin Award and Lenin Eisenstein back in favour; receives the Stalin Award and Lenin Prize.Prize.

1939 Film taken out of circulation as offensive to Germany. 1939 Film taken out of circulation as offensive to Germany.

1939-40 Eisenstein directs Wagner's opera 1939-40 Eisenstein directs Wagner's opera ValkyrieValkyrie at Bolshoi at Bolshoi Theatre.Theatre.

In 1941 the war with Germany begins, the film is on again.In 1941 the war with Germany begins, the film is on again.

1942 – 7001942 – 700thth anniversary of Alexander Nevsky’s historic victory. anniversary of Alexander Nevsky’s historic victory.

Historical connectionHistorical connection

Alexander Nevsky was canonized Alexander Nevsky was canonized (proclaimed saint) in 1547 – the (proclaimed saint) in 1547 – the same year that Ivan the Terrible same year that Ivan the Terrible became Tsar of All Russia.became Tsar of All Russia.

Ivan the TerribleIvan the Terrible Part IPart I

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Ivan the TerribleIvan the Terrible Part I Part I

Eisenstein receives assignment in January 1941.Eisenstein receives assignment in January 1941.

14 October 1941 entire industry evacuated to Alma-Ata in 14 October 1941 entire industry evacuated to Alma-Ata in Kazakhstan.Kazakhstan.

April 1943 begins filming.April 1943 begins filming.

Music by Sergei ProkofievMusic by Sergei Prokofiev

31 December 1944 approved for release. Every single detail 31 December 1944 approved for release. Every single detail censored by Stalin personally. censored by Stalin personally.

January 1945 awarded the Stalin prizeJanuary 1945 awarded the Stalin prize

Main Characters: Main Characters: Ivan IV "the Terrible"Ivan IV "the Terrible"

(Grozny: “the (Grozny: “the Thunderer”) b. 1530.Thunderer”) b. 1530.

Ruled from 1533, Ruled from 1533, crowned 1547. crowned 1547.

Struggled against Struggled against boyars (noblemen) to boyars (noblemen) to unite Russia. unite Russia.

In 1552 he takes In 1552 he takes Kazan and puts an end Kazan and puts an end to the Tatars’ to the Tatars’ domination.domination.

Played by Nikolai Played by Nikolai CherkasovCherkasov

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Main Characters: Main Characters: Ivan’s wife AnastasiaIvan’s wife Anastasia

Married Ivan in 1547.Married Ivan in 1547.

Bore him a son Bore him a son Dimitry.Dimitry.

Poisoned by Efrosinia Poisoned by Efrosinia in 1560.in 1560.

Played by Liudmila Played by Liudmila TselikovskaiaTselikovskaia

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Main Characters: Main Characters: Efrosinia StaritskaiaEfrosinia Staritskaia

Ivan’s auntIvan’s aunt

Schemes to put her Schemes to put her son Vladimir on son Vladimir on the thronethe throne

Poisons AnastasiaPoisons Anastasia

Played by Serafima Played by Serafima BirmanBirman

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Main Characters: Main Characters: Prince Andrei KurbskyPrince Andrei Kurbsky

Helps Ivan take capture Helps Ivan take capture city of Kazan in 1552.city of Kazan in 1552.

Loves Anastasia.Loves Anastasia.

Goes over to the Goes over to the enemy Lithuania in enemy Lithuania in 1564 in Livonia.1564 in Livonia.

Played by Mikhail Played by Mikhail NazvanovNazvanov

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Main Characters: Main Characters: VladimirVladimir

Son of Efrosinia Son of Efrosinia StaritskaiaStaritskaia

SimpletonSimpleton

Killed at the end of Killed at the end of part 2part 2

Played by Pavel Played by Pavel KadochnikovKadochnikov

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Main Characters: Main Characters: Aleksei and Fyodor Basmanov Aleksei and Fyodor Basmanov

Aleksei approaches Ivan Aleksei approaches Ivan at the siege of Kazan.at the siege of Kazan.

Suggests that Ivan Suggests that Ivan create his own suite of create his own suite of loyal followers from the loyal followers from the people.people.

Advances his son Advances his son Fyodor as a leader of Fyodor as a leader of the oprichniki, as they the oprichniki, as they become called. become called.

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Main Characters: Main Characters: Maliuta SkuratovMaliuta Skuratov

Leads the mob into the Leads the mob into the palace at Ivan’s wedding.palace at Ivan’s wedding.

Mocked by Ivan, becomes Mocked by Ivan, becomes his “all-seeing eye” at his “all-seeing eye” at courtcourt

Cunning, looks out for his Cunning, looks out for his own interests.own interests.

Played by Mikhail ZharovPlayed by Mikhail Zharov

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Other Characters: Other Characters:

Archbishop of Novgorod PimenArchbishop of Novgorod Pimen

Boyar Fyodor Kolychov, friend of Ivan, Boyar Fyodor Kolychov, friend of Ivan, showers with gold coins at beginning, goes showers with gold coins at beginning, goes to monastery, later returns to be to monastery, later returns to be Metropolitan.Metropolitan.

Nikolka Iron Cap: Simpleton Beggar (played Nikolka Iron Cap: Simpleton Beggar (played by Vsevolod Pudovkin) by Vsevolod Pudovkin)

Muscovy in the 16th centuryMuscovy in the 16th century

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Muscovy’s enemies and Muscovy’s enemies and friends in the 16th cent.friends in the 16th cent.

To the East: the Tatars, with their capital To the East: the Tatars, with their capital Kazan, taken by Ivan’s troops in 1552Kazan, taken by Ivan’s troops in 1552

To the South: the Crimean TatarsTo the South: the Crimean Tatars

To the West: Lithuania-PolandTo the West: Lithuania-Poland

Russia’s friend: EnglandRussia’s friend: England

Part One: SynopsisPart One: Synopsis

Moscow January 1547. Ivan’s coronation as tsar of all Russias. Moscow January 1547. Ivan’s coronation as tsar of all Russias. Kurbsky and Kolychov pour coins on head. Efrosinya and son Kurbsky and Kolychov pour coins on head. Efrosinya and son Vladimir. In dark corridor foreign ambassador incites Kurbsky Vladimir. In dark corridor foreign ambassador incites Kurbsky against Ivan. against Ivan.

Wedding feast of Ivan and Anastasia. Rioters enter, Ivan makes Wedding feast of Ivan and Anastasia. Rioters enter, Ivan makes speech about heads rolling. Tatar envoy enters. Ivan is defiant, speech about heads rolling. Tatar envoy enters. Ivan is defiant, captures Kazan. captures Kazan.

Back in Moscow, Ivan falls ill or pretends to. Kurbsky swears Back in Moscow, Ivan falls ill or pretends to. Kurbsky swears allegiance to Dimitry, Ivan’s son. Kurbsky sent to fight the Poles.allegiance to Dimitry, Ivan’s son. Kurbsky sent to fight the Poles.

Efrosinya poisons Anastasia. Kurbsky defects to Poles. Ivan Efrosinya poisons Anastasia. Kurbsky defects to Poles. Ivan decides to creat a loyal circle called the decides to creat a loyal circle called the oprichnikioprichniki. Announces . Announces abdication. Re-crowned by the acclamation of the people. End abdication. Re-crowned by the acclamation of the people. End of Part One. of Part One.

The Ideological ContentThe Ideological Content

Ivan’s father was the Grand Duke of Moscow.Ivan’s father was the Grand Duke of Moscow. The court was dominated by the boyars The court was dominated by the boyars

(noblemen).(noblemen). Ivan declares himself Tsar of All Russia.Ivan declares himself Tsar of All Russia. The Russian lands must all be united under a The Russian lands must all be united under a

strong leader in order to defend against foreign strong leader in order to defend against foreign invaders.invaders.

Ivan finds that the boyars will plot against any Ivan finds that the boyars will plot against any strong leader.strong leader.

Decides to crush the boyars and create his own Decides to crush the boyars and create his own private force loyal only to him: the oprichniki.private force loyal only to him: the oprichniki.

Ideological Message for Ideological Message for Soviets?Soviets?

Portrays Ivan as “the gatherer of the lands”Portrays Ivan as “the gatherer of the lands”

Sympathizes with the absolute monarch struggling Sympathizes with the absolute monarch struggling with the nobility and restricting its freedomswith the nobility and restricting its freedoms

Condemns conspiracy against the rulerCondemns conspiracy against the ruler

Justifies ruling by terror and crueltyJustifies ruling by terror and cruelty

Instills in the audience the idea of the pyramid of Instills in the audience the idea of the pyramid of power with the absolute ruler at its toppower with the absolute ruler at its top

ClipsClips

End of Part oneEnd of Part one