Sadko (1953)

User Rating:

4.9/10   

Director:

Aleksandr Ptushko

Writers:

Konstantin Isayev (writer)
Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov (libretto)

Release Date:

1962 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Fantasy

Tagline:

All the Magic of "Stone Flower". All the Power of "Alexander Nevsky". All the Artistry of "Grand Concert"

Plot:

An oddly Russian Sinbad seeks to bring happiness to his people - first by trying to give money and goods to the poor...

Plot Keywords:

Sea | Mythological | MST3K | Character Name In Title

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Sergei Stolyarov	...	Sadko
Alla Larionova	...	Lyubava
Yelena Myshkova	...	Princess of Lake Ilmen (as Y. Myshkova)
B. Surovtsev	...	Ivashka the boy
Mikhail Troyanovsky	...	Trifon
Nadir Malishevsky	...	Vyashta the Giant (as N. Malishevsky)
Nikolai Kryuchkov	...	Omelyan Danilovich
Ivan Pereverzev	...	Timofey Larionovich
Yuri Leonidov	...	Kuzma Larionovich
Lev Fenin	...	Varangian Leader (as L. Fenin)
Mikhail Astangov		(as M. Astangov)
Lidiya Vertinskaya	...	The Phoenix (as L. Vertinskaya)
Stepan Kayukov	...	Neptune
Olga Vikland	...	Neptuna (as O. Vikland)
Sergei Martinson	...	The Monk

Also Known As:

Садко (Soviet Union: Russian title)
The Magic Voyage of Sinbad (USA) (dubbed version)

Runtime:

Argentina:80 min | USA:79 min

Country:

Soviet Union

Language:

Russian

Color:

Color (Magicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Argentina:Atp | Finland:S | Sweden:Btl

Company:

Mosfilm

Trivia:

Spoofed as "The Magic Voyage of Sinbad" in "Mystery Science Theater 3000" (1988) episode #505, first aired August 14, 1993.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When Sinbad sings, his singing voice is quite a bit different from his speaking voice. (U.S. dubbed version titled "The Magic Voyage of Sinbad")

Movie Connections:

Featured in Atlantis: In Search of a Lost Continent (1997) (TV)

The Mosfilm restoration

Seldom do I have goosebumps from watching a fun fantasy film as I did with this wonderfully restored Russian FAMILY VIEWING film. I applaud the restorers for doing this timely work (and the translators for the subtitles!). I pray that they endeavor with more restorations of many Russian classics that we American's have not had opportunity to view. I have not watched the other version with the English language dubbing (The Magic Voyage of Sinbad), but I can gather from another user's comments that it had to have been pretty bad. I prefer original language in such films anyway and don't mind reading the movie.

Considering the film was done in 1953 without our cgi stuff and other advanced technology of today, the visuals are absolute gems (well done). I had a flash forward of a Finding Nemo type fish in one of the scenes, which was about the only part that was more of a hokey cheaply done prop filler, which could and perhaps should have been edited out. However, due to the nature of that fishy prop, it was rather unique and funny, and added more to the fantasy theme of the movie.

Even though the acting was somewhat stiffly hokey by mollywood viewers of the Americas, Russians have a certain flair akin only to their culture. It was refreshing to listen to the Russian men's deep voices that we usually associate with ruffians in many movies. And the Russian dancing! Loved it! So, to comments about the acting? Well, methinks ya need to know a few Russians (and their flair), and to turn back the clock in remembering when this movie was made ... without this "acting" this movie would have been the Pitts ... it gave the film that certain further flair of saying, "This is a fantasy flick, so don't take anything too seriously." Excellent family film (as long as the kids can read)!