Sampo (1959)

User Rating:

2.4/10   

Director:

Aleksandr Ptushko

Writers:

Väinö Kaukonen (Finnish dialogue editor)
Viktor Vitkovich (writer)

Release Date:

April 1964 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Fantasy

Tagline:

The Most Chilling Terror Ever Experienced

Plot:

Based on Finnish mythology, this movie traces the exploits of Lemminkainen as he woos the fair Annikki and battles the evil witch Louhi...

Plot Keywords:

Kalevala | Mythology | Magic | Based On Poem | Narration

Cast

Andris Oshin	...	Lemminkäinen (as Andris Oshin)
Eve Kivi	...	Annikki
Anna Orochko	...	Louhi (as Anna Orotshko)
Ivan Voronov	...	Ilmarinen
Urho Somersalmi	...	Väinämöinen
Ada Vojtsik	...	Mother of Lemminkäinen (as Ada Voitsik)
Georgi Millyar	...	Sorcerer (as Georgij Miljar)
Mikhail Troyanovsky	...	Soothsayer (as Mihail Trojanovskij)
Lennart Lauramaa		(as L. Lauramaa)
T. Romppainen
E. Hippeläinen		(as Emma Hippeläinen)
N. Kollen
Viktor Uralsky		(as Viktor Uralskij)
Aleksandr Macheret		(as A. Matsheret)
Anatoli Barantsev		(as A. Barantsev)

Also Known As:

Сампо (Soviet Union: Russian title)
Sampo (Finland)
Satu sammosta (Finland) (working title)
The Day the Earth Froze (USA)

Runtime:

Argentina:90 min | Finland:85 min | Soviet Union:91 min | USA:67 min

Country:

Finland | Soviet Union

Language:

Russian

Color:

Color (Sovcolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono | Mono (English version) | 4-Track Stereo (original version)

Certification:

Argentina:Atp | Finland:K-8

Filming Locations:

Jalta, Crimea, Ukraine

Company:

Ministerstvo Kinematografii

Quotes:

Troll: [Ilmarinen hammers a viking ship out of molten iron, greatly distressing Louhi's trolls] What is to become of us?

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Day the Earth Froze (#5.22)" (1993)

Soundtrack:

Tanhumusiikki

Films that make you go "What th'..."

Directed by Russian fantasy film maker Alexander Ptushko, so you can count on striking visuals and lots of in-camera effects (lots of dissolves, split screens etc.) Despite cheesy dubbing this film still holds much of its fantastical charm. It has a look similar to German expressionist works like Fritz Lang's 'Siegfried' or Murnau's 'Faust'. It also strikes me as possibly inspirational to Guy Madden's films such as 'Tales of the Gimli Hospital' or 'Careful'. (Its antiquated appearance is only enhanced by the poor faded color present in the prints I've seen. Definitely worthy of a Ruscico DVD restoration/release) After watching my non MST3K'O'd copy, I just can't get that crazy harp theme from the film's climax out of my head. One of the most persistent tunes since "In Heaven" from Eraserhead. "SAMPO...SAMPO...SAMPO!"