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Alexander Nevsky

Original title: Aleksandr Nevskiy
  • 19381938
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 52m
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
11K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Aleksandr Nevskiy (1938)
  • Action
  • Biography
  • Drama
The story of how a great Russian prince led a ragtag army to battle an invading force of Teutonic Knights.The story of how a great Russian prince led a ragtag army to battle an invading force of Teutonic Knights.The story of how a great Russian prince led a ragtag army to battle an invading force of Teutonic Knights.
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
11K
YOUR RATING
  • Directors
    • Sergei Eisenstein
    • Dmitriy Vasilev
  • Writers
    • Sergei Eisenstein
    • Pyotr Pavlenko
  • Stars
    • Nikolay Cherkasov
    • Nikolai Okhlopkov
    • Andrei Abrikosov
Top credits
  • Directors
    • Sergei Eisenstein
    • Dmitriy Vasilev
  • Writers
    • Sergei Eisenstein
    • Pyotr Pavlenko
  • Stars
    • Nikolay Cherkasov
    • Nikolai Okhlopkov
    • Andrei Abrikosov
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 98User reviews
    • 48Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 wins

    Photos63

    Sergei Eisenstein in Oktyabr (1927)
    Nikolay Cherkasov in Aleksandr Nevskiy (1938)
    Nikolay Cherkasov and Dmitriy Orlov in Aleksandr Nevskiy (1938)
    Sergei Eisenstein in Aleksandr Nevskiy (1938)
    Nikolay Cherkasov and Andrei Abrikosov in Aleksandr Nevskiy (1938)
    Sergei Eisenstein, Sergei Blinnikov, Lev Fenin, Nikolai Vitovtov, Vladimir Yershov, and A. Gulkovski in Aleksandr Nevskiy (1938)
    Valentina Ivashova in Aleksandr Nevskiy (1938)
    Aleksandr Nevskiy (1938)
    Aleksandr Nevskiy (1938)
    Aleksandr Nevskiy (1938)
    Nikolay Cherkasov and Valentina Ivashova in Aleksandr Nevskiy (1938)
    Aleksandr Nevskiy (1938)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Nikolay Cherkasov
    Nikolay Cherkasov
    • Aleksandr Nevskyas Aleksandr Nevsky
    Nikolai Okhlopkov
    • Vasili Buslaias Vasili Buslai
    Andrei Abrikosov
    Andrei Abrikosov
    • Gavrilo Oleksichas Gavrilo Oleksich
    Dmitriy Orlov
    Dmitriy Orlov
    • Ignat - the Master Armoreras Ignat - the Master Armorer
    Vasili Novikov
    Vasili Novikov
    • Pavsha - Governor of Pskovas Pavsha - Governor of Pskov
    • (as V. Novikov)
    Nikolai Arsky
    • Domash Tverdislavich - a Novgorod Boyaras Domash Tverdislavich - a Novgorod Boyar
    • (as N. Arsky)
    Varvara Massalitinova
    Varvara Massalitinova
    • Amelfa Timoferevna - Buslai's Motheras Amelfa Timoferevna - Buslai's Mother
    • (as V. Massalitova)
    Valentina Ivashova
    Valentina Ivashova
    • Olga Danilovna - a Maid of Novgorodas Olga Danilovna - a Maid of Novgorod
    • (as V. Ivashova)
    Aleksandra Danilova
    Aleksandra Danilova
    • Vasilisa - a Maid of Pskovas Vasilisa - a Maid of Pskov
    • (as A. Danilova)
    Vladimir Yershov
    • Von Balk - Grand Master of the Teutonic Orderas Von Balk - Grand Master of the Teutonic Order
    • (as V. Yershov)
    Sergei Blinnikov
    Sergei Blinnikov
    • Tverdilo - Traitorous Mayor of Pskovas Tverdilo - Traitorous Mayor of Pskov
    • (as S. Blinnikov)
    Ivan Lagutin
    • Anani - a Monkas Anani - a Monk
    • (as I. Lagutin)
    Lev Fenin
    Lev Fenin
    • The Archbishopas The Archbishop
    • (as L. Fenin)
    Naum Rogozhin
    • The Black-Hooded Monkas The Black-Hooded Monk
    • (as N. Rogozhin)
    Nikolai Aparin
    • Mikhalkaas Mikhalka
    • (uncredited)
    Boris Belyakov
    Boris Belyakov
    • Rytsaras Rytsar
    • (uncredited)
    A. Gulkovski
    • Teutonic Knightas Teutonic Knight
    • (uncredited)
    Leonid Iudov
    Leonid Iudov
    • Savkaas Savka
    • (uncredited)
    • Directors
      • Sergei Eisenstein
      • Dmitriy Vasilev
    • Writers
      • Sergei Eisenstein
      • Pyotr Pavlenko
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    It is the 13th century, and Russia is overrun by foreign invaders. A Russian knyaz', or prince, Alexander Nevsky, rallies the people to form a ragtag army to drive back an invasion by the Teutonic knights. This is a true story based on the actual battle at a lake near Novgorod. —Gene Volovich <volovich@netcom.com>
    • female warrior
    • 1200s
    • famous score
    • prisoner of war
    • character name as title
    • 97 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • The mighty epic of 13th Century Russia...of the "Battle on the Ice" when the invading German hordes led by the Teutonic Knights were driven from the soil of Russia - forever.
    • Genres
      • Action
      • Biography
      • Drama
      • History
      • War
    • Certificate
      • Not Rated
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Iosif Stalin wanted this film to be a propaganda tool to warn Soviet citizens to be wary of German aggression. However, it was rejected at first due to it being "too anti-German", as it came out shortly before the Soviet-German non-aggression pact of 1939 was signed. In 1941, the peace was broken and Stalin reportedly demanded that it be shown in every Soviet movie theater as a rallying cry against the invasion.
    • Goofs
      Gavrila Alexich, one of the movie's main protagonists, could not participate in the Battle of Ice. He was killed one year before it, in 1241, storming the fortress of Koporye.
    • Quotes

      Alexandr Nevsky: Go tell all in foreign lands that Russia lives! Those who come to us in peace will be welcome as a guest. But those who come to us sword in hand will die by the sword! On that Russia stands and forever will we stand!

    • Crazy credits
      Before the word "End" appears Alexandr Nevsky's famous quote "But those who come to us sword in hand will die by the sword! On that Russia stands and forever will we stand!" appears on the screen, right after Nevsky said it in the movie.
    • Alternate versions
      A new edition appeared on video in 1995 with the entire Prokofiev score newly recorded in hi-fi stereo, using the same 1938 orchestrations and perfectly synchronized to the original 1938 dialogue and sound effects tracks, so that it is now possible to see and hear the film exactly as it always was, with the exception being that the music is now heard in hi-fi sound, rather than the tinny 1938 recording.
    • Connections
      Edited into Wizards (1977)

    User reviews98

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    One Brief Moment Shows Eisenstein's Genius
    I've loved this movie since the first time I saw it lo these many years ago. I'm not sure how many times I've seen it, perhaps 10, perhaps 20. This last time I watched it I was struck by a detail that I hadn't noticed before.

    Toward the end of the picture, the slain heroes are conveyed back to the town via sled. There are a couple of closeups of the dead men. The one that struck me most was a shot of the blond youth. All you see on the screen is his profile from head to hands. His hands hold a flickering candle. The wind is blowing and his thick blond hair is dancing in the wind, in sync with the flicker of the candle flame. The contrast between death and the life he has lost is incredibly powerful. The moving hair and candle flame remind us of the life force that once inhabited his body.

    Every time I revisit this film I see something new.
    helpful•12
    3
    • ekeby
    • Nov 26, 2006

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 22, 1939 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • Soviet Union
    • Language
      • Russian
    • Also known as
      • La guerra Ruso Germana
    • Filming locations
      • Moscow, Russia
    • Production company
      • Mosfilm
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross worldwide
      • $2,226
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 52 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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