Ivan the Terrible, Part I (1944)

During the early part of his reign, Ivan the Terrible faces betrayal from the aristocracy and even his closest friends as he seeks to unite the Russian people.

Director:

Sergei M. Eisenstein (as Sergei Eisenstein)

Writer:

Sergei M. Eisenstein (as Sergei Eisenstein)

Stars:

Nikolay Cherkasov, Lyudmila Tselikovskaya, Serafima Birman

2 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Nikolay Cherkasov	...	Czar Ivan IV
Lyudmila Tselikovskaya	...	Czarina Anastasia Romanovna
Serafima Birman	...	Boyarina Efrosinia Staritskaya
Mikhail Nazvanov	...	Prince Andrei Kurbsky
Mikhail Zharov	...	Czar's Guard Malyuta Skuratov
Amvrosi Buchma	...	Czar's Guard Aleksei Basmanov
Mikhail Kuznetsov	...	Fyodor Basmanov
Pavel Kadochnikov	...	Vladimir Andreyevich Staritsky
Andrei Abrikosov	...	Boyar Fyodor Kolychev
Aleksandr Mgebrov	...	Novgorod's Archbishop Pimen
Maksim Mikhaylov	...	Archdeacon
Vladimir Balashov	...	Piotr Volynetz
Vsevolod Pudovkin	...	Nikola, Simpleton Beggar
Semyon Timoshenko	...	Kaspar von Oldenbock, Livonian ambassador
Aleksandr Rumnev	...	The Stranger (as Aleksandr Rumnyov)

Storyline

In 1547, Ivan IV (1530-1584), archduke of Moscow, crowns himself Tsar of Russia and sets about reclaiming lost Russian territory. In scenes of his coronation, his wedding to Anastasia, his campaign against the Tartars in Kazan, his illness when all think he will die, recovery, campaigns in the Baltic and Crimea, self-imposed exile in Alexandrov, and the petition of Muscovites that he return, his enemies among the boyars threaten his success. Chief among them are his aunt, who wants to advance the fortunes of her son, a simpleton, and Kurbsky, a warrior prince who wants both power and the hand of Anastasia. Ivan deftly plays to the people to consolidate his power.

---

Plot Keywords:

boyar | tzar | brutality | tyranny | czar | 

---

Genres:

Biography | Drama | History

---

Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

Last movie directed and completed by Sergei M. Eisenstein.

---

Goofs

After Anastasia's death, when discussing the Livonian war the "only" son of the Czar is mentioned. Howevefr at the time Ivan had two sons, Feodor, who became Czar Feodor I of Russia, and also Tsarevich Ivan Ivanovich.

---

Quotes

Czar Ivan IV: Why are my best friends so sad today?
Prince Andrei Kurbsky: Tsar, the people have a saying, that marriage is the end of friendship.

---

Crazy Credits

The movie starts with the words: This movie is about a man who in the 16th century first united our country, about a Moscow prince, who in specific separations and self-interested prince-hoods created one powerful state, about a commander who raised the military honor of our fatherland in the east and in the west, about a leader who first took care of the solution of all these great things himself. Wreath of the czar of whole Russia.

---

Connections

Referenced in Evening Urgant: Philip Kirkorov (2020)

User Reviews

Ivan the Terrible -- Pure Genius, but not light watching

Ivan the Terrible, Parts One and Two are films when combined) are in the top ten films of all time, and are of enormous genius, but because of this are not easy to digest. The story of the tortured Ivan the Terrible, first Czar of Russia, from boyhood to near the end of his czarhood, it was filmed with extravagated acting, and each scene having multiple symbolic interpretations. For example, all the main characters or groups of characters are portrayed with the characteristics of animals, Ivan the Terrible being a bird. The cinematography is brilliant, and strangely beautiful, relying on parallels, and close ups of the characters (this is among the first films to have this technique, now one of the most common cinematography techniques). Because this film is such a classic, it will make watchers review it, and think on the film itself. As such, it is not "light" watching. It is most definitely one of the greatest films of all time, and is worth the time without question. Do not be held back by the black and white or that it is in Russian. Also, watch both Part One, and Part Two, they were meant to work off each other. The DVD contains what remains of the incomplete Part Three, which the director Sergei Ensenstein did not finish. When told by phone that Stalin would not allow for Part Two to be distributed in Russia and be vaulted due to it's anti-Communistic implications, Ensenstien hung up the phone, and promptly died by heart attack, leaving a trilogy without its ending.

Details

Country:

Soviet Union

Language:

Russian

Release Date:

8 March 1947 (USA)

Also Known As:

Ivan the Terrible, Part I

Filming Locations:

Alma-Aty, Kazhachstan

Company Credits

Production Co:

Mosfilm, Tsentralnuyu Obedinyonnuyu Kinostudiyu (TsOKS)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1