Andreyev and Myshkova |
Ilya Muromet (Boris Andreyev) is a Russian peasant who is dismayed that due to injuries that prevent him from walking, he can not fight against the tyranny of the evil Tsar Kalin (Shukur Burkhanov). This changes when he is healed by a passing stranger and given a sword that used to belong to a great hero of old. Ilya meets his beloved, Vasilisa (Ninel Myshkova) and the two are married. In a misunderstanding with Prince Vanda (Andrei Abrikosov), Ilya winds up put in a dungeon even as his wife is spirited away by the Cossack-like Kalin. As years pass, Vasilia resists Kalin's advances but he does turn her and Ilya's little boy, Falcon, into his "son" and one of his best warriors. Freed from captivity, Ilya not only has to face his own son in combat, but also must face a gigantic, three-headed, fire-breathing dragon unleashed by Kalin.
son against father in mortal combat |
Verdict: Quite interesting Russian fantasy film is definitely worth a look. ***.
2 comments:
Costumes and production design seem lush, but no stars I recognise...not even an Anne Baxter or a Hedy Lamarr down on her luck? If it shows up on YouTube or TV, I will give it a whirl!
- C
Unless Anne and Hedy wanted to fly to the Soviet Union to make movies, they would definitely not have been cast in this, more's the pity! I think this is currently on youtube in a not-bad print.
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