Aleksandr nevskiy alexander nevsky is not central to eisensteins theory of montage and is not considered to be one of his most important works, at least critically. This most famous of soviet artists had not completed a movie since the old and the new in 1929. Alexander nevsky 1938 all film students worship, to one degree or another, at the throne of sergei eisenstein. Released in late 1938, alexander nevsky was not only the first sound film to be directed by sergei eisenstein, but the directors political comeback as well.
Although some critics were disappointed with eisensteins variations on, or departure from, his earlier methods, alexander nevsky was a success upon its release in 1938. This week kornbluth wants everyone to watch the 1938 russian film alexander nevsky, which. Alexander s son daniel was the first prince of moscow. In alexander nevsky the theme of the russian peoples patriotism is emphasized through such exemplary characters as prince alexander, busali, and gavrilo oleksich. The soundtrack for the film was written by sergei prokofiev, who also reworked the score into a concert cantata. But his most successful film with the wider public was his first sound film, alexander nevsky 1938. In sergei eisensteins classic, th century prince nevsky nikolai cherkasov defeats teutonic knights in a battle on the ice of lake peipus in northern russia, to music by sergei prokofiev. Vessiliev, sergey eyzenshteyn, dmitriy vasiylev on allmovie like many of eisensteins best films, alexander.
In 1938, sergei eisenstein made one of his most acclaimed films, alexander nevsky, on alexander s victory over the teutonic knights. This story of teutonic knights vanquished by prince alexander nevsky s tactical brilliance resonated deeply with a soviet union concerned with the rise of nazi germany. It came thirteen years after his other masterpiece battleship potemkin. The film centers on the exploits of the thirteenthcentury russian hero, prince alexander nevsky, and eisenstein used the princes famous battle battle on the ice to draw parallels to modernday politics, such as the tensions between the soviet. Alexander nevsky andrea talks with our cultural concierge, jesse kornbluth. Alexander nevsky 1938 embed for hosted blogs and item tags. Alexander nevsky was the great sergei eisensteins first and most successful sound motion picture.
Media in category alexander nevsky film the following files are in this category, out of total. But theres plenty more to eisensteins film than just the music. This statefunded film is set largely in the city of novgorod, about 100 miles south of st petersburg, but the city had changed too much to allow. Was i the only young film buff who thought that sergei eisensteins 1938 epic alexander nevsky, with background score by the redoubtable sergei prokofiev, was a crock. The film depicts the attempted invasion of novgorod in the th century by the teutonic knights of the holy roman empire and their defeat by the russian people. Eisenstein, with nikolay cherkasov, nikolai okhlopkov, andrei abrikosov, at turner classic movies. It depicts the attempted invasion of novgorod in the th century by the teutonic knights of the holy roman empire and their defeat by prince alexander, known popularly as alexander nevsky 12201263. While alexander leads his outnumbered troops, two of their number, vasili and gavrilo, begin a. A fruitless trip to hollywood had weakened his position in the increasingly regimented soviet union. The battle that ensued was very famously depicted in the amazing 1938 film alexander nevsky, and the already epic battle scene is even more impressive when you consider that it was filmed in the desert in the middle of the summer.
This latter film had interesting cinematic features that contrasted with his earlier work and shed light on eisensteins complex aesthetics. Sergei eisenstein drew on history, russian folk narratives, and the techniques of walt disney to create this broadly painted epic of russian resilience, the story of teutonic knights vanquished by prince alexander nevskys tactical brilliance. Russian prince nevsky nikolai cherkasov fights thcentury german knights on frozen lake peipus. Director sergei eisensteins epic alexander nevsky features some of the most beautiful imagery ever put on film. When german knights invade russia, prince alexander nevsky must rally his people to resist the formidable force. Like many of eisensteins best films, alexander nevsky was conceived as a moralebooster, aimed at stirring up russian patriotism. There has been a new movie made about alexander and the battle of the neva river but so far it has only been released in russian with no other languages or subtitles.
This most famous of soviet artists had not completed a movie since the old and the new in. Alexander nevsky 1938 one of the gems of world cinema, alexander nevsky by sergei eisenstein recalls the historical victory of russian prince alexander nevsky over the german knights of the. On the first disc is the film in its original format, complete with hardencoded subtitles put on the film in 1938 and the original score in all its monophonic and scratchy glory. On that disc is a companion film, schastye, described below. It depicts the attempted invasion of novgorod in the th century by. Alexander nevsky 1938 directed by sergei eisenstein. The 1938 film, alexander nevsky, directed by sergei eisenstein, is a war propaganda film that glamorized the russians and condemned the nazis. Even though this narrative approach resembles that of more traditional cinema, eisensteins characters embody patriotic ideals in such an extreme way that they become symbols rather. In 1938, the film director and theorist sergei eisenstein 18981948 was assigned the patriotic alexander nevsky by soyuzkino an organisation directly supervised by the politburo in the face of the growing threat from nazi germany. Alexander nevsky 1938 changes the movie database tmdb. Nikolai cherkassov stars as the legenday alexander nevsky in sergei eisensteins masterpiece of propaganda, made with the assistance of stalin, to stir up soviet audiences in. Despite the film s antichristian approach, alexander makes a biblical reference when addressing the russian people near the end of the movie stating that they. I watched sergei eisensteins 1938 classic, alexander nevsky, mainly for the brilliant score by sergei prokofiev, which ive loved for years.
Alexander was known to the mongols for having chased a swedish army away. This is my second film from director, communist, innovator and cinema legend, sergei eisenstein. It is the th century, and russia is overrun by foreign invaders. Probably eisensteins most commercially popular film in his own country, it also survived the scrutiny of joseph stalin. The film depicts famed russian historical figure, prince alexander nevskys defeat of the invading teutonic knights in the th century. The second disc contains the feature film in its restored version with a vastly. From its inception, the project was supposed to be a historical epic recounting the exploits of the prince, saint, and defender of russian lands alexander. Indeed, typical film scores tend to be lengthy stretches of vapid functional mood music without lasting value or, more recently, random assortments of existing pop records.
Yet the film exhibits a powerful folkloric spirit in its singleminded, patriotic call to unity in resisting german invasion. Alexander nevsky the current the criterion collection. The nevsky legend obviously fit the times well in the late 30s, as russia, along with large parts of the rest of the world and europe in particular, were anxious about germanys aggressive new direction under nazi leadership. Made in 1938, this film transfigured the actual historical events, majestically leading to a final resolution that represented the triumph of collectivism. Stalinist propaganda in the th century eisensteins 1938 epic has marxist heroes liberating the proletariat, evil nazi standins and a massivescale deflowering. Alexander nevsky is a 1938 soviet classic directed by sergei eisenstein. Sergei eisenstein, russian film director and theorist whose work includes the three classic movies battleship potemkin 1925, alexander nevsky 1939, and ivan the terrible released in two parts, 1944 and 1958. Directed by sergei eisenstein 1938 soviet union eisenstein drew on history, russian folk narratives, and the techniques of walt disney to create this broadly painted epic of russian resilience. Griffith invented the language of film, through the introduction of such. In his concept of film montage, images are presented for maximum psychological impact. Eisensteins 1938 epic has marxist heroes liberating the proletariat, evil nazi standins and a massivescale. April 5, 1242 peregrinus expectavi from alexander nevsky artist yuri temirkanov. Eisensteins eminence rests not only on his film directing talents but also on some other factors. The battle that ensued was very famously depicted in the amazing 1938 film alexander nevsky, and the already epic battle scene is even more impressive when you consider that it was filmed in the desert in the middle of the summer, and director sergei eisenstein had to use blue spray paint and melted glass to make the ice and snow look real.
Alexander nevsky film by eisenstein 1938 britannica. The film depicts the attempted invasion of novgorod in the th century by the teutonic knights of the holy roman empire and. It is set in the th century, but the villainous teutonic. Alexander nevsky 1938 movie search, ratings, photos. With nikolay cherkasov, nikolai okhlopkov, andrei abrikosov, dmitriy orlov. The story of how a great russian prince led a ragtag army to battle an invading force of teutonic knights.
The mongol ruler is looking for alexander to propose for him to join his forces with the rank of captain. Overview of alexander nevsky, 1938, directed by sergei m. A russian knyaz, or prince, alexander nevsky, rallies the people to form a ragtag army to drive back an invasion by the teutonic knights. He chose to do a film on nevsky because little was known about him so eisenstein hoped to be able to structure the narrative the way he wanted.
Probably eisensteins most commercially popular film in his own country, it also survived the scrutiny of joseph stalin, earning the symbol of official government approval, the. Probably the best piece of cinematic propaganda i have ever seen. Eisenstein created a highly influential editing technique called montage thats used by filmmakers to this day, and is on brilliant display in his 1938 masterpiece, alexander nevsky. Eisenstein with nikolai cherkasov, nikolai okhlopkov, andrei abrikosov, dmitri orlov, year. Alexander nevsky, sergei eisensteins landmark tale of russia thwarting the german invasion of the th century, was wildly popular with homegrown audiences back in 1938, quite intentionally so, given the prevailing nazi geopolitical advancement and destruction at the time. It depicts the attempted invasion of novgorod in the th century by the teutonic knights of the holy roman empire and their defeat by prince alexander, known popularly as alexander nevsky 12201263 eisenstein made the film in association with dmitri vasilyev. While alexander leads his outnumbered troops, two of their number, vasili and gavrilo, begin a contest of bravery. When german knights invade russia, prince alexander nevsky nikolai cherkasov must rally his people to resist the formidable force. Alexander yaroslavich nick name alexander nevsky is a genuine saint canonized by the russian orthodox church in 1547. The first one of course being battleship potemkin urgently needs to reexperience that film, that i watched in january 2017. The film depicts famed russian historical figure, prince alexander nevsky s defeat of the invading teutonic knights in the th century. It can still be viewed as a masterful use of imagery and music, with. Other articles where alexander nevsky is discussed. Of the rare exceptions, sergei prokofievs 1938 score to alexander nevsky often is hailed as the foremost example of a movie score of indisputable distinction.