Ivan the Terrible (1944)

Ivan the Terrible (1944)This Friday’s film clip is a mix of scenes from part I and II of the historical film “Ivan the Terrible” (in Russian: Иван Грозный, Ivan Grozniy), written and directed by Sergei Eisenstein, commissioned by Premier Joseph Stalin. Part I was released in 1944 but Part II not until 1958, as it was banned on the order of Stalin, who became incensed over the depiction of Ivan therein. The successful collaboration between Eisenstein and Prokofiev continued after “Alexander Nevsky” and his score to “Ivan the Terrible” is no less than a masterpiece. This film clip is a tribute to Prokofiev’s music rather than to the historic merits of Ivan. Part I begins with Ivan's coronation as Tsar of all the Russians, amid grumbling from the boyars and silent jealousy from his cousin, Vladimir and his mother Evfrosinia Staritskaia. The original sound is of poor quality, so it has in most scenes been replaced with later recorded sound including Bel Air Music’s recording of “The Dance” (part II).
itunes.apple.c...
/ ojeasyclassics