Sergei Eisenstein: post 1932

1. Sergei Eisenstein: post 1932 • In May 1932 returns from Mexico to USSR. • In 1936-7 makes Bezhin Meadow. • Attacked by the authorities, work halted by Boris Shumiatski (head of film policy, later executed on Stalin’s order).

2. Bezhin Meadow • Film based on a story of a 14-year old boy, Pavlik Morozov, killed by his father and grandfather in 1932 for revealing their criminal activity • Contains biblical motifs (Abram and Isaac) • The film was accused of promoting “religious mythology” and having insufficient ideological and artistic value; Eisenstein was told to provide “an optimistic ending” • Shumiatski insisted on destroying the film

3. Alexander Nevsky(1938)Eisenstein’s first sound film Created with team: • Co-director Dmitri Vasiliev (author of a “heroic epic” Chapaev, 1934 – popularfilm about a Civil War hero) • Scenario with Piotr Pavlenko (giftless writer skilled at pleasing Stalin) • Music: Sergei Prokofiev (classical score)

4. Alexander Nevsky • Return to traditional values. Russians defend themselves against “dog-knights” – the Teutonic order (battle in 1242) • Set: created 13th Century Pskov and Novgorod; filmed battle on ice in mid-summer (chalk powder, liquid glass, wooden “ice”). “Hollywoodization”: sets as opposed to shooting on location. • Starring: Nikolai Cherkasov as Alexander Nevsky, Nikolai Okhlopkov as Vasili Buslaj. • Back to mainstream cinema: tells a story, has a love interest

8. Influence on cinema • Images from Alexander Nevsky were used in countless documentaries about medieval history (Russian and non-Russian) • Inspired Western feature films (Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, etc.) • Sets the example for the genre of the historical film

9. After Alexander Nevsky • Alexander Nevsky is a great success. • Eisenstein back in favour; receives the Stalin Award and Lenin Prize. • 1939 Film taken out of circulation as offensive to Germany. • 1939-40 Eisenstein directs Wagner's opera Valkyrie at Bolshoi Theatre. • In 1941 the war with Germany begins, the film is on again. • 1942 – 700th anniversary of Alexander Nevsky’s historic victory.

10. Historical connection Alexander Nevsky was canonized (proclaimed saint) in 1547 – the same year that Ivan the Terrible became Tsar of All Russia.

11. Ivan the TerriblePart I

12. Ivan the Terrible Part I • Eisenstein receives assignment in January 1941. • 14 October 1941 entire industry evacuated to Alma-Ata in Kazakhstan. • April 1943 begins filming. • Music by Sergei Prokofiev • 31 December 1944 approved for release. Every single detail censored by Stalin personally. • January 1945 awarded the Stalin prize

13. Main Characters: Ivan IV "the Terrible" • (Grozny: “the Thunderer”) b. 1530. • Ruled from 1533, crowned 1547. • Struggled against boyars (noblemen) to unite Russia. • In 1552 he takes Kazan and puts an end to the Tatars’ domination. • Played by Nikolai Cherkasov

14. Main Characters: Ivan’s wife Anastasia • Married Ivan in 1547. • Bore him a son Dimitry. • Poisoned by Efrosinia in 1560. • Played by Liudmila Tselikovskaia

15. Main Characters: Efrosinia Staritskaia • Ivan’s aunt • Schemes to put her son Vladimir on the throne • Poisons Anastasia • Played by Serafima Birman

16. Main Characters: Prince Andrei Kurbsky • Helps Ivan take capture city of Kazan in 1552. • Loves Anastasia. • Goes over to the enemy Lithuania in 1564 in Livonia. • Played by Mikhail Nazvanov

17. Main Characters: Vladimir • Son of Efrosinia Staritskaia • Simpleton • Killed at the end of part 2 • Played by Pavel Kadochnikov

18. Main Characters: Aleksei and Fyodor Basmanov • Aleksei approaches Ivan at the siege of Kazan. • Suggests that Ivan create his own suite of loyal followers from the people. • Advances his son Fyodor as a leader of the oprichniki, as they become called.

19. Main Characters: Maliuta Skuratov • Leads the mob into the palace at Ivan’s wedding. • Mocked by Ivan, becomes his “all-seeing eye” at court • Cunning, looks out for his own interests. • Played by Mikhail Zharov

20. Other Characters: • Archbishop of Novgorod Pimen • Boyar Fyodor Kolychov, friend of Ivan, showers with gold coins at beginning, goes to monastery, later returns to be Metropolitan. • Nikolka Iron Cap: Simpleton Beggar (played by Vsevolod Pudovkin)

21. Muscovy in the 16th century

22. Muscovy’s enemies and friends in the 16th cent. • To the East: the Tatars, with their capital Kazan, taken by Ivan’s troops in 1552 • To the South: the Crimean Tatars • To the West: Lithuania-Poland • Russia’s friend: England

23. Part One: Synopsis Moscow January 1547. Ivan’s coronation as tsar of all Russias. Kurbsky and Kolychov pour coins on head. Efrosinya and son Vladimir. In dark corridor foreign ambassador incites Kurbsky against Ivan. Wedding feast of Ivan and Anastasia. Rioters enter, Ivan makes speech about heads rolling. Tatar envoy enters. Ivan is defiant, captures Kazan. Back in Moscow, Ivan falls ill or pretends to. Kurbsky swears allegiance to Dimitry, Ivan’s son. Kurbsky sent to fight the Poles. Efrosinya poisons Anastasia. Kurbsky defects to Poles. Ivan decides to creat a loyal circle called the oprichniki. Announces abdication. Re-crowned by the acclamation of the people. End of Part One.

24. The Ideological Content • Ivan’s father was the Grand Duke of Moscow. • The court was dominated by the boyars (noblemen). • Ivan declares himself Tsar of All Russia. • The Russian lands must all be united under a strong leader in order to defend against foreign invaders. • Ivan finds that the boyars will plot against any strong leader. • Decides to crush the boyars and create his own private force loyal only to him: the oprichniki.

25. Ideological Message for Soviets? • Portrays Ivan as “the gatherer of the lands” • Sympathizes with the absolute monarch struggling with the nobility and restricting its freedoms • Condemns conspiracy against the ruler • Justifies ruling by terror and cruelty • Instills in the audience the idea of the pyramid of power with the absolute ruler at its top

26. Clips • End of Part one