Alexander Nevsky

Starring: Nikolai Cherkasov, Nikolai Okhlopkov Director: Dmitri Vasilyev, Sergei M Eisenstein Dvd Release: 21st October, 1998 Number Of Discs: 1 Format: Colour, NTSC, Region 0 Encoding

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Alexander Nevsky is a film directed by Sergei Eisenstein & released in 1938, under the Stalinist regime. The screenplay is based on the 13th century conflict between the Teutonic Knights & the Russian people of Novgorod. The film follows the knights as they invade Pskov & massacre its population. Alexander Nevsky then rallies the people of Novgorod & at a battle on the surface of the frozen Lake Chud the outnumbered Novgorodians defeat the Germanic invaders. Setting this historical defeat of Germans by Russians to film was a not so subtle prophecy that history was about to repeat itself. The film was requested of Eisenstein directly by Stalin who wanted a film that would warn the Soviet people of German aggression. The film contains many elements that reflect the current global political situation. The helmets worn by the Teutonic soldiers look much like larger German soldier helmets from the period. Swastikas are also to be found decorating many of the Teutons. Posters Of Alexander Nevsky

Alexander Nevsky, Sergei Eisensteins landmark tale of Russia thwarting the German invasion of the 13th century, was wildly popular with home-grown audiences back in 1938, quite intentionally so, given the prevailing Nazi geopolitical advancement & destruction at the time. It can still be viewed as a masterful use of imagery & music, with the Battle on the Ice sequence as the obvious highlight. Unfortunately, the rest of the film pales in comparison. A great score by Prokofiev was effectively integrated by the Russian filmmaker, but stands on its own merit as well. , Bill Desowitz,

Nikolay Pavlovich Okhlopkov was the most brilliant of Meyerhold s disciples. He was born in Irkutsk, Siberia & started his acting career there in 1918. he was the first to place spectators on the stage around the actors, in order to restore intimacy between the audience & the company. In 1938, his theatre was closed & he moved to the Vakhtangov Theatre. In 1943 he established the Mayakovsky Theatre, which continues his traditions to this day. Okhlopkov was awarded five USSR State Prizes. Posters Of Alexander Nevsky

Editors Choice: Alexander Nevsky, View DVDology

Sergei Mikhailovich Eisenstein was a Russian director noted for his films Battleship Potemkin & Oktober, both based loosely on a true story & presented in a realistic fashion, causing an immeasurable influence on early documentary directors owing to his innovative use of montage. Eisenstein, who was born in Riga, was a pioneer in the use of editing. He believed that film editing was more than merely a method used to link scenes together in a movie; he felt that careful editing could actually be used to manipulate the emotions of the audience. He performed long research into this area & developed what he called Intellectual montage. His published books The Film Form & The Film Sense explain his theories of montage & they have been highly influential to many directors. In his initial films, Eisenstein did not use professional actors. His narratives eschewed individual characters & addressed broad social issues, especially class conflict. He used stock characters & the roles were filled with untrained people from the appropriate class backgrounds. Posters Of Alexander Nevsky

Editors Choice: Ivan The Terrible, Part 1, Alexander Nevsky, Ten Days That Shook The World, Strike, Sergei Eisenstein, View DVDology

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