{"id":80045,"date":"2022-01-08T20:14:21","date_gmt":"2022-01-09T03:14:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=80045"},"modified":"2022-01-16T11:24:21","modified_gmt":"2022-01-16T18:24:21","slug":"ivan-the-terrible-part-i-1944","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=80045","title":{"rendered":"Ivan the Terrible, Part I (1944)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;Only an undivided, legitimate throne will save Moscow from her enemies and internecine conflict!&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Ivan-the-Terrible-Part-I-Poster.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Ivan-the-Terrible-Part-I-Poster-204x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"204\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-80046\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Ivan-the-Terrible-Part-I-Poster-204x300.png 204w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Ivan-the-Terrible-Part-I-Poster-696x1024.png 696w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Ivan-the-Terrible-Part-I-Poster-87x128.png 87w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Ivan-the-Terrible-Part-I-Poster-183x270.png 183w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Ivan-the-Terrible-Part-I-Poster.png 755w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 204px) 100vw, 204px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nIn 16th century Russia, <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ivan_the_Terrible\">Ivan the Grand Prince of Moscow<\/a> (Nikolai Cherkasov) is crowned as Tsar and married to <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Anastasia_Romanovna\">Anastasia Romanovna<\/a> (Lyudmila Tselikovskaya) &#8212; but his <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Evfrosinia_Staritskaia\">jealous aunt<\/a> (Serafima Birman), <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Andrey_Kurbsky\">traitorous comrade<\/a> (Mikhail Nazvanov), and various ruling boyars aren&#8217;t happy with his increasing power.\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Historical Drama<\/li>\n<li>Royalty and Nobility<\/li>\n<li>Russian Films<\/li>\n<li>Ruthless Leaders<\/li>\n<li>Sergei Eisenstein Films<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Response to Peary\u2019s Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nPeary points out that this &#8220;indoor epic&#8221; by Sergei Eisenstein has &#8220;remarkable visuals&#8230; but [is] ludicrously melodramatic and theatrical,&#8221; and he notes that &#8220;other than establishing a bond between Ivan and the peasants to suggest a similar affinity between Stalin and his subjects, it&#8217;s hard to figure out how Eisenstein is using his hero.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Ivan-the-Terrible-Part-I-To-Kazan.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Ivan-the-Terrible-Part-I-To-Kazan-1024x763.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"477\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-80049\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Ivan-the-Terrible-Part-I-To-Kazan-1024x763.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Ivan-the-Terrible-Part-I-To-Kazan-300x223.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Ivan-the-Terrible-Part-I-To-Kazan-128x95.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Ivan-the-Terrible-Part-I-To-Kazan-768x572.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Ivan-the-Terrible-Part-I-To-Kazan-363x270.png 363w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Ivan-the-Terrible-Part-I-To-Kazan.png 1277w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Peary asserts that &#8220;Ivan comes across as a hero in a Wagnerian opera,&#8221; while &#8220;everyone else seems to be trying out for a Hollywood serial, perhaps <em>Flash Gordon<\/em> or <em>Buck Rogers&#8221;<\/em>:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Ivan-the-Terrible-Part-I-Kurbsky2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Ivan-the-Terrible-Part-I-Kurbsky2-1024x740.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"463\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-80070\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Ivan-the-Terrible-Part-I-Kurbsky2-1024x740.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Ivan-the-Terrible-Part-I-Kurbsky2-300x217.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Ivan-the-Terrible-Part-I-Kurbsky2-128x92.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Ivan-the-Terrible-Part-I-Kurbsky2-768x555.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Ivan-the-Terrible-Part-I-Kurbsky2-374x270.png 374w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Ivan-the-Terrible-Part-I-Kurbsky2.png 1275w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a> <\/p>\n<p>&#8230; and he further notes that &#8220;the devious, swathed-in-black boyar princess Euphonia (Serafima Birman) would have been a great foe for Buster Crabbe.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Ivan-the-Terrible-Part-I-Birman.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Ivan-the-Terrible-Part-I-Birman-1024x784.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"490\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-80048\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Ivan-the-Terrible-Part-I-Birman-1024x784.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Ivan-the-Terrible-Part-I-Birman-300x230.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Ivan-the-Terrible-Part-I-Birman-128x98.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Ivan-the-Terrible-Part-I-Birman-768x588.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Ivan-the-Terrible-Part-I-Birman-353x270.png 353w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Ivan-the-Terrible-Part-I-Birman.png 1261w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>(Peary fails to point out how masculine-looking Birman is &#8212; to the extent that I didn&#8217;t know this character was female until I read about the actress. Meanwhile, her infantile <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Vladimir_of_Staritsa\">son Vladimir<\/a> &#8212; played by Pavel Kadochnikov &#8212; is remarkably <em>femme<\/em>. The gender bending between the two of them is quite noticeable.) <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Ivan-the-Terrible-Vladimir.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Ivan-the-Terrible-Vladimir-1024x754.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"471\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-80059\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Ivan-the-Terrible-Vladimir-1024x754.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Ivan-the-Terrible-Vladimir-300x221.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Ivan-the-Terrible-Vladimir-128x94.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Ivan-the-Terrible-Vladimir-768x565.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Ivan-the-Terrible-Vladimir-367x270.png 367w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Ivan-the-Terrible-Vladimir.png 1273w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The picture&#8217;s storyline (part one of two) is fairly straightforward; as Peary writes, it &#8220;begins with Ivan&#8217;s coronation and marriage&#8221; (those are coins being poured over his head):<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Ivan-the-Terrible-Coins.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Ivan-the-Terrible-Coins-1024x751.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"469\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-80052\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Ivan-the-Terrible-Coins-1024x751.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Ivan-the-Terrible-Coins-300x220.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Ivan-the-Terrible-Coins-128x94.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Ivan-the-Terrible-Coins-768x563.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Ivan-the-Terrible-Coins-368x270.png 368w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Ivan-the-Terrible-Coins.png 1273w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; &#8220;takes us on a war campaign&#8221; (to <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Kazan\">Kazan<\/a>): <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Ivan-the-Terrible-Part-I-Kazan-Set.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Ivan-the-Terrible-Part-I-Kazan-Set-1024x742.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"464\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-80050\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Ivan-the-Terrible-Part-I-Kazan-Set-1024x742.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Ivan-the-Terrible-Part-I-Kazan-Set-300x217.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Ivan-the-Terrible-Part-I-Kazan-Set-128x93.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Ivan-the-Terrible-Part-I-Kazan-Set-768x556.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Ivan-the-Terrible-Part-I-Kazan-Set-373x270.png 373w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Ivan-the-Terrible-Part-I-Kazan-Set.png 1277w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; and &#8220;after Ivan has gone from clean-shaven to having a short beard to having a mustache and short beard to having a beard that would make Rasputin envious&#8221;: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Ivan-the-Terrible-Beard.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Ivan-the-Terrible-Beard-1024x744.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"465\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-80053\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Ivan-the-Terrible-Beard-1024x744.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Ivan-the-Terrible-Beard-300x218.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Ivan-the-Terrible-Beard-128x93.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Ivan-the-Terrible-Beard-768x558.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Ivan-the-Terrible-Beard-372x270.png 372w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Ivan-the-Terrible-Beard.png 1279w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; it &#8220;concludes with&#8230;&#8221; &#8212; well, I won&#8217;t say. I&#8217;ll be back with my review of Part II shortly. For now, suffice it to say that I share Peary&#8217;s views on this overrated Eisenstein film, which seems to polarize critics (and viewers) into one camp or another. If you&#8217;re curious for a deeper dive into the film&#8217;s themes, however, be sure to check out the video essay by scholar <a href=\"https:\/\/liberalarts.utexas.edu\/history\/faculty\/jn324\">Joan Neuberger<\/a> in the Criterion DVD set <a href=\"https:\/\/www.criterion.com\/boxsets\/204-eisenstein-the-sound-years\"><em>Eisenstein: The Sound Years<\/em><\/a> (but wait until after you&#8217;ve watched Part 2 to avoid tons of spoilers).  <\/p>\n<p><strong>Notable Performances, Qualities, and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Fine production design and cinematography<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Ivan-the-Terrible-Part-I-Dinner.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Ivan-the-Terrible-Part-I-Dinner-1024x745.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"466\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-80051\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Ivan-the-Terrible-Part-I-Dinner-1024x745.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Ivan-the-Terrible-Part-I-Dinner-300x218.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Ivan-the-Terrible-Part-I-Dinner-128x93.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Ivan-the-Terrible-Part-I-Dinner-768x559.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Ivan-the-Terrible-Part-I-Dinner-371x270.png 371w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Ivan-the-Terrible-Part-I-Dinner.png 1269w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Ivan-the-Terrible-Eye.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Ivan-the-Terrible-Eye-1024x741.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"463\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-80054\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Ivan-the-Terrible-Eye-1024x741.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Ivan-the-Terrible-Eye-300x217.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Ivan-the-Terrible-Eye-128x93.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Ivan-the-Terrible-Eye-768x556.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Ivan-the-Terrible-Eye-373x270.png 373w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Ivan-the-Terrible-Eye.png 1281w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a>\n<\/li>\n<li>Sergei Prokofiev&#8217;s score<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nYes, for its historical significance, and because Part 2 is essential viewing which can&#8217;t be seen without this first film. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Categories<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Historically Relevant<\/li>\n<li>Important Director<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p> (<span style=\"color:red;font-weight:bold;\">Listed in <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?page_id=1458\"><em>1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die<\/em><\/a><\/span>) <\/p>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0037824\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tcm.com\/tcmdb\/title\/440838\/ivan-the-terrible-part-1#articles-reviews?articleId=38690\">TCM Article<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;Only an undivided, legitimate throne will save Moscow from her enemies and internecine conflict!&#8221; Synopsis: In 16th century Russia, Ivan the Grand Prince of Moscow (Nikolai Cherkasov) is crowned as Tsar and married to Anastasia Romanovna (Lyudmila Tselikovskaya) &#8212; but his jealous aunt (Serafima Birman), traitorous comrade (Mikhail Nazvanov), and various ruling boyars aren&#8217;t happy with his increasing power. Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors: Historical Drama Royalty and Nobility Russian Films Ruthless Leaders Sergei Eisenstein Films Response to Peary\u2019s Review:&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=80045\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-80045","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-responses-to-peary"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/80045","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=80045"}],"version-history":[{"count":21,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/80045\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":80366,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/80045\/revisions\/80366"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=80045"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=80045"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=80045"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}