Ivan Groznyy

Mar 8 1947 Not Rated 1h 43m
Biography, Drama, History

Set during the early part of his reign, Ivan faces betrayal from the aristocracy and even his closest friends as he seeks to unite the Russian people. Sergei Eisenstein's final film, this is the first part of a three-part biopic of Tsar Ivan IV of Russia, which was never completed due to the producer's dissatisfaction with Eisenstein's attempts to use forbidden experimental filming techniques and excessive cost overruns. The second part was completed but not released for a decade after Eisenstein's death and a change of heart in the USSR government toward his work; the third part was only in its earliest stage of filming when shooting was stopped altogether.

Plot

In 1547, Ivan IV (1530-1584), archduke of Moscow, crowns himself Tsar of Russia and sets about reclaiming lost Russian territory. In scenes of his coronation, his wedding to Anastasia, his campaign against the Tartars in Kazan, his illness when all think he will die, recovery, campaigns in the Baltic and Crimea, self-imposed exile in Alexandrov, and the petition of Muscovites that he return, his enemies among the boyars threaten his success. Chief among them are his aunt, who wants to advance the fortunes of her son, a simpleton, and Kurbsky, a warrior prince who wants both power and the hand of Anastasia. Ivan deftly plays to the people to consolidate his power.

Written by

Sergei Eisenstein

Directed by

Sergei Eisenstein

Cast

Nikolay Cherkasov, Lyudmila Tselikovskaya, Serafima Birman

Crew

View crew

Production Countries

Soviet Union

Production Companies

Mosfilm, Tsentralnuyu Obedinyonnuyu Kinostudiyu, Alma-Ata Studio

Languages

Awards

2 wins & 1 nomination

Trailers
Ivan The Terrible - Trailer (1945)
Scores
# of Votes
11,241
Average Rating
7.7 out of 10
Metascore
NA
Popularity
NA