Ivan Groznyy. Skaz vtoroy: Boyarskiy zagovor

Nov 24 1959 Not Rated 1h 28m
Biography, History

This is the second part of a projected three-part epic biopic of Russian Czar Ivan Grozny, undertaken by Soviet film-maker Sergei Eisenstein at the behest of Josef Stalin. Production of the epic was stopped before the third part could be filmed, due to producer dissatisfaction with Eisenstein's introducing forbidden experimental filming techniques into the material, more evident in this part than the first part. As it was, this second part was banned from showings until after the deaths of both Eisenstein and Stalin, and a change of attitude by the subsequent heads of the Soviet government. In this part, as Ivan the Terrible attempts to consolidate his power by establishing a personal army, his political rivals, the Russian boyars, plot to assassinate him.

Plot

His wife dead from poisoning and his chief warrior, Kurbsky, defected to the Poles, Ivan is lonely as he pursues a unified Russia with no foreign occupiers. Needing friendship, he brings to court Kolychev, now Philip the monk, and makes him metropolitan bishop of Moscow. Philip, however, takes his cues from the boyars and tries to bend Ivan to the will of the church. Ivan faces down Philip and lets loose his private force, the Oprichniks, on the boyars. Led by the Tsar's aunt, Euphrosyne, the boyers plot to assassinate Ivan and enthrone her son, Vladimir. At a banquet, Ivan mockingly crowns Vladimir and sends him in royal robes into the cathedral where the assassin awaits.

Written by

Sergei Eisenstein

Directed by

Sergei Eisenstein

Cast

Nikolay Cherkasov, Serafima Birman, Pavel Kadochnikov

Crew

View crew

Production Countries

Soviet Union

Production Companies

Mosfilm, Alma-Ata Studio, Tsentralnuyu Obedinyonnuyu Kinostudiyu

Languages

Awards

1 nomination

Trailers
Dance of the Oprichniks from Ivan the Terrible Part II (Eng. Subs)
Scores
# of Votes
8,693
Average Rating
7.7 out of 10
Metascore
NA
Popularity
NA