Movies

About this movie

Genres:
Action & Adventure, Classics, Drama
Language:
English
Running time:
1:47:41
Partner rating:
YELLOWV
Released:
1938
Cast & Crew
Cast
Nikolai CherkasovAlexander Nevsky
Nikolai OkhlopkovVassily Buslai
Andrei AbrikosovGavrilo Olexich
Dmitriy Orlov
Vasili Novikov
Nikolai Arsky
Varvara Massalitinova
Vera Ivashova
Aleksandra Danilova
Vladimir YershovMaster of the Teutonic Order
Sergei BlinnikovTverdilo, Traitorous Mayor of Pskov
Ivan Lagutin
Lev FeninThe Bishop
Naum Rogozhin
Dmitri N. OrlovIgnat, Master Armourer
V.K. NovikovPavsha, Governor of Pskov
N.N. ArskiDomash, Nobleman of Novgorod
Valeria O. MassalitinovaAmefa Timofeyevna, Mother of Buslai
Valentina IvashevaOlga, a Novgorod Girl
Alexandra DanilovaVassilissa
Directors
Sergei M. Eisenstein
Dmitri Vasilyev
Sergei Eisenstein
Producers
Sergei M. Eisenstein
Writers
Sergei M. Eisenstein
Pyotr Pavlenko

Like many of Eisenstein's best films, Alexander Nevsky was conceived as a morale-booster, aimed at stirring up Russian patriotism. It is set in the 13th century, but the villainous Teutonic Knights are obviously meant to represent the burgeoning threat of Hitler's hordes. With Russia besieged by both these knights and by the Tartars, only a charismatic leader can save the populace from these barbaric baby killers (yes, we see the villains tossing screaming infants into bonfires!) The hero of the piece is the legendary Prince Alexander Nevsky, portrayed by Nikolai Cherkasov, who bears a striking resemblance to Gary Cooper. The saving turnaround for Nevsky is the battle of ice-covered Lake Peipus in 1242. This bravura sequence is staged in spectacular fashion, underlined by the specially-commissioned music of Sergei Prokofiev