Ivan Groznyy II: Boyarsky zagovor (1958)

Directors:

Sergei M. Eisenstein
M. Filimonova

Writer:

Sergei M. Eisenstein (writer)

Release Date:

24 November 1959 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | History

Plot:

As Ivan the Terrible attempts to consolidate his power by establishing a personal army, his political rivals, the Russian boyars, plot to assassinate their Tsar.

Plot Keywords:

Historical | Czar | Epic | Idiot | Power Struggle

Cast

Nikolai Cherkasov	...	Czar Ivan IV
Serafima Birman	...	Boyarina Efrosinia Staritskaya
Pavel Kadochnikov	...	Vladimir Andreyevich Staritsky
Mikhail Zharov	...	Czar's Guard Malyuta Skuratov
Amvrosi Buchma	...	Czar's Guard Aleksei Basmanov
Vsevolod Pudovkin	...	Nikolay (as V.I. Pudovkin)
Mikhail Kuznetsov	...	Fyodor Basmanov
Aleksandr Mgebrov	...	Novgorod's Archbishop Pimen
Andrei Abrikosov	...	Archbishop Philip (formerly Fyodor Kolychev)
Vladimir Balashov	...	Pyotr Volynets
Erik Pyryev	...	Ivan IV as a boy
Mikhail Nazvanov	...	Prince Andrei Kurbsky
Pavel Massalsky	...	King Sigismund of Poland
Ada Vojtsik	...	Elena Glinskaya, Ivan's Mother

Also Known As:

Boyarsky zagovor
Ivan the Terrible, Part II: The Boyars' Plot (USA) (literal English title)
Ivan the Terrible, Part Two (USA)
Ivane Mriskhane, natsili meore (Soviet Union: Georgian title)
The Boyars' Plot (USA) (informal English alternative title)

Runtime:

Canada:83 min (Ontario) | USA:88 min

Country:

Soviet Union

Language:

Russian

Color:

Black and White | Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:PG | South Korea:15 | Finland:K-12 | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

Almaty, Kazakhstan

Company:

Alma Ata Studio

Trivia:

This film was withheld by Soviet authorities by order of Joseph Stalin, since this film, dealing with Ivan's slide into madness and the tyranny of the Oprichnina, did not properly mythologize Ivan I Grozny to Stalin's satisfaction. It was not finally released until 10 years after the deaths of director Sergei M. Eisenstein and Stalin.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Elizabeth (1998)

This is the movie of my life

Ivan Grosnyy, Part II is the movie of my life; the Part I is also a very good film. It is the masterpiece of Sergei Eisenstein. Unfortunately we can never see the Part III of this meant to be trilogy. The performances (especially Nikolai Cherkasov), the photography, the wardrobe, the scenarios and the shots are the most beautiful I have ever seen in the history of film-making. However, it is necessary to watch the Part I first to understand the history. I suggest to all the people who like this genre of film to see another very good film of Sergey Eisenstein: Alexander Nevsky once again with Nikolai Cherkasov in the main role. I recommend to all the people who want to see these movies to by the Criterion DVD box set, which contains also first part and, Alexander Nevsky. Don't die without seeing these masterpieces.