Alexander Nevsky (film)
A 1938 Soviet historical drama about Prince Alexander Nevsky.
Alexander Nevsky (Russian: Алекса́ндр Не́вский) is a 1938 Soviet historical drama from director Sergei Eisenstein. The story follows the 13th-century invasion of Novgorod by the Teutonic Knights of the Holy Roman Empire and the victory of Prince Alexander (known as Alexander Nevsky, 1220–1263) over them. Eisenstein made the film with Dmitri Vasilyev and co-wrote the script with Pyotr Pavlenko; these collaborators were assigned to keep Eisenstein from slipping into "formalism" and to ensure the shoot stayed on schedule. Produced by Goskino through the Mosfilm unit, it stars Nikolai Cherkasov as the title prince, with a score by Sergei Prokofiev. This was Eisenstein’s first completed sound film in a decade and the most popular of his three sound works. For the film, Eisenstein, Pavlenko, Cherkasov, and Andrei Abrikosov received the Stalin Prize in 1941. In 1978, the Italian publisher Arnoldo Mondadori Editore included it in a poll of the world’s 100 best motion pictures. Russia Beyond ranks it among the ten best Russian war films.
The plot begins with the Teutonic Order invading and capturing Pskov with help from the traitor Tverdilo, then massacring the population. Novgorod is next. Despite resistance from the city’s boyars and merchants (urged on by the monk Ananias, Tverdilo’s henchman), the people appeal to Alexander Nevsky to return as prince and defend them. He rallies the common folk of the Novgorod area. In the decisive Battle of the Ice on frozen Lake Chudskoe, the Teutonic forces are defeated. Pskov is retaken, and Nevsky passes judgment: surviving Teutonic foot-soldiers go free, while the knights are held for ransom. Tverdilo and a Catholic priest who blessed the burning of Pskov’s children disappear into the mob. A subplot follows the rivalry and friendship of two historic Novgorod warriors, Vasili Buslai and Gavrilo Oleksich. Both become commanders and compete in courage and skill to win the hand of Olga Danilovna, a Novgorod maiden. Meanwhile, Vasilisa, daughter of a Pskov boyar killed by the Teutons, joins the Novgorod forces as a soldier. She fights alongside Vasili, throwing him a weapon when he is surrounded, and later finds and kills Ananias. Gavrilo and Vasili are both seriously wounded; Olga retrieves them from the battlefield. Though each defers to the other, Vasili ultimately declares that neither was the bravest—that honor goes to Vasi
- Director
- Sergei Eisenstein
- Release Year
- 1938
- Country
- Soviet Union
- Production Company
- Goskino via Mosfilm
- Title Role
- Nikolai Cherkasov as Prince Alexander Nevsky
- Composer
- Sergei Prokofiev
- Award
- Stalin Prize in 1941
Lore & Background
Eisenstein made the film in association with Dmitri Vasilyev and with a script co-written with Pyotr Pavlenko; they were assigned to ensure that Eisenstein did not stray into 'formalism' and to facilitate shooting on a reasonable timetable. The film was produced by Goskino via the Mosfilm production unit, with Nikolai Cherkasov in the title role and a musical score by Sergei Prokofiev. Eisenstein, Pavlenko, Cherkasov and Abrikosov were awarded the Stalin Prize in 1941 for the film.
The plot follows an army of the Teutonic Order invading and conquering the city of Pskov with the help of the traitor Tverdilo, and massacring its population. Novgorod is their next intended target. Despite resistance from the boyars and merchants of Novgorod, an appeal is made to Alexander Yaroslavich Nevsky to again become their prince and defend Novgorod. In the decisive Battle of the Ice, on the surface of frozen Lake Chudskoe, the Teutonic forces are defeated. Pskov is retaken, and Nevsky passes judgment: the surviving Teutonic foot-soldiers are set free, while the surviving Teutonic knights will be held for ransom.
The film contains elements of obvious allegory that reflect the political situation between the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany at the time of production. After 23 August 1939, when the USSR signed the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact, Alexander Nevsky was removed from circulation. However, the situation reversed dramatically on 22 June 1941 after the Axis invasion of the Soviet Union, and the film rapidly returned to Soviet and western screens.
Reader's Guide
Alexander Nevsky is significant as Eisenstein's first completed film in 10 years and his first sound film. It was a great success with audiences: on 15 April 1939, Semen Dukelsky reported that it had already been viewed by 23,000,000 people and was the most popular of the films made in recent times. The film's climax, the half-hour Battle of the Ice, propelled by Prokofiev's musical narrative, has served as a model for epic movie battles ever since. The collaboration between Eisenstein and Prokofiev in the editing process resulted in a match of music and imagery that remains a standard for filmmakers. In 1978, the film was included in the world's 100 best motion pictures according to an opinion poll conducted by the Italian publishing house Arnoldo Mondadori Editore. Russia Beyond considers the film one of the 10 best Russian war films. The film also conveys highly anti-clerical and anti-Catholic messages, and stresses as a central theme the importance of the common people in saving Russia, while portraying the nobles and merchants as 'bourgeoisie' and enemies of the people.
Did You Know?
- The film was the first and most popular of Eisenstein's three sound films.
- Eisenstein, Pavlenko, Cherkasov and Abrikosov were awarded the Stalin Prize in 1941 for the film.
- After the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact was signed in August 1939, the film was removed from circulation, but returned after the Axis invasion of the Soviet Union in June 1941.
- The film's score was composed by Sergei Prokofiev, who later reworked it into a concert cantata.
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