A group of pilgrims are given a magic sword by an ancient Svyatogor. He tells the pilgrims to take care of the sword. He and his horse then turn into a mountain.
Ilya ivanovich Muromets (Boris Andreyev) was born in rural Russia during medieval times. He has been crippled since childhood. All he can do is watch the world go by from the window of his house. The land is being ravaged by the Tugars under the direction of Tsar Kalin (Shukur Burkhanov). One day the village is attacked by the Tsar’s troops. Ilya’s betrothed, Vasilisa (Ninel Myshkova) is kidnapped. Ilya can do nothing about it but watch. One of the villagers, Mishatychka (Sergey Martinson), is caught by the Tugars. He agrees to betray his people in exchange for his life.
In the aftermath of the raid the group of pilgrims arrives looking to rest a while. Ilya welcomes them in. When they learn that he is paralyzed, they give him a magic potion that heals his paralysis and gives him strength. The pilgrims then give him the sword of the Svyatogor. Ilya promises to use the weapon for good. He is then given a small horse by a neighbor that, by the use of magic, turns into a giant steed.
Ilya heads off to serve his country and fight against the Tugars. On his way he runs afoul of a creature of the forest, Nightingale the Robber. He captures the creature and brings him to the city of Kiev, and to Prince Vladimir (Andrei Abrikosov). The prince gives him a ring and makes him a knight. Ilya then rescues Vasilisa from the Tugars.
Ilya goes off on a mission. While he is away the Tugars attack and Vasilisa is once again kidnapped. Mishatychka tells the prince that Ilya is a traitor and is working with the Tugars. When Ilya returns, he is thrown in the dungeon. Years pass. Tsar Kalin decides to once again assault Kiev. Prince Vladimir learns of Mishatychka’s deception. His only hope is to beg Ilya’s forgiveness and ask him to defend Kiev against the Tugars. Only this time Ilya comes up against an adversary he never knew existed.
“Ilya Muromets” AKA “The Sword and the Dragon” AKA “The Epic Hero and the Beast” was released in 1956 and was directed by Aleksandr Ptusko. It is a Soviet operetta style epic folktale fantasy and was based on Old Russian oral epic poems.
The visuals in this film are stunning. There are also a few great battles and a three headed fire breathing dragon. I found the movie to be quite enchanting.
A svyatogor is a legendary giant Russian knight that, at the end of its life, turns into a mountain. His name means ‘sacred mountain’.
I refuse to associate this film with Roger Corman and his production company in any way. Sure in 1960 he dubbed the film into English, with Paul Frees as the voice of Tsar Kalin, Mike Wallace as the narrator, and Americanized the names, but I have no desire to watch that particular version of the film. I saw what he did to “Sadko” in his Americanized version called “The Magic Voyage of Sinbad”, and it was embarrassing.