Le tour du monde de Sadko

For the past month or so Russian fantasy films have really captivated me. Sadko certainly did that with me. Sadly the dubbed version(named The Magic Voyage of Sinbad) is one that should never have happened, it is absurdest rather than magical and replaces any thrills or wonder with unintentional humour and dullness. The Russian original(Sadko) has that sense of fun and magic, there is a little too much talk and the acting did seem a little stiff at times. However, it looks wonderful, the sets and costumes are eye-catching, the special effects have a sweep and charm to them and the colour just leaps out at you in a thrilling dazzle. The music is similarly beautiful, very like Rimsky-Korsakov, and the Russian Folk Dancing is both energetic and magnetic in how it is performed and choreographed. The story has the fun, thrill and wonder you'd hope for in a fantasy film and done in a way to captivate children and adults alike. The characters are like out of a fairy-tale but not done in a bland way. There is some stiffness in the acting sure, but there is also a certain nobility too especially in the titular role that matches the characters very well. In conclusion, I liked it very much but I do absolutely agree with those who say the original Russian version is the one to see. 8/10 Bethany Cox

The original Russian version with subtitles is one you should consider watching than the English dubbed version of Sadko called the ''magic voyage of Sinbad''. Not to say the English version is not worth watching but how can one make more of a masterpiece when it is already an acclaimed masterpiece and doesn't need any salt and pepper (re-dubbed & re-cut) to spice it up. The result can be devastating if you've already seen the original (Sadko 1952).

There are good and bad comments about this film, thanks to the re-dubbed version. I'm sure everyone that has seen the original version (sadko) will give it at least an 8 out of 10.

Someone made a comment that the film is goofy because Sinbad wasn't wet when he visited the great kingdom at the bottom of the sea and how did he manage to hold his breath that long. Well... the film is a fairy tale, not a documentary or reality show...nothing is real and it would have looked goofy if they were wet. As a matter of fact the underwater scenes are a feast for the eyes and a big step in special effects during its time (1952). This film should be treated with more respect. I'm sure if these critics see the original(sadko 1952), their views will be totally different. And I think ''the magic voyage of sinbad'' should not be credited with ''SADKO''. Little is known about sadko while magic voyage of sinbad was well advertised 10 years later. That explains the reason why sadko suffers the bitterness of its good for nothing sequel, magic voyage of sinbad 1962. Like I said, ''SADKO 1952'' is a classic and a masterpiece nothing more or less.

Based on a Rimsky Korsakov opera, Sadko is a 1953 Russian fantasy film directed by Aleksandr Ptushko, in which the heroic, handsome protagonist, played by Sergey Stolyarov, represents the socialist ideology by seeking to bring happiness to the poor and downtrodden people of his home city, while the evils of the capitalist West are portrayed by the city's selfish, money-hungry merchants. Almost a decade after the film's original release, the always enterprising Roger Corman had Sadko re-edited (by none other than Francis Ford Coppola), dubbed and retitled as The Magic Voyage of Sinbad, making it suitable for an American audience.

I watched the film in its Westernised format, but even though names and places have been changed, I still found it charming, retaining enough of its Russian-ness to make it a unique experience. Sailor Sadko - now called Sinbad - arrives in the city of Kobasan (originally Novgorod) and is dismayed to see the poor folk struggling to live while the merchants only get richer. He decides to set sail on a quest to find the legendary bird of happiness, which will make everything better, but after several adventures - battles with vikings, a narrow scrape in India, and an encounter with Neptune in his underwater kingdom - he learns that happiness was in Novgorod all along.

Don't expect any Harryhausen-style special effects in this particular 'Sinbad' movie - there aren't any. Instead we get rather more basic movie magic, including some very unconvincing model boats, but the cheapness of the visuals only adds to the film's appeal, highlights including the phoenix with a woman's head (actually very effective), the puppet fish and octopus in Neptune's palace (not so effective but very funny), and Sinbad riding a giant seahorse (simply bizarre). The acting is extremely operatic in nature, especially from Stolyarov, whose facial expressions, physical mannerisms and gesticulations are a marvel to behold - he's a master of the 'blue steel and stare into the distance with a wistful gaze' technique. Also expect some impressive dancing from the Kobasan peasants and eye-candy in the form of Sinbad's love interest Lyubava (Alla Larionova) and Neptune's beautiful daughter Morgiana (Ninel Myshkova).

I've heard that the original Russian movie is the superior version, but while that may be the case, I still found Corman's cut to be a fun way to spend 85 minutes.

_Sadko_ is a masterpiece of cinematic fantasy - there doesn't seem to be one frame that doesn't enthral, and the recreations of medieval Ukraine and India are unsurpassed by any other historical/fantasy film. The dubbed American version, _The Magic Voyage of Sinbad_, is a bit of a travesty, but I recently saw the complete Russian version with subtitles at a Ptushko retrospective which was going around the country, so it may soon be possible to finally get the real thing on video.

This is a visually splendid film version of an old Russian legend, which was the basis of an opera by Rimsky-Korsakov. The plot has been altered somewhat to enhance its appeal as a film, and , in the English version, the names of the characters and even locations have been completely changed, giving a most bizarre effect! The eponymous hero is now " Sinbad", and he is now a citizen of " Kobasan" instead of Novgorod. Some of the special effects are a little crude, but the art direction is often stunning. The acting style and even the makeup reflect Russian films of the fifties, and show an affinity to operatic style. Even the score borrows liberally from Rimsky-Korsakov. My advice to the viewer of the English version is to turn the sound so low as to be inaudible, and enjoy the visuals !