User reviews

I first saw this movie when I was about 12. Most recently I saw it on MST3000 and was appalled that they were making fun of it. It has some laughable moments and the quality of the print and the dubbing was poor even when I was 12 (and the movie was only 7). But the movie has some truly incredible scenes in it (the bad guy riding his horse to the top of hill made of the living bodies of his soldiers) and has a lot of content for a serious student of cinematic techniques.

While this film doesn't look as impressive today as it once did, you have to remember that it debuted here in 1956, when the big "epic" movie was DeMille's "The Ten Commandments," and this film has several things in common with it. This was a very, VERY big picture for 1956 Russia, and while technically there's no comparison with DeMille's picture, it has a kind of charming innocence that DeMille's definitely does not. The dated, over-the-top acting styles are common to both pictures, and while it sort of works for the Russian picture, it really doesn't for "Commandments," and was the one thing that always annoyed me about that picture (and pretty much all of DeMille's talkies, for that matter). I enjoyed the villains much more in "Sword and the Dragon," and the human pyramid scene is still astounding, as is the scene near the end where the Russian spearmen pincushion the Mongol chief and raise him, screaming and still impaled on their spears, above their heads; it was quite gruesome for 1956, and is still remembered by people who haven't seen the film for 20 years or more. Granted, some of the film is laughable--the simpering, pigtailed blonde girlfriend is a bit much--and some of the effects are pretty cheesy, but overall I still think it's an impressive accomplishment. The Russians put a lot of money into this movie, and for the most part it shows. The film is a bit lumbering, but not much more so than "The Ten Commandments," which is more highly regarded, and not entirely justifiably.

Overall, this is a somewhat goofy, charmingly dated but eminently watchable spectacle with some truly memorable scenes, so slip it in the VCR, pop open a beer, get some popcorn and see what passed for state-of-the-art cinema in 1956 Russia.

Just sit back and assume you are going to see something so strange that you'll either flee to reruns of Beastmaster, or fall in love with an enchanting film unlike anything you've ever seen. Its an old Soviet production from the mid fifties, filled with overacting in the best traditions of social realist acting, and that indeed is part of the charm. But it is so much more, a child like wonder land of wind demons, magic swords, squirrels beating on mushrooms like bongo drums, and some of the best darn villians ever created. I first saw this in a theater when I was a kid and fell in love with the tale, so much so that it actually impacted my life in a major way. I wound up in a library, a ten year old wanting to read about Russian history, folktales, and above all else, the Mongols, who are the bad guys in the film. Well, I now spend my summers in Mongolia working on archaeological digs, have wandered around Russia doing the same, and though I teach American history on the college level, this film triggered a life long love of the exotic world of old Rus and the "Tugar," i.e. Mongol Hordes. . .along with the science fiction novels I write in which a Mongol like Horde are the major antagonists. For that alone I'm grateful to the weird genius of Ptushko, the director of this and several other equally strange movies. When I ran a college film series as a student I ordered this one up for what I guess you could call a "stoner's night," the old routine of strange cartoons, "Reefer Madness," and such. Everyone went nuts over "The Sword and the Dragon," and said it was the best of the night! Some of my favorite moments, the tower of human bodies, the great dancing girl routine, the 1000 lb envoy, the dancing squirrel, the wind demon, and the beautiful entry scene in the the court of Prince Vander. . .a moment as beautiful as any put on film and one of a couple of songs that are in Russian. So, go ahead and call it goofy. . .it might haunt your nightmares, you might just freak, call me a nut and turn it off in ten minutes. . .or you might get haunted by the film and watch it again and again. "Bravo Ilya Murometz!"

This film looks like it had very impressive production values. Huge sets, a rather decent looking monster and other things one associates with a big time budget. What it lacks is a coherent story, however, this may be more due to the fact this is a heavily edited American cut of the film, cut even more so by the fact I saw it on MST3K. What I saw warrants a score of three, mainly due to the fact it seemed to randomly jump from scene to scene. If I ever see a print of the film as it was meant to be seen I will gladly score and review it again, but now I have to review the film as I saw it. Unfortunately, what I saw in terms of story was a convoluted mess.

The story is the main problem, but I will attempt to explain the main gist of it as I saw it. A man is crippled, unable to move, an evil warlord type is plundering the land and a strange hero who may as well not been in the film at all dies and wishes for these men to pass his sword to another. Well, these men find the poor man who is crippled and witnessed his village pillaged and his wife taken by the horde and they make him better and give him the sword that he does not use very often at all during the film. He goes to the prince of the kingdom's palace (why not a king?) and brings him this creature that blows wind. At a point he is reunited with his wife, only to promptly leave her side again and she is again captured, for some strange reason the prince locks up the hero and during this time the wife has their son a big battle occurs where the hero has a plan that does not really seem like a plan. You just know there is something being missed of vital importance, unfortunately during the early years when they dubbed these films they often times did less translating and more insert whatever sort of make sense and that seems the case here.

The title of "The Sword and the Dragon" makes one think that both play a vital role in this film. Well neither does, as the hero rarely pulls the sword out and the dragon only has a short scene in the beginning and a longer scene at the end. It looks very good, however, as it reminded me of Godzilla's foe King Gidorah. It looks like they made a fairly large sized model of it too. My guess is though that the original Russian title made no reference to either the sword or the dragon.

The set pieces in this one looked great. The forest the hero goes to looks really good with its large and twisted trees. They also do an okay job at a full scale battle, though one will see that there really was not much done during the battle after the two sides rushed each other. The castle and village look good and like I said the production did a great job especially considering it was 1956. It is one of the reasons I have to believe that the story would be much better if it was not dubbed. I just do not see them putting all this effort into everything else, but not the story.

So, from what I saw it was a incoherent movie with great scenery and a cool looking dragon. I am sure the film would be better if seen in its original Russian, but I saw what I saw and that is what I reviewed. I know a lot of people bash MST3K at times for putting down movies such as these, but without them I never would have seen this film at all and I bet that goes for a lot of other people as well. It is also not their fault that the film was horribly reedited and dubbed for American audiences. It was, for me, an interesting watch and in the end most certainly not one of the worst films I have seen them do.

I remember seeing this film on the "Million Dollar Movie" on channel 9 {in the New York area} in the early 60s and I also had the Dell comic book adaptation.As a child it was impressive and it still holds up today.Basically its the story of the legendary Ilya Murometz{the Russian Giant}and his attempt to rid his land of the invading Tugars-in reality Mongols-who had their name changed for this film.The film features beautiful color photography, some massive battle scenes set against an Eisenstein like darkening sky, decent special effects like the Wind Demon, the Pig Man , the three headed fire dragon and some musical numbers too,including a sexy belly dancer at the Tugar's camp-adolescent fantasy material! .There probably is a pro Soviet message, but due to the fall of the Soviet Union it is no longer relevant.The acting which has often been criticized is actually pretty good on its own level, its just the English dubbing that somewhat works against it.An early example of the medieval themed "sword and sorcery" genre that became briefly popular in the 80s with films like "Excalibur" and "Conan the Barbarian", this one is entertaining, well produced and has an overall sense of innocence and wonder about it that is hard to resist. It may not be perfect, but it does what it has to do very well. Give it a shot. You might enjoy it.

This is a spectacle filled movie and I actually did just now watch the English version just only to understand what they are saying better. I am impressed by the life-size dragon that is used here and anyone into this type of monster should also check out Colossus and the Stone Age which has a life size water serpent and also a crawling dragon. Some of the parts like the deceit are a routine thing in kingly scenes, otherwise the narrative moves along spiffily to upkeep interest. The Sword and the Dragon, bravo Ilya Muromets.

I heartily agree, it was always a childhood favorite. The music is haunting and the scenery is beautiful. I have memorized most of the lines and how many times have I wished for Ilya's magic cloth? O for a steed like Chesnut Grey!

The special effects are precious, only those of us you truly enjoy 50's sci fi movies can appreciate the dragon, the wind demon and the forest creatures during the weaving scene.

I have tried to find an uncut version of this film because its hard edit indicate that there may be missing scenes. The Russians really know how to stage an epic! See it if you can.

I just watched it for the first time, the original Russian-language version restored in 2001. I really enjoyed it. It definitely belonged on MST3K. I grew up in USSR but somehow never saw it as a child. Maybe it was not broadcast because it needed restoration, maybe because it's pretty ridiculous. Probably the former.

As somebody noted, the make-up job on Solovey-razboynik (wind devil?) is pretty impressive. He shows up about 10-15 mins into the film.

Note a repeating theme on the soundtrack, an interesting rip-off of Ravel's Bolero.

This film would definitely suffer a lot from bad dubbing. The original dialogue really suits the acting. It is a pastiche of Russian epic tales, and half of it is written in blank verse in a certain meter: two anapests, one trochee, one dactyl.

Tamara Nosova played a maid at Vladimir's palace and is not credited on IMDb. You just get a few glimpses of her.

First things first: Get ahold of a good recording of Rheinhold Gliere's 1908-11 Op.42 - his Third Symphony - "Ilya Muromets".... Take a long drive in the most spectacular countryside you can find and make it a LONG drive as the symphony is 85 minutes LONG! In the grand tradition, then, of master Russian composers, Gliere' (think Bruckner or Mahler with Wagnerian overtones in a strong Russian accent!) created a complex and moving masterpiece of visual splendor. Google Gliere' and see what I mean; this masterwork is greatly beloved worldwide. You and the little kids must see this epic film of the bylini, or MYTH of Ilya Muromets. If you get the DVD, I suggest watching it with the symphony in your headphones and the remote in your hand. You will be able, with creative effort and grand delight, to 'orchestrate' the movie to the music, and vice-versa! It will thrill you even more to be such an interactive participant. In what for this writer is an indelible childhood memory: standing in a LONG line outside the Lowes Theater on Grand Avenue in St. Louis, Missouri - after drooling over the TV commercials for weeks- then being totally enthralled by Ptushko's theatrics and cinematic wonders on the Big Screen! But to top it off, dear Daddy took us home and cranked up the old SCOTT HI FI, put the 1956 Columbia recording of the #3 in B Minor by the Philaelphia Orchestra with Eugene Ormandy (see the review at AMAZON by Avrohom Leichtling of Botstein's version with the LSO) and we acted it out all over again! What a stirring memory even now as I type these words! SO....Get this movie and see it with a couple of six and seven year old boys and pretend right along with them!

This russian movie is so weird trippy kooky. I love that!

As much as I loathe dubbing, sword and the dragon in english just makes you realize a huge chunk was lost in translation. Why is Ilja stuck on the throne? What's the deal with the flag in the barrel? The ominous Tugars (love that name!) cause havoc and what was Ilja's plan anyway: let's close our eyes and pray we're lucky?? Oh, and the coincidence of meeting Falcon would've been better if he stuck a sword through him and then saw the ring! Goofy fun that goes well with jugs of Stolichnaya.

I've seen this with Mike and the Bots and it's hilarious. I'm sure in its original russian, the movie makes much more sense. But the dub, it's crazy goofy!

Like many who have reviewed the film before me, I saw this first as a child at a theater. The action parts impressed me, tremendous battle scenes with thousands of extras. The Wind Demon impressed me as did the Mountain of men, and the mountain of gold. Plot points were lost on me as was the erotic dance scenes. I remembered the heroic music, the beautiful scenery and the magic rug. It was with trepidation that I screened a you tube positing. If ever a movie cried out for restoration, it is this one. The color was faded to the point of being black and white. The print was fairly clean, but to view this on my small computer monitor made the loss of spectacle even more noticeable. One reads among the reviews the Soviet propaganda slant the people saw in the movie. It was based on a folk tale hero, one who like in the heros of our westerns of old, were straight shooters. Ilia plead his allegiance to the land, and those who work it. He would not be swayed by wealth nor power, from doing the right thing. You may call me old fashioned, but these time honored virtues are sore lacking in todays media. The Dragon of the title makes a very late appearance in he film, and is rather easily dispatched, still this was one of the first three headed fire breathing flying dragons I had ever seen in movies, and that alone boosts its "awesome to kids" factor way up. Glad I re watched it.

Uneven, clunky, confusing and occasionally vivid and startling.

This film is finally available in restored form and that's the version I'm reviewing. I've not seen the original release which was recut and revoiced, though I sense that version may be better in some ways. An impressive production that's not particularly interesting as far as the way it's directed.

The original version feels very long and often makes very little sense, characters come and go and it's hard to keep track amid the many beautiful travelogue footage of a mythically perfect Russia--no doubt a selling point and reason the film was made by the Communist Government of the time.

The pacing is ponderous and also features slow fade to blacks, on that level it's all pretty primitive filmmaking even for when it was made. Acting is all shouting and posing though broken up by many songs. The male charcters pose and yell like Soviet heroes but interesting most of the women's roles are mostly songs.

All this being said, the photograhy is mostly beautiful and though the special effects are uneven there are some well done painted shots that you can't really tell if they are real or painted. Big heavy costumes must slow the actors movements too. Optical effects are mostly excellent after a weak opening sceen involving a giant.

Some startling images and impressive scope of ships and forces mostly come later in the film, as does the one giant monster in the film. So if you come only for those elements you might as well start watching 20 minutes before the ending.

This is a story that could./would make more sense if you already know Russian folk tales and yes, it's epic is size, but few scenes feature lots of creatures or fantasy elements.

There are some vivid moments and images, a few recall Kurosawa who was a major international influence on films of the time, though could just be coincidence. Frankly this needed a better filmmaker and much better script to really hold together.

I give this movie a 10 on the basis that it provided me with countless hours enjoyment when I was a child. Though many years have past since first viewing this movie, it still holds true today that there is good and there is evil. There is sorrow and there is joy. There is pain and there are miracles. This movie has it all not to mention a few extra childhood fantasy's. Ilya Muromets was my hero. "Bravo Ilya Muromets, Bravo". It was my favorite childhood movie.

The story of Ilja Muromets requires severe suspension disbelief. Even in the weirdly dubbed American version it plays as a pro-workers film. There is a political message not so hidden here, but you can ignore it rather easily.

The plot is very innocent with a lame hero becoming healed and so that he can go off and fight the invading Mongols. Its grand fantasy with semi-special effects that are wonderfully of the period, and fit the gentle style. (Gentle even with the huge battle scenes) The trick is to give yourself over to it ,on its terms, and you'll have a great time. And yes its completely silly and over the top, despite seeming rather serious.

The director, Aleksandr Ptushko, specialized in fantasies of this sort. I think this is the best, with the other films like Ruslan and Ludmila, or Sadko (The Magic Voyage of Sinbad) or Sampo (The Day the Earth Froze) suffering from pacing problems, despite having fantastic visuals. (indeed Sampo is so dull as to put on into a deep coma) If you like this film then try Ruslan or Sadko.

If you click into this you'll love it. Since I do I give it 10 out of 10. Your mileage may vary, even as you laugh your ass off at at it.

Having really enjoyed all of what I've seen of Alexandr Ptushko's films so far(my favourites being Stone Flower and The Tale of Tsar Sultan), I knew that I would want to see Ilya Muromets, or The Epic Hero and the Beast/Sword and the Dragon. And this was despite the fact that it got dubbed and the MST3K treatment. If you saw the dubbed version, like with Sadko(The Magic Voyages of Sinbad) and Sampo(The Day the Earth Froze)- though not as badly affected- you'd think that Ilya Muromets was cheesy, over-the-top and senseless. But actually in my opinion, like with those other two films, if seen in its Russian version it is a beautiful and fun fantasy film that is easy to see why the gushing reviewers were captivated by it so much in childhood. I can understand why people will find that the actors over-act, I consider the acting quite noble and in keeping with the film's style and that the dub makes things too overly-broad. In terms of the film's titles also, the most fitting is the Russian one Ilya Muromets, the English ones are rather misleading in comparison. Even today Ilya Muromets looks really good, the cinematography is sweeping and the costumes and sets are gorgeous and colourful to watch. The special effects to me hold up pretty well, some better than others(the wind demon for example is much better designed than the dragon), with a really endearing charm to them. The music score is heroic and rousing, lyrical and beautiful, not once does it jar with any scene. The story is enthralling, there is a real sense of adventure that is sometimes wonderfully surreal but always thrilling yet there is a strong Russian folk-tale feel about it. Plus unlike its dub it's actually coherent. Ptusko does a splendid job directing, he never allows the film to be dull and just looking at it alone you can tell it's a Ptushko film. In conclusion, a very good and beautiful film and a fantasy unlike any other. While it is the least badly affected of the Ptushko films dubbed and MST3K-treated, it is deserving of a much better chance, deservedly the dubs are torn to shreds but it's not always remembered that the original Russian versions are really good films. 8/10 Bethany Cox

I really love the quirky nature of these Russian fairy tale films. Nutzoid english dubbing only enhances the warp factor (The US version entitled 'The Sword and the Dragon' even has Mike Wallace as a narrator) The characters are often quite bizarre (The makeup job on the wind demon is just too much, and I'm in love with the sword slinging dancing girl near the end of the film) Top it off with nifty puppetry (the dragon seems to clearly have been the inspiration for Japan's Ghidrah) makes this a true gem of kidvid madness!! I can't wait for the letterboxed Russian restoration which is scheduled to appear on DVD the end of 2001!!!

I remember this movie well as a kid going to see it in theater which is the only place it really should be seen. The Sword And The Dragon is the English dubbed version of the Russian film about their legendary hero, Ilya Murometz. In size and scope it's like some of Charlton Heston's films at the time.

In the Russian culture Ilya Murometz is a knight errant with no membership at anybody's Round Table. Several of the stories about him are included in The Sword And The Dragon. The main plot line however is the repelling of those rather ugly looking Asiatics who are called Tugars in this film as opposed to Tartars.

A Russian subject is best done by Russians. I have to say in watching the film again if you stop it at just about any given point it will look like a medieval painting or tapestry. The way D.W. Griffith's Birth Of A Nation looks like a moving picture of that Matthew Brady could have produced had moving pictures been invented then. The set designers should get lots of recognition for their achievement.

The special effects, the wind demon, the dragon also come in for kudos. They're out of date now, but Cecil B. DeMille couldn't have done better. I'm sure the Russians probably studied his work to get it right.

I'm glad to read that the film has been restored. After being in theaters here it was on Million Dollar Movie for years and I saw it many times during the Sixties.

I'll bet it would do good business for a family audience even today.

Ilya Muromets is straight out of Russian folklore. This film is based on some of those stories. It may look dated to modern eyes, and weird to Western eyes, but it's actually a love letter to the legends of that great Russian folk hero, Ilya Muromets.

The part with the Wind Demon is based on the story that features Ilya's meeting with Nightingale the Robber (Solovei-Razboinik). I honestly love it!

The Ilya of legend was known to be temperamental, and this is well and accurately depicted in this movie.

I do wish that Ilya's wife, who is named Vasilisa in the Russian version, would be named Vasya, the actual diminutive of that name, instead of Vilya in the English version. Ilya and Vilya sound too alike. Vasya would have differentiated between the two of them much better.

Aside from that, I really enjoy this movie. It's super fun.

It is not easy to say why. To write about a familiar world, seductive - provocative scenes, the fairy tale air and the many stories about Bogatyrs is not exactly enough. The film gives more than an ordinary fantasy can give. Not the map of a fantastic world and remind of fundamental values but the flavors of a lost universe , so Russian than it is , certainly, universal. A lovely film , a great trip. Eccentric and silly and exagerated in few scenes, it is one of good return to fundamental values about things defining the heroic life.