The Seeds of Ivan's Dreadful Personality
The seeds of Ivan's dreadful personality were sewn in his early life. He was born into poverty, neglected and left to beg for food as a boy. His father died when he was just three years old and his mother passed away when he was eight. Ivan and his deaf-mute brother, Iurii, were largely treated as street urchins.
Ivan's Vengeful Plots
His miserable childhood led to his vengeful plots against the aristocracy and those who oppressed him. He ordered his first murder when he was thirteen and began to devise cruel methods of torturing and killing anyone he suspected of being his enemy.
The Formation of the Oprichniki
He formed a private army called the Oprichniki which were completely loyal to him and they slaughtered everyone who was an enemy of the Czar. He also persecuted the wealthy and influential families and forced them to be exiled or executed.
A Turning Point in Russian History
Ivan's tyrannical rule was a turning point in the history of Russia as it led to the establishment of centralized control and the destruction of many of the hereditary nobility. This became known as the oprichnina and was a period of civil war in sixteenth-century Moscow that ended with Ivan's death.
Part I: Ivan's Crowning - 1547
In the first part of Ivan the Terrible, we see Ivan from his coronation to his voluntary exile in Alexandrov. From there, we get a glimpse of the struggles of the newly-crowned tsar to thwart both the boyars (the feudal nobility) and the hold of the church.
Eisenstein's Stylized Film
Eisenstein's film is a bit more stylized than his earlier films, such as Alexander Nevsky, and there are plenty of exaggerated moments here, both in the acting and the cinematography. However, it is a masterful piece of work which has been shown to be very relevant to the Soviet Union and its people at the time it was made.
The Ruthlessness of Ivan the Terrible
The main protagonist of the film is Ivan Vasil'evich Groznyi, also known as "Ivan the Terrible." He was the first tsar of Russia and he ruled from 1547 until his death in 1584. He was a man of great ruthlessness and he was responsible for the creation of the modern Russian state.
Brutality and Sadism
His rage and impulsiveness led him to brutally kill people, including his son and heir. In one particularly savage moment, Ivan the Terrible beat his pregnant daughter-in-law to death.
The Oprichniki
Stalin praised Ivan the Terrible as the greatest of all Russian tsars, but the fact remains that he was a sadistic tyrant who killed thousands of his people. He even created a private army to protect him, the Oprichniki, which wore black uniforms and rode black horses with brooms hung from their saddles.
A Masterpiece of Soviet Cinema
This film is a masterpiece of Soviet cinema and it is the last of Sergei Eisenstein's sound films. It is an important historical work, and a brilliant example of propaganda at a time when fascism was on the rise.
Russian Costume Drama and Shakespearean Tragedy
Ivan the Terrible is a classic film which combines elements of Russian costume drama and Shakespearean tragedy. It is a brilliant film that reflects the era in which it was made and has been described as the finest ever made in Russia.
