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.
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.