Reportedly filmed it Stalin's personal suggestion, Part I glorified the 16th century prince who overcame the power of Russia's feudal lords and the treachery of his own friends and family to forge the Russian nation
Although Ivan resorted to cruel and often repugnant means to achieve his goals, the end results, at least in Eisenstein's eyes, made the means acceptable
Condemned by some critics as unbearably slow and ponderous, Part I of "Ivan the Terrible" is regarded by others as a towering work of genius... It is easy to understand why Stalin, one of the most ruthless of leaders, approved the first half of the epic; it is equally easy to see why Part II, completed in 1946, was banned by an irate government
Far less effective than Part I, it shows Peter becoming increasingly insane, overwhelmed by hate, bitterness, and doubt as to the legitimacy of his mission Eisenstein suffered a heart attack on the day he completed editing the film, and he died in 1948 For a decade thereafter his completed masterwork remained under official proscription; it received its first screening in 1958, five years after Stalin's death
Condemned by some critics as unbearably slow and ponderous, Part I of "Ivan the Terrible" is regarded by others as a towering work of genius... It is easy to understand why Stalin, one of the most ruthless of leaders, approved the first half of the epic; it is equally easy to see why Part II, completed in 1946, was banned by an irate government
Far less effective than Part I, it shows Peter becoming increasingly insane, overwhelmed by hate, bitterness, and doubt as to the legitimacy of his mission Eisenstein suffered a heart attack on the day he completed editing the film, and he died in 1948 For a decade thereafter his completed masterwork remained under official proscription; it received its first screening in 1958, five years after Stalin's death