Vasily Livanov Movies

In this watchable sci fi story based on a novel by Sergei Pavlov, the time is the 21st century, and the space security organization has a dangerous situation on its hands -- it seems four individuals from outer space have the ability to change form and to affect radio transmissions and magnetic fields. Their powers could threaten governments on earth and seem to derive from an unusual accident on one of the moons of Uranus shortly after four astronauts landed. Now the space police have to bring this potentially disastrous situation under control. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide

In this film first-time director Nikolai Skuybin tackles the differences between a fairly complacent middle class and the increasingly disaffected lower classes in Moscow. On a cold evening in the dead of winter, a social gathering in a comfortable city apartment is interrupted by an urgent knocking at the door -- a young and obviously poor woman is seeking refuge on this inhospitable evening. After the apartment owners decide to accommodate the woman, they are led on a downward spiral that takes them to the lowest echelons of society. In the end, the police come into the picture, and class divisions become more obvious. The director's subtle defense of the young people's viewpoint in the film might be weakened a little by the complexities of the plotline, otherwise, the film is an interesting sketch of new issues in Russian life at this time. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide

This lavishly costumed historical epic had an estimated $100 million price tag. Spectacularly photographed battle action contrasts with often plodding individual scenes that bog down the plot. Fearing his growing power, European monarchs force Napoleon Bonaparte (Rod Steiger) to abdicate as Emperor and retire to Elba, and the French are concerned they will be outnumbered by a force of combined armies from many countries in Europe. Napoleon no sooner says goodbye to his loyalist troops than he begins to rally his men and prepare for another takeover. King Louis XVIII (Orson Welles) sends Marshal Michel Ney (Dan O'Herlihy) and his men to counter Bonaparte, but upon seeing his old commander (and ally), Ney thrusts his sword to the ground and takes up arms with the deposed emperor. They all return to Paris by popular demand, defying the orders of Louis (who flees from the palace) and running the monarchy tout seul. Soon England, Austria, Prussia and Russia unite to try and stop the dictator. Wellington (Christopher Plummer) readies his troops near Waterloo, refuses to retreat anymore, and waits for Prussian Marshall Blucher (Sergei Zakhariadze) and his army to join up with the British as the only hope to stop the French juggernaut. Jack Hawkins and Michael Wilding portray key military commanders Picton and Ponosby, respectively. Napoleon and his troops cut into the Prussian and British forces dramatically, weakening their power, but three problems arise. First, Ney refuses to lead his segment of the troops onward; and second, Bonaparte's men are plagued by the wet weather, which causes
the cannon brigade to become immobilized in mud (when Wellington strategically gives Bonaparte's troops the lower ground) rendering it ineffective until late in the day. And even more calamitously, Bonaparte - growing increasingly ill -- insists on leading his men from the rear, which causes the information to become outdated as soon as it gets to him. The Russian version of this film was nearly four hours long, while western audiences saw an edited version slightly over two hours long. Unfortunately, Waterloo bombed at the box office. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide

In this propaganda film that embraces pacifism, a German boy of 19 moves to Russia with his parents. He comes upon the body of a German woman who has willfully killed herself to avoid being captured by the Russians. In an incredible sequence of events, Germans take up arms against SS troops towards the end of the war. The young man liberates a concentration camp before deciding that war is futile. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide

Underlying human aspects of behavior are ignored in this political and psychological drama by I. Bityukov about three different physicians as they launch into their medical careers. One of the doctors is no more than a charming fellow, another is rebellious, and the last is filled with a desire to serve in an area that needs doctors the most, so he does. He (no females among the medicos) heads off to a remote location to dedicate himself to the underprivileged community and on arrival soon finds two attractive women vying for his favors. Rather than probing under the surface, the drama goes on to note how the rebel comes to see the light and how social consciousness is the only way to go. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide