Vladimir Etush Movies
Director Madeshda Koschewerowa whose first film was released in 1929 and who is best known for a 1947 production of Cinderella, is still in fine form in this mid-'80s version of a story by Charles Perrault. (Another, French version of the same story directed by Jacques Demy was released in 1970.) With great sets and costuming, the tale is about star-crossed lovers, an evil stepmother, and a magical donkey. Princess Theresa is set to marry the young Prince Jacques -- but her stepmother has other plans. Preying on the king's own weakness, the stepmother exacts a promise he feels bound to keep -- but that promise is anathema to the princess. Even though her fairy godmother and the magic donkey come to her aid, it is not enough. So she flees the castle and discards her royal trappings to become a beggar -- yet Prince Jacques still loves her and sets out to marry her, no matter what.
~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Vladimir Etush, Svetlana Nemolyaeva, (more)
- 1973
Absent-minded inventor Shurik (Alexander Demyanenko) has built a time machine in his Moscow apartment. Due to the machine's malfunctioning, his apartment complex manager Ivan Vasilievich (Yuri Yakovlev) and a suave burglar (Leonid Kuravlev) are transposed back to the times of Ivan the Terrible, while the dreaded Czar himself (also played by Yakovlev) turns up in modern-day Moscow. Since Ivan Vasilievich and his royal namesake look alike, various funny complications arise, and Shurik desperately tries to return things back to normal. This Soviet sci-fi comedy is loosely based on the play Ivan Vasilievich by Mikhail Bulgakov. ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Yuri Yakovlev, Leonid Kuravlev, (more)
Sent to the mountain region of Caucasus to study the local folklore, Shurik (Alexander Demyanenko) falls for beautiful student Nina (Natalya Varley). Then some crooks persuade him that she is already engaged to another man and, according to the ancient tradition, she should be kidnapped by the groom. Only later does Shurik realize that he has inadvertently become part of a plot to force Nina to wed a corrupt local bureaucrat (Vladimir Etush). He and his friend then devise an ingenious plan to rescue the girl. ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Alexander Demyanenko, Natalya Varley, (more)
- 1955
The titular Gadfly in this Russian film is the illegitimate son of an Italian cardinal. The time is the 19th century, when Italy is under Austrian rule. The hero rallies his countrymen to battle for Italian independence. After several narrow escapes, the Gadfly is captured and executed by firing squad; in the very last moments, his father finally acknowledges the Gadfly's true family heritage. Oleg Strizhenov is the star of this filmization of Ethel L. Voynich's 19th century novel. The film's impressive visuals are augmented by Dmitri Shostakovich's thrilling musical score. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Oleg Strizhenov, Nikolai Simonov, (more)
