Ruslan and Ludmila (Руслан и Людмила)

MOSFILM

Artistic Association "Yunost"

RUSLAN AND LUDMILA

Based on the poem by A.S. PUSHKIN

Screenplay by A. PTUSHKO with collaboration of S. BOLOTIN

Directed by A. PTUSHKO

Directors of Photography I. GUELEIN, V. ZAKHAROV

Production Designer Ye. SERGANOV

Costume Designer O. KRUCHININA

Music by Tikhon KHRENNIKOV

Sound by I. URVANTSEV

Starring:

Valery KOZINETS as Ruslan Natalya PETROVA as Ludmila

Vladimir FYODOROV as Chernomor Maria KAPNIST-SERKO as Naina

A. ABRIKOSOV as Prince Vladimir I. YASULOVICH as Finn

V. NEVINNY as Farlaf

O. MOKSHANTSEV as Rogdai R. AKHMETOV as Ratmir

S. MARTINSON, N. NIKOLAYEV N. KUTUZOV, Sh. GAZIEV

as Foreign Ambassadors

V. SHULGIN as Head E. KIVI-ANTSON as Fisherwoman

N. KHRENNIKOVA as Young Naina

A. KRYCHENKOV as Jester

O. KHABALOV as Pecheneg Warlord Yu. KIREYEV as Russian Warrior

An honest tale of bygone days,

A legend of heroic ways...

I liberate you, Oh Pechenegs.

Your promise hold for evermore,

Remember, Holy Russia

Must be untouched by hands of war!

Warrior bold, gallant and true,

Your victory was sent by Fate!

Fly now to Kiev, Eagle of Stars,

Where your loved one does you wait.

Highness, the victory is ours!

Broken is the prisoner's chain.

Ruslan once more has won the battle.

He's now hurrying back again!

Let everyone be summoned here!

Sweet Mother Russia we shall praise!

The heart rejoices, our folk's free,

The brimming wine cup to our lips we'll raise!

Vladimir, true Prince and our Savior!

Father of Russia, now free!

You whose realm knows no equal,

Wear you the crown of victory!

Fate is against us, Oh my father, Ludmila to another man'll be wed.

'Tis better we should hope abandon. The maid will never grace my bed.

Wait, dear son, profound my plans.

I'll talk to the Pecheneg Khan.

Not ours, but other hands Will arrange the demise of Ruslan!

Ah warrior, I'm glad to see

Your coming back with victory! So many long long nights and days

I sat at the window and I gazed And then afar I seemed to hear

The battle noises ringing clear.

And my reward of victory

Was to return again for thee, To see once more the sacred land,

To stand beside you, hand in hand.

Your dream is now coming right,

My valiant eagle, my true knight!

Our Khazar land's in sorry plight.

Ludmila's dowry can it restore.

Ratmir, my son, that is a fact

We cannot easily ignore!

My father, there's no need to fear. No maid on earth resists Ratmir.

I warrant you that to your home Ludmila shall as daughter come.

To sway the Prince, so that certainly

He won't turn deaf ear to your plea,

I will present a gift of worth, The finest steed upon the earth!

Pay heed, my son, be wise and patient.

Ludmila is a very fine catch.

Prince needs support, he's getting ancient,

There are so few that your sword can match!

I worthy am to have her for my own, And worthy too of honors great.

What if she makes the choice of her own?

Her father will decide her fate!

Farlaf, to banqueting again you go?

I ride to Kiev without delay!

But wait!

Nay, lass, I must go now. I banquet with the Prince today!

A suitor you perhaps would turn? You wish Ludmila to get in chain?

Mayhap, a bridegroom I'll return.

In me Vladimir a son shall gain!

Rich gifts from Caesar we present.

He perseveres in his intent.

His Highness us would not offend,

To our suitor he'll give consent!

Drinkin rejoice, feast, one and all!

And may the Prince's will be done!

His lovely daughter is to marry

The heroic, gallant knight, Ruslan!

Drink, dance and sing, the merry folks!

It is the day of revelry and jokes!

Pour wine, and bottoms up!

And then again refill your cup!

The Byzantine suitor's envoy and fan.

The last to come, such arrogance.

It makes one puke to watch such men Around the Prince servilely dance.

Good guests, let us rejoice together.

And glorify this lovely shrine!

And fill our golden cups to level

With frothy mead and heady wine.

The princess is lovely, fairer than the lily.

She's a true daughter of the Slav!

Such grace, such beauty does she have!

Fairer than daughters of Francony.

Yes, but the damsel's not for us.

It profits not to fret and fuss.

And who is this noble Prince?

Ruslan? The terror of the Pechenegs.

They cringe 'fore him like wild dogs Or hide in terror of the man.

And who are those sad-faced men, Sitting dejectedly, all three?

They're the maid's rejected suitors, Cruelly racked by jealousy.

There I spy Rogdai, warrior bold

Whose sword brought more land for Kiev to hold.

- And that one? - Farlaf, a glutton unbridled.

In eating and drinking by none is he rivaled.

But in the field he's not one to shine.

And the other, brooding, his eyes so fine?

Ratmir, heir to Khazar, 'tis said.

Festivities aren't time to pine.

What would you say? Their hope has fled.

I give you my blessing, children. I drink to your many years to live!

She who on earth is my dearest treasure

To you, Ruslan, I gladly give.

Love her and cherish her forever, Whatever she asks of you, fulfil.

May nothing on earth your happiness sever,

And keep her safe from every ill!

Unto death I shall protect her, And this I hereby swear, great King!

My life is hers, yea everything

Unto the tomb, my dear Ludmila.

O greatest Prince, the hour's here That I must go to another home.

My sweetest father, it makes me sorrow

That now I must leave you all alone.

Rogdai! Ratmir! Farlaf!

Forgive me. There was no way but to refuse

You three. My daughter, my Ludmila

Of her heart Ruslan did choose.

Ruslan?

Whatever in the world he is that I ain't?

Alas! I'll have to go home alone...

Be happy, Prince Ruslan valiant!

Be cursed, my rival, forever on!

Play, music, sweetly, with caress,

While to your tune I'll sing a praise

To Ludmila's beauty and finesse,

To Ruslan's fighting strength and grace.

For the newlyweds may they prepare

A gorgeous matrimonial bed,

And as the old custom fare,

The green, heady hops adorn its head.

And may they bliss there in the care

Ofjolly Lel, the lovers' god.

The Prince invites you, 'tis his whim

To play a game of chess with him!

A fearful challenge, I confess.

A charging boar would scare me less.

Ludmila, Ruslan is at your feet,

And will remain for evermore.

What joy everlasting, beloved heart,

My starry eagle...

Whom I adore!

Ludmila!

Ludmila!

- The Prince is winning. - The game is his.

Father! Disaster upon us is!

My child? Ludmila? Speak out, say!

By sorcery from us is carried away!

Out of my sight, no more art thou

A son of mine!

You broke your vow...

Guests and companions! If human pity touches your heart,

See this old man, and take his part!

Speak, is there man among you

Who my child's abductor will pursue?

A man whose vows are firm and true? The man,

yes, hide your head, villain vile,

Who failed to protect my only child,

That man shall have Ludmila for a bride

My thanks, and half my lands beside.

I shall go!

He should go and hide!

I shall go!

I!

Farlaf, Rogdai?

And I!

The gallant Khan Ratmir?

To horse, to horse without delay.

We shall find your daughter, do not fear.

Your Highness, I must not bide here longer.

The Princess we leave to seek and find.

Now may your valor be the stronger And restore again my peace of mind.

At last! The taste is sweet Of freedom! When will we meet -

The prospect likes me well - a giant?

The blood'll pour as passions seethe And victims offer to the sabre!

Rejoice, my blade and loyal steed! And freely go prance and caper!

'Tis time to part, my friends, I say

Let us chance fate. So 'tis decided.

May each horse be given its own way,

And fly by the touch of spur unguided!

I bid you welcome, my son! At last!