I gather from looking at the IMDb that I am not the only one who got into Russian Fantasy Films from seeing them ridiculed on MST3K, and at some point years ago I bought the Russico version of this movie. Unlike other releases by Russico, it only has English on the subtitles.
Anyway, if you are really into "Sampo" or "Father Frost" you may want to chase this down. It's much like those later, rather striking films and the Rusicco Print is flawless. It has comedy much like "Father Frost." It's kind of cool seeing this all done in Black and White, and it comes in at a snappy 70 minutes. The evil Witch character, a Russian staple (and seemingly always played by a man) captures the beautiful Vasilisa and wants her to marry a Dragon. It is left up to the handsome Son of three brothers (the other two are dolts) to save her.
There is a good commentary on the disc where the traditions of Russian Fantasy are explained.
Anyway, if you are really into "Sampo" or "Father Frost" you may want to chase this down. It's much like those later, rather striking films and the Rusicco Print is flawless. It has comedy much like "Father Frost." It's kind of cool seeing this all done in Black and White, and it comes in at a snappy 70 minutes. The evil Witch character, a Russian staple (and seemingly always played by a man) captures the beautiful Vasilisa and wants her to marry a Dragon. It is left up to the handsome Son of three brothers (the other two are dolts) to save her.
There is a good commentary on the disc where the traditions of Russian Fantasy are explained.