Word: cherkassov
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Dates: during 1960-1969
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Sequence after sequence can only be discussed in terms of painterly composition. There is constant visual counterpoint between the lines of the palace walls and the positions of the actors' bodies; Nikolai Cherkassov (Ivan) moves elegantly and always in such a studied way that the complements the total geometry of the scene. Standing on the ramparts of a fortress he gestures formally to the double, symmetrically snaking line of Muscovites in the distance. His hand, directly in the foreground and at right angles to the leaders of the crowd, effects a marvelously heightened feeling of perspective which, in turn, enhances...
Eisenstein's Ivan (Nikolai Cherkassov) bears little resemblance to the historical figure. According to some historical ac counts, Ivan IV of Russia (1530-84) was a psychopathic sadist who slaughtered thousands of Russians, gleefully assisted at the torture of his enemies, and mur dered his own son in a blind rage. Eisen stein's Ivan is frankly intended to repre sent Stalin, who admired Ivan as the founder of the Russian state, and liked to think he was "terrible" only because he had to be. Eisenstein therefore dutifully whitewashes the brute. But the whitewash is spread so thin...