Ivan the Terrible (Russian: Иван Грозный, Ivan Grozniy) is a two-part
historical epic film about Ivan IV of Russia commissioned by Soviet
Premier Joseph Stalin, who admired and identified himself with Ivan, to
be written and directed by the filmmaker Sergei Eisenstein. Part I was
released in 1944 but Part II was not released until 1958, as it was
banned on the order of Stalin, who became incensed over the depiction of
Ivan therein. Eisenstein had developed the scenario to require a third
part to finish the story but, with the banning of Part II, filming of
Part III was stopped and what had been completed was destroyed.
historical epic film about Ivan IV of Russia commissioned by Soviet
Premier Joseph Stalin, who admired and identified himself with Ivan, to
be written and directed by the filmmaker Sergei Eisenstein. Part I was
released in 1944 but Part II was not released until 1958, as it was
banned on the order of Stalin, who became incensed over the depiction of
Ivan therein. Eisenstein had developed the scenario to require a third
part to finish the story but, with the banning of Part II, filming of
Part III was stopped and what had been completed was destroyed.
