Nevsky/Stalin

[Keith]

That is subject to interpretation. Many disagree with you.

In a very thinly veiled metaphorical reference to Stalin, Prince  
Aleksander Nevsky (Nikolai Cherkasov) in 1242 has recently defeated  
invading Swedes and turned down an offer from the Mongols to serve as  
a commander to their troops, preferring to remain in Russia: “Better  
to die in your own land than to leave it.” Even though the Russians  
are being squeezed on two fronts, he realizes that the Germans pose  
the bigger threat.
   http://www.toxicuniverse.com/review.php?rid=10001697

Eisenstein's direction and Prokofiev's score make ALEXANDER NEVSKY  
the "Rolls Royce" among propaganda films. Nevsky is, of course  
Stalin's alter ego, and the Russians are tall, good-looking, heroic,  
and they have a perfect hairdo. The germans are bearded savages and  
look like members of the Ku-Klux-Klan. The actor who plays Vasili  
gives a one-man-four-characters performance: first wavering, then  
heroic, youthful lover and comic relief. Cherkasov's main duty is to  
look heroic. At the end, Nevsky-Stalin displays his generosity: He  
pardons the "little soldiers" and barters the knights for soap. Only  
a bearded killer and a traitorous cleric are turned over to the mob.  
He does not forget a final warning: Who comes with the sword will die  
by the sword...He kept his promise.
   http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0029850/usercomments?start=20

"Nevsky," as every Russian knew in 1938, when the film was made by  
two of their country's greatest living artists, glorified Stalin.  
Prokofiev and Eisenstein were also two frightened artists. But they  
had a genuine moral cause. Real, live Germans were soon to invade  
Russia.
   http://tinyurl.com/3yp9df

On Jun 4, 2007, at 3:59 PM, Ya Sam wrote:

There is nothing which glorifies Stalin in 'Alexander Nevsky'.