Ruslan and Ludmila: Standard Edition – Deaf Crocodile (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Soviet Union, 1972
Director: Aleksandr Ptushko
Writer: Aleksandr Ptushko
Cast: Valeri Kozinets, Natalya Petrova, Andrei Abrikosov, Maria Kapnist, Vladimir Fyodorov, Vyacheslav Nevinny, Oleg Mokshantsev, Ruslan Akhmetov, Sergey Martinson, Eve Kivi, Valery Nosik 

Release Date: September 16th, 2025
Approximate Running Time: 145 Minutes 51 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.37:1 Aspect Ratio / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: LPCM Mono Russian
Subtitles: English (Non-Removable)
Region Coding: Region A
Retail Price: $29.95

"On their wedding night, Ludmila is spirited away by the riotously long-bearded wizard Chernomor (Vladimir Fyodorov) and taken to his sinister palace, where she’s held prisoner." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 5/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "New 4K restoration from the original camera negative and sound elements by Mosfilm.

Note on the 1.37:1 aspect ratio for the restoration from Mosfilm. The film was initially conceived by the director to have the 1.66:1 aspect ratio. However, as in 1972 in the USSR, not many cinemas were equipped to screen in the 1.66:1 format; the film was shot in 1.37:1 and 1.66:1 formats. The majority of the prints made for Soviet distribution were in 1.37:1, but there were also 1.66:1 prints. So both variants are “original”.”

Ruslan and Ludmila comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 43.1 GB

Feature: 39.8 GB

The source looks excellent; this is another solid encode from Fidelity in Motion. Flesh tones and colors look correct; image clarity, contrast, black levels, and compression are solid; and there are no issues with digital noise reduction.

Audio: 5/5

This release comes with one audio option, a LPCM mono mix in Russian with non-removable English subtitles. The audio sounds excellent; dialogue always comes through clearly, everything sounds balanced, and ambient sounds are well-represented.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a 2023 restoration trailer (1 minute 42 seconds, LPCM mono with text in English), a video essay by film critic Walter Chaw (16 minutes 25 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an audio commentary with comics artist (Swamp Thing), film historian, and author Stephen R. Bissette, and a 16-page booklet with an essay titled Ruslan and Ludmila written by Peter Rollberg.

Summary:

Ruslan and Ludmila was directed by Aleksandr Ptushko, who's been referred to as the Soviet Ray Harryhausen because of his work in special effects, notably stop-motion animation. Notable films he directed are Ilya Muromets, Sampo, and The Tale of Tsar Saltan.

An evil wizard kidnapped his beloved on their wedding night, and a knight sets out on a quest to rescue her.

For what would ultimately be his final film, Aleksandr Ptushko created his most ambitious work. Like his other films, Ruslan and Ludmila is firmly grounded in the realm of magical realism. It is a film overflowing with imagination, whose exemplary production design does a phenomenal job creating a believable world. Aleksandr Ptushko's use of special effects is one of the main attractions of his cinema. In Ruslan and Ludmila, he showcases some of the most memorable effects of his illustrious career.

The narrative revolves around a knight named Ruslan; he was instrumental in repelling the Pechenegs away from Kiev, making him a hero of the people. When his beloved, the daughter of Prince Valdimar, is kidnapped, he and several of his rivals set out on a treacherous journey in which they encounter witches, mermaids, and a beheaded giant who gives him a magical sword. Magic also plays a significant role in the story that unfolds, and at one point Ludmila comes into possession of a magical helmet that makes her invisible and able to temporarily hide from her captors.

An interesting aspect of the performances is how three key characters, Ruslan, Ludmila, and Chernomor the Wizard, are all voiced by actors other than those who portrayed them. Fortunately, the dubbing of their characters has no bearing on the quality of any of these performances. The most memorable performances are Maria Kapnist, who portrays an old, haggard witch named Naina, who uses her powers to tempt men by making herself look youthful and beautiful, and Vladimir Fyodorov's portrayal of a dwarf wizard named Chernomor, who has a ridiculously long beard. That said, all around, all of the performances are outstanding.

The narrative progresses at a deliberate pace; it effectively builds momentum by introducing moments of temptation and peril for the characters. Another strength lies in how it utilizes the individuals that Ruslan and his rivals encounter on their journey to develop the backstory. That said, as well-executed as moments of exposition are, they are often overshadowed by the spectacle. Although there are moments with action throughout, the big action set piece is saved for the finale. Ultimately, Ruslan and Ludmila is a fighting swan song for Russian cinema’s foremost creators of fantasy films.

Ruslan and Ludmila gets an excellent release from Deaf Crocodile that comes with a solid audio/video presentation and insightful extras; highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer