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

Viy – Severin Films (Blu-ray) 

Theatrical Release Date: Soviet Union, 1967
Director: Aleksandr Ptushko, Konstantin Ershov, Georgiy Kropachyov
Writers: Aleksandr Ptushko, Konstantin Ershov, Georgiy Kropachyov
Cast: Leonid Kuravlyov, Natalya Varley, Aleksey Glazyrin, Nikolay Kutuzov, Vadim Zakharchenko, Pyotr Vesklyarov, Vladimir Salnikov, Dmitriy Kapka, Stepan Shkurat, Georgiy Sochevko, Nikolay Yakovchenko, Nikolay Panasev

Release Date: December 10th, 2019
Approximate Running Time: 76 Minutes 34 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 Aspect Ratio / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD Mono Russian, DTS-HD Mono English
Subtitles: English, English SDH
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: $29.98

"In 19th-century Russia, a seminary student is forced to spend three nights with the corpse of a beautiful young witch. But when she rises from the dead to seduce him, it will summon a nightmare of fear, desire, and the ultimate demonic mayhem." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4/5

Viy comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 39.9 GB

Feature: 21.7 GB

Though no information is provided about this transfer's source, it is most likely the same HD restoration from original film elements that Eureka used for their Blu-ray release. The bulk of this transfer looks excellent; flesh tones look healthy, color saturation is very good, and image clarity and compression are solid. That said, though black levels generally look strong, there are moments where they look more purple than black.

Audio: 4.25/5 (DTS-HD Mono Russian), 4/5 (DTS-HD Mono English)

This release comes with two audio options, a DTS-HD mono mix in Russian and a DTS-HD mono mix in English. Although both audio tracks sound clean, clear, and balanced, the Russian language track has better range. Included are removable English subtitles for the Russian language track and removable English SDH for the English language track.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a theatrical trailer (1 minute 53 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Russian, no subtitles), an interview with John Leman Riley about the history of Soviet fantasy and sci-fi film titled From The Woods to the Cosmos (34 minutes 46 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English with non-removable English subtitles for Russian film clips), an interview with filmmaker Richard Stanley titled Viy the Vampire (22 minutes 57 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), and excerpts from three Soviet silent films, The Portrait (7 minutes 30 seconds, no sound or text), The Queen of Spades (16 minutes 30 seconds, no sound, Russian intertitles with removable English subtitles) and Satan Exultant (19 minutes 30 seconds , no sound, Russian intertitles with removable English subtitles).

Summary:

Viy was co-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 Ruslan and Ludmila. Viy is an adaptation of Nikolay Gogol’s horror novella of the same name. Nikolay Gogol’s Viy is a story that has been adapted numerous times; the most notable of these is Mario Bava’s Black Sunday.

Viy is a fusion of fantasy cinema and gothic horror; at its heart is a story about a Cossack named Khoma whose life goes into a spiral after an encounter with a witch. When he meets this woman, she presents herself as old and haggard-looking, and it is not until he kills her that she reveals her real identity: a beautiful young woman. After fleeing the scene of the crime, karma steps in when it is revealed that her dying words were to have Khoma stay with her corpse for three nights and deliver solemn prayers for her soul.

The first half of the narrative focuses on Khoma’s life at the monastery and his encounter with the witch. The opening setup does an excellent job fleshing out his persona, a mischievous trouble-maker who's always breaking the rules. After the witches' arrival, things shift from a whimsical tone into the realm of fantasy. When Khoma spends the three nights with the witch, there is a final tonal shift, and horror elements come to the forefront. That said, though things start off sluggishly, paving-wise, they really pick up in the last 30 minutes.

The most surprising aspect of Viy is its performances, especially Leonid Kuravlyov, who portrays Khoma. He tells the story through his eyes, delivering an outstanding performance that immerses the viewer in his character's state of mind. The most memorable performance is Natalya Varley's exemplary portrayal of Pannochka, a dead witch who rises from her coffin every night to torment Khoma. Her performance excels because of her physical presence; after her character's death, she does not speak, only looks menacing. When her character looks old and haggard, it is actually portrayed by an actor named Nikolay Kutuzov.

From a production standpoint, Viy is a film that often exceeds its resources, notably when it comes to production design and special effects. Watching Viy, it is clear that Aleksandr Ptushko is the creative force behind it; the other two directors had never directed before, and neither would ever work in horror ever again. As mentioned before, the centerpiece of Viy is the three nights that Khoma spends with the witch. Khoma’s only protection from the witch is a protective circle, which he uses against her attacks. On the third and final night, she pulls out all of the stops as she summons demons, other entities from hell, and a monster known as Viy. Ultimately, Viy is an exceptional horror film that’s overflowing with atmosphere, making it a must-see for fans of folk horror.

Viy gets a solid release from Severin Films that comes with a strong audio/video presentation and a pair of insightful extras; highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer

The Tale of Tsar Saltan: Standard Edition – Deaf Crocodile (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Soviet Union, 1966
Director: Aleksandr Ptushko
Writers: Aleksandr Ptushko, Igor Gelein
Cast: Vladimir Andreyev, Larisa Golubkina, Oleg Vidov, Ksenia Ryabinkina, Olga Viklandt, Vera Ivleva, Nina Belyaeva

Release Date: September 16th, 2025
Approximate Running Time: 85 Minutes 9 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 2.20:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD 5.1 Russian
Subtitles: English (Non-Removable)
Region Coding: Region A
Retail Price: $29.95

"Driven from the Russian court by her sisters’ scheming, the young Tsarina (Larisa Golubkina) is thrown into the sea in a cask with her infant son. Surviving the storm-tossed voyage, the mother and her now magically adult son (Oleg Vidov) land on a remote island where he falls in love with a Swan Princess in human form (Kseniya Ryabinkina) and longs for reunion with his estranged father, Tsar Saltan (Vladimir Andreyev)." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.5/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "2K restoration from the original 35mm picture and sound elements restored by Mosfilm and Deaf Crocodile for its first-ever Blu-ray release in the U.S., co-presented with Seagull Films."

The Tale of Tsar Saltan comes on a 25 GB single layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 22.9 GB

Feature: 18.8 GB

The source looks excellent; this is another solid encode from Fidelity in Motion. Flesh tones look healthy, colors look correct, image clarity, black levels, and compression are solid, and the image retains an organic look.

Audio: 4.5/5 

This release comes with one audio option, a DTS-HD 5.1 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 an interview with legendary visual effects artist and film historian Robert Skotak (Academy Award winner, Best Visual Effects for Aliens and Terminator 2: Judgment Day) on Aleksandr Ptushko and the history of Soviet fantastika filmmaking, moderated by Dennis Bartok of Deaf Crocodile Films (69 minutes 36 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an audio commentary with comics artist (Swamp Thing), film historian, and author Stephen R. Bissette and an 8-page booklet with an essay titled Aleksandr Ptushko’s The Tale of Tsar Saltan written by Peter Rollberg.

Summary:

The Tale of Tsar Saltan 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 Ruslan and Ludmila.

Two sisters become jealous of their younger sister when the Tsar marries her instead of them. They remain bitter, despite being permitted to be with her as servants to the Tsar. When the Tsar is away due to war, the two jealous sisters, along with others dissatisfied with his rule, conspire to place the queen and her son into a barrel and cast them into the sea.

Based on a Russian fairy tale written by Alexander Pushkin, it is a magical story in which there are giant sea soldiers, statues that come to life, goblin-looking invaders, a singing squirrel, and a swan princess. While Aleksandr Ptushko's exceptional special effects are prominently featured throughout the film, The Tale of Tsar Saltan utilizes stop-motion animation less frequently than his other works. That said, the result is a film that's more Arabian Nights than Ray Harryhausen-like fantasy films.

The Tale of Tsar Saltan has two distinctive halves; the first half deals with invaders who are a threat to the Tsar and his kingdom, while in the latter half the focus shifts to an internal power struggle where those against the Tsar vie for power. Although the goblin invaders are an imminent threat that sets the foundation, it is ultimately the mother and son’s quest to reunite with their husband and father that drives the narrative.

Aleksandr Ptushko’s films are renowned for their special effects, and The Tale of Tsar Saltan does not disappoint in this regard. Although there are magical moments throughout, they are more prominent in the latter half, when a city and its inhabitants are brought to life with magic. That said, the special effects look remarkable; they have not lost any of their luster or ability to wow audiences.

At 85 minutes in length, the narrative never overstays its welcome, and things move along briskly. The production design is outstanding; it creates a believable world that is overflowing with imagination. Other areas where The Tale of Tsar Saltan excels are its use of tongue-in-cheek humor and solid performances, especially the two actresses who portray the two wicked sisters. Ultimately, The Tale of Tsar Saltan is a wonderfully executed fantasy film that fans of this genre should thoroughly enjoy.

The Tale of Tsar Saltan 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

Sampo: Standard Edition – Deaf Crocodile (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Finland/Soviet Union, 1959
Director: Aleksandr Ptushko
Writers: Viktor Vitkovich, Grigori Yagdfeld, Väinö Kaukonen
Cast: Urho Somersalmi, Anna Orochko, Ivan Voronov, Andris Osins, Ada Voytsik, Eve Kivi, Georgiy Millyar, Mikhail Troyanovskiy

Release Date: September 16th, 2025
Approximate Running Time: 90 Minutes 16 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD 5.1 Finnish
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region A
Retail Price: $29.95

"Based on the Finnish national epic “Kalevala,” Ptushko’s ravishing, mystical fantasy tells the story of a sinister witch, Louhi (Anna Orochko) who covets the Sampo, a magical, rainbow-colored mill that can produce endless salt, grain, and gold. When the hero Lemminkäinen (Andris Oshin) attempts to stop her, Louhi literally steals the sun, plunging the world into eternal darkness." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 5/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "Sampo has been beautifully restored in 4K by KAVI—the Finnish National Audiovisual Institute—for its first-ever release in its original Finnish-language version by Deaf Crocodile."

Sampo comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 38.3 GB

Feature: 24.7 GB

The source is in excellent shape; 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 DTS-HD 5.1 mix in Finnish with 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 theatrical trailer (3 minutes 32 seconds, DTS-HD stereo Finnish with non-removable English subtitles), an interview with Michael J. Nelson of Mystery Science Theater 3000 and RiffTrax, hosted by comic book artist Bob Fingerman, and Deaf Crocodile’s Dennis Bartok (71 minutes 39 seconds, DTS-HD stereo English, no subtitles), an audio commentary with film historian Steve Bissette, and a 32-page booklet with a text piece titled Remembering Film Scholar Alan Upchurch written by Dennis Bartok, a reprint of Alan Upchurch’s article titled Russian Fantastika Part Two that originally appeared in Video Watchdog, archival images, cast & crew information, a synopsis and production notes, and information about the restoration.

Summary:

Sampo 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, The Tale of Tsar Saltan, and Ruslan and Ludmila. Sampo is one of three films he directed that received U.S. release, albeit in truncated and dubbed-into-English versions that greatly altered them. Sampo was released in the U.S. under the title The Day the Earth Froze; this version removes around 24 minutes and has alternate opening credits with English-language titles.

Sampo is based on Kalevala, an epic collection of poetry published in the 19th century. The protagonists and antagonists in Kalevala battle over a wealth-making machine called a Sampo. A key inspiration of J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Silmarillion is Kalevala. Sampo was a Soviet/Finnish co-production in which each scene was shot four times using multiple cameras, since it was produced for Russian and Finnish audiences and dubbed into each language.

An evil witch forces a blacksmith to make her a Sampo, a magical device that creates an abundance of salt, grain, and gold, by kidnapping his sister.

Sampo’s meticulously constructed narrative does a superb job drawing you in and holding your attention. It is a film overflowing with imagination, wondrous sights, and mythical creatures. The narrative is filled with surprises and effectively builds toward an epic finale where good confronts evil.

Sampo’s production design creates a stark difference between moments that are based in reality and fantasy. Most of the film takes place in the case of the latter, artificial landscapes that heighten the mood. That said, the production design is exemplary; its attention to detail is amazing.

Sampo’s most endurable asset is its Ray Harryhausen-like special effects, which bring things alive, creating an utterly tangible world. Sampo is beautifully photographed, filled with exquisite landscapes, which take full advantage of the 2.35:1 scope frame. That said, watching Sampo in Finnish instead of English is an eye-opener, especially clear when it comes to the performances. Ultimately, Sampo is one of the high-water marks of Soviet fantasy cinema.

Sampo 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

Ilya Muromets: Standard Edition – Deaf Crocodile (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Soviet Union, 1956
Director: Aleksandr Ptushko
Writer: Mikhail Kochnev
Cast: Boris Andreyev, Shukur Burkhanov, Andrei Abrikosov, Natalya Medvedeva, Yelena Myshkova

Release Date: September 16th, 2025
Approximate Running Time: 91 Minutes 44 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD Mono Russian
Subtitles: English (Non-Removable)
Region Coding: Region A
Retail Price: $29.95

"a stunning Cinemascope ballad of heroic medieval knights, ruthless Tugar invaders, wind demons, and three-headed fire-breathing dragons. Based on one of the most famous byliny (oral epics) in Kievan Rus’ culture, the film stars Boris Andreyev as the bogatyr (warrior) Ilya, waging a decades-long battle against the Tugars who threaten his homeland, kidnap his wife, and raise his son to fight against him." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.5/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "The film has been restored in 4K for its first-ever official U.S. release in its original form by Deaf Crocodile, in association with Seagull Films."

Ilya Muromets comes on a 25 GB single layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 22 GB

Feature: 21.3 GB

The source is in excellent shape; flesh tones and colors look correct, image clarity and compression are solid, black levels are strong, and there are no issues with digital noise reduction.

Audio: 4/5

This release comes with one audio option, a DTS-HD mono mix in Russian with non-removable English subtitles. Although dialogue always comes through clearly, sometimes the score and ambient sounds are noticeably louder.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a restoration trailer (3 minutes 26 seconds, DTS-HD mono with text in English), an audio commentary with film historian Steve Bissette, and a 28-page booklet with a text piece titled Remembering Film Scholar Alan Upchurch written by Dennis Bartok, a reprint of Alan Upchurch’s article titled Russian Fantastika Part One that originally appeared in Video Watchdog, archival images, cast & crew information, a synopsis and production notes, and information about the restoration.

Summary:

Ilya Muromets 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 Sampo, The Tale of Tsar Saltan, and Ruslan and Ludmila. Ilya Muromets is one of three films he directed that received U.S. release, albeit in truncated and dubbed-into-English versions that greatly altered them. Ilya Muromets was released in the U.S. under the title The Sword and the Dragon. Besides retitling Ilya Muromets, he added a voice-over narration and changed character names.

A crippled man receives a magical potion from pilgrims after barbarian invaders kidnap his fiancée. This potion cures his paralysis, and they present him with a magical sword to aid in his battle against the barbarians.

The narrative immediately engages you with a gripping tale of a hero whose legend grows with each new conquest. While the narrative is quite effective in driving the story forward, there are a few lulls; fortunately, they never disrupt the overall momentum. That being said, the narrative includes a sufficient number of well-timed twists, which significantly enhance the tension.

Although Aleksandr Ptushko creates a world firmly entrenched in the realm of fantasy, when it comes to the visuals, they do an exceptional job blending real locations with sets. And in the case of the latter, the production design is exemplary; the attention to detail is astounding. Another strength of the visuals is how effectively it uses the 2.35:1 scope frame, filling every inch with picturesque landscapes and arresting moments that heighten the mood.

Content-wise, Ilya Muromets is much more than a fantasy film; it is a melting pot of genres. There’s fantasy, action, romance, and even a musical number. For many, the main draw of Ilya Muromets is its use of practical special effects, most of which hold up extremely well. The biggest and most impressive special effects moment is saved for an epic battle that culminates the film, where a three-headed dragon shows up. The action sequences, some of which feature hundreds of extras, give them an epic feel. Ultimately, Ilya Muromets is an extraordinary cinematic experience that creates a magical world that’s utterly believable and filled with symbolism.

Ilya Muromets gets an excellent release from Deaf Crocodile that comes with a strong audio/video presentation and insightful extras; highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer