Amphibian Man (film)
| Amphibian Man | |
|---|---|
 Soviet poster for Amphibian Man | |
| Directed by |
Vladimir Chebotaryov Gennadi Kazansky |
| Written by |
Alexander Beliaev (novel) Akiba Golburt Aleksei Kapler Aleksandr Ksenofontov |
| Starring |
Vladimir Korenev Anastasiya Vertinskaya Mikhail Kozakov |
| Music by | Andrei Petrov |
| Cinematography | Eduard Rozovsky |
Production company | |
| Distributed by |
BijouFlix Releasing National Telefilm Associates (NTA) Inc. |
Release date | December 19, 1962 |
Running time | 82 min. |
| Country | Soviet Union |
| Language | Russian |
Amphibian Man (Russian: Человек-амфибия, translit. Chelovek-amfibiya) is a 1962 Soviet science fiction romance film starring Vladimir Korenev and directed by Vladimir Chebotaryov and Gennadi Kazansky.
It is an almost fable-like story based upon the eponymous novel by Alexander Beliaev. It focuses on a youth named Ichthyander (Russian: Ихтиандр, Ichtiandr) (from Greek: fish+man) who was surgically altered to survive under the sea. Unlike traditional science fiction movies of the time the film focuses much more on the concept of love won and lost. It was given the name of Tarzan des Mers before the estate of Edgar Rice Burroughs took exception.[1]
The film was the leader of Soviet distribution in 1962 (65.5 million viewers). It is little-known in the West, but has become a cult classic.[2][3]
Plot
The story is set in a seaside port in Argentina (but filmed in Baku, Azerbaijan SSR[4]), largely among a community of pearl fishers. The protagonist is the adopted son of a doctor/scientist who was sometime in the past forced to save the boy's life by implanting him with shark gills. Thus he is able to live under water, but must keep his secret from the world. The conflict arises from his falling in love with a pearl-fisher's beautiful daughter. His secret is discovered and the girl's stern father attempts to exploit Ichthyander for his ability. Due to being kept caged under water, his ability to breathe in the open air is affected, and he must now permanently live in the sea (at least for several years). Although set free, the lovers are permanently separated from each other.
Although ostensibly a lost-love-tragedy like Romeo and Juliet, the film has a significant focus on greed and commercial exploitation (of the pearl-greedy fishermen), possibly under the influence of Socialist Realism.[5]
Cast
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Vladimir Korenev | Ichthyander |
| Anastasiya Vertinskaya | Guttiere |
| Mikhail Kozakov | Pedro Zurita |
| Anatoli Smiranin | Old Baltazar |
| Nikolay Simonov | Prof. Salvator |
| Vladlen Davydov | Olsen, the reporter |
| Sergei Boyarsky | Chief Prison Guard |
| Anatoli Ivanov | chthyander understudy in the most challenging underwater shots |
| Stanislav Chekan | prison guard |
| Nikolai Kuzmin | sailor |
| Mikhail Medvedev | boatswain |
| Yuri Medvedev | fishmonger |
| Anna Nikritina | Zurita’s mother |
| Tito Romalio Jr. | newsboy |
| Georgi Tusuzov | episode |
| Aleksandr Zakharov | policeman |
References
- Wingrove, David. Science Fiction Film Source Book (Longman Group Limited, 1985)
Notes
- ↑ Sydney Morning Herald "Movies" 25/9/2000 The Guide page 20 accessed via Ebbsco's Australia New Zealand Reference Centre
- ↑ "Человек-амфибия". Archived from the original on 2012-06-04. Retrieved 2012-05-15.
- ↑ Шахназаров 2000.
- ↑ Гизельдонское ущелье — Центральный Кавказ
- ↑ Новости NEWSru.com :: 45 лет назад на киноэкраны вышел «Человек-амфибия», собравший 60 млн зрителей