Shadow (1971 film)

Shadow
Shadow
	Theatrical release poster
	Russian: Тень
Directed by	Nadezhda Kosheverova
Written by	Yuli Dunsky; Valeri Frid; Evgeny Shvarts;
Based on	"The Shadow" by Hans Christian Andersen
Produced by	Igor Lebed
Starring	Oleg Dal; Konstantin Adashevsky; Vladimir Etush; Sergey Filippov; Zinovy Gerdt; Lyudmila Gurchenko;
Cinematography	Konstantin Ryzhov
Edited by	Valentina Mironova
Music by	Andrei Eshpai
Production; company	Lenfilm
Release date	18 September 1971;
Running time	95 min.
Country	Soviet Union
Language	Russian

Shadow (Russian: Тень, romanized: Ten) is a 1971 Soviet romantic fantasy comedy-drama directed by Nadezhda Kosheverova.^[1]^[2]^[3]

The film tells about the confrontation between a smart and kind scientist with his shadow.^[4]

Plot

A scientist named Christian-Theodore arrives in a magical land where fairy tales come to life, becoming the protagonist of one himself. After meeting and falling in love with a princess, he sends his shadow to find her. However, the shadow abandons its kind and intelligent master, transforming into a deceitful and ruthless entity, calling itself Theodore-Christian. Meanwhile, Christian-Theodore becomes gravely ill without his shadow, while Theodore-Christian schemes to marry the princess and claim the throne, plotting to turn the princess against his former master.

Deceived into signing a document relinquishing his claim to the princess, Christian-Theodore watches helplessly as Theodore-Christian uses the document to convince the princess to marry him and seize power. When Christian tries to intervene at the wedding, he is arrested and brought before Theodore-Christian, who cruelly offers him the role of his shadow. Desperate, Christian reveals the truth, but no one believes him until a magical spell briefly returns Theodore-Christian to his shadow form. When the shadow reverts to its human shape, it orders Christian's execution, but in a twist of fate, both lose their heads. Terrified ministers revive Christian with water from a mystical spring, as only someone who loves him—Annunziata, the innkeeper’s daughter—can perform the act. Rejecting his shadow’s pleas for reconciliation and the throne, Christian departs the kingdom with Annunziata, choosing love and freedom over power.

Cast

Oleg Dal as Scientist / His Shadow
Konstantin Adashevsky as Butler
Vladimir Etush as Piestro, Annuanciata's father, hotel keeper, man eater
Sergey Filippov as Prime minister
Zinovy Gerdt as Finance minister
Lyudmila Gurchenko as Yulia Juli
Andrey Mironov as Caesar Borgia, journalist, man eater
Marina Neyolova as Annuanciata
Anastasiya Vertinskaya as Princess
Georgy Vitsin as Doctor
Yuri Volyntsev^[5] as episode
Alexander Khochinsky as singer

References

External links

Shadow at IMDb

[1] Человек на своём месте (in Russian)

[2] Фильмы с участием Анастасии Вертинской покажут бесплатно в Москве к 75-летию актрисы

[3] От сказок до трагедий. Пять ярких кинообразов Олега Даля

[4] Тень (КиноПоиск)

[5] Shadow (I) (1971) Full Cast // Crew

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