Aleksandr Ptushko

Directing

Aleksandr Ptushko

Born April 19, 1900 · Lugansk, Lugansk uyezd, Yekaterinoslav Governorate, Russian Empire [now Luhansk, Luhansk Oblast, Ukraine]

Died March 6, 1973 · aged 72

Aleksandr Lukich Ptushko (Russian: Александр Лукич Птушко, 19 April [O.S. 6 April] 1900 – 6 March 1973) was a Soviet animation and fantasy film director, and a People's Artist of the USSR (1969). Ptushko is frequently (and somewhat misleadingly) referred to as "the Soviet Walt Disney," because of his prominent early role in animation in the Soviet Union, though a more accurate comparison would be…

Known For

Ruslan and LudmilaRuslan and Ludmila · 1972
Ruslan and Ludmila
★ 6.61972
MovieAdventureFamily
In the midst of the wedding party of Prince Ruslan and Ludmila, daughter of Prince Vladimir, the girl is kidnapped by the evil sorcerer Chernomor and the witch Naina. Three of her past suitors set out, as does Ruslan, to rescue Ludmila.
ViyViy · 1967
Viy
★ 6.91967
MovieDramaFantasy
A seminary student on monastery holiday kills an old witch in a remote village. The hag then transforms into a beautiful young woman whose dying wish is for him to watch over her wake for three nights. With terrors occurring and his faith waning, he reads prayers on the overnight watch and tries to survive the supernatural encounters.
ZoyaZoya · 1944
Zoya
★ 4.61944
MovieWarDrama
The true story of one of Russia's most beloved national heroines. During the Nazi siege of Moscow, a fearless 18-year-old girl named Zoya risked her life as a partisan fighter. Captured by the Germans, Zoya endured unspeakable tortures at the hands of the Gestapo but still refused to betray her comrades. Even on the gallows, Zoya defiantly spoke out against the Nazis and everything they stood for. In a series of flashbacks, this film re-creates not merely Zoya's death, but also her life.
Scarlet SailsScarlet Sails · 1961
Scarlet Sails
★ 6.41961
MovieRomanceDrama
When Assol was a little girl, she met a wizard who foretold that it will be a fine sunny day when a beautiful ship under scarlet sail would arrive and the noble prince would take her away to the world of her dreams where she will be loved and happy. The neighbours joked about her, children teased her, but Assol chose to believe in miracles and wait for her prince.
SampoSampo · 1959
Sampo
★ 4.61959
MovieAdventureFantasy
Based on Finnish mythology; Lemminkäinen woos the fair Annikki and battles the evil witch Louhi. Louhi kidnaps Annikki to compel her brother to build for her a Sampo, a magical device that creates salt, grain, and gold. When Lemminkäinen fails to recover the Sampo, Louhi steals the sun, plunging the world into frozen darkness.
SadkoSadko · 1953
Sadko
★ 5.71953
MovieFamilyAdventure
In the old Russian city of Novgorod, the merchants are feasting in a gorgeous palace and Sadko is bragging that he can bring to their land a sweet-voiced bird of happiness. They laugh at him, but he is offered help by the Ocean King's daughter, who is mesmerized by Sadko's singing and is in love with him. The hero is destined to visit many lands in his search of the bird.
Ilya MurometsIlya Muromets · 1956
Ilya Muromets
★ 5.21956
MovieAdventureFantasy
Paralyzed since birth, Ilya can only watch helplessly as his village is plundered by barbarians. But when a mysterious traveler arrives with a magic elixir that restores him to full health, Ilya begins an adventure to protect the village and the royal family from harm.
The Stone FlowerThe Stone Flower · 1946
The Stone Flower
★ 6.31946
MovieFantasyFamily
Little Danila was the most inquisitive apprentice of old Prokopich, a famous stone-carving master. Like his teacher, the grown-up Danila has learned to feel the soul of his material and became an expert in handling rare precious stones found in the Ural Mountains. One day he met the Mistress of the Copper Mountain, a fairy who ordered for herself an unusual stone flower.

Filmography

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Moscow SkiesMoscow Skies · 1944
Moscow Skies
★ 7.41944
MovieWarHistory
In September 1941, lieutenant Ilya Streltsov, who graduated from the flight school, was assigned to the fighter aviation regiment guarding the sky of Moscow. He meets in part the nurse Zoya, with whom he grew up in the same yard and with whom he has long been in love. During the first training flight on the "Seagull", lieutenant Streltsov shot down a German plane and received the nickname "Lucky." Streltsov is jealous of the squadron commander to nurse Zoya, believes that he is finding fault with him. For a whole month he is not allowed to fly sorties. In October 1941, lieutenant Streltsov made his first sortie, he shot down one plane and rams the second. For this battle, he is awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union.

Visual Effects Director