Jack Frost (1964 film) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Jack Frost |
|
|---|---|
English-language theatrical one-sheet
|
|
| Directed by | Alexander Rou |
| Written by | Nikolai Erdman Mikhail Volpin |
| Narrated by | Dorothy Brown Green (US version) |
| Starring | Alexander Khvylya Natalya Sedykh Eduard Izotov Inna Churikova Pavel Pavlenko Vera Altayskaya Georgy Millyar |
| Music by | Nikolai Budashkin |
| Cinematography | Dmitri Surensky |
| Studio | Gorky Film Studios |
| Distributed by | Gorky Film Studios (USSR) Embassy Pictures (USA) |
| Release date(s) | 1964 |
| Running time | 84 minutes |
| Country | Soviet Union |
| Language | Russian |
Jack Frost (also known as Morozko) is a classic 1964 Soviet fantasy film. It's a romantic story based on a traditional Russian fairy tale called Morozko. The movie was made by Gorky Film Studio and directed by Alexander Rou.
The main actors were Eduard Izotov as Ivan, Natalya Sedykh as Nastenka, and Alexander Khvylya as Father Frost. The music was created by Nikolai Budashkin, who was inspired by famous Russian composers. An English version of the film was released in the U.S. in 1966. This version was even featured on the TV show Mystery Science Theater 3000, where people make fun of movies.
In 2010, a musical version of the film was made in Russia, but it was quite different from the original.
Contents
Story of Jack Frost
Nastya's Difficult Life
The movie tells the story of Nastya, a kind and humble girl. Her stepmother is very mean to her. The stepmother prefers her own daughter, Marfushka, who is selfish and not very pretty. Nastya's father can't do much to stop his wife's unfair treatment.
Nastya is forced to do many chores. One morning, her stepmother makes her knit socks before the rooster crows. Nastya even wishes the sun would go down again to give her more time! After that, she has to feed chickens, water cattle, chop wood, and sweep the yard.
Ivan's Journey and Mistakes
Meanwhile, a young man named Ivan finishes his chores. He heads into the woods after getting advice from his mother. She tells him to remember her, not harm the weak, and respect older people. Ivan proudly replies, "Don't worry!" to all her advice.
In the woods, Ivan meets some bandits. He easily tricks them and throws their wooden clubs so high they won't fall until winter. Later, Ivan meets an old man named Starichok-Borovichok. The old man challenges Ivan to catch him, offering a prize. Starichok-Borovichok can turn invisible, so he wins easily. He still offers Ivan a prize: a nice bow and arrows. But when asked to bow in thanks, Ivan boasts, "The bear may bow, but not Ivan!" and leaves. The old man warns that Ivan will learn humility.
Ivan's Transformation
Ivan soon finds Nastya in the woods. She's trying to make flowers grow from a tree stump by pouring water on it. Ivan is amazed by her beauty and immediately asks her to marry him. He brags about his many achievements. Nastya thinks he's too boastful and says no.
To prove himself, Ivan tries to shoot a mother bear with her cubs. Starichok-Borovichok is watching. As a panicked Nastya puts her water bucket on Ivan's head, the old man changes Ivan's head into a bear's! Horrified, Ivan blames Nastya and runs away. Nastya cries, and her tears make flowers grow from the stump.
Ivan wanders sadly until he meets Starichok-Borovichok again. The old man scolds Ivan for being selfish. Ivan thinks he just needs to do a good deed to change back. He tries to help people, but his bear head scares everyone away. Finally, he sees a blind old woman carrying sticks. He offers to carry her home, even though it's a long way. When they arrive, the woman thanks him, saying he must be handsome. Ivan is surprised, but she explains she's blind. This selfless act pleases Starichok-Borovichok, and Ivan is changed back to his human form.
Nastya Meets Father Frost
Meanwhile, Nastya's stepmother tries to marry off Marfushka. She dresses Marfushka in fancy clothes and makeup, and puts a fake braid on her. She makes Nastya look ugly. A rich suitor comes to meet Marfushka. He asks her to prepare a meal. While chasing geese, Marfushka almost drowns, but Nastya saves her. In the process, Marfushka's makeup washes off, and Nastya's beauty is revealed. The suitor chooses Nastya instead.
The stepmother is furious. She orders Nastya's father to leave Nastya in the cold woods. On the way, the father decides he's had enough of his wife's cruelty. He vows to bring Nastya home. But Nastya, fearing her stepmother's anger, jumps off the sleigh. There, she meets Morozko, also known as Father Frost. He is bringing winter to the forest. He is touched by Nastya's kindness and saves her from freezing. He takes her to his magical home.
Reunion and Happy Ending
Ivan searches for Nastya now that he is human again. He meets Baba Yaga, a witch who lives in a house on chicken legs. He asks her for help. She refuses, but after a struggle, she tells him how to find Nastya. After Ivan leaves, Baba Yaga sends her black cat to harm Nastya. The magical sled Baba Yaga sent to guide Ivan traps him in a snowbank.
While Father Frost is out, the cat tricks Nastya into touching his staff, which freezes her solid. Nastya's father and dog sense trouble. The stepmother tries to stop the father, but the dog escapes. The dog finds Ivan and saves him from the snow. They both rush to Father Frost's home and find Nastya frozen. Ivan begs for her forgiveness. The power of his love melts the ice, and Nastya is restored!
To celebrate, Father Frost gives Nastya and Ivan many jewels and a sleigh pulled by horses for their wedding. On their way home, the bandits Ivan met earlier attack them, helped by Baba Yaga. But the clubs Ivan threw earlier fall on the bandits' heads, saving the couple. They also trap the witch in her own giant mortar.
They return to the village. Nastya's father welcomes Ivan. The stepmother is jealous, and Marfushka wants the same riches. Marfushka tries to copy Nastya's adventure in the snow. But Father Frost is disgusted by her rudeness. He sends her back on a pig-driven sleigh with a box full of crows as her "dowry." The stepmother is shamed, and the father finally takes back control of his home. Nastya and Ivan have a wonderful wedding and live happily ever after.
Main Actors
- Alexander Khvylya as Ded Moroz (Father Frost, like Santa Claus in Russian culture)
- Natalya Sedykh as Nastya (called Nastenka by her father)
- Eduard Izotov as Ivan
- Inna Churikova as Marfushka
- Pavel Pavlenko as Nastya's father
- Vera Altayskaya as Nastya's stepmother
- Georgy Millyar as Baba Yaga (the witch)
- Galina Borisova as Starichok-Borovichok (The Little Old Man - the Little Boletus, voiced by Mikhail Yanshin)
- Anatoly Kubatsky as Bandit Chief
- Valentin Bryleev as Suitor
- Tatyana Pelttser as Suitor's mother
- Tatyana Barysheva as Matchmaker
- Varvara Popova as Old Blind Woman
- Zinaida Vorkul as Ivan's mother
- Anastasia Zuyeva as The Storyteller
- Margarita Korabelnikova as Village Girl #3
Awards and Recognition
- In 1965, Jack Frost won a big award called the Grand Prize – Lion of San Marco. This was at the 26th Venice International Film Festival for children's and youth films.
- In 1966, it won the prize for the best children's film at the All-Union Film Festival.
- The Czech Ambassador Jaroslav Bašta gave Inna Churikova a special silver medal for her role as Marfushka.
Film's Lasting Impact
The original Russian version of Jack Frost is still available on DVD. It has many subtitle options, including English.
In 1997, the English-dubbed version was shown on the TV show Mystery Science Theater 3000. This show features people making jokes and comments while watching movies. The movie was also spoofed again in 2021 by Rifftrax.com.
This fairy tale movie is very popular in Central and Eastern Europe. In countries like the Czech Republic and Slovakia, it has been shown on TV every year around Christmas or New Year's Day since 1965. Some people even prefer the Czech voice acting to the original Russian version!
The video game Fairy Tale about Father Frost, Ivan and Nastya was also inspired by this movie.
See also
- Pictures at an Exhibition
- The Magic Voyage of Sinbad
- The Day the Earth Froze
