The Sword And The Dragon (1959-USSR)

Director: Alexander Ptushko
Actor: Boris Andreyev
Studio: Ministerstvo Kinomatografi
Category: DVD

Buy New: $19.95


Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars 3 reviews
Sales Rank: 79068

Format: Ntsc
Language: English (Unknown)
Region: 0
Number Of Discs: 1
Running Time: 83 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6

UPC: 663340256140
EAN: 0663340256140
ASIN: B001GEJY1A

Release Date: September 19, 2008
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours

Customer Reviews



1 out of 5 stars RIPOFF: BUYER BEWARE    November 19, 2008
J. Woods
2 out of 2 found this review helpful

"The Sword and the Dragon" is a late-'50s Russian-made film about a semi-legendary warrior-hero of medieval Kiev, which was dubbed into English and theatrically released in the US in the early '60s and much later sold here as a good-quality VHS tape, which I enjoyed. So when I saw it become available on TvBoxset.com as a DVD, and after reading the (then) only favorable review, I bought it.

BIG MISTAKE.

This copy of "The Sword and the Dragon" is technically so bad it is almost unwatchable, and paying what's ordinarily a full-price for a premium DVD makes it a Total Ripoff!

It looks like whoever made this DVD apparently got hold of an old REAL beat-up movie-reels version, projected it, filmed it close-up with a generally unfocused video camera, dubbed it "as is" onto a DVD --and then somehow got TvBoxset.com to itself offer copies at a premium price, without any attached warning as to its ultra-poor technical quality.

There is NO editing or digital "cleaning" or "restoration" whatsoever of the re-filmed movie. The color varies literally from minute to minute, occassionally blazing so brilliantly it strains the eyes, but too much more often bleaching out to shades of palest pastels and even B&W. Moreover, the camera is semi-focused closely onto the dead-center of what was a widescreen movie, so if someone is somewhat off to the side and talking --or fighting the dragon!--we don't see that person --maybe just a hand! And if all that's not enough to tickle your funny bone, wait til you see the very-visible "scratches" and hear the sound "hiccups" throughout the film!

"Distracting" is too nice a word to describe the many many technical flaws only too visible in this copy of what was a decent "action-hero-oldie" in the style of the now-classic Steve Reeve's "Hercules" movies or the best of the Italian "Spaghetti Westerns"! But TvBoxset's "review" policy won't let us use more appropriate words, so I'll just add a caveat:

If you buy this version, You've Been Forewarned: at the very best, IT'S A RIPOFF! Even at 1/10th the price.



1 out of 5 stars Horrendous is a kind critique    November 18, 2008
CloudDancer
0 out of 1 found this review helpful

When I first read the one and only review regarding this Russian DVD, I was really expecting another movie in the caliber of Lord of the Rings, as described by the only raviewer. Not so folks! this has to be the biggest rip-off I have ever encountered. The so-called color movie is mostly a washed out black and white, rare hints of color, scratches like a 20's movie, and certainly alien to the caliber of a 60s movie. The acting is absolutely amateur. I have filed a request to TvBoxset to accept my return of the DVD and refund my money due to a misleading description and review. From past experience, I'm sure TvBoxset will honor this and hopefully they'll pull the other review after they look at my returned DVD. Seriously Folks!! I have purchased several hundred DVDs from TvBoxset during the last few years and this is by far the worst I have ever seen sold with the accompanying misleading description/review. I had purchased from TvBoxset the Russian DVD "War and Peace" which is absolutely magnificent in color and production, and expected this caliber from the description and review of "Sword and the Dragon". NOT! Seriously....this is a piece of junk!!!!!


5 out of 5 stars Super Fly producer promotes Russia's Sword and the Dragon    October 13, 2008
Alvin J. Elmore
0 out of 1 found this review helpful

Sword and the Dragon what a monster movie, figurativley and literally.
This Russian movie made in 1959 during the cold war was contoverial because of geopolotical tensions. However hollywood producer Sig Shore who produced the blacksploitation movie Super Fly in 1973 took a risk in promoting this soviet fantasy movie, at a time when some hollywood producers were being black balled for being suspected communist sympathizers.

This is among the greatest fantasy movies ever made in its powerful portrayal of a spernatural medieval war between good and evil, and features a cast of thousands with special effects and weird creatures that to this day rivals the Lord of the Rings trilogy. This is a highly valued movie experience that will leave the viewer awestruck.