The final film from Russian fantasy master Aleksandr Ptushko (ILYA MUROMETS, SAMPO), RUSLAN AND LUDMILA was a glorious and magical summation of his career: a 2-1/2 hour greatest hits package filled with the sweeping lyricism, bejeweled visual F/X and mythic storytelling that put him on par with Walt Disney, Ray Harryhausen and Mario Bava. Based on an epic fairy tale written in 1820 by Alexander Pushkin (Ptushko had previously adapted Pushkin’s THE TALE OF TSAR SALTAN, and half-jokingly said they were related), the film opens with the seemingly-joyous marriage of bogatyr (warrior) Ruslan (Valeri Kozinets) to Ludmila (Natalya Petrova), the daughter of Prince Vladimir. (Like his earlier ILYA MUROMETS, the action of the film is set during the legendary era of the Kyivan Rus’ culture that pre-dated both modern Ukraine and Russia.) On their wedding night, Ludmila is spirited away by the riotously long-bearded wizard Chernomor (Vladimir Fyodorov), and taken to his sinister palace where she’s held prisoner. On their epic quest to rescue her, Ruslan and his three rivals encounter some of Ptushko’s most unforgettable imagery: a giant’s monstrous, decapitated head slumbering on an open plain, magic rings and stone warriors, sorcery and sacrifice, all in the hope of reuniting lost lovers. Newly restored by Mosfilm for release by Deaf Crocodile. In Russian with English subtitles.

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Video Quality

Ruslan and Ludmila debuts on Blu-Ray courtesy of Deaf Crocodile in its original 1.37:1 aspect ratio with a 1080p master derived from a new 4K restoration by Mosfilm. The most accurate word to describe this presentation is pristine. The fantastical photography captures the multitude of environments and sparkles in high definition with natural grain intact and resolved effortlessly. The amount of detail present is staggering with unbelievable textures on the intricate costumes and the whimsical production design.

The contrast is in top form, and there is essentially no print damage lingering thanks to the careful restoration efforts of Mosfilm. Black levels are perfectly deep with no trace of black crush or compression artifacts. The new transfer shows off a robust amount of depth and detail within this incredible world. Elements of the makeup and production design look astonishing in their clarity. Colors are vibrant and correspond to the intended aesthetic of the feature. Deaf Crocodile has released a Blu-Ray disc that is not to be missed.

Audio Quality

This Blu-Ray comes with a stellar LPCM 1.0 mono track in the original Russian (with optional English subtitles). The film provides a nice balance between exchanges of dialogue and creative environmental effects. The odyssey undertaken by the characters is filled with delightful sonic characteristics that imbue life into the speakers. The effective score comes through favorably in relation to the competing sounds.

Dialogue registers without the thunderous sound effects or the music overshadowing important information. The film implements unique sound effects that are given the appropriate presence within the mix. This first-rate track comes through with great strength and without damage or other unwanted nuisances. Deaf Crocodile delivers audio that matches the video side of things.

Special Features

Audio Commentary: Comics artist (Swamp Thing), film historian, and author Stephen R. Bissette provides an informative commentary track in which he delves into the career of Aleksandr Ptushko, Russian cinema of the time, how the feature functions as an adaptation, the background of the performers, the production of the film, and much more that you won’t want to miss.

Aleksandr In Wonderland – Folklore and Fantasy in the Films of Aleksandr Ptushko: A nearly 17-minute visual essay from film critic Walter Chaw (Film Freak Central) in which he delves into his discovery of Aleksandr Ptushko, how he pushes the boundaries of storytelling, the influences he potentially had on future filmmakers, themes explored in his work, and so much more that is well worth exploring.

New 2023 Restoration Trailer: A nearly two-minute restoration trailer is provided.

Booklet: A multi-page booklet is included in this release which features the essay “Ruslan and Ludmila” by writer Peter Rollberg which gives a great amount of context to the source material, the creative figures, and the movie itself in a way that is quite illuminating.

Final Thoughts

Ruslan and Ludmila is a terrific final film from Aleksandr Ptushko that offers large-scale ambition blended with a creativity not bound by restrictions. The film is epic in scope and runtime, but it never leaves you checking your watch due to how much fun you are having. The film has plenty of comedic moments that complement the sense of genuine adventure quite well. The care put into the craft is first-rate across the board. If you have never experienced a film from this director before, this acts as a good entry point. Deaf Crocodile has released a Blu-Ray which sports a sterling A/V presentation and a great selection of special features. If you enjoy cinematic oddities that remind you of how creative the art form can be, don’t miss this one. Recommended

Ruslan and Ludmila is currently available to purchase on Standard Edition Blu-Ray or with a Limited Edition Slipcover exclusively through Deaf Crocodile and DiabolikDVD.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Deaf Crocodile and DiabolikDVD have supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.