Alexander Nevsky (film)

Alexander Nevsky
DVD cover
Directed by	Sergei Eisenstein Dmitri Vasilyev
Written by	Sergei Eisenstein Pyotr Pavlenko
Starring	Nikolay Cherkasov Nikolay Okhlopkov Andrei Abrikosov
Cinematography	Eduard Tisse
Edited by	Sergei M. Eisenstein Esfir Tobak
Music by	Sergei Prokofiev
Production company	Mosfilm
Distributed by	Amkino Corporation U.S.
Release date	1 December 1938 (1938-12-01)
Running time	111 minutes
Country	Soviet Union
Language	Russian

Alexander Nevsky (Russian: Алекса́ндр Не́вский) is a 1938 Soviet historical drama film directed by Sergei Eisenstein.^[1] It depicts the attempted invasion of Novgorod in the 13th century by the Teutonic Knights of the Holy Roman Empire and their defeat by Prince Alexander, known popularly as Alexander Nevsky (1220–1263).

Eisenstein made the film in association with Dmitri Vasilyev and with a script co-written with Pyotr Pavlenko; they were assigned to ensure that Eisenstein did not stray into "formalism" and to facilitate shooting on a reasonable timetable. It was produced by Goskino via the Mosfilm production unit, with Nikolai Cherkasov in the title role and a musical score by Sergei Prokofiev. Alexander Nevsky was the first and most popular of Eisenstein's three sound films. Eisenstein, Pavlenko, Cherkasov and Abrikosov were awarded the Stalin Prize in 1941 for the film.

In 1978, the film was included in the world's 100 best motion pictures according to an opinion poll conducted by the Italian publishing house Arnoldo Mondadori Editore.^[2]

Russia Beyond considers the film one of the 10 best Russian war films.^[3]