Soyuzmultfilm
Aleksandr Pushkin
The Tale of Tsar Saltan
Screenplay, Direction & Art-direction Ivan Ivanov-Vano, Lev Milchin
Camera: M. Druyan Music M. Meyerovish Sound B. Filchikov
animators: Vladimir Krumin, Sergey Avramov, Victor Lihachyov, Marina Rogova, Nikolay Fedotov, Anatoliy Abarenov, Andrey Ignatenko, Vladimir Zarubin,
Yuriy Meshcheryakov, Marina Voskanyants, Antonina Alyoshina, Aleksandr Panov
voice artists: Mariya Vinogradova, Mihail Zimin, Roman Filippov, N. Boronina, A. Pokrovskaya, Lyudmila Ivanova, Anastasiya Zuyeva, Boris Novikov,
Nikolai Grabbe, A. Zolotnitsky
text is read by A. Leontyev
Background-art I. Troyanova Art - people in backgr. Marina Ignatenko montage Natalia Stepantseva
Assistant Directors: R. Makarova, I. Litovskaya
Art: T. Gerasimenko, G. Stepanenko, L. Alehina, Irina Svetlitsa, Igor Oleinikov, V. Maksimovich
script editor Raisa Frichinskaya
executive producer Liliana Monahova
Winter-dear, with snow embossed...
Snowy winter, sparkling frost...
All the roads had long been lost...
All the roads, and every track...
Three fair maidens late one night
Sat and spun by candle light.
- Were our tsar to marry me, -
Said the eldest of the three,
- I would cook and I would bake
Oh, what royal feasts I'd make.
- Were our tsar to marry me, -
Said the second of the three,
- I would weave a cloth of gold
Fair and wondrous to behold.
- And if he would marry me, -
Said the youngest of the three,
- I would give our tsar an heir, Handsome, brave beyond compare.
At these words the chamber-door Gently creaked – and lo, before
These three maidens' very eyes
Stood their tsar, to their surprise.
- Greetings, maiden fair, -
said he, - My tsaritsa you will be!
See that you bear me a son,
...before next...
...September's done!
As for you, fair sisters two,
Leave your home without ado,
Leave your home and follow me,
and your sister, bride to be:
Royal weaver, YOU I'll make,
YOU as Royal cook I'll take! -
Then he lost no time nor tarried. That same evening he was married.
Tsar Saltan and his young bride
At the feast sat side by side
- Hail Tsar Saltan! - Hail!
- A kiss! - A kiss!
- Glory! Glory! - Glory to Tsar Saltan!
These were days of war's alarms.
Ere he rode forth for the strife,
Tsar Saltan embraced his wife,
Bidding her to take good care Of herself and coming heir.
While he battled on the field
Forcing countless foes to yield,
God gave unto her an heir -
Lusty, large of limb, and fair
Like a mother eagle, she guarded him most jealously;
She sends news of God's glad gift.
To the Tsar, by rider swift.
But the Royal cook, and weaver,
And their mother, sly deceiver
Sought to ruin her, so they...
Had him kidnapped on the way.
- Your tsaritsa, sire, last night,
was delivered of a... fright;
Neither son nor daughter, nor
Have we seen its like before.
At these words, the royal sire
Raved and raged in furious ire,
- Hang that messenger! - roared he,
- Hang him on the nearest tree! -
But, relenting, spared him, and
Sent him back with this command:
- From all hasty steps refrain
Till the Tsar comes home again.
- Heh-heh-heh!
- The Tsar instructs his boyars
To act in haste on his ukaz:
Have the queen and have her spawn
Drowned in secret ere the dawn.
Grieving for their monarch's heir,
For the mother young and fair, Solemnly the Tsar's boyars
Told the queen of this ukaz,
Of the cruel doom which fate
So unkindly had in wait -
To throw her, and heir-to-be,
Secretly into the sea.
They at once put queen and son
In a cask, and sealed it fast; Tarred it well, and then they cast
Cask and burden in the sea –
Such, forsooth, the tsar's decree.
Stars gleam in the dark blue sky,
Dark blue billows heave and sigh.
Storm clouds o'er the blue sky creep, While the cask rides o'er the deep.
Like a widowed bride distressed,
Sobbed the queen and beat her breast,
While the babe to manhood grew
As the hours swiftly flew.
- O, you wanton waves so blue –
Free to come and go are you,
Dashing when and where you please,
Wearing rocks away with ease –
You, who flood the mountains high,
You, who ships raise to the sky–
Hear my prayer, o waves, and spare us –
Safely onto dry land bear us.
So the waves, without ado,
Bore the cask and prisoners two Gently to a sandy shore,
Then, receding, splashed no more.
Son and mother, free again,
Saw a hillock on a plain;
On its crest, an oak tree grew; Round them flowed the ocean blue.
Thought the son: "Some food and drink Wouldn't come amiss, I think."
From the oak, a branch he rent And a sturdy bow he bent.
From a slender reed and light, Shaped an arrow, true in flight.
Then explored the isle for game, Till he to the sea-shore came.
- O, tsarevich, champion peerless,
My deliverer so fearless–
'Tis no swan that you set free,
But a maiden charmed, you see;
'Twas a wizard, not a kite,
That you slew, O noble knight;
I shall ne'er forget your deed–
I'll be with you in your need.
Now go back and take your rest–
All will turn out for the best.
Driving slumber from his eyes As the sun rose in the skies,
Our tsarevich, much amazed, At a spacious city gazed,
Girdled by a wide and tall, Strong-embattled snow-white wall.
Churches golden-domed stood there, Holy cloisters, mansions fair.
Citywards their steps they bent,
Through the city gates they went. Belfries thundered overhead
Loud enough to wake the dead.
Round them poured a mighty throng, Choir boys praised the Lord in song;
All the people cheered them madly,
As their prince acclaimed him gladly,
With his mother's blessing, he,
Acquiescing graciously,
That same day did take the throne,
And was crowned as Prince Guidon.
Breezes o'er the ocean play, Speed a barque upon its way;
Sails all spread, it skims the seas, Running swiftly 'fore the breeze.
Past a craggy island, where Stands a city, proud and fair.
Cannons with a mighty roar Bid the merchants put to shore.
When the merchants land, Guidon
Bids them be his guests anon;
Feasts them first with wine and meats,
Then an audience entreats.
- Tell me what you have for sale, Whither bound, and whence you hail?
Quoth the merchants at their ease:
- We have sailed the seven seas Costly furs, prince, were our ware.
Silver fox and sables rare. Now our time is overstayed,
East–due east, our course is laid, Past the Island of Buyan,
Back to gracious Tsar Saltan.
Then, they heard from Prince Guidon:
- May fair breezes speed you on, O'er the ocean, o'er the main,
Back to Tsar Saltan again; Send to him, from me, a bow.
And the prince, with pensive brow,
Watched their ship put out from shore Till it could be seen no more.
- Greetings, oh my prince most fair!
Why so quiet, like still air?
Guidon answered her, distressed:
- Grief is gnawing at my breast, I have only one desire –
I should like to see my sire.
- That's what's causing you to sigh?
Listen–would you like to fly, Overtake that ship at sea?
Why, then–a mosquito be!
And he hovered, then and there, A mosquito, in the air.
Buzzed, and flying rapidly, Overtook the ship at sea,
Settled noiselessly, and stole Out of sight, into a hole.
Merrily the breeze is singing, O'er the waves a ship is winging.
Past the Island of Buyan To the realm of Tsar Saltan.
Now his longed-for land so dear Stands out in the distance, clear.
Now the ship at anchor rests
And the merchants, honored guests,
Palacewards their footsteps make With our gallant in their wake.
- Now, I ask you, masters mine,
Sailed you far across the brine?
Are things well where you have been?
What strange wonders have you seen?
- Peace reigns overseas, serene.
There, we saw this wondrous scene:
There's an island in the sea, Shores as steep as steep can be;
Cheerless once, deserted, bare– Nothing but an oak grew there.
Now it has a new-built city, Stately mansions, gardens pretty,
- Churches tall with domes of gold Fair and wondrous to behold.
Prince Guidon reigns there, and he Sends his compliments to thee.
Here the tsar, in much amaze, Said:
- If God prolong my days, I shall visit this strange isle,
Guest with this Guidon a while.
- That's no wonder, to be sure...
Just a city by the shore!
Here's a wonder, though, worth telling:
There's a little squirrel dwelling
In a fir tree; all day long, Cracking nuts, it sings a song.
Nuts–most wondrous to behold!
Every shell is solid gold;
Kernels–each an emerald pure!
That's a wonder, to be sure.
Tsar Saltan thought this most curious,
Our mosquito waxed most furious
And, with his mosquito might,
Stung his aunt's right eye, in spite.
Turning pale, she swooned from pain– But her eye ne'er saw again.
Sister, serving maids and mother,
Chased him, tripping one another.
- Ah, you cursed insect, you!
Only wait! - But he just flew
Through a casement, o'er the main, Swiftly to his own domain.
Pensively Guidon once more
Gazes seaward from the shore.
- Greetings, oh my prince most fair!
Why so quiet, like still air?
What is it that's made you sad?
Guidon answered her, distressed:
- Grief is gnawing at my breast,
There's a wonder, I confess, That I'm burning to possess.
Somewhere, there's a squirrel dwelling; 'Tis a wonder well worth telling.
- I know of this thing, you hear?
Calm your troubled soul, my dear;
Grieve not–I will gladly do
This slight service, prince, for you.
In a garden, in an orchard, A young girl was strolling.
She was just a tiny creature, Round-cheeked were her features.
Following her, trailing her, Walked a dashing fellow.
He was walking, he was bringing The young girl rich presents.
- Thank you, swan!
God grant her felicity And such joy as she gave me.
Then a squirrel's house he built. Crystal, glass, and silver gilt;
Set a guard, a scribe as well, Who recorded every shell.
Thus the prince's treasures grew, And the squirrel's glory too.
Breezes o'er the ocean play Speed a barque upon its way;
Sails all spread, it skims the seas, Running swiftly 'fore the breeze
Past a craggy island, where Stands a city, proud and fair.
Cannons with a mighty roar Bid the merchants put to shore;
When the merchants land, Guidon Bids them be his guests anon;
Feasts them first with wine and meats, Then an audience entreats.
- Tell me what you have for sale, Whither bound, and whence you hail?
Quoth the merchants at their ease:
We have sailed the seven seas, Selling horses, Prince Guidon–
Stallions from the steppes of Don. - We are overdue, you know,
And we still have far to go–
Past the Island of Buyan,
Back to gracious Tsar Saltan.
Then, they heard from Prince Guidon:
- May fair breezes speed you on O'er the ocean, o'er the main,
Back to Tsar Saltan again,
When your gracious tsar you see, Give him compliments from me.
Bowing low before him, they
Left Guidon and sailed away.
He, though, hastened to the shore, Where he met the swan once more,
Told her that his heart was burning, For his sire, his soul was yearning...
In the twinkling of an eye She made him a tiny fly,
And he flew across the sea Where, 'twixt sky and ocean, he
Settled on the deck and stole Out of sight into a hole.
Merrily the breeze is singing, O'er the waves a ship is winging,
Past the Island of Buyan, To the realm of Tsar Saltan,
- Now, I ask you, masters mine,
Sailed you far across the brine?
Are things well where you have been?
What strange wonders have you seen?
Quoth the merchants at their ease:
- We have sailed the seven seas; Peace reigns overseas, serene.
There, we saw this wondrous scene: On an island, far away,
Stands a city, grand and gay– Churches tall, with golden domes,
Gardens green and stately homes;
- By the palace grows a fir In whose shade, O royal sir,
Stands a crystal cage; and there Dwells a squirrel, strange and rare–
Full of frolic; all day long, Cracking nuts, it sings a song,
Nuts, most wondrous to behold– Every shell is solid gold,
Kernels–each an emerald bright; Sentries guard it day and night.
People live in plenty there,
Not in huts, but mansions fair.
Prince Guidon reigns there, and he Sends his compliments to thee.
Here the tsar said, in amaze:
- If but God prolong my days,
I shall visit this strange isle
Guest with this Guidon a while.
- Wherein lies this wonder, pray?
Squirrels cracking nuts all day–
Heaping emeralds, we're told,
Left and right a-throwing gold!
Nothing strange in this see I! Be this true, or but a lie,
I know of a better wonder;
Lo! The ocean swells in thunder,
Surges with a mighty roar,
Overflows a barren shore,
Leaving, wonderful to see,
Thirty stalwart knights and three,
All in mail a-gleaming bright,
Marching proudly left and right;
Each one brave beyond compare, Tall of stature, young and fair,
All alike beyond belief, Led by Chernomor, their chief.
That's a wonder, now, for you,
Marvelously strange, but true.
But the Tsar waxed very curious,
And Guidon waxed very furious.
Fiercely buzzed and settled right
On his aunt's left eye, in spite.
Turning pale, she swooned from pain–
- Ah! - her eye ne'er saw again.
Screams of anger filled the air -
"Catch it! Kill that insect there!
O you nasty insect, you!"
But Guidon just calmly flew
Through the casement, o'er the main,
Swiftly to his own domain.
- Greetings, oh my prince most fair!
Why so quiet, like still air?
What is it that's made you sad?
Guidon answered her, distressed:
- Grief is gnawing at my breast, There's a wonder, I confess,
That I'm longing to possess.
- Tell me then, what is this wonder?
- Somewhere swells the sea in thunder,
Breakers surge, and with a roar, Sweeping o'er a barren shore,
Leave behind, for all to see Thirty stalwart knights and three,
All in mail a-gleaming bright, Marching proudly left and right!
And replied the snow-white swan:
- Is that really all, Guidon?
Wonder not–though this may be
Strange for you, 'tis not for me,
For these sea-knights, prince, are none But my brothers, every one.
Do not grieve; go home and wait,
Meet my brothers at your gate.
- It is by the swan's request
And, at her express behest,
We have come from out the sea
Your fair city's guards to be.
Henceforth, from the ocean blue,
We will always come to you,
Every day, on guard to stand
By your lofty walls so grand.
Now, however, we must go -
To the salty sea below.
Breezes o'er the ocean play, Speed a barque upon its way;
Sails all spread, it skims the seas, Running swiftly 'fore the breeze,
Past a craggy island, where Stands a city, proud and fair.
Cannons with a mighty roar Bid the merchants put to shore.
- Tell me what you have for sale, Whither bound, and whence you hail?
Quoth the merchants at their ease:
- We have sailed the seven seas;
Swords of Damask steel we've sold, Virgin silver, too, and gold.
- Now we're overdue, you know. - And we still have far to go-
Past the Island of Buyan,
Back to gracious Tsar Saltan.
Then, they heard from Prince Guidon:
- My fair breezes speed you on, O'er the ocean, o'er the main,
Back to Tsar Saltan again.
Yes, and when your tsar you see,
Give him compliments from me.
And Guidon went to the shore Where he met the swan once more;
Told her that his heart was burning, For his sire, his soul was yearning...
So she drenched him, head to toe. In a trice, he shrank, and lo!
Ere or he could even gasp, He had turned into a wasp.
Then he buzzed, and rapidly Overtook the ship at sea;
Gently settled aft, and stole Out of sight, into a hole.
- Oh you sailors, masters mine - Sailed you far across the brine?
Are things well where you have been? What strange wonders have you seen?
- Peace reigns overseas, serene, There we saw this wondrous scene:
There's an island far away- On this isle - a city gay;
There, each dawn brings in new wonders:
There, the ocean swells and thunders, Breakers, with a mighty roar,
Foaming, flood its barren shore, Leaving, wonderful to see,
Thirty stalwart knights and three, All in mail a-gleaming bright,
Marching proudly left and right.
- Nor can you find guards so true,
Vigilant and fearless, too.
Prince Guidon reigns there, and he Sends his compliments to thee.
Here the tsar said, in amaze:
- If but God prolong my days, I shall visit this strange isle,
Guest with this Guidon a while.
- You may think this strange - not we!
Fancy! Idle mermen play Sentry-go on land all day!
Be this true, or but a lie, Nothing strange in this see I -
Stranger things exist, mark you - This report, though, is quite true:
There's a young princess, they say, That she charms all hearts away.
Brighter than the sun at noon, She outshines the midnight moon,
In her braids a crescent beams, On her brow, a bright star gleams.
She herself is sweet of face, Full of majesty and grace.
When she speaks, her voice doth seem Like the music of a stream.
That's a wonder, now, for you -
Marvellously strange, but true.
Oh! Oh!
Panic once more filled the air: Help! O don't you let it go!
Catch it! - Hold it! - Kill it! - O!
Eh! Et! Eh-eh! Eh!
- O you nasty insect, you!
Just you wait! - Guidon, though, flew
Through the casement, o'er the main, Back to his domain again.
- Greetings, oh my prince most fair!
Why so quiet, like still air? What is it that's made you sad?
Guidon answered her, distressed:
- Grief is gnawing at my breast,
Every youth has his own bride - Only I unmarried bide.
- Who is she you wish to wed? Tell me, now.
- It is said...
- There's a fair princess; they say That she charms all hearts away -
Brighter than the sun at noon,
She outshines the midnight moon;
In her braids, a crescent beams, On her brow, a bright star gleams.
She herself is sweet of face, Full of majesty and grace.
When she speaks, her sweet voice seems Like the flow of tinkling streams.
Is this true, though, or a lie?
- Yes-this maiden I can find;
But a wife's no mitten, mind, From your lily hand to cast,
Or unto your belt make fast; Listen now to my advice:
Weigh this matter well - think twice, So that on your marriage morrow
You do not repent in sorrow.
- Nay, for this princess so fair I would any perils dare,
Sacrifice my very soul, Barefoot, walk right to the pole.
Sighing thoughtfully, the swan
Murmured: "Why so far, Guidon? Know, your future bride is near -
I am that princess, my dear.
In her braids, a crescent beamed, On her brow, a bright star gleamed!
- Mother darling! If you please, I have chosen me a bride -
She will be your love and pride. Your consent we both desire,
And your blessing we require. Bless our marriage, so that we
Live in love and harmony.
Breezes o'er the ocean play, Speed a barque upon its way;
Sails all spread, it skims the seas, Running swiftly 'fore the breeze,
Past a craggy island, where Stands a city proud and fair.
Cannons with a mighty roar Bid the merchants put to shore.
- Tell me what you have for sale, Whither bound and whence you hail?
Quoth the merchants at their ease:
- We have sailed the seven seas,
Contraband, prince, was our ware, And our profits-rich and rare.
We have far to travel yet - Homewards - East - our course is set,
Past the Island of Buyan,
Back to gracious Tsar Saltan.
- May fair breezes speed you on, O'er the ocean, o'er the main,
Back to Tsar Saltan again.
Pray remind your tsar from me, That his gracious majesty
Said he'd visit us some day; We regret his long delay.
Off the merchants went. Guidon
This time stayed with his fair bride,
Never more to leave her side.
Merrily the breeze is singing, O'er the waves a ship is winging
Past the Island of Buyan To the realm of Tsar Saltan.
- Oh you, sailors, masters mine- Sailed you far across the brine?
Are things well where you have been? What strange wonders have you seen?
Quoth the merchants at their ease:
- We have sailed the seven seas. Peace reigns overseas, serene.
There, we saw this wondrous scene: On an island, far away,
Stands a city grand and gay-
Churches tall with golden domes, Gardens green, and stately homes.
Near its palace grows a fir
In whose shade, O royal sir,
Stands a crystal cage; and there
Dwells a squirrel strange and rare,
Full of frolic; all day long, Cracking nuts, it sings a song.
Nuts, most wondrous to behold -
Shells of purest yellow gold,
All the kernels - emeralds bright.
Sentries guard it day and night.
- There we saw another wonder -
Every morn, the breakers thunder
And the waves, with mighty roar,
Overflow the barren shore,
Leaving, wonderful to see,
Thirty stalwart knights and three.
Each one brave beyond compare,
Tall of stature, young and fair,
All in mail a-gleaming bright, Marching proudly left and right;
All alike beyond belief,
Led by Chernomor, their chief.
Nor will you find guards so true,
Vigilant and fearless, too.
And his wife is fair, O sire - Gaze on her - you'll never tire.
Brighter than the sun at noon,
She outshines the midnight moon;
In her braids, a crescent beams,
On her brow, a bright star gleams.
- Prince Guidon reigns there in glory,
He is praised in song and story.
Prince Guidon sends his respects,
Bade us say he still expects
You to visit him one day
And regrets your long delay.
All impatient, Tsar Saltan Gave command his fleet to man,
But the royal cook, and weaver,
And their mother, sly deceiver, Did their best to keep their tsar
From this wondrous isle so far.
- Am I tsar, or just some child?! -
Shouted he in passion wild
- I'll sail NOW!
He said no more, Stamped his foot and slammed the door.
- Mother dear, come hither, do - You, my fair princess, come too -
Only look out yonder - there Sails my father, I declare!
Tsar Saltan's fleet, at long last,
O'er the seas was sailing fast.
In salute the cannons fired, And the belfries rang, inspired.
To the shore Guidon then ran, There to welcome Tsar Saltan,
And the royal cook, and weaver,
And their mother, sly deceiver.
Now the palace came in sight, Sentries, clad in armour bright.
Tsar Saltan looked on to see Thirty stalwart knights and three -
Each one brave beyond compare, Tall of stature, young and fair,
All alike beyond belief,
Led by Chernomor, their chief.
Then he reached the courtyard wide,
Where a lofty fir he spied. In its shadow - lo, behold,
Cracking nuts of solid gold,
Sat a little squirrel, singing, Emeralds into sacklets flinging.
Golden nutshells lay around On the spacious courtyard ground.
In a garden, in an orchard, A young girl was strolling.
She was just a tiny creature, Round-cheeked were her features.
Then the tsar looked up and saw...
And his heart began to leap!
- Am I dreaming in my sleep? How? -
The tsar gasped in surprise,
Tears a-streaming from his eyes.
Now the cook, and royal weaver, And their mother, sly deceiver,
Weeping, each her crimes confessed,
Begged forgiveness, beat her breast.
So the tsar, in his great glee
Sent them home across the sea.
Then they all sat down to feast and their laughter never ceased!
- Hail Prince Guidon! Hail! Hail!
- Hail Tsar Saltan! Hail! Hail!
Late at night, with tipsy head,
Tsar Saltan was put to bed.
I drank beer and mead there - yet
Only got my whiskers wet.
The End Trans. by Louis Zellikoff, subs by Eus (2013), ed. by Niffiwan (2022)