Soyuzmultfilm
The Tale of the Golden Cockerel
directed by Aleksandra Snezhko-Blotskaya written by Viktor Shklovsky art director Viktor Nikitin
music Vitaliy Geviksman on musical motives of N. Rimskiy-Korsakov text Vladimir Vladimirov
camera Ye. Rizo, executive producer G. Kruglikov. sound Boris Filchikov, script editor Raisa Frichinskaya
artists V. Haritonova, Irina Svetlitsa assistants E. Novoselskaya,N. Mayorova, L. Model, K. Morozov, S. Kashcheyeva
animators Yuriy Butyrin, S. Zhutovskaya, Olga Orlova, Violetta Kolesnikova, Viktor Shevkov, Igor Podgorskiy, Nikolay Fyodorov, Vladimir Krumin,
Marina Voskanyants, Konstantin Chikin, Vladimir Balashov
voice artists A. Pirogova, Alexey Konsovskiy, Leonid Pirogov, Aleksey Gribov, L. Rumina, Mariya Vinogradova (Cockerel) Georgiy Vitsin (Wizard)
Anatoliy Kubatskiy (Gavrilo), S. Bubnov, Yuriy Medvedev
In the realm of Threeteenseventy, Commonwealth of Thriceleventy,
Lived the famous Tsar Dodon. Fierce he was from boyhood on,
And when scarcely more than twenty Wrought his neighbors wrongs aplenty.
Aging now, he changed in mind, Would give up the warlike grind
For a life serene and festive. But his neighbors, growing restive,
Caused the grizzled Tsar alarm, Dealing him a world of harm.
I have called you here, my friends, To discuss our land's defence.
How to guard the land from danger, from the menace of the stranger?
What to do in this grave crisis? I would know what your advice is!
Thou, my first-born, have thy say!
I, perhaps, can see a way...
Let our troops be summoned hither, Centralized and grouped together,
While behind our ramparts rude We lay in a store of food.
The foe comes, sees everyone Eating, drinking, having fun...
He'll be frightened and dismayed!
Ha! Ha! And he'll run away, afraid!
- That's our Prince! What a relief! - He has saved us all from grief!
- Quick and easy, let us leave it! - Nay, I'm damned if I believe it!
What's this rubbish? Are ye dense? Let the foe march through our lands?
He will stand right by our walls. Ram our gate until it falls!
Next some arrows, I expect! And the royal tower's wrecked!
- Please, O God! Don't let them harm us! - Art thou trying to alarm us?
- That's enough, Polkashka, peace! Sure, the plan's no masterpiece...
To invite our rivals brash To our capital seems rash...
Well, dear youngest son of mine, Hast thou thought of something fine?
True, retreating seldom pays. My advice: in 30 days
When attacked by foes accursed, We'll ride forth to strike them first!
In the field we'll meet, attack, Then victorious come back!
- Oh, give me a hug, my lad. Let it be as thou hast said!
- How is this, my Tsar exalted? May I be by water scalded!
And what if our neighbors, pray, Tricky in their usual way,
Do not tell us in advance When they shall attack our lands?
- Once again opinions airing? With thy manner overbearing,
And thy beard, quite three foot three, Thou art pitiful to see!
- Always muddying clear water!
- Someone discipline this plotter!
- I'm so angry that it's hurting!
- Is he thinking of deserting?
- He's a traitor! - Never awed By his Sov'reign, Tsar and lord!
- So our lord won't be harassed, Hit the villain! - Hold him fast!
Hold it!
Men, I'd know what your advice is! How to solve this gravest crisis?
There's a hag who had the means. She could prophesy in beans...
...but she died. - A surer way lies in liquor dregs, I say!
- Beans will give a better view. - Dregs are better! - Beans more true!
I would give whatever's ours For advice, e'en from the stars.
- To the great Tsar, praises be! Long ago, thy sire knew me.
This bird is my gift, oh Sire. Plant it high atop a spire.
Let my clever Cockerel Be thy faithful sentinel.
While there's naught of martial riot, He will sit his perch in quiet;
Let there be on any side Signs of war to be espied,
Of some squadron border-poaching, Or some other ill approaching,
Straight my bird upon the dome Will awaken, perk his comb,
Veer about, his ruff a-fluffing, Point where harm is in the offing,
Crow aloud...
- Keeree-kookoo! Reign abed, thy guard is true.
Place him on the highest steeple! He'll be heard by all my people!
With regard to thy reward, All I have, I must afford.
So: the first request of thine Shall be carried out as mine.
- Though in Tsar Dodon I trust, It perhaps could be discussed
If in law he would agree To write up this Tsar's decree.
- "Law", thou sayest? What's this word? It is not one I have heard.
If the Tsar's word has been granted, It shall never be recanted!
Cockerel atop the spire Started guarding march and shire
Keeree-kookoo! Reign abed, thy guard is true.
Khans, the Tsar's domains investing, Henceforth never dared molest him:
Tsar Dodon on every hand Hurled them back by sea and land!
(Whistles)
Keeree-kookoo! Reign abed, thy guard is true.
Tsar of ours! The realm's defender! It is me, thy high commander!
Majesty! Wake up! Alert!
Eh?... What's up?... Is someone hurt?
See the rooster, ruffle-fleeced, Crowing, pointing to the East!
Quick, we must prevent disaster! People! Mount your horses! Faster...
Eastward now a force will speed, Our Tsar's eldest in the lead.
Friendly fowl, I am delighted! If another foe be sighted,
Crow thy best, that we may hear! ...Shake my pillows up, my dear.
Eerie, brothers...
- Oh, why so? - I myself don't really know.
- Could disaster yet occur? Look, he sits, and does not stir.
- Could the hostile troops be beaten? - Or does doom come while he's sleepin'?
Eight whole days passed with no clues. From the troops there came no news.
Was there battle? Was it won? No report to Tsar Dodon...
Keeree-kookoo! Reign abed, thy guard is true.
- If that cock hadn't warned of war, I'd have slept a little more.
All these martial tasks, I deem, Woke me from a wondrous dream!
What, Omelfa, were its themes? Wouldst thou tell me? - By all means!
- Was it of a pretty maid? - Yes! She had an all-black braid.
- She invited thee to dine, Treated thee to foods most fine.
And she lay thee down to sleep On brocaded bed most deep.
- Oh, my beauty, where is she? - I know not... forgivest thou me...
Keeree-kookoo! Reign abed, thy guard is true.
- Oh, misfortune, awful news!
- Stop! The Tsar is at his snooze.
- We have orders not to wake him! - What'll we do? Are we forsaken?
- Waken, Tsar! We must be led! Thou can no more reign abed!
- What? For whom? To who? Again? - For the third time, we need men!
It's time, in this hour of need, For old men to take the lead!
- What a bother! What a bird! Why can't it sit still, unheard?
So, my sons more soldiers need... This time I'll be in the lead!
Bring my helm, my plates to wear!
Ooh... their weight is hard to bear...
From wherever it's concealed, Bring my favorite red shield.
Oh! More air... my treasured sword Is too heavy, oh my word...
Lead me on, no getting 'round it. Find a horse, and help me mount it.
Devil take thee, noisy guest! Why disturb a Tsar at rest?
(Horse neighs)
Is he quiet?
- Like a cow! - That's just what I need right now.
Do thyself a favour, dear: Keep at all times in the rear.
- Hail our Sovereign! Hooray! - He himself goes out today!
Day and night the columns wind, Then it preys upon each mind:
Not a camp or battleground, Not a warriors' burial mound,
Is encountered near or far. "Strange and stranger," thinks the Tsar.
One week gone, the country changes, Rising, high through hills and ranges.
Oh, what mortal anguish! Dear ones! My delight! Beloved near ones,
Both by discord led astray! Woe! It is my death today.
Tsar Dodon with grief is bursting. Are ye all for vengeance thirsting?
- 'Tis agreed! But where's the foe? - That's the thing we want to know.
- I will bet that is our foe... Brothers! Let us lay him low!
- We can do that - But at first, Let our cannon do its worst!
- Right thou art. Move back, ye all. Charge the canon with a ball.
Light the wick! A little higher...
Aim, my brothers.
And...
Fire!
Lady mine, there is no danger, I would greet so fair a stranger;
Art thou quite alone on earth? Give thy name and place of birth!
I am free as clouds in heaven, Shamaha's the land I govern.
Like a thief I'm sneaking through, Just to steal your lands from you.
-Ha-ha-ha! Thou art a funny one, My dear "queen of Shamahan".
Wine I offer: this for thee, 'Tis the best, so drink to me!
Though I doubt it not delicious, Taste it first. - Thou art suspicious!
In these limpid eyes of mine, Dost thou read some dark design?
- Why art THOU here, ancient fowl? Staring 'round just like an owl!
See, the maiden has grown timid? Two men here is past the limit.
In the cornerquick begone! And remain 'till I count one!
- Thou'st come far, old man, I'm certain. Come, lift up the patterned curtain...
- I am not so old. My wrinkles... - On a man, they're status symbols!
Am I not a pretty one - I, the queen of Shamahan?
Is thy head a little dizzy?
- Um, my liver feels all fizzy...
- What'd thou singest, Tsar Dodon, When by love thou wast turned on?
- I don't know. Memories flee... - Wilt thou try?
- Well, let's see...
I'll love thee for many a year! And I won't forget, don't fear!
Hahaha! What a din! Thou art not too far from sin!
- And if I forget, well then Thou wilt remind me again.
- I won't dance, it can't be done!
- Should I then be with Polkan? Hey, Polkan!
- And what of me? How am I, my love, to be?
If my efforts give thee pleasure, I will try to trip a measure.
I have no more strength, believe me, Without thee, my life may leave me...
How I beg thee, by my land, By my crown, oh take my hand!
They'll be thine, and me as well. - What shall we do there, pray tell?
- Do? Eat sweets and dine on quails. Rest, and be told fairy tales.
So, can we be wed?
- Yes! - Then let's not waste time, I guess!
Ho, Polkan, let trumpets sound! Tsar Dodon a bride has found!
At long last, then, forth he sallied, His surviving forces rallied,
And, the maiden in his train, Led his army home again.
- Ah, good day, my friend in need! I recall thy kindly deed!
Now be frank, a truce to homage. For the cock'rel, what's the damage?
Mighty monarch, I obey! Mark the price thou hast to pay!
For the aid I once accorded, Thou recallst, I was awarded
My first wish - to be fulfilled, As thine own, as soon as willed.
Let this maid be what I won, This young queen of Shamahan.
Come now, does a demon ride thee? Have thy wits dried up inside thee?
What's thy game, in heaven's name? Pledge I did; but all the same
There are limits, let's agree; And - what use is she to thee?
Listen to the words I speak, Neither horse nor purse I seek!
Thou shalt give me what I won, This young queen of Shamahan!
Nay, thou villain! Is it so? Mark the present I bestow!
Thou'lt have NOTHING, so be gone! Thou thyself hast brought this on!
Scram while thou yet livest, I say! Drag the scarecrow from my way!
- Thou hast sworn!
- Still further nagging? Zounds, I'll stop thy tongue from wagging!
(The Queen laughs)
Where's her lordship? She's nowhere! As if she was never there!
- How's the Tsar? - Dead, it would seem.
- Unless this was all a dream...
Story's false; yet has some truth: Food for thought to honest youth.
The End Translation by Niffiwan, Walter Arndt, & Edward Agate. Subs by Niffiwan & Eus