Story of movie The Amphibian Man Film : This article consists almost entirely of a plot summary. It should be expanded to provide more balanced coverage that includes real-world context. (September 2017) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) |
Amphibian Man (Russian: ???????-???????, translit. Chelovek-amfibiya) is a 1962 Soviet science fiction romance film starring Vladimir Korenev and directed by Vladimir Chebotaryov and Gennadi Kazansky.
| Amphibian Man | |
|---|---|
Soviet poster for Amphibian Man | |
| Directed by | Vladimir Chebotaryov Gennadi Kazansky |
| Written by | Alexander Beliaev (novel) Akiba Golburt Aleksei Kapler Aleksandr Ksenofontov |
| Starring | Vladimir Korenev Anastasiya Vertinskaya Mikhail Kozakov |
| Music by | Andrei Petrov |
| Cinematography | Eduard Rozovsky |
Production company | Lenfilm |
| Distributed by | BijouFlix Releasing National Telefilm Associates (TV syndication) |
Release date | December 19, 1962 |
Running time | 82 min. |
| Country | Soviet Union |
| Language | Russian |
It is an almost fable-like story based upon the eponymous novel by Alexander Beliaev. It focuses on a youth named Ichthyander (Russian: ????????, Ichtiandr) (from Greek: fish+man) who was surgically altered to survive under the sea. Unlike traditional science fiction movies of the time the film focuses much more on the concept of love won and lost. It was given the name of Tarzan des Mers before the estate of Edgar Rice Burroughs took exception.
The film was the leader of Soviet distribution in 1962 (65.5 million viewers). It is little-known in the West, but has become a cult classic.
Screenplay
The story is set in a seaside port in Argentina (but filmed in Baku, Azerbaijan SSR), largely among a community of pearl fishers. The protagonist is the adopted son of a doctor/scientist who was sometime in the past forced to save the boy's life by implanting him with shark gills. Thus he is able to live under water, but must keep his secret from the world. The conflict arises from his falling in love with a pearl-fisher's beautiful daughter. His secret is discovered and the girl's stern father attempts to exploit Ichthyander for his ability. Due to being kept caged under water, his ability to breathe in the open air is affected, and he must now permanently live in the sea (at least for several years). Although set free, the lovers are permanently separated from each other.
Although ostensibly a lost-love-tragedy like Romeo and Juliet, the film has a significant focus on greed and commercial exploitation (of the pearl-greedy fishermen), possibly under the influence of Socialist Realism.
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Vladimir Korenev | Ichthyander (voiced by Yuri Rodionov) |
| Anastasiya Vertinskaya | Guttiere (voiced by Nina Gulyaeva) |
| Mikhail Kozakov | Pedro Zurita |
| Anatoli Smiranin | Old Baltazar |
| Nikolay Simonov | Prof. Salvator |
| Vladlen Davydov | Olsen, the reporter |
| Sergei Boyarsky | Chief Prison Guard |
| Anatoli Ivanov | Ichthyander understudy in the most challenging underwater shots |
| Stanislav Chekan | prison guard |
| Nikolai Kuzmin | sailor |
| Mikhail Medvedev | boatswain |
| Yuri Medvedev | fishmonger |
| Anna Nikritina | Zurita’s mother |
| Tito Romalio Jr. | newsboy |
| Georgi Tusuzov | episode |
| Aleksandr Zakharov | policeman |
Home media
The Amphibian Man made its debut on DVD on August 21, 2001 where it was released by Image Entertainment. It was later re-released by VFN on July 9, 2015.
- The Shape of Water, a 2017 American film with a similar plot
.jpg)
