Princess Mary (1955)
A Soviet screen adaptation of Lermontov's classic, where a cynical officer's love game with a young princess unravels into irreversible tragedy.
Princess Mary - Movie Information
- Original Title: Княжна Мери
- Release Year: 1955
- Directed by: Isidor Annensky
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Drama, Romance
- Runtime: 1h 36m
- Original Language: Russian
- Spoken Languages: Russian
- Release Date (Theatrical): August 17, 1955 (SU), November 11, 1956 (United States)
- Alternative Titles: Knyazhna Meri (US)
- Production Companies: Gorky Film Studios
- Production Countries: Soviet Union
Princess Mary - Plot
Screen adaptation of the chapter of the same name from Mikhail Lermontov's "A Hero of Our Time". Pechorin, having learned about his friend Grushnitsky's passion for Princess Mary Ligovskaya, out of boredom and a desire to annoy the completely false cadet, falls in love with the girl. The film tells about the romantic story of Pechorin, whose reckless love game turns into a tragedy for himself - a man who clearly does not fit into the laws of the time in which fate has sentenced him to live...
Princess Mary - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Isidor Annensky
Main Cast
- Anatoliy Verbitskiy
- Karina Shmarinova
- Tatyana Piletskaya
- Mikhail Astangov
- Leonid Gubanov
- Claudia Elanskaya
- Fyodor Nikitin
- Vitaly Polizeymako
- Tatyana Pankova
- Viktor Koltsov
Writers
- Isidor Annensky
Princess Mary - FAQs
What is Princess Mary (1955) based on?
Princess Mary is a direct screen adaptation of the chapter of the same name from Mikhail Lermontov's celebrated 1840 novel A Hero of Our Time. The film faithfully translates Lermontov's psychological portrait of Pechorin, a disillusioned 19th-century Russian officer, from page to screen.
Who directed Princess Mary (1955)?
Princess Mary was directed by Isidor Annensky, a Soviet filmmaker known for his literary adaptations. Annensky also wrote the screenplay, bringing Lermontov's nuanced psychological drama to life through the resources of Gorky Film Studios in the Soviet Union.
Who plays Pechorin in Princess Mary (1955)?
Anatoliy Verbitskiy portrays Pechorin, the brooding and manipulative protagonist at the heart of the story. His performance captures the character's restless intelligence and emotional detachment, embodying one of Russian literature's most complex anti-heroes with compelling screen presence.
What is Princess Mary (1955) about?
The film follows Pechorin, a cynical Russian officer who, out of boredom and rivalry with his friend Grushnitsky, begins a calculated pursuit of the young Princess Mary Ligovskaya. What begins as a manipulative game gradually transforms into genuine feeling, ultimately culminating in tragedy for all involved.
Who are the main actors in Princess Mary?
The principal cast includes Anatoliy Verbitskiy as Pechorin, Karina Shmarinova as Princess Mary, Tatyana Piletskaya as Vera, Mikhail Astangov as Dr. Werner, and Leonid Gubanov as Grushnitsky. Supporting roles are filled by Claudia Elanskaya, Fyodor Nikitin, and Vitaly Polizeymako.
When was Princess Mary released?
Princess Mary was first released in the Soviet Union on August 17, 1955. It subsequently received a United States release on November 11, 1956, bringing this Soviet literary adaptation to international audiences over a year after its domestic premiere.
What genre is Princess Mary (1955)?
Princess Mary is a Drama and Romance film. Rooted in the tradition of 19th-century Russian literary cinema, it blends psychological character study with romantic tragedy, exploring themes of ego, manipulation, social convention, and the emotional consequences of treating love as a competitive game.
How long is Princess Mary (1955)?
Princess Mary has a runtime of 96 minutes, or 1 hour and 36 minutes. The film's focused length allows it to concentrate on the psychological dynamics between its central characters without straying far from the source material's intimate, diary-entry narrative structure.
More About Princess Mary
Explore further details about this Soviet classic through these authoritative resources.