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KRASNAYA STRELA

NIKITA MIKHALKOV's STUDIO TriTe

PARTNERSHIP. CREATIVITY. LABOR

TV CHANNEL RUSSIA

CINEMA FUND

- Run away, you filthy ragamuffin!

- Don't lose your pants!

- Coward!

Mikhail PORECHENKOV

Katerina SHPITZA

Alexander MIKHAILOV

Roman MADYANOV

Mikhail KRYLOV, Terry BIRD, Stephen BENT

Vladimir ILYIN, Yuri KOLOKOLNIKOV, Denis LAVANT

Ludovic VIVEUR, Wilfried BENASH Timofei TRIBUNTSEV

- Did you open a beehive?

- Dad!

Dad! The Poyarkov brothers... there were five of them,

and I was all by myself.

They said, "Poddubny, you filthy ragamuffin,

don't come to us more. We won't play with you!"

I attacked them, but they called for bigger boys.

- Okay, let's go sort it out.

Don't come to me to whine, don't! I'll whip you to death!

One of them all alone - fight!

Meet five of them all alone - fight!

Meet a hundred of them all alone - fight!

You're a Cossack! Don't dare to come whining to me

and whimpering, got it?

- I'll only whip you, got it? - I got it, Dad.

- Son...

Things pass away, son,

all bruises and grudges as well.

Things pass away, son.

Don't be ashamed of tears.

Tears heal your soul.

Written by Yuri KOROTKOV

Director of Photography Vladislav OPELYANTS

Music by Yury POTEYENKO

Production Designer Grigory PUSHKIN

Edited by Maria LIKHACHEVA

Directors: Zaurbek ZASEEV Elizaveta SOLOMINA

Produced by Leonid VERESHCHAGIN Vadim GORYAINOV

Leonid LEBEDEV, Nikita MIKHALKOV Valeri TODOROVSKI

Directed by Gleb ORLOV

THE IRON IVAN

- Comrade Poddubny!

Hello, Ivan Maksimovich!

You don't know me, but I know you well.

It's marvelous to have you here!

Do you feel it? The very air is different.

It smells of freedom.

Now everything bad is over - endless humiliation,

poverty, rudeness... Oh, sorry.

You've turned over a new leaf, and since now

you'll be living in a free country of free people.

- I congratulate you with the safe arrival to America,

Mr. Poddubny.

I am Terry Cowell.

I speak Russian, as you might have noticed,

though not so good as 10 years before,

but, well, what can you do?

There you are.

I left Russia 10 years ago and since then haven't seen

anyone from Russia.

These are my partners. The driver is Bruce,

light-middleweight. He knows everything about wrestling.

That one is the owner of our company. His name is Scott.

He has a counting machine under his hat. [chuckles]

Now we're going to the hotel.

- Quit smokin in the car, will ya!

What did you negotiate with those Russians?

- How old is he? - 54.

- What are we supposed to do with him?

- Scott. He's a 6 times world champion.

- [Scott] When was that? 20 years ago?

- The circus has arrived!

[applause]

- Thank you.

- That's enough, guys! Come along!

- Excellent, here come the strongmen.

- Ooh, look at the dogs!

- What do you do, miss? - Stand still.

- Come to the circus and see.

- Be sure we'll come!

- Looking forward to it.

- Ladies and gentlemen,

we continue our show!

She is flying through the air without a safety cord!

A death-defying stunt performed by a fragile girl!

Now please meet a girl-damselfly -

the charming mademoiselle Mimi!

Voila! [applause]

- Come on, Mimi!

[band plays]

[piano music]

[circus music returns]

[drum roll]

- Hey, what are you doing?

Woo!

- [heavy breathing]

- [Ringmaster] Dear audience, ladies and gentlemen!

By tradition, today we begin

our belt wrestling championship!

The rules are simple.

The loser is the one

who touches the floor with any part of his body

but his feet.

On the last day of our tour,

the final match will take place, and the winner will receive

a grand prize of 300 rubles!

Don't miss a single bout, ladies and gentlemen!

Now meet the contestants, please!

On his way from Paris...

Basil de la Tour!

A Turkish giant...

Akhmed "the Mountain" Pasha!

T.J. - an Ethiopian susceptible

to bouts of cannibalism!

- Aaaargh! - Get away!

And finally, our mysterious giant...

the Black Mask!

No one has ever seen his face.

Under his contract,

he will unmask himself

only if he loses.

Now then!

We begin the match!

- Ugh, I'm tired of this! Why can't I play a Frenchman...

- Bastard! - ... or a German at worst?

- Your face keeps you from it.

I heard the boss wanted to cut back your fee

for your having free board here.

- Boo!

- Stop it! Stop it! - [chuckles]

- The Black Mask wins!

Does any one of you

want to match your strength against the winner?

- Well, come on!

- Show him what we are! - Any volunteers?

- I am a weakling? Take it! - Okay.

- It's me!

- Enter the arena, please.

There are still daredevils left in Russia.

Would you introduce yourself, dear mister?

Who are you? Where are you from?

- I am Ivan Poddubny,

working as a stevedore in the port.

- A stevedore in the port!

[chuckles]

Ready?

Go!

Bow before the public. Come on!

- They'll get by.

- Mr. Poddubny, I'm a straightforward man,

so I'll start without preamble.

- Take a seat. - Thank you.

- I want to offer you a contract.

- What should I do?

- You will wrestle. You'll be taking part in the championship

until it is over. It's 30 days more.

You will wrestle one bout every night.

For every win I will pay you...

well, say,

5 rubles.

- 5 rubles?

- By the way.

This is for today's victory.

Do you agree?

- Who wouldn't?

- Well, then.

You must put name at the bottom of it.

Pod... dub...

bny...

- That's a good boy.

You'll be entering the ring

not the way the others do but as you did tonight.

And one more condition.

Get dressed in your work clothes:

a shirt, pants, everything as usual.

- I've got quite a respectable suit.

- The audience likes it better that way.

I will be presenting you as

Ivan Poddubny, a stevedore in the port.

Agreed?

- Agreed.

- Can you smile?

Smile broadly.

A good set of teeth.

- I don't smoke. - That's good.

Remember one thing more:

from now on you are a circus artist,

not a simple spectator.

So, when next time you enter the arena,

no matter whether you win or lose,

well, be so kind, I beg you,

please, bow to the audience. They like it.

- I will never lose.

- [Woman] You're only able to drink and gawk at Masha!

- I never do that! - I'll show you!

[bear grumbles]

- So you've signed it?

- Uh-huh.

- Have you even read it?

- He explained it in words.

- You shouldn't be so trusty.

- With us, when a Cossack promises, he keeps his word.

- You must know better.

- Well, tell me, Mimi...

- Don't "Mimi" me. I am Masha.

I am as much Mimi

as Akhmed is a Turk, or T.J. is an Ethiopian.

- What? They're not real?

- Ivan, you are as naive as a kid.

I'm surprised such people exist. Where are you from?

- From the farm. Just wanted to see the world.

Dad says, "Cossacks only leave home to go to war."

- And I have got six sisters.

My mother was wearing the pants.

Piano lessons in the morning, French lessons in the afternoon.

- Embroidery in the evening. - Nightmare.

- So, you sit and wait for a nobleman to marry you.

When his circus had arrived, I went to it for the first time,

- and was lost. - Was lost?

- I'd come behind the scenes after every show

just to smell the atmosphere.

When the tour ended, I said to myself,

"Allez! Either you do it now, or you don't cry later."

- You fled? - Well, yes.

Come sit by me.

- Can I? - Sure.

- Tell me, er... - Masha.

- Masha...

- What's it like up there? - It's scary.

Sometimes I get so scared I can't move.

But then I say "allez!" to myself

and jump.

Everything's that simple.

Either you're jumping, or embroidering your dowry.

- Come on, Poddubny!

- What are you doing, bastard?

- Get on the phone,

book the best halls in Detroit and Chicago.

Pay the reporters to make sure that this photo

is on the front page of every newspaper.

The headline should be something like:

"Ivan the Iron Conquers America."

- Masha.

- Hello, Masha. - What are you doing here?

- Waiting for you.

They said the circus is leaving soon.

- After yesterday's performance, the director said the box-office

was down because they came only to see you.

You have the final match tomorrow.

- Break a leg. - Yeah.

- Not "yeah" but "hell yeah".

"Allez! I can do it. I'm the strongest one."

- I'll be supporting you. - I won't lose.

- Let's have a walk in the city tomorrow.

- Okay. What about the day after tomorrow?

- The day after tomorrow I'll be sitting in a train

together with Emile, our bear-tamer,

and his jealous wife.

But this is my life. I made the choice myself.

- Masha, don't leave.

I'll do everything for you. I will earn money

for both of us. I'm strong. I'll do it.

- Don't, Vanya.

See you in the evening.

- Congratulations, gentlemen,

- we are unemployed. - Bite your tongue, Basil.

- I am no longer Basil,

but Vasya from Ryazan textile mill.

You're not a child of Africa either.

"In Feodosia, where the circus is on tour,

"appeared a strongman - a stevedore named Poddubny.

"They say he will surely win the championship

"because none of the professional wrestlers

"could stand up to him longer than 15 minutes."

It's in the Russian Sport paper.

If he became known in the capital,

he's known throughout Russia.

So either we go home

or go to amuse people beyond darned Egypt.

- Ivan the Big Guy is kidding.

Let me ride on you, Vanya, too.

- Later. - [laughs] Okay.

- Hello.

- Ivan, the wrestlers made a deal with the director.

The Frenchman will win tonight.

- How come?

- They're sharing the prize money,

not giving it to a stranger.

The circus has its own laws.

But Ivan...

But you can have your own laws.

- How?

- Do you want me to stay with you?

- I do.

- Then let's run away together.

- Oh! Ivan.

Come in! You are most welcome.

I was going to send for you.

You were great, Vanya!

Well done.

I can't remember a novice ever wrestled

until the end of the championship.

But now, my dear, you need to team up.

Tonight, in the final bout,

our Frenchman will have you floored.

- Right at once? - Not at once, Vanya.

The audience will guess.

You watch me carefully.

I'll give you a sign.

So, when you go for your grappling hold

he'll perform a suplex throw on you.

We need to end the championship with a spectacular throw.

- What if I refuse?

- Look, Ivan,

- I'm an honest man, right? - Mm.

- Under the contract, I honestly paid you for every win.

So, be so kind,

comply with the terms of the contract -

since you havesigned it.

- Was it written in there that I was to lose?

- Well, look...

Article 6:

The result of the match is the option of the entrepreneur.

That's me.

There is also Article 7:

In the event of a breach of the contract, the party at fault,

shall pay a penalty in the amount of...

What are you doing?

I'll call the police.

- Sit!

Open your mouth.

Open your mouth, I said!

Eat it.

Good boy.

Hard to swallow?

Take a drink.

Remember: the Poddubnys

will never give up. Is it clear?

You'll get a spectacular throw anyway.

- Come on! Come in! We ring the bell to begin!

Come to see a dead man walking,

smiling and talking!

Face the truth - Come to the booth!

Come here, honey, And bring your money!

Come on! Come in!

Don't be so slow! Buy tickets for the show!

Let us begin! Everybody come in!

- Make room, mister. - Yeah, make room!

- Go away!

- Now I am announcing

the final match of our championship between

Basil de la Tour

[applause]

and Ivan Poddubny, a stevedore!

Ready?

- [Man in crowd] Let him have it, Poddubny!

- Go!

- Just so, just so-- Keep cool! Keep cool!

Come on! Come on!

- What are you doing? What are you doing?

- Having Frenchman floored.

[drumroll]

[audience cheers]

- [Voices in the crowd] Poddubny! Poddubny!

- Ladies and gentlemen! Dear audience!

Do not believe your eyes!

It's not me who was to win the match, but him.

My prize they have shared among themselves.

So, I'll never see my honestly earned money.

- Well, no way. - [Crowd] Money!

- Therefore, I, a simple stevedore

Ivan Poddubny, is demanding

to bring the prize money right here. Right here!

- Mr. Director,

as the chief of police,

I demand you bring the 300 rubles

and hand the money to the winner!

Otherwise, I shall have to accuse you of fraud!

[applause]

- What else do you want?

- What's this? - A fine.

For her contract breach.

- Mimi, you too?

How could you? After so many years of working together!

I picked you up on the street

and made an actress out of you.

- What ingratitude! - Give me her contract.

- We can agree upon the new terms

which will be more beneficial to you, Mr. Poddubny.

- Give it to me.

- This one? - Yes.

- Leaving after all?

- Yes.

We'll try to join another circus.

- Where are you going now? - To Odessa.

They say the Truzzi circus is on tour there.

- There's one bound to Odessa. You can have a cabin right now.

- We've spent all the money to pay kickback to that bastard.

I'll try to ship as a stoker.

- That won't do.

Your bride is too nice to be accompanied by a grimy stoker.

Well, wait.

Panteleimon,

would you let some respected people have a free trip?

I'll owe you one.

- Well, if they are respected, then okay.

- See?

- Thank you, brothers. - No, wait.

We have a present for you. Sanya!

Bring the souvenir.

Since you're not Ivan the Big Guy anymore

but Mr. Poddubny, you know that no noble man can do

without a walking stick.

We are giving you this 16-kg stick

as a keepsake. Don't forget us.

- Thank you, brothers.

Don't think ill of me.

- Fare you well! - Hey, all aboard!

Hurry your respected people. We're casting off.

[whistle blows]

[♪ "Sing, Sing, Sing" by Benny Goodman ♪]

- "Ivan the Iron.

"In the opinion of the medical commission, in that

"even though he is 55 years old,

he has got--

- ... the health of a 35-year-old, sir.

I told you that.

- [Scott] I know.

You were right.

Ivan.

Who would have thought this gamble

would become my most profitable business.

We're gonna pin down the whole of America.

[crash]

- Sorry.

[train whistle]

[reporters shout questions]

- Where did you get that photo?

It's been 30 years. I don't even have one.

- That's my profession. Everything needed for business

I'll get no matter what it takes.

America is plastered with your posters. Come on! [chuckles]

- I wish my Dad had such a photo, too.

He has never had one.

- One moment.

Yes.

Attention!

One, two, three...

... fifteen.

- Ladies and gentlemen, let's take our bear to...

- Bear indeed. You can't call him any other name.

No technique.

- Yes, but what a tremendous strength, Prince!

He embodies the Russian Nature itself.

He is a new Ilya of Murom!

- Let newspapermen exalt him, Count.

- [Man] What shall we do now? You should've checked the wheel.

- [Boy] Stop nagging at me, Dad!

The cart is a total wreck.

- Gather all the potatoes! - We should get rid of it.

[accordian music]

- [Man] This is what you tell him? - This is what I answer.

- Good morning, gentlemen.

We have guests? Vanya, you should have let me know.

- Meet my brothers, Nikita and Mitrophan.

- Very good. I am setting the table for dinner.

- We have to go. Bye, Ivan.

- At least stay for a cup of tea?

Why didn't you stopped them?

It's kind of indecent...

You haven't seen them in so long.

What happened, Vanya?

Ivan.

- Look. I sent this photo to Dad, just to make him happy.

And he sent my brothers to bring me back, bound hand and foot.

He promised to break a shaft over my back

so that I shouldn't disgrace the Poddubnys

acting as a clown and entertaining people.

- Come on.

We are both homeless now, Vanya.

- I was also asking for a blessing to marry.

He said no blessing and that he would sooner curse me.

I am sick and tired of living on orders from him!

I said I wouldn't come, and I won't come!

Said I'd marry, and I will marry!

- So you're going to marry me, Vanya?

Maybe you should ask me first?

- I am asking you: will you marry me? Yes or no!

- No, Vanya.

I love you.

But I'll never separate you from your family.

I could never forgive myself.

- His Highness the Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich!

- Please sit down, gentlemen.

What's all the noise about?

- Your Highness!

- [Vladimir] No formality, please.

- Members of the Political Committee Prince Drubich

and Count Korsakov traveled over several cities

looking for a possible candidate to take part

in the world championship in Paris.

- Your Highness, there is actually only one choice.

Here, in Petersburg, in the Ciniselli circus

is wrestling a certain Ivan Poddubny

known in the circus world as the Russian Bear.

He is of humble birth, a former stevedore.

5 years ago he came onto the arena from the audience

and since then has lost no bout.

- What is your opinion of him?

- The Count and I can't agree on the question.

Honestly, I feel confused.

Well, he has no notion of Greco-Roman wrestling!

- Your Highness! Sorry.

Poddubny is a phenomenon. He is a person of natural gifts,

a living embodiment of Russian people's strength!

- Stick to the point, Count. Alright?

- Your Highness, Poddubny, indeed,

he has no physique of an athlete, nor technique,

but he can tie three men with his belt

and raise them with one hand. He can easily

tear a three fingers thick book in half.

True, he has no technique

but with a good trainer assigned to him,

- Eugene, for example-- - Well, to send a circus bear

to represent Russia

before the whole world? What are you thinking?

- It's a shame!

- What if he would nibble sunflower seeds

- at the presentation? - Why? But what if he wins?

[taps on glass]

- I fully agree with you, Dmitry Leonidovich.

You are right, it would be a shame.

That's why it's you who will go

to represent Russia before the whole world.

- Me?

- As a member of the royal family,

I couldn't go myself, having no physique

of an athlete either.

Still, among other members of the Committee

you occupy the highest position.

I hope your opponents will immediately flee from the arena

as soon as they hear your title announced.

- Your Highness is joking! It's a joke.

- Huh?

- Ah. - [Vladimir] When war starts,

God forbid! we appeal to the people.

We care little about birth and manners

of those who defend Russia.

Our national prestige is at stake, gentlemen.

It's only 3 months left, and we, by our tradition,

still are debating.

Any bear can be educated in good manners, if you really try.

It is up your alley, Mr. Korsakov.

Let Eugene begin to train him.

Excuse me, gentlemen.

I have things to do.

- Gentlemen. - Eugene, Ivan.

- I am Eugene. - Ivan.

- Jean.

[upbeat music]

- Pass wide end around front from left to right...

Then, tighten carefully.

Stop! Next. Go!

- [Ivan] One...

- [Misha] Two... - Two...

- Three... - Three...

- It's you and me. - It's you and me.

- Four... - Four...

- Five... - Five...

- [squeals]

- [Man] Move! Move!

Go! On!

Go! Keep going! Move!

Go! On! On! On!

- You mustn't be afraid of it.

First use the farthest from the plate.

The fork in the left hand, the knife in the right.

Cut it.

Why are you not sleeping?

- I'm afraid.

- Of what?

- To disgrace myself,

and to lose, too.

You won't take me back.

- One, two, three, four, five.

Never think about defeat.

You'll be fighting not for yourself, but for everybody.

Hey.

I can do it! I never lose.

- I can do it! I never lose.

Well, Paris... Why are they all rushing here?

- Petersburg is beautifuler. - Beautifuler.

Real Caribe cigars in France.

You can buy only in Paris.

- Ivan Maksimovich, you will be attacked by French newspapermen,

so, please, don't say such words about Paris.

They are devoted to this city,

so don't get on the wrong side of them.

- I'm not gingerbread to be liked by everyone.

- You will be translating, Count.

It'll be very much to the point.

Use your gift of poetry to smooth over the rough spots.

[yelling questions in French]

- How do you like it here in Paris?

- A beautiful city. Good to see the sights.

- [translates in French]

- [questions in French]

- Are you going to win the championship?

- I never lose.

- [translates in French]

However, he pays tribute to his opponents -

to the German wrestler Weber, the Serbian Antonovich

and, of course, to the champion of France, Raoul de Boucher.

- [questions in French]

- Where are you from?

- From Zaporozhye. I'm a man of the Cossack race.

- [in French] Poddubny comes from a rural family,

in the South of Russia.

As you can see, he wears even here

his traditional peasant clothing.

- We're not peasants at all. - [Count] Ivan, please.

- [questions in French]

- [Count] How do you feel about Parisian women?

- Tell her something nice.

I don't want to intentionally wrong her.

- [in French] By looking at you, madam, he says,

he finds all of them charming.

- [questions in French]

- [Count] Russian newspaper wrote you used to load sacks

in a port, is that right?

- Will it ever end? - Be patient, Ivan.

- [Reporter in French] He really worked as a stevedore in a port

before a circus entrepreneur met him.

- [in French] Incredible.

[questions in French]

- Tell us how did you work there?

- Like this.

[classical music]

- Jean, don't hurry to grapple him.

Have time to look at him. Make a circle around.

He is a cunning fighter but his left hand is much weaker...

Don't let him use his right one, get it bound.

- I feel a bit nervous,

while his mug looks like it's made of stone.

- [Eugene] He is nervous too, but he won't show it.

He's no different from those you defeated back in Russia.

Maybe he's a bit stronger.

A little bit.

- In Russia, it was our people around, but here...

- They're our people, too. Don't think about it.

Wait and see how enthusiastic they will be

and how you will win them over when you floor him.

- The champion of Turkey,

Hercules of the East,

unbeaten Hadjimukan!

[crowd roars]

The Russian Bear, a Zaporozhye Cossack,

Ivan Poddubny!

- Ivan!

- Floor this sack of potatoes, Mukan, and have

the work finished!

- What did he say?

- Floor this sack of potatoes

and have the work finished.

[bell echoes]

- Sack of potatoes, you say?

I'll show you how I carried sacks in the port.

- Due to his overwhelming superiority,

The winner is Ivan Poddubny.

- "Russian Bear Conquered Paris."

"Who will stop the Russian Bear?"

All Paris loves Poddubny, and all Paris is waiting

for his defeat to exalt a new hero to the skies.

- Like hell! They can whistle for it.

- Well, you're in Paris, Ivan, not on your farm.

- Nikolai, you are a poet,

but it's the prosaic things that bother me more.

Ivan has defeated that Turk and that Bulgarian

entirely due to his Cossack attack.

We need to change tactics.

Now they are expecting him to attack from the first second.

You, Ivan, mustn't go for your grappling hold all at once.

Hold them in suspense. Let them attack first.

Let them open themselves. Do you hear me, Ivan?

[French music]

- Ivan Maximovich, this is a lingerie shop.

- What are you doing, Ivan? Don't, please.

- One moment.

Hello, girls.

- Excuse us, dear ladies, it's a misunderstanding.

Ivan, it's just not done for...

- It's only for ladies... - Well, Masha stayed at home.

- Ivan, let's go.

We can send a maid, well, if need be.

We have nothing like that back in Petersburg.

We have everything that big, like for soldiers.

Can I have a look?

- Ivan, please! - Wait, Count!

What a beauty, really!

- Get out. - Go on. Go away.

- Out of here! - Masha will be very happy.

I need only the correct size...

Miss, can you help me?

The size, okay?

As big as you have.

- Now all the papers will splash it: "Russian Bear in Lace!"

- Such shops are found at every step here.

- Take your time, Ivan! Tactics! Tactics!

[groans]

To hell tactics! He's hitting me in the bag!

- You okay? - I am okay, okay.

- Alright, let's go.

The match is over. Wait!

- Choke him out!

- Get away! - Help! Help!

- Bravo, Jean!

[shouting]

- You won't defeat him in an open fight, Raoul.

It's a suicide.

- What are the bets? - 6 to 1, odds,

not in your favor.

- [Raoul] Very well. Bet on me.

- How much? - Ten thousand.

- Are you quite sure? That's a lot of money.

- [whispered praying]

Amen.

- The winner of many international tournaments,

a Paris Musketeer, Raoul de Boucher!

[cheering and whistling]

The Russian Bear, a Zaporozhye Cossack,

Ivan Poddubny!

- Well, clown, are you going to slip off or fight?

Come on! Come on!

- Don't lose your temper, Ivan! He's doing this on purpose!

[cheering and shouting]

[ominous music]

[music builds]

- This is oil! He's rubbed oil on his skin!

As slippery as an eel.

- [Eugene] Dear referees!

De Boucher is oiled up! We protest!

- Mr. President, we haven't broken any rules!

- It's a shame! It's a scandal!

-Mr. President, I confirm

this is olive oil.

[audience boos]

- The jury acknowledges that one of the wrestlers

has used oil which is prohibited

by the rules of the championship.

The jury resolves to continue the match

provided that M. de Boucher should every five minutes

be wiped with a towel.

[audience boos and yells]

- [Manager] Thank you, Mr. President!

- [in French] Shame! Shame!

- I count to three. If the Russian wrestler isn't ready

to continue, he will be announced defeated.

- In Russia, we have their mugs smashed for such things!

- That does it, I'm out. - No, you can't go!

What else can you do? You should fight.

- I said I was out, it means I'm out.

- [laughs]

- That's what they want!

You're fighting not for yourself, but for Russia.

- One...

- I didn't want to soil my hands.

- You can't change your spots. You're born to fight and win.

- Two...

Three!

- [laughs]

[muffled shouting]

- Time is up!

- I'm a little tired.

I've never been so tired in my life.

- I have a feeling the jury is bribed -

the coxcomb looks much too happy.

- De Boucher didn't perform any hold at all!

- But he was good in defense.

And in general it's time to whip the Russian.

[crowd quiets]

- Ladies and gentlemen! Since none of the opponents has made

a successful attack during the bout,

then, for active defense, the victory goes to

Raoul de Boucher!

[audience jeers]

- I have never lost.

I have never lost.

I have never...

- He disappeared as if by magic.

- This is his room.

- Are you just pulling my leg?

As if we have nothing to do without you!

- I am sorry.

- Thank you. - Thank you.

- You have awfully scared us, Ivan Maksimovich.

It's no joke, really.

You shouldn't scare people like that.

You feel hurt, I understand,

but life must go on, you know.

- Do you hear me, Vanya?

- Ivan!

[muffled voice]

- Vanya? - Ivan!

[muffled voice]

Ivan Maksimovich!

Hey!

[high-pitched violin builds]

[knocking on door]

- Come in.

- Vanya?

Vanya?

Allez. One, two, three.

One, two, three.

[clangs]

Allez!

I can do it.

I can do it! I never lose.

One, two, three.

[clangs]

I can do it! I never lose.

One, two, three.

One, two...

[muted clanging] - It's a very grave case.

He doesn't realize where he is, nor recognizes faces.

He hardly responds to direct physical stimuli.

I don't want to frighten you, but from my experience

they rarely recover after that.

[clanging in background] - It's beyond understanding.

But can he at least

take care of himself?

It depends.

His physical condition is stable,

but you'll have to hire an experienced nurse

to spoon-feed him and so on.

[metal thuds]

[♪ "Sing, Sing, Sing" by Benny Goodman ♪]

- [Terry] [chuckles] I love America.

Lots of people from lots of countries are

coming here for a better life but only few will succeed.

You're a lucky man, Ivan. It's America, and you belong here.

Today you win the champion belt of the Northern States League,

and tomorrow the Wall Street, Hollywood and White House men

will be happy to shake hands with you, Ivan.

[men cheer and women squeal]

[shouts]

He's a rising star of America!

- Rising? Now he'll be a falling one.

[bell dings] - Come on! Come on! Yes!

- Been there, done that.

Aaargh!

[ding, ding, ding]

- [laughs]

- Ivan Poddubny!

- The title belt of America! [laughs]

Aaaah! [laughs]

[sighs] Now we go to the hotel, then we'll relax...

a music hall, girls.

- As if I've never seen naked women, eh.

- Papers wonder why you don't appear in public?

You won't pay with your own money, no! It's on the house.

- I am tired.

- You never leave the hotel. Neither do I.

It's too expensive for me.

Your check, by the way.

- You've been giving me such pieces of paper

for three months already.

I know nothing about them. Where's my money?

- It's deposited! [shouting]

You can't carry a bag full of money from city to city!

Okay, okay, alright.

- I want to see it and touch it.

- You must be sure we're not fooling you.

Okay, easy.

Not because we're all so honest, good or stupid.

Come on, thank you.

In fact, we are wicked and greedy American capitalists.

We have nothing to gain from cheating a dollar of you

because we'll lose a hundred dollars more.

For you to see we play fair we'll visit the bank right now.

Come on, let's go.

- [Terry] Hello. - Yes, how can I help you?

Yeah, this gentleman would like to get information

about his bank account.

- Yeah, sure.

- Give him your passport.

- Thank you, sir.

Here we go. This is for you.

Well, there is $465,876.30 on your account, sir.

- There, you see, you've got $465,876

and change.

- It's my money?

- Yes sir, it's yours.

- Thanks, bye.

- Tell me, Taras, can I buy a house with it?

- Of course not. - No?

- Come on you lunk head. To spend $400,000...

I mean, you'd have to build a real palace in Hollywood.

Now, how about the music-hall, huh?

- Hm?

Do you have a circus here, eh?

Does anyone want to try it?

- Yeah! I do! - No, I do!

- The weights are made of papier-mache.

Oh ho! Holy cow!

- Begin to wrestle!

- Hi, Mummy! - Hi, Mitya!

- What do you want, kid? - I need Mr. Poddubny.

There's another letter for him from Petersburg.

Ivan Maksimovich, you have a guest.

Ivan Maksimovich, there's a letter for you,

private and confidential,

- from Petersburg. - For me? From Petersburg?

- With the State Emblem. - Well, let's read.

- Dear Ivan Maksimovich! You are welcome to take part

in the world wrestling championship in Paris...

You will be a worthy representative

of your country...

... a great honor to offer you a contract. We're ready...

- There is no honor either in Paris or in Petersburg,

or in Moscow, for that matter.

They are all crooks!

Thank you, fella.

- Ivan Maksimovich, for the nth time,

what do I do with these?

- Throw it out somewhere. Don't litter here.

- Vanya,

is it enough to hide from people and torment yourself?

They're all inviting you, the public's waiting for you...

- People live here too.

- Two and a half people - that's some audience!

Is that what you're entering the arena for?

Vanya. Let's leave tomorrow.

Where do you want to go - Moscow, Odessa, Petersburg...

I'm tired, Vanya.

- The greatest cities of Russian Empire have been cheering her!

She has been touring with the most famous circuses!

And today she will appear here,

in Signor Tortini's arena!

Strew the path with roses for her

for she is a queen

of aerial gymnastics!

Now meet a girl-damselfly -

our charming mademoiselle Mimi!

Voila!

[crowd cheers, music plays]

[trapeze rattles, cheering]

[trapeze clatters, screaming]

[band stops playing]

- Masha... there...

There.

[muted sound]

[slow piano music]

- How is he? - Spent all the night there.

- Take her to the morgue. - You just try.

Shall we call the police?

Son... Why are you tormenting her?

She feels hurt.

- Hurt.

- Give her to me.

She will be more comfortable inside.

Come on.

[flute music]

- Hello, Dad.

- Did your brothers tell you

that I promised to break a shaft over your back if you'd come?

You forgot?

- Well, Dad, you may now.

- You are in your own right. - What's the sense now?

I should have done it before.

Go change your clothes.

Time to go to the field.

[men singing in Russion]

- Why do you play the bear, Vanya?

Why don't you drink and clink glasses with us?

- I have never drunk -

since that Pancake Day when Dad whipped us -

- I remember that.

- For drinking up the wine left on the table.

- He's to keep regular hours, you know.

- Can he sleep with girls at least?

[laughter]

- Come off it! Leave him alone. - He can't sleep with girls

for they are sucking the strength out of him.

- Well, Ivan, you've been to Paris. What's it like

over there?

- What's interesting? - [Woman] Be nice.

- I forgot everything. - How come?

- I remember grazing horses at night

and you mistaking a goat for a devil. I remember it!

- The rest is out of my head. - It's a pity!

- Did you bring gifts at least? - Sure!

Look, we all have got new shawls!

- And I have got French cigars.

Go fetch the cigars, Ivan. I want to amuse people.

- Go find them!

- They are in the chest where the pipes are.

[slow piano music]

- As against our homegrown tobacco, it's not so strong.

- A Russian man's meat is Frenchman's poison.

- [sighs]

[sings in Russian]

[singing in background]

- You'd better cry, Vanya.

- I can't.

I want to...

My eyes are long wept dry, Mom.

Terry, do you remember this song?

A Cossack goes to war and says goodbye to his girl.

He knows he would never come back.

- What happened? What war? Somebody shooting somewhere?

- Nobody's shooting. Join me in singing.

I hardly remember the lyrics...

[singing] A Cossack went far

into a strange land

riding his good

black steed -

- Ivan. It's four o'clock in the morning. I want to sleep.

At eight o'clock we're leaving for New York.

- Wait. Terry.

You should understand me.

Let's try once more.

One, two -

- Hey mister! Can you be quiet? It's time for a sleep, isn't it?

- Shhh.

- I'm sorry. Thank you.

- Come on, Terry! You are Russian!

- I am American, Ivan.

And I don't remember this song.

If it's so important to you,

I don't know, maybe I can go to the Central Library tomorrow

and try to find the lyrics.

Now go to bed, okay?

- [Ivan] Good.

[♪ "Sing, Sing, Sing" by Benny Goodman ♪]

- [Terry] [chuckles] Ivan, we talked over your idea

about the Cossack folklore.

- What? - Oh come on, your national art.

You sang that song about a Cossack going to war

and his girl crying and so on.

Ah, it's a very good idea!

You begin to understand our business, Ivan.

- [Scott] We will create a Cossack fashion in America.

[Terry translates]

This will be a very profitable business.

[Terry translates]

And you will have a quarter of it. [Terry translates]

After New York, we launch the Cossack advertising campaign.

[Terry translates]

- New York will be my last performance.

- [laughs] No, Ivan, that was just a starter.

We will go on a new tour across America.

- New York is my last performance.

We signed the contract.

- He's gonna quit.

- Well nobody quits. Not when there's easy money to be had.

- You can't quit when money's flowing into your hands, Ivan.

- It means I'm the only fool of this kind.

- [laughs cartoonishly]

Look at me fool! I came to you from afar.

Look at my mug and call me Petrushka!

- Well? There's no harm now to drink some gorilka for the road.

Let's go, dear!

- Hey, my friend!

Your face is familiar to me. Are you not ...

- Sir, you take me for somebody else.

You know, in these parts we all look alike. [chuckles]

- He is the spitting image of... Well I'll be.

- [Circus crier] Look at our wonders not seen in America!

A spiderwoman eats meat With neither her hands nor feet!

His body has no bones - not a little bone he owns!

A little chicken is to devour a bull

And many a horse 'till he is full!

Come in, dear honey, And bring you money!

- What is fun for kids, is sin for Cossacks.

Well, what about sinning a bit, Vanya?

Let's paint the town red! Let's go watch it.

- [sighs] Must we, Dad?

- I say let's go.

[shouting in Russian]

- Stop! [applause]

- I wish I were 20 years younger.

I'd teach him a thing or two.

- Hey, on the gallery, sleeping there?

- [Crowd] We want the Black Mask!

- Hey, on the gallery, sleeping? - We want the Black Mask!

- Dear ladies and gentlemen!

By tradition, our nightly wresting show

is closed out by the Black Mask.

[crowd cheers]

Is anyone here so brave

as to make our mysterious man in black

unmask himself?

Any volunteers?

- Here! - Dad, what are you doing?

- He will do it. - [groans]

- Hey, yeah, Ivan. You could do it.

Look at him! You can take him, totally.

- Well, go ahead. - [Ivan] Oh, must I, Dad?

- He's not tough, he's just wearing a mask.

- You must. Go show them what we are worth.

- What've you got to lose?

- Ivan Maksimovich, is it you?

- My dears... In our

circus...

Poddubny in the ring!

[crowd cheers] - Poddubny!

[speaks in Russian]

Poddubny! Poddubny! Ivan! Ivan!

- [Crowd] [chanting] Ivan! Ivan! Ivan!

[vigorous classical music]

- Thanks.

The headlines are in!

Wrestling championship, semifinal round!

Ivan Poddubny versus Raoul de Boucher!

Ugh.

- Get lost.

- [Manager] I'm afraid your old trick with oil

won't do this time.

It's 12-to-1, odds not in our favor.

- Bet on me. - How much?

- Everything.

[slow piano music]

- Wrestlers win using their head, not muscles.

You should think first.

Stop rushing at your opponent like Cossacks at Bonaparte.

- You're right, Nikolai, despite your hot-headed nature.

It's only a pity this secret is well known among all our rivals

and newspapermen. [chuckles]

- [Nikolai] Stop being ironic, Prince.

- There are two bouts left... - Paris is still supporting you.

- [Nikolai] ...versus Raoul and Jens Peterson.

Raoul is very strong and very mean.

Jens is very strong and very smart.

- My advice to you, dear future poet: when you start to compose

a hymn to Greco-Roman wrestling, specify that it concern sports,

otherwise they can take you for a revolutionary.

[ominous music]

- You want my wallet, gentlemen?

- [laughs] My friend, that's not why we're here.

[action music] [grunting]

- Ah! Aargh!

[groaning]

[dog barking]

- Are you mad, Ivan? Do you want to die?

Why didn't you call the police?

- The Poddubnys never run away from anyone.

- [sighs] I thought you had changed.

- How is he, doctor? - Your friend is lucky enough.

Macrovessels are not impacted, as well as tendons.

The injured arm needs perfect rest.

The sutures won't hold if it is active.

How long will it take to heal?

- It depends on the stamina. Two-three weeks.

He is to wrestle with Raoul in two days.

Doctor, are you sure he won't be able to enter the arena?

- Do you play the piano? - Yes. Why?

Play a Beethoven sonata with only one hand,

and I'll believe in miracles.

- I'm pretty sure this is Raoul's doing.

- Then I'll go to the jury panel.

- We have neither witnesses, nor evidence.

- You propose to pull out from the competition?

- Raoul owes me an apology.

Now there's an opportunity.

Eugene.

You trainers are sly dogs. You mingle with each other.

Circulate a rumor that Poddubny was injured during training

and would hardly compete.

Who's mixed up in the affair will give themselves away.

Because they know what's what.

I want to see Raoul's mug

when I appear in the ring.

[music plays]

[applause and whistling]

[audience dies down]

- This is the second of the semifinals

of the world title match.

The winner of many international tournaments,

a Paris Musketeer, Raoul de Boucher!

[applause]

The Russian Bear, a Zaporozhye Cossack,

Ivan Poddubny!

[cheering]

[cheering]

- Dear jury! Dear audience!

As we can notice, Mr. Poddubny is injured.

Paying dues to the Russian wrestler's fortitude

but being worried about his health,

out of humanitarian considerations,

we demand you cancel the bout!

[audience boos] Doctor, would you please?

- Let me look at your arm.

[crowd laughs]

[groans in pain]

He's okay!

He's okay.

- Ladies and gentlemen.

[applause]

He will wrestle.

However, in the case of an evident threat

to the health of Mr. Poddubny,

the bout will be immediately stopped.

Monsieur.

[crowd cheers]

[bell dings]

[suspenseful music]

[grunting]

- Aargh!

Aaah!

- [shouts in French]

[bones cracking]

- Aargh.

[crowd cheers]

[triumphant music]

[phone ringing, typewriter clacking]

- How can I help you, sir?

- Hello, miss.

One moment.

Here.

Here.

Here.

My money is in your bank.

- One moment, please, sir.

- Hm.

- Yes, sir. Your account has 512,631 dollars

- and 48 cents. - Good.

I want to take my money back.

- Sorry, sir, you can't withdraw this money.

- It is my money.

- Yes.

- I want my money back.

- This is a secured deposit account, sir.

It means you cannot take the funds until the date indicated -

March 23rd, 1928.

- My money. - Yes.

- I want my money back. - But you cannot take your money

until March 23rd, 1928.

- When?

- Two years from now, sir.

There's nothing I can help you with now.

[slam] [belly dings]

- Does anyone in here speak Russian?

- Is there a problem?

- This gentleman has a securited deposit account.

He wants to withdraw his money before the time.

- I am Ivan Poddubny. - Very well, sir.

- I want my money.

- I'm afraid that's not possible.

- I want my money. - Yes, sir, this is your money.

- I want my money! [slam, bell dings]

- Sir, it's written here quite clearly, that you can

withdraw funds from this bank account

only after this date - March 23d, 1928.

Which means a little over two years from now.

Now, there are three possible ways to solve this problem.

One. You wait till this term and get your money.

Two. You address the court. And, finally, three:

if you want to shout, please, step outside.

Thank you. And have a wonderful day.

- Ivan, before you speak, please, listen to me, alright?

We are honest businessmen.

We didn't steal your money.

We put your money on a fixed deposit.

This money is only yours and nobody but you can take it.

- We did it for your own good. [Terry translates]

If you take your money back to Russia -

[Terry translates]

The Soviet government, they will keep it.

[Terry translates]

We can work together [Terry translates]

to make a big business. [Terry translates]

- We'll pay you double.

- To tell the truth, I thought

you were just gentle grifters,

that you would steal a grand or two...

It's normal. I'm used to it.

But you have decided to swallow me wholesale,

all of me, with my soul,

hook, line and sinker.

Me, Ivan Poddubny!

- Watch it, Ivan!

One second more and I'll call the police,

and you'll stay in America for sure!

- Speak English, please, I don't understand!

- I want to go home.

Home.

[sad music]

[sighs]

I can hardly breathe the same air with you.

It's suffocating here.

- Do you think he's angry?

[shouting indistinctly]

[climactic music]

[bartering in various languages]

[bell dings]

- One ticket to Russia. How much?

- 850 - - No, write down!

- Uh, to write?

[scribbles]

- 3rd class! - 3rd class.

- A 4th-class one! - Oh, sorry,

but there is no passage without a cabin on this ship.

3rd class is the cheapest!

These Russians are the most greedy people in the world.

He is a rich guy, but he's ready to swim after the ship.

[climactic music]

- Oh, Mister Poddubny! Ivan The Iron!

This is such an honor for us.

You want to pawn these things?

Oh, the champion's belt. Excellent.

So, cups, medals...

It's all gold-plated. We can offer you 125 dollars.

I'm sorry, we pawn only precious metals

and antiques.

- 150. A ticket to a ship.

- Give him as much as you can.

Because of my respect for you. I'll give you 135 dollars.

- Okay. Okay.

- Ivan Maksimovich, how do you do?

- How do you do? - Don't you know me?

- [grunts]

- We sailed together from Germany to this land of freedom.

Don't you recognize me?

I hope you won't take umbrage on me -

take it, please.

- But how will I...?

Guys,

I won't be able to repay.

- How will I?.. - Forget it.

You only convey my respects there.

- To whom? - No one in particular.

When you come ashore, pass our respects.

- Sir, we'll reach the land in seven hours.

- I know.

- Sir, you're gonna get wet, and you're gonna get a cold.

We should get you to your cabin.

- It's nothing. It has been a long way. I can wait more.

[man singing Russian folk song]

Let's go home, Vanya, to have supper.

[men singing in Russian]