Lot 930: Sergei Eisenstein

Autograph: Sergei Eisenstein Revolutionary Soviet Russian film director and film theorist (1898-1948) noted in particular for his silent films Strike, Battleship Potemkin and October, as well as historical epics Alexander Nevsky and Ivan the Terrible. ALS in Russian, in dark pencil, one-page both sides, 7 x 14, no date. Letter to Lidia Iwanowna, a costume maker for his film Ivan. In part: “Your letter contains a number of inaccuracies and errors. 1. Despite all of the conditions under which I work, I'm still not totally confused, so it can still decide for themselves without relying on suggestions from any quarter. 2. They puff on totally unfounded comments which I made to you by…extend the current problem to your entire two years of activities 3. But then again you gloss over their own fault…It is a question that you have put me in the predicament of the film, which was slipped to me only the day before the shooting. That's the disgusting thing there is, even more so when I ordered them a week ago to bring order and to alter, not during the time of the shooting, nor on the eve…here it is not the slightest justification, and I had to film the bumbling Ivan in disgusting ways. 4. I was very surprised that you of the change in the collar of the foreigners did not have the lowest share of this business and still pass on to me, although I am without your work area, the head swells up enough already. 5. You my extremely benevolent attitude towards you know, but to whom much is given, from him shall be much required and the closer to me a man is, the more precise and careful he was to work.” In fine condition, with intersecting mailing folds, and a mild shade of toning.

Ivan the Terrible is a two-part historical epic film about Ivan IV of Russia, with Part 1 released in 1944 and the release of Part 2 delayed until 1958 due to political censorship in the USSR. The first film was filmed between 1942 and 1944 and presented Ivan as a national hero, and won Joseph Stalin's approval (and even a Stalin Prize). The second film finished filming in 1946 but was not approved by the government, because it depicted Ivan more of a man divided between the necessity to impose his will to save Russia by committing murders. Stalin did not appreciate the many parallels between him and Ivan. With Stalin and the Communists breathing down his neck, it’s no wonder that Eisenstein was nervous about what was being said by his costume designer. Pre-certified PSA/DNA and RRAuction COA.