The Day the Earth Froze
| Sampo (The Day the Earth Froze) | |
|---|---|
The Day the Earth Froze (US poster)
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| Directed by |
Aleksandr Ptushko Risto Orko |
| Produced by | Risto Orko |
| Written by |
Väinö Kaukonen Viktor Vitkovich Grigori Yagdfeld |
| Starring |
Urho Somersalmi Ivan Voronov Anna Orochko Andris Ošiņš Eve Kivi |
| Music by | Igor Morozov |
| Cinematography | Gennadi Tsekavyj |
| Edited by | I. Rostovtsev |
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Release date
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 August 24, 1959 October 16, 1959 April 1964 |
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Running time
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91 min (original version) 67 min (U.S. version) |
| Country | Soviet Union Finland |
| Language | Russian, Finnish |
Sampo (Russian: Сампо) is a 1959 Soviet–Finnish film based loosely on the events depicted in the Finnish national epic Kalevala. In 1964, a significantly edited, English-dubbed version called The Day the Earth Froze was released internationally. This version was later featured on Mystery Science Theater 3000.
The people of Kalevala are a peaceful hard working people, they have everything they need and want, bar the mystical Sampo, a magical mill which will make grain, salt and gold and give prosperity to whoever possesses it.
The only person in Kalevala able to make a Sampo is the smith Ilmarinen, however he cannot make it until his sister Annikki has fallen in love. Annikki eventually falls in love with the young hard working Lemminkäinen.
All is not perfect however. There is a dark dismal land called Pohjola ruled over by a wicked witch called Louhi, and she wishes for a Sampo, but her wizards are unable to forge one. Louhi is advised that only Ilmarinen is able to forge a Sampo. Louhi sends her enchanted cloak to bring Annikki to Pohjola as ransom.
Lemminkäinen runs to Ilmarinen to inform him that his sister has been taken and vows to return her, Ilmarinen agrees to come with him and they set off on a boat constructed of an ancient oak tree.
On arrival Louhi demands they complete a simple task each, Lemminkäinen is asked to plow a field of snakes, which he does with the aid of a steel horse made by Ilmarinen. The final task is set to Ilmarinen; he is to forge a Sampo. He sets to work and, after some failed bargaining for another task, and with the aid of the trolls of Pohjola on the bellows and the fire from heaven itself, he forges a beautiful Sampo, which immediately begins to make gold, grain and salt.
Lemminkäinen and Ilmarinen are reunited with Annikki and they set sail for Kalevala. Lemminkäinen is upset when he is informed that the people of Kalevala will never be able to reap the benefits of the Sampo and dives into the sea to swim back and recover it.
Back in Pohjola, Lemminkäinen releases the mist from the prison Louhi has placed it in and it covers the whole land. When the mist clears the Sampo has gone and Lemminkäinen is on a boat heading back to Kalevala. His boat is wrecked on the ocean surface when Louhi orders that the wind be set free, and the Sampo is destroyed and Lemminkäinen presumed lost.
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Wikipedia