Tempting happiness

The vagabond Sadko returns to his hometown Novgorod, which he finds completely changed. A handful of rich merchants have amassed a great fortune, while the majority of the population is starving. Supported by Ilmen, the daughter of the sea king, Sadko bets with the merchants for their wealth that he can catch the special gold feather fish. The merchants take the bet and indeed Sadko catches the gold feather fish. He distributes the merchants' goods among the population, but he finds that this is still not enough. Sadko wants to sail out to look for the fabled bird of fortune, but he has no more money to build the ships. Again Ilmen helps him by turning the gold feather fish into gold. With his crew, Sadko sails off and travels to many countries, but he doesn't really seem to find the happiness...

Based on an old Russian legend, a vagabond sets off in search of happiness only to discover that the greatest happiness is to be found at home. An imaginative, well-made adventure film with a beautiful message. Highly recommended.

US version converted into Sinbad film

The huge box office success of The 7th Voyage of Sinbad gave Roger Corman the idea of re-cutting the film and releasing it in US cinemas under the title The Magic Voyage of Sinbad. The film was shortened by a good 6 minutes and differs greatly from the original version due to the dubbing. The main character Sadko was renamed Sinbad and other names and locations were also adapted. The plot and dialogues were simplified considerably, making the US version much trashier. This ensured that the film was featured in the fifth season of Mystery Science Theatre 3000. The cuts are well placed and hardly noticeable and were probably placed for tightening purposes. Removed were mainly the musical numbers and in addition, to new opening and closing credits were created with various American sounding fantasy names to disguise the film's Soviet origin.

Runtimes:

US version: 78:13 min.
German version: 84:33 min.

Comparison between the US version and the German version (identital to the original version).

[00:00:00][00:00:00]

The logo of the Russian production studio is followed by German opening credits in the German version.

German version: 1:09 min.


[00:00:00][00:01:09]

The US version fades in the titles as Sadko is seen on his boat.

No time difference.


[00:00:06][00:01:13]

Sadko is seen on his boat longer in the German version.

German version: 6 secs.


[00:00:11][00:01:23]

Sadko is seen longer on the boat, then a shot of him singing.

German version: 11 secs.


[00:01:07][00:02:27]

The city can be seen for a longer time.

German version: 8 secs.


[00:01:19][00:02:46]

In the German version, Sadko greets the city and bows to it.

The US doesn't kick in until he starts running.

German version: 10 secs.


[00:02:59][00:04:32]

The camera continues to move towards Sadko and Lyubava. She asks him why he is looking at her like that. Sadko asks for something to drink and asks her name.

German version: 20 secs.


[00:03:05][00:04:57]

In the US, Lyubava now asks if Sadko always stares at her like that, then asks for something to drink.

In the German version, Sadko says that he thinks Lyubava's name is beautiful.

US: 14 sec.
German version: 2 sec.


[00:05:52][00:07:25]

After the woman said that the poor people can use the happiness, Sadko looks at the poor people's faces once more and then walks to the port.

German version: 29 secs.


[00:06:02][00:08:04]

After Sadko walks to the harbor, the US follows the scenes in which he looks into people's faces.

US: 25 sec.


[00:07:12][00:08:47]

The jugglers can be seen dancing for longer.

German version: 13 secs.


[00:07:21][00:09:10]

Since in the US the song of the jugglers was removed, you can see instead various other scenes, among others, the dance that was removed before.

In the German version, the song of the jugglers follows.

US: 27 sec.
German version: 18 sec.


[00:08:00][00:09:40]

The German version shows the jugglers. This was seen in the US before.

German version: 2 secs.


[00:08:07][00:09:48]

A poor monk comes into the hall and scolds the jugglers. He eats the rest of a chicken that has been left lying around.

German version: 28 secs.


[00:09:06][00:11:12]

The man says that they have fun parties. After that, Sadko is seen earlier.

German version: 9 secs.


[00:09:31][00:11:46]

The US cuts to Timofey, who says he'll take care of the intruder.

In the German version, Timofey asks what Sadko wants at the feast. Sadko says that he wants to sing a song. The merchants say that he should sing. After a while, Timofey stands up angrily.

US: 6 sec.
German version: 1:04 min.


[00:09:52][00:13:06]

In the German version, cut to the beggar monk accusing Sadko of confusing the beggar with vicious speeches.

German version: 7 secs.


[00:11:25][00:14:42]

Timofey says in the German version that Sadko is too inexperienced and he is the most powerful here. This shot was seen in the US earlier.

German version: 6 secs.


[00:12:05][00:15:26]

After Timofey threatens his son Kuzma with a beating, the beggar monk is briefly seen saying that you can hear the evil devils treading here.

German version: 3 secs.


[00:14:05][00:17:25]

Sadko is seen earlier at the river.

German version: 1 sec.


[00:14:20][00:17:41]

The US cuts to the water briefly.

In the German version, Sadko continues to be seen saying that all he has left is his musical instrument.

US: 2 secs.
German version: 6 sec.


[00:14:47][00:18:12]

In the German version, the water can be seen earlier.

German version: 2 secs.


[00:15:01][00:18:25]

The nymph is seen longer as Sadko sings.

German version: 8 secs.


[00:15:09][00:18:40]

The US cuts to the nymph here. Sadko sings as the nymph approaches him.

In the German version, the nymph continues to rise out of the water. In the next shot, she is seen earlier with Sadko.

US: 22 sec.
German version: 13 sec.

[00:16:13][00:19:33]

In the German version, Sadko continues to stand and admire the beauty of the nymph.

German version: 9 secs.


[00:18:12][00:21:35]

After the nymph dives, Sadko is seen standing on the shore once again.

German version: 5 secs.


[00:28:27][00:31:30]

Sadko is brought ashore for a longer time.

German version: 1 sec.


[00:30:02][00:33:04]

People are seen dancing in the street for longer in the German version. The next shot with people dancing starts earlier.

German version: 9 secs.


[00:30:18][00:33:28]

The German version shows two more shots of the people dancing.

German version: 6 secs.


[00:30:19][00:33:35]

Two shots of people dancing are missing.

German version: 7 secs.


[00:33:08][00:36:24]

In the US, dialogue between Sadko and Lyubava is missing.

Sadko says to Lyubava that he is really a no-good who doesn't know how to make her happy. He wanted to beautify people's lives, but this carried him away like a storm. He says that he will only bring her misfortune.

German version: 33 secs.


[00:33:26][00:37:15]

Lyubava tells Sadko not to go away from her, after that Sadko is seen earlier.

German version: 1 sec.


[00:33:40][00:37:30]

Lyubava says that Sadko doesn't love her. He says that he loves her more than his life. He must keep what he promised to the people.

German version: 26 sec.