I remember this movie well as a kid going to see it in theater which is the only place it really should be seen. The Sword And The Dragon is the English dubbed version of the Russian film about their legendary hero, Ilya Murometz. In size and scope it's like some of Charlton Heston's films at the time.In the Russian culture Ilya Murometz is a knight errant with no membership at anybody's Round Table. Several of the stories about him are included in The Sword And The Dragon. The main plot line however is the repelling of those rather ugly looking Asiatics who are called Tugars in this film as opposed to Tartars.A Russian subject is best done by Russians. I have to say in watching the film again if you stop it at just about any given point it will look like a medieval painting or tapestry. The way D.W. Griffith's Birth Of A Nation looks like a moving picture of that Matthew Brady could have produced had moving pictures been invented then. The set designers should get lots of recognition for their achievement.The special effects, the wind demon, the dragon also come in for kudos. They're out of date now, but Cecil B. DeMille couldn't have done better. I'm sure the Russians probably studied his work to get it right.I'm glad to read that the film has been restored. After being in theaters here it was on Million Dollar Movie for years and I saw it many times during the Sixties.I'll bet it would do good business for a family audience even today.

Reading through the various user comments on IMDb for The Sword and the Dragon (the title I saw the film under) I notice words like surreal, bizarre, goofy, ridiculous, wacky, and weird. I can understand how someone might use each of these adjectives to describe the movie. As I watched, I might have been tempted to use any one of these words at various times. But unfortunately, one word you won't see me use is "entertaining". The style of the movie did not appeal to me in the least. The Sword and the Dragon seemed to be filled with such broad overacting that it became absurd. I realize that the movie was made over 50 years ago in the Soviet Union. I understand that the movie is filled with messages and other pro-worker propaganda. And I appreciate the importance of the film as a relic of the communist system. But none of that means I have to actually like the movie.So overall, while I appreciate the opportunity to see something as different and unique as The Sword and the Dragon, I'm not in any hurry to rush out and create a fan club. Interesting? – Yes. Entertaining? - No.I saw The Sword and the Dragon courtesy of Mystery Science Theater 3000. I've heard such good things about all of the Russo-Finnish films that I was excited to give this one a chance. Sadly, it didn't live-up to the hype. The comedy too often is directed at the obvious - making fun of a different culture. In the end, I'll rate this episode a 3/5 on my MST3K rating scale.

In one of the comments on this film the writer admits that it is Cold War propaganda aimed at the Chinese, who, in the form of the villainous "Tugars" are: "...the ghastliest of odious, racist caricatures... syphilitic-looking, sub-human devils with nothing but raping, pillaging and slaughter on their feral minds."The writer then proceeds to explain what a stunning film this was and that the MST3K folks should be ashamed of themselves for riffing on it. To that I have to say, any film that depicts an entire race of people in the manner described above deserves all the derision that can be heaped on it.And, in anticipation of the obvious question: Yes, that goes for 'Birth of a Nation" as well.Yes, recognize a films historical context. Yes, recognize the artistry that went into its making. But, finally, also recognize when that artistry is being employed as a thin cover for an open sewer.

I give this movie a 10 on the basis that it provided me with countless hours enjoyment when I was a child. Though many years have past since first viewing this movie, it still holds true today that there is good and there is evil. There is sorrow and there is joy. There is pain and there are miracles. This movie has it all not to mention a few extra childhood fantasy's. Ilya Muromets was my hero. "Bravo Ilya Muromets, Bravo". It was my favorite childhood movie.