Romance of a Horsethief

Romance of a Horsethief
Directed by	Abraham Polonsky
Written by	David Opatoshu
Based on	novel by Joseph Opatoshu
Produced by	Gene Gutowski
Starring	Yul Brynner Eli Wallach
Cinematography	Piero Portalupi
Edited by	Kevin Connor
Music by	Mort Shuman
Production companies	Jadran Film International Film Company Prima Cinematografica
Distributed by	Allied Artists
Release date	1971 (1971)
Running time	101 minutes
Countries	France Italy Yugoslavia
Language	English

Romance of a Horsethief (French: Le roman d'un voleur de chevaux; Italian: Il romanzo di un ladro di cavalli; Serbo-Croatian: Romansa konjokradice) is a 1971 French-Italian-Yugoslav adventure film directed by Abraham Polonsky. It is loosely based on the 1917 novel with the same name by Joseph Opatoshu.[1][2]

Plot summary

In Polish Russia, Stoloff, a Cossack in exile has gained control over a Jewish village. The villagers live by horse-thievery and under the leadership of Kifke. Stoloff's regime is tolerated until he commandeers the village's horses for the Russian army. Naomi has been away in France and gotten ideas of a revolution and inspires the town to resist. This gets Naomi into deep trouble, from which only Kifke and his compatriot Zanvil can rescue her. Zanvil is highly motivated since he is in love with Naomi.

Cast

• Yul Brynner as Captain Stoloff
• Eli Wallach as Kifke
• Jane Birkin as Naomi
• Lainie Kazan as Estusha
• David Opatoshu as Schloime Kradnik
• Serge Gainsbourg as Sigmund
• Henri Serre as Mendel (credited as Henri Sera)
• Linda Veras as Countess Grabowsky
• Marilù Tolo as Manka
• Branko Plesa as Lt. Vishinsky
• Vladimir Bacic as Gruber
• Branko Spoljar as Strugatch
• Alenka Rancic as Sura
• Oliver Tobias as Zanvill Kradnik

Production

Filming began in July 1970 in Yugoslavia.[3] Polonsky called the film "a fairytale, pretending to affect an older style but in fact the contrary."[4]

Reception

The Los Angeles Times called the film "impressive... a rollicking folk tale."[5]

References

1. Jay Robert Nash, Stanley Ralph Ross (1985). The Motion Picture Guide. Cinebooks, 1987. ISBN 0933997124.
2. Leonard Maltin (July 2005). Leonard Maltin's Movie Guide. Signet, 2005. ISBN 0451216091.
3. From Myra to Byron By A.H. WEILER. New York Times 28 June 1970: 79.
4. Making Movies Polonsky, Abraham. Sight and Sound; London Vol. 40, Iss. 2, (Spring 1971): 101.
5. Tell Them Brynner Is Here Thomas, Kevin. Los Angeles Times 15 Sep 1971: f9.

External links

• Romance of a Horsethief at IMDb