Tempest (1958 film)

La tempesta (internationally released as Tempest) is a 1958 Italian drama film directed by Alberto Lattuada. It is based on A History of Pugachev (1834) and the 1836 novel The Captain's Daughter, both by Alexander Pushkin.^[2] For this film Lattuada was awarded a David di Donatello for Best Director.^[3]

Tempest
Italian theatrical release poster
Directed by	Alberto Lattuada
Written by	Alexander Pushkin (novel) Ivo Perilli Alberto Lattuada
Produced by	Dino De Laurentiis
Starring	Silvana Mangano Van Heflin Viveca Lindfors Geoffrey Horne
Cinematography	Aldo Tonti
Edited by	Otello Colangeli Henri Rust
Music by	Piero Piccioni
Release date	1 December 1958 (1958-12-01)
Running time	120 minutes
Countries	Italy France Yugoslavia
Languages	Italian English
Box office	$1.5 million (est. US/ Canada rentals)[1]

Plot

In the year 1770, in imperial Russia, a young lieutenant named Grinyov is caught drunk during a military inspection. As punishment, Empress Catherine II orders him to be reassigned to a remote part of the empire—the fortified village of Belogorsk.

On his journey to this distant outpost, Grinyov encounters a man caught in a snowstorm and saves his life. Unbeknownst to him, this man is Yemelyan Pugachev, a Cossack who will soon lead a major rebellion against the Russian Empire.

Upon arriving at the fortress, Grinyov is placed under the command of Captain Mironov, a kind and honorable officer. Mironov has a daughter named Masha, and Grinyov quickly falls in love with her. However, his affection for Masha leads to conflict with another officer at the post—Lieutenant Shvabrin—who is also in love with her.

Meanwhile, the threat of the Cossack uprising, led by the very man Grinyov once saved, draws nearer. As events unfold, Grinyov is forced to navigate complex challenges involving loyalty, love, and survival during a time of political turmoil and rebellion.

Production

The film was shot in Košutnjak film studios in Belgrade, Yugoslavia (today Serbia).^[4]

Cast

• Silvana Mangano as Masha
• Van Heflin as Yemelyan Pugachev
• Viveca Lindfors as Catherine II
• Geoffrey Horne as Piotr Grinov
• Vittorio Gassman as Prosecutor
• Agnes Moorehead as Vassilissa Mironova
• Robert Keith as Capt. Mironov
• Oskar Homolka as Savelic
• Finlay Currie as Count Grinov
• Laurence Naismith as Maj. Zurin
• Helmut Dantine as Svabrin
• Fulvia Franco as Palaska
• Aldo Silvani as Pope Gerasim
• Claudio Gora as Minister of Caterine II
• Guido Celano as the farmer
• Cristina Gajoni as the young girl