Taras Bulba

1962 1h 30m EN

👍

7.3

SOLID

★7.3TMDB · 3

HistoryActionAdventure

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Italian adaptation of the historical novella of the same name by Nikolai Gogol.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Vladimir Medar
Taras Bulba
Jean-François Poron
Andrei Bulba
George Reich
Ostapi
Vítor Hugo Santana
Gurko
Lorella De Luca
Natalia
Fosco Giachetti
Voivode
Sylvia Sorrente
Mira
Erno Crisa

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Ferdinando Baldi
Writers: Ennio De Concini
Languages: Italian
Countries: Italy

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

90 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

64 years old — a genuine piece of film history.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Ferdinando Baldi, shot by Amerigo Gengarelli. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Renzo Lucidi shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Vladimir Medar and Jean-François Poron and George Reich carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0057559 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

Only 3 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Ferdinando Baldi directs. Amerigo Gengarelli behind the camera. Renzo Lucidi cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in Italy. Dialogue in Italian.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

190 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.
264 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
3Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
4Directed by Ferdinando Baldi, shot by Amerigo Gengarelli. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Editor Renzo Lucidi shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Vladimir Medar and Jean-François Poron and George Reich carry the top of the cast.
7IMDB entry: tt0057559 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
8Only 3 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

The technical file

Cinematography: Amerigo Gengarelli
Editing: Renzo Lucidi
Runtime: 90 min · 1h 30m
Status: Released
Original language: EN
IMDB: Taras Bulba (1962)

Also by

Ferdinando Baldi

Community reviews

What people are saying

CinemaSerf2025-07-21
★ 6/10
After generations of betrayals by their Polish overlords, “Taras Bulba” (Vladimir Medar) and his brotherhood of Cossacks determine that they are going to fight back. His tactics are a bit different, though. Rather than engaging in an head-on battle, he sends his sons “Andrei” (Jean-François Poron) and “Ostapi” (George Reich) to school in Kiev - the heart of their enemy’s territory. Returning as lively adults, familiar with the foibles of the Poles, they are soon ready to head to Lubno and take the battle to their invaders. Unexpectedly, the young “Andrei” is captured and encounters “Natalia” (Lorella De Luca) who just happens to be the daughter of the provincial Governor and with battle lines drawn, this man soon becomes conflicted between his familial loyalties and those to his new love. He manages to escape, but when his father demands that she be provided as a hostage, “Andrei” has to choose. This was released around the same time as the more publicised version with Messrs. Brynner and Curtis et al but except for the more memorable Franz Waxman score this is actually just as good. The authentic looking settings and costumes look good here and the ebullient Medar gets stuck in right from the start of this quickly paced historical drama with plenty of sabre-rattling, gunfire, treachery and only a little bit of cluttering romance. Pride or passion?

Production companies