The Stone Flower

In 1939 author Pavel Petrovich Bazhov, (1879-1950), published “The Malachite Box,” a collection of stories inspired by the folklore of the Ural region of the Soviet Union. The book became a beloved bestseller throughout the country during the years of the Second World War. Following that horrifying conflict a motion picture adaptation of Bazhov’s book was in order. The task was given to filmmaker Aleksandr Lukich Ptushko, (1900-1973), who had already directed such popular fantasy films as “The New Gulliver,” (1935), and “The Golden Key,” (1939). To accomplish this feat Ptushko had a new tool: Agfacolor film stock captured in Nazi Germany!

This week’s movie was “Kamennyy tsvetok,” (“The Stone Flower”), from Mosfilm in 1946, directed by Aleksandr Ptushko from a script by Iosif Keller. The movie begins with a framing sequence in which aged storyteller “Dedushka Slyshko,” (Aleksandr Kleberer), tells a tale to a group of young people. He tells about an old gem cutter named “Prokopych,” (Mikhail Troyanovsky), who takes on a talented young apprentice named “Danilo,” (Vitaly Kravchenko). The wealthy landlord “Barin,” (Nikolay Temyakov), approaches Prokopych with a challenge. Barin had bragged to a French Marquess that he owned a Malachite box of astonishing beauty, and had even made a wager over the claim. He now wants Prokopych to make such a box. The aged gem cutter works so hard on the project that he becomes deathly ill. His apprentice Danilo, (played as an adult by Vladimir Druzhnikov), takes over and creates a beautiful Malachite box. Upon seeing this treasure Barin’s wife “Barina,” (Anna Petukhova), asks the young artist to create a Malachite vase for her in the shape of a flower. Danilo becomes so obsessed with this project that he begins to neglect his sweetheart “Katya,” (Yekaterina Derevshchikova). Everyone is impressed with the vase except Danilo, who doesn’t feel it is good enough. The young man hears the legend of a beautiful stone flower in the possession of the “Mistress of the Copper Mountain,” (Tamara Makarova), and he seeks out this magical witch. The Mistress entrances Danilo and shows him the vision of the stone flower. He begins carving an enormous vase of astounding beauty. Meanwhile the long-suffering Katya travels to the Copper Mountain to reclaim her beloved from the witch who has enslaved him. Can true love triumph over the power of magic?

This is a motion picture of astonishing beauty. Every frame looks like a masterful painting. The story builds up incredible expectations regarding this beautiful stone flower, and I did not believe that the image could possibly prove satisfying when it finally appeared. I was pleasantly surprised. This is a fine story, well-acted and involving, even touching. I was very impressed by just how much this fine motion picture stands up decades after its debut.

“The Stone Flower” was a huge box office hit in the Soviet Union, and it was successful internationally as well. One person who expressed some disappointment was the author Pavel Bazhov. His book was designed to celebrate the culture of the Ural region. He felt that the movie failed to do this. For Bazhov it was the equivalent of setting an adaptation of “Gone With the Wind” in Manhattan. While Bazhov’s objections certainly have merit, these distinctions do not detract from the film for me at all. I enjoyed every minute of the film, and I am pleased to recommend the picture.