Bartok the Magnificent
| Bartok the Magnificent | |
|---|---|
DVD cover
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| Directed by |
Don Bluth Gary Goldman |
| Produced by | Don Bluth Gary Goldman Hank Azaria |
| Written by | Jay Lacopo |
| Starring |
Hank Azaria Kelsey Grammer Tim Curry Phillip Van Dyke Andrea Martin Catherine O'Hara Jennifer Tilly Diedrich Bader |
| Music by | Stephen Flaherty |
| Edited by |
Bob Bender Fiona Trayler |
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Production
company |
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| Distributed by | 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment |
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Release date
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November 16, 1999 |
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Running time
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68 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Bartok the Magnificent, directed by Don Bluth and Gary Goldman, is a 1999 direct-to-video spin-off to the 1997 film Anastasia, which features Hank Azaria as the voice of Bartok, Kelsey Grammer as the voice of Zozi, and Jennifer Tilly as Piloff. It is a "family adventure...animated comedy" film, according to Fort Oglethorpe Press.
Although the film was released after Anastasia, it takes place before the events of the first film due to the fact that this film centres around the kidnapping of the young czar whereas the original film, Anastasia, takes place after the Russian revolution. While some of Don Bluth's films have received sequels, shows and spin-offs, this is the only spin-off Bluth has directed. Variety writer John Laydon explained how the films were connected: "The literally batty sidekick who swiped scenes throughout 1997's 'Anastasia' is rewarded with his very own animated adventure in 'Bartok the Magnificent', a lightly diverting direct-to-video opus". He also argued that the film was a prequel "since the setting is pre-revolutionary Russia"
Russia is being terrorized by an evil witch known as Baba Yaga (Andrea Martin), and the only one who is not afraid of her is Bartok the Magnificent (Hank Azaria). Bartok, an albino bat, has just arrived in Moscow and is impressing everyone with his performances, including Prince Ivan (Phillip Van Dyke). However, Ivan's advisor, Ludmila (Catherine O'Hara), finds Bartok annoying and naive, and she tries to make a Cossack stop his performance. After Bartok's show, a bear suddenly attacks. Bartok saves everyone by stunning the bear, knocking it over, and trapping it in a wagon.
Delighted with Bartok's bravery, everyone around him rewards him with gold, including Prince Ivan, who gives him a royal red ring, much to the displeasure of Ludmilla, who reminds him that the ring is only for members of the Romanov family, not commoners. She asks that he take the ring back, but Ivan disagrees, saying it is time for a change. Ludmilla, seeing that she cannot dissuade him, reluctantly allows it and they leave. When Ludmilla expresses that she is upset that Ivan has given a ring to a commoner, especially a street performer, Ivan retorts that that was his intention, and his friend Vol (Diedrich Bader) agrees that Bartok was funny. Ludmilla, on the other hand, believes that Ivan needs to respect his duty to the crown, which incites Ivan, who is tired of listening to her, to say that he will do as he pleases and it is she who must respect the crown.
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