Aleksandr Ptushko's "Sampo" may have been a beautiful, epic film (that made sense)...but this is "The Day The Earth Froze"(1959), part one of the infamous Russo-Finnish troika shown on Mystery Science Theater 3000. As butchered for U.S. audiences, this film seems to tell the story of a hero named Lemminkäinen who faces an evil witch, Loukhi, who has kidnapped his love Annikki. The kidnapping was an attempt by Louhki to force Ilmarinen, the town blacksmith, to build her a "Sampo" (a magical mill that produces silver & gold). When Lemminkäinen challenges the witch she steals the sun. Etc? |