Aaron1375 Saw this film as a MST3K episode and it was entitled, "The Day the Earth Froze". Its original title was Sampo, and that title works better even though I have no clue as to what a Sampo is, because this is the thing for which the movie revolves around. The whole freezing thing is but a mere plot point in the film. This film is another foreign film and thus, a lot of things are going to be lost in the translation. I can only review it based on what I saw, and what I saw for the most part was a rather strange film that really did not have the best of heroes within it.The story has an evil witch who really wants a Sampo. Apparently this is a giant rock that spews forth both gold and salt...yes salt. Who knew that salt was something that was valuable and scarce at any point in history. Well, the witch kidnaps the sister of a blacksmith and the blacksmith and hero of the tale go to reclaim her on an island where the witch has an army of old men and she holds the winds of all direction captive or something. She does freeze part of the world at one point, but as I stated it is not really the main focus of the story.This film made for a very funny episode of MST3K. It had to be as I laughed and enjoyed it, despite the fact I was suffering from a very intense migraine at the time. The hero of this film made for a good punching bag as his only skill seemed riding on a log down a river. He even gets beat up by a cloak at one point in the film! The blacksmith, too, was good for a laugh as the guy could make the most insane stuff with his blacksmith skills such as a live horse! So while I was not impressed with the film as they just really did not do enough as far as travel or deadly schemes, this movie was great for MST3K.The movie just did not work well. The film looked as if it was about to do something remotely interesting, and then it would just stop. The sister is about to release the north wind, but then it stopped. The hero had to plow a field of snakes and he wrestles one snake and then over. The final battle consisted of people playing their harps and the witch just kind of dying. Just a strange movie that could have benefited from being even more strange.

dbborroughs the Day the Earth Froze is one of the worst pieces of cinematic garbage I've ever seen.Don't get me wrong I like the fantasies of director Aleksandr Ptushko. I Love The Sword and the Dragon, I like the Magic Voyage of Sinbad and some of his Ruslan and Ludmila is gorgeous. His films are cinematic storybooks and the ethereal storybook quality that Ptushko puts into his work is here in spades. The plot is basically the tale of a witch causing the world to freeze but it is so stoically told and acted in the stick up the back manner that I wanted to slit my wrists rather than finish it. I'm certain that part of the problem is that the American version is missing a third of the film, but allowing for that its a horrible piece with all of Ptushko's worst mannerisms in full view.

Raymond Tucker Directed by Russian fantasy film maker Alexander Ptushko, so you can count on striking visuals and lots of in-camera effects (lots of dissolves, split screens etc.) Despite cheesy dubbing this film still holds much of its fantastical charm. It has a look similar to German expressionist works like Fritz Lang's 'Siegfried' or Murnau's 'Faust'. It also strikes me as possibly inspirational to Guy Madden's films such as 'Tales of the Gimli Hospital' or 'Careful'. (Its antiquated appearance is only enhanced by the poor faded color present in the prints I've seen. Definitely worthy of a Ruscico DVD restoration/release) After watching my non MST3K'O'd copy, I just can't get that crazy harp theme from the film's climax out of my head. One of the most persistent tunes since "In Heaven" from Eraserhead. "SAMPO...SAMPO...SAMPO!"

Apearlo Beautifully photographed Russo-Finnish goofiness about a witch who freezes the Earth after townsfolk steal her beloved Sampo. The question on most viewers' minds is, what the hell is Sampo? Oh, well. Make sure you see the MSTied version for the full goofy effect.