Ivan, a preparatory sketch for "Ivan the Terrible."

Preparatory sketch for "Ivan the Terrible." Eisenstein searched for a mask for Ivan. Sixteen masks were designed for his face, and 156 test shots made. Eisenstein wrote a character sketch for each part, but he had difficulty grasping Ivan until May 1942, when he decided at which exact moment Ivan’s face would have to undergo a terrible change. The transformation would occur after Ivan’s return from Alexandrovskaya Sloboda, when he decides to take bloody revenge on everybody. The Sun Prince, the handsome youth, would turn into an ugly, repulsive old man with a stooped back who would rival the worst Expressionist film villain, the vampire Nosferatu. Eisenstein used a photo of John Barrimore in the role of Mr Hyde as inspiration for Ivan’s make up.