Crossroads
About Crossroads
A little man is late for work. A car hits him. In the hospital, bandaged and on a crutch, he gives a talk on how to cross the street.
Cast & crew
More about Crossroads
Vladimir Suteev and Lev Atamanov directed. Vladimir Nemolyayev wrote it. It was drawn at Mezhrabpomfilm in 1931 and runs 11 minutes 42 seconds. The Russian title is Улица поперёк. It was also called Vertushka and The Dream of a Transport Official. Klimenty Korchmaryov wrote the music. The designers include Ivan Belyakov, Leonid Amalrik, Ivan Ivanov-Vano, and Pyotr Nosov.
Themes
Background
Mezhrabpomfilm released it in 1931, when Soviet studios were turning out short agitation films on everyday rules, this one on city traffic.
Making
Suteev and Atamanov made a three-part street-safety short at Mezhrabpomfilm. The joke is that the lesson starts after the crash, in a hospital bed.
Music
Klimenty Korchmaryov wrote the music for the sound cartoon.
Preservation
A print survives. A copy is on Wikimedia Commons.
Notes
- It is Atamanov's first cartoon, made with Suteev, and Suteev's first film as a director.
- Russian Wikipedia calls it the first original Soviet sound cartoon.
- The picture argues for traffic rules. The lecture is delivered by the man the car already hit.
- An English listing of the same short is Across the Street as well as Crossroads.
Scenes
- The car hits the man who is rushing to work.
- Bandaged, with a crutch, he lectures on how to cross a street.
Also available
- Wikimedia Commons (1931. Улица поперек.webm)
