Lenin in October

Plot

Lenin in October chronicles the pivotal days leading up to and including the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917. The film follows Vladimir Lenin as he returns from exile in Finland to Petrograd, where he must convince the hesitant Bolshevik leadership to seize power. As the Provisional Government weakens and popular support for the Bolsheviks grows, Lenin works tirelessly with key comrades including Stalin and Sverdlov to organize the armed insurrection. The narrative builds tension through clandestine meetings, strategic planning, and the growing momentum of revolutionary fervor among workers and soldiers. The climactic sequence depicts the storming of the Winter Palace and the establishment of Soviet power, marking the birth of the world's first socialist state. Throughout the film, Lenin is portrayed as the visionary leader whose determination and tactical genius guide the revolution to success.

Historical Background

Lenin in October was produced during one of the darkest periods in Soviet history - 1937, the peak of Stalin's Great Purge. While the film celebrated the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917, it was being made in an atmosphere of terror, paranoia, and mass executions. Stalin commissioned the film as part of a massive propaganda campaign to legitimize his rule by connecting himself directly to Lenin and the revolutionary legacy. The film's release coincided with the 20th anniversary of the October Revolution, a date Stalin used to reinforce his narrative of historical inevitability and his role as Lenin's rightful successor. This was also a time when Soviet cinema was being transformed into a powerful tool of state propaganda, with Socialist Realism becoming the only approved artistic style. The film's portrayal of the revolution was carefully crafted to justify Stalin's current policies and the purges as necessary continuations of the revolutionary struggle.

Making Of

The production of Lenin in October was a monumental undertaking that represented the pinnacle of Soviet Socialist Realist cinema. Mikhail Romm, though relatively young at the time, was chosen by Stalin himself to direct this crucial propaganda piece. The casting of Boris Shchukin as Lenin was particularly significant - Shchukin was already a renowned stage actor at the Moscow Art Theatre and underwent an intensive transformation process, including studying Lenin's handwriting, voice recordings, and mannerisms. The film's production coincided with the height of Stalin's Great Purge, creating an atmosphere of intense pressure on the cast and crew. Stalin took personal interest in the project, viewing early cuts and providing detailed feedback. The storming of the Winter Palace sequence was filmed over several weeks using thousands of extras, many of whom were actual Red Army veterans of the revolution. The production team had access to previously restricted historical archives and locations, allowing for unprecedented authenticity in depicting the revolutionary events.

Visual Style

The cinematography by Boris Volchek and Vladimir Nikolaev was groundbreaking for its time, employing innovative techniques to create both historical authenticity and dramatic tension. The film used extensive location shooting at actual historical sites, including the Smolny Institute and the Winter Palace, lending it unprecedented realism. The camera work featured dynamic tracking shots through crowded revolutionary meetings, dramatic close-ups of Lenin in moments of decision, and sweeping panoramic views of Petrograd during the uprising. The cinematographers pioneered techniques for filming large crowd scenes, using multiple cameras and carefully choreographed movements to create the illusion of thousands of people in revolutionary action. The lighting design contrasted the dark, conspiratorial atmosphere of underground meetings with the bright, triumphant scenes of the revolution's success. The film's visual style influenced historical epics worldwide and established new standards for depicting revolutionary cinema.

Innovations

Lenin in October represented several technical innovations in Soviet cinema, particularly in the realm of historical reconstruction and crowd scene management. The production pioneered new techniques for coordinating thousands of extras in complex battle sequences, using a system of colored flags and whistles to synchronize movements across multiple locations. The film's editing, supervised by Esfir Tobak, introduced rapid-cut techniques for building tension during revolutionary action sequences. The sound recording team developed new methods for capturing clear dialogue in large, reverberant spaces like the Smolny Institute. The film also featured innovative special effects for its time, including carefully staged explosions and gunfire that appeared remarkably realistic. The production team created detailed historical reconstructions of 1917 Petrograd, with attention to period-accurate costumes, props, and architectural details that set new standards for historical films.

Music

The musical score for Lenin in October was composed by Dmitri Shostakovich, one of the Soviet Union's most prominent composers, in collaboration with Vissarion Shebalin. The soundtrack combines revolutionary songs of the period with original orchestral compositions that enhance the film's dramatic moments. Shostakovich incorporated themes from 'The Internationale' and other revolutionary anthems, weaving them into the fabric of the score to create emotional resonance with Soviet audiences. The music ranges from tense, dissonant passages during scenes of conspiracy and danger to triumphant, sweeping orchestral arrangements during the revolution's climactic moments. The soundtrack also features diegetic music, including workers' songs and military marches that add historical authenticity. Shostakovich's score was praised for its ability to support the narrative without overwhelming the dramatic performances, though the composer later faced criticism for his association with Stalin-era propaganda projects.

Memorable Scenes

• Lenin's dramatic arrival at the Finland Station, greeted by thousands of workers and soldiers
• The tense Bolshevik Committee meeting where Lenin passionately argues for immediate armed insurrection
• The storming of the Winter Palace sequence with thousands of revolutionary soldiers
• Lenin's secret meeting with Stalin in the underground printing press
• The final scene showing Lenin addressing the victorious revolutionaries from the balcony

What Critics Said

Contemporary Soviet critics universally praised Lenin in October as a masterpiece of Socialist Realist cinema, with particular acclaim for Boris Shchukin's performance as Lenin and Mikhail Romm's direction. The official Soviet press hailed it as 'the most important film of our time' and 'a brilliant realization of Lenin's image on screen.' Western critics in the late 1930s, while acknowledging its propagandistic nature, often praised its technical excellence, dramatic tension, and cinematic craftsmanship. The New York Times noted its 'powerful direction and impressive crowd scenes' while The Guardian called it 'a remarkable achievement in historical filmmaking.' Modern film scholars view it more complexly, recognizing both its artistic merits and its role as propaganda. Many consider it among the most technically accomplished Soviet films of the 1930s, with particular praise for its editing, cinematography, and Shchukin's iconic performance.

What Audiences Thought

Lenin in October was enormously popular with Soviet audiences upon its release, becoming one of the most-watched films in Soviet cinema history. The film's dramatic portrayal of revolutionary events resonated deeply with viewers who had lived through or heard stories of the 1917 Revolution. Many audience members were moved to tears by Shchukin's performance and the film's patriotic themes. The film was shown repeatedly in theaters, factories, collective farms, and schools, with attendance often mandatory. Veterans of the October Revolution praised its authenticity and emotional power. In later years, the film became a traditional viewing experience on Revolution Day holidays, with multiple generations of Soviet citizens growing up watching it annually. Despite changing political attitudes in later decades, the film retained a special place in Soviet cultural memory and continued to evoke strong emotional responses from viewers.

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