The Last Command

Plot

Grand Duke Sergius Alexander, a powerful Russian general and cousin to the Czar, ruthlessly suppresses the Russian Revolution until he's overthrown by the Bolsheviks. Years later, the once-mighty aristocrat is reduced to poverty in Hollywood, working as a movie extra to survive. When he's cast as a general in a historical drama directed by Leo Andreyev, a former revolutionary he once tortured, the two men confront their shared past. During the filming of a battle scene, the Duke relives his traumatic memories and delivers a performance of authentic power before dying from the emotional strain. The film concludes with the irony that the Duke's last command was not on a real battlefield, but as an actor playing himself, finding redemption through art even as he faces his mortality.

Historical Background

The Last Command was produced during a pivotal moment in both Hollywood history and world affairs. Released in 1928, it came at the end of the silent era, just before 'The Jazz Singer' would revolutionize filmmaking with sound. The film reflected America's fascination with the Russian Revolution, which had occurred just a decade earlier, and the influx of Russian émigrés to Hollywood. Many White Russian aristocrats had indeed fled to America and were working in the film industry, making the story particularly resonant. The film also captured the growing sophistication of Hollywood storytelling, moving away from simple melodramas toward complex character studies. Its production coincided with the establishment of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which would present its first awards to this film. The movie's themes of fallen aristocracy and the upheaval of old orders resonated with audiences who had witnessed World War I and were approaching the Great Depression.

Making Of

The production faced significant challenges in recreating the Russian Revolution on a Hollywood backlot. Von Sternberg, known for his meticulous visual style, used revolutionary lighting techniques including dramatic shadows and silhouettes to enhance the film's emotional impact. Emil Jannings, a renowned stage actor from Germany, brought method-like intensity to his performance, often staying in character for entire days. The casting of Jannings was particularly significant, as he was already a major international star and his participation gave the film immediate prestige. The battle sequences required coordination of hundreds of extras, horses, and carefully timed explosions. Von Sternberg insisted on multiple takes to achieve the perfect visual composition, often driving his actors to exhaustion. The film's most powerful scene, where Jannings' character relives his downfall during filming, was shot in a single take with the camera pushed in on his face, capturing what many consider one of silent cinema's greatest performances.

Visual Style

Bert Glennon's cinematography for The Last Command represents some of the most sophisticated visual storytelling of the silent era. Von Sternberg and Glennon employed innovative lighting techniques, using dramatic shadows and chiaroscuro effects to enhance the emotional impact of key scenes. The film features remarkable tracking shots and camera movements that were technically advanced for 1928, particularly during the battle sequences where the camera seemingly moves through the chaos of combat. The visual contrast between the opulent, golden-hued scenes of Imperial Russia and the harsh, stark lighting of Hollywood studios creates a powerful metaphor for the Duke's fall from grace. Glennon used multiple exposure techniques for dream sequences and flashbacks, creating a visual language that would influence film noir decades later. The cinematography emphasizes faces and hands, using close-ups to capture the subtle nuances of Jannings' performance. The film's visual style, with its emphasis on texture and shadow, became a hallmark of von Sternberg's later work with Marlene Dietrich.

Innovations

The Last Command showcased several technical innovations that were groundbreaking for 1928. The film's use of superimposition and multiple exposure techniques for the flashback sequences was particularly sophisticated, creating seamless transitions between past and present. Von Sternberg employed innovative camera movement, including tracking shots that followed characters through elaborate sets, creating a sense of immersion that was rare in silent cinema. The battle sequences utilized pioneering techniques for creating the illusion of massive scale, including forced perspective and carefully choreographed extras. The film's makeup effects, particularly the aging of Jannings' character, were remarkably subtle and realistic for the period. The production design featured some of the most elaborate recreations of Imperial Russia ever seen in Hollywood, with sets that could be transformed to show the passage of time and the effects of revolution. The film's editing, particularly in the climactic sequence where past and present merge, was unusually complex for its time, using cross-cutting to create psychological depth rather than merely advancing the plot.

Music

As a silent film, The Last Command originally featured live musical accompaniment that varied by theater. The score was typically compiled from classical pieces and popular music of the era, with theaters often using Tchaikovsky's compositions for the Russian scenes. Paramount provided cue sheets suggesting appropriate music for different scenes, emphasizing dramatic Russian themes for the flashback sequences and more contemporary American music for the Hollywood portions. The film's most famous scene, the final battle sequence, was typically accompanied by thunderous percussion and brass to enhance its emotional impact. Modern restorations have featured newly composed scores by silent film specialists, including a notable 2015 version by the Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra. These modern scores attempt to capture the film's emotional journey through a combination of Russian folk melodies, classical pieces, and original compositions that bridge the cultural divide between the two worlds depicted in the film.

Memorable Scenes

• The opening sequence showing the opulent splendor of the Imperial Russian court, with von Sternberg's camera gliding through golden halls filled with aristocrats in elaborate costumes, establishing the world that will be destroyed.
• The revolutionary confrontation where Jannings' character faces the Bolsheviks, using only his imposing presence and cold stare to convey his defiance despite being outnumbered and defeated.
• The Hollywood casting call where the once-mighty Duke stands in line with other desperate extras, the camera emphasizing his humiliation through careful composition and lighting.
• The climactic battle scene where the Duke, playing himself, relives his traumatic memories, with von Sternberg using superimposition to merge past and present in a dizzying emotional climax.
• The final death scene where the Duke finds redemption through performance, dying with the dignity he lost in life, captured in an extended close-up that showcases Jannings' mastery of silent acting.

What Critics Said

Contemporary critics hailed The Last Command as a masterpiece of silent cinema. The New York Times praised Emil Jannings' performance as 'one of the most moving and powerful ever seen on the screen,' while Variety called the film 'a triumph of the art of motion pictures.' Critics particularly noted von Sternberg's innovative direction and the film's visual sophistication. Modern critics continue to regard the film highly; it holds a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on critical reviews. Film historian Kevin Brownlow described it as 'one of the greatest of all silent films,' while the American Film Institute included it in their list of important American films. The performance by Jannings is often cited as one of the finest in silent cinema, demonstrating how the medium could convey profound emotional complexity without dialogue. Contemporary reviewers frequently note the film's surprising modernity in its themes and visual storytelling techniques.

What Audiences Thought

The Last Command was a commercial success upon its release, drawing audiences who were fascinated by its Russian setting and the star power of Emil Jannings. Contemporary audience reports indicate that viewers were particularly moved by the film's emotional climax, with many theaters reporting audible reactions from the audience during the final scenes. The film's themes of redemption and the irony of fate resonated strongly with 1920s audiences, who were themselves living through a period of rapid social change. Moviegoers appreciated the film's visual spectacle, especially the battle sequences and the contrast between the opulent Russian court and the gritty reality of Hollywood studios. The film's success helped establish Jannings as a major star in America, though his return to Germany limited his Hollywood career. Modern audiences who discover the film through revival screenings and home video continue to praise its emotional power and technical excellence, with many expressing surprise at how effectively the silent medium conveys its complex story.

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