The Turning Point
About The Turning Point
German armies close on the city marked Stalingrad. General Vinogradov wants a retreat. General Muravyov is given the front and told not to give the city up. He stops the factories from leaving, replaces officers who want an early flank attack, and waits until the enemy has pushed his best divisions into the streets. A timed artillery strike opens the Soviet counterattack. The German commander von Klaus is captured. Muravyov will not bother with him. He says the next name is Manstein, and the road is toward Berlin.
Cast & crew
More about The Turning Point
Fridrikh Ermler directed Boris Chirskov's script for Lenfilm. The working title was General of the Army. Mikhail Derzhavin plays Colonel-General Muravyov. Arkadi Koltsaty and Nisson Shifrin photographed it. Gavriil Popov wrote the music. The Soviet release date on record is 29 January 1945. Artkino Pictures handled the American release. Lenfilm restored the film in 1967.
Themes
Background
The film was released in January 1945, while the Red Army was still moving west and Stalingrad was already the battle the Soviet press treated as the turn of the war.
Making
Ermler keeps the camera in headquarters and in the streets the staff are arguing about, rather than following a single squad.
Look
Arkadi Koltsaty and Nisson Shifrin shot the map room and the street fighting Muravyov refuses to abandon.
Music
Gavriil Popov composed the score.
Preservation
Lenfilm restored the film in 1967.
Notes
- Pyotr Andriyevsky plays Vinogradov, Andrei Abrikosov plays Krivenko, and Aleksandr Zrazhevsky plays Panteleev.
- Mark Bernes plays a driver nicknamed Minutka. Yuri Tolubeyev plays Lavrov.
- Muravyov's wife Liza, serving in the army, is killed in the fighting inside the city.
- At the 1946 Cannes Film Festival the film was one of those given the Grand Prix.
- The Russian title is Великий перелом.
Awards
- Grand Prix, 1946 Cannes Film Festival
Scenes
- Muravyov cancels the evacuation of the factories so the city will still be defended.
- The artillery strike hits the German assembly points, and the counterattack closes.
- Told that von Klaus is a prisoner, Muravyov says his interest is Manstein.
Also available
- Wikimedia Commons
