The Last Command (1928)

A former Imperial Russian general and cousin of the Czar ends up in Hollywood as an extra in a movie directed by a former revolutionary.

Director:

Josef von Sternberg

Writers:

Lajos Biró (story), John F. Goodrich,

Stars:

Emil Jannings, Evelyn Brent, William Powell

Won 1 Oscar. Another 1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Emil Jannings	...	Gen. Dolgorucki / Grand Duke Sergius Alexander
Evelyn Brent	...	Natalie Dabrova
William Powell	...	Lev Andreyev
Jack Raymond	...	Assistant director
Nicholas Soussanin	...	The adjutant
Michael Visaroff	...	Serge (the valet)
Fritz Feld	...	A revolutionist

Storyline

A decorated, aristocratic Czarist General is reduced to penury after the collapse of Imperial Russia. An old adversary, now a successful director hires the general to re-enact the revolution which deposed him.

---

Plot Keywords:

hollywood | bolshevik | russian revolution | train wreck | whip | 

---

Taglines:

EMIL JANNINGS -- World's finest dramatic actor in a brilliant successor to "The Way of all Flesh" -- and "Variety." You'll be amazed with Janning's tremendous role of the mighty general!...with men...women...a whole nation at his feet! Through flaming love...adoration...hate! To...! The most terrific climax the screen has ever known!

---

Genres:

Drama | History | Romance | War

---

Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 September 1928 (Finland)

Also Known As:

A Última Ordem

Filming Locations:

Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

88 min 104 min

Sound Mix:

Silent

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Based on the life of General Lodijensky, a former general in the Russian army of Czar Nicholas, who fled Russia after the 1917 Communist revolution and wound up in Hollywood, where he worked for a while as a movie extra.

---

Quotes

Lev Andreyev: [about the Duke] Let him strut a little longer. His days are numbered!

---

Connections

Referenced in Cinema Europe: The Other Hollywood (1995)

User Reviews

A window to Hollywood and the Russia of years old...

Josef Von Sternberg directs this magnificent silent film about silent Hollywood and the former Imperial General to the Czar of Russia who has found himself there. Emil Jannings won a well-deserved Oscar, in part, for his role as the general who ironically is cast in a bit part in a silent picture as a Russian general. The movie flashes back to his days in Russia leading up to the country's fall to revolutionaries. William Powell makes his big screen debut as the Hollywood director who casts Jannings in his film. The film serves as an interesting look at the fall of Russia and at an imitation of behind-the-scenes Tinseltown in the early days. Von Sternberg delivers yet another classic, and one that is filled with the great elements of romance, intrigue, and tragedy.