The Assassination of Trotsky (1972)

User Rating:

5.9/10   

Director:

Joseph Losey

Writer:

Nicholas Mosley (writer)

Release Date:

20 April 1972 (Italy)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | History | Thriller

Tagline:

For one moment, they hold history in their hands. With one terrible blow, they make it

Plot:

After having been forced to leave the Soviet Union 1929 Trotsky has ended up in Mexico 1940. He is still busy with the politics...

Plot Keywords:

Communist | Assassin | Mexico | Politics | Male Female Relationship

Cast

Richard Burton	...	Leon Trotsky
Alain Delon	...	Frank Jackson
Romy Schneider	...	Gita Samuels
Valentina Cortese	...	Natalia Sedowa Trotsky
Enrico Maria Salerno	...	Salazar
Luigi Vannucchi	...	Ruiz
Duilio Del Prete	...	Felipe
Jean Desailly	...	Alfred Rosmer
Simone Valère	...	Marguerite Rosmer
Carlos Miranda	...	Sheldon Harte
Peter Chatel	...	Otto
Michael Forest	...	Jim (as Mike Forrest)
Marco Lucantoni	...	Seva
Claudio Brook	...	Roberto
Jack Betts	...	Lou (as Hunt Powers)

Also Known As:

L'assassinat de Trotsky (France)
L'assassinio di Trotsky (Italy)
Life of Leon Trotsky (Philippines: English title)

Runtime:

103 min | Australia:106 min

Country:

Italy | France | UK

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | UK:12 | USA:R | Iceland:16

Filming Locations:

Italy

Company:

Dino de Laurentiis Cinematografica

Trivia:

Joseph Losey originally offered the part of Leon Trotsky to Dirk Bogarde, with whom he had made five other films. Losey admitted that the script was terrible, but told Bogarde that it would be revised. Bogarde turned the role down, embittering Losey, who felt that Bogarde didn't trust him. Richard Burton, who had worked with Losey on _Boom! (1968)_ did trust Losey enough to take the part, even though he was shown the same script.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: A character passes a wall with a graffiti-image of Woody Woodpecker. The first appearance of Woody Woodpecker was in the cartoon "Knock Knock" which was released 25th of November 1940, two months after Trotski was assassinated.

Quotes:

Leon Trotsky: It's hard living with an old revolutionary. You should have been with us when we stormed the Winter Palace! With Lenin in Moscow in the early days! What happiness to be alive- to be fighting then!

Much better than vote indicates

I saw this film when it came out, in 1972, and it made such an impression on me that I have a clear recollection of it now. I just visited the Trotsky Museum in Mexico City, the house where he was assassinated. He was in fact killed with an ax--there are photos in the museum of the actual murder weapon that is exactly like the one depicted in the film. So the commentator who makes such a big point about it being an ice pick is uninformed. This commentator may also be unaware that Joseph Losey was one of the great British filmmakers of his generation, so it's perfectly natural that he make films in English.

What is good about the film? Richard Burton's ability to convey the charisma of Trotsky, the combination of visionary and pragmatic politician who had the misfortune to be outmaneuvered by two equally powerful men with far fewer scruples, Lenin and Stalin. Alain Delon's portrayal of the ice-cold assassin, motivated not by ideology nor even by money, nor in fact any discernible force other than his own profound emptiness. One of Delon's best roles ever.

The cinematography is extremely powerful. As I say, 30 years later, the images are clear in my mind.

Time to rehabilitate this film, folks. There's a lot of trash out there with higher ratings than this 4.6, so if you've seen it, add your vote. If you haven't, try to see it, and vote what you think it's merit is.