October (Ten Days that Shook the World) (1927)

A large-scale view on the events of 1917 in Russia, when the monarchy was overthrown.

Directors:

Grigoriy Aleksandrov (as G. Aleksandrov), Sergei M. Eisenstein (as S. M. Eisenstein)

Writers:

Sergei M. Eisenstein (as S. M. Eisenstein), Grigoriy Aleksandrov (as G. Aleksandrov)

Stars:

Boris Livanov, Nikolay Popov, Vasili Nikandrov

2 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Nikolay Popov	...	Kerenskiy
Vasili Nikandrov	...	V.I. Lenin
Layaschenko	...	Konovalov
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Chibisov	...	Skobolev
Boris Livanov	...	Terestsenko
Mikholyev	...	Kishkin
Nikolai Padvoisky	...	Bolshevik (as N. Podvoisky)
Smelsky	...	Verderevsky
Eduard Tisse	...	German Soldier

Storyline

In documentary style, events in Petrograd are re-enacted from the end of the monarchy in February of 1917 to the end of the provisional government and the decrees of peace and of land in November of that year. Lenin returns in April. In July, counter-revolutionaries put down a spontaneous revolt, and Lenin's arrest is ordered. By late October, the Bolsheviks are ready to strike: ten days will shake the world. While the Mensheviks vacillate, an advance guard infiltrates the palace. Anatov-Oveyenko leads the attack and signs the proclamation dissolving the provisional government.

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Plot Keywords:

october revolution | communist propaganda | bolshevik revolution | bolshevik | petrograd | 

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Genres:

Drama | History

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Did You Know?

Trivia

Filmed in 6 months. (Source: The Secret Life of Sergei Eisenstein (1987))

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Goofs

The Bolshevik revolutionary killed by the mob can be seen blinking his eyes after dead.

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Quotes

V.I. Lenin: We have the right to be proud that to us fell the good fortune of beginning the building of the Soviet State and, by doing so, opening a new chapter in the history of the world.

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Crazy Credits

Only under the iron leadership of the Communist Party can the victory of the masses be secured.

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Alternate Versions

The director's cut was 3800 meters long with a running time of 138 minutes. The original commercial release in the USSR was shortened to 2800 meters, or 102 minutes. For political or commercial considerations, the French versions were further cut to 2000 meters (73 minutes) or 2200 meters (80 minutes), the last released in 1966 with synchronized music by Dmitri Shostakovich.

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Connections

Referenced in The Element of Crime (1984)

User Reviews

Oktyabr 1917

Oktyabr October This is one of the few times in film that the movie and history agree. It is a historically accurate account of the Bolshevik revolution and the overthrow of the monarchy in 1917. Oktyabr is full of symbolism that many will find amusing. For instance, the scene where the tsar walks through the doors and a shot of a peacock flashes on the screen, giving the illusion that the tsar walks into the peacock's butt. This is also a fairly graphic film, showing the deaths of many people. This is comparable to what someone would see if they viewed old World War II footage. The film mainly documents the revolution and makes intellectual connections between people and events in history. Many conclusions can be made about the connections that someone who recognizes the symbolism can make. For being a historical documentary type of movie, it does a good job of telling the story while still providing some interesting parts to keep the film viewer entertained. I felt that this movie gave me a greater insight to what happened in Russia during that time period. If you are interested in Russian history, this is definitely a movie that you want to see.

Details

Country:

Soviet Union

Language:

None

Release Date:

24 September 1928 (Sweden)

Also Known As:

October (Ten Days that Shook the World)

Filming Locations:

Moscow, Russia

Company Credits

Production Co:

Sovkino

Technical Specs

Runtime:

142 min (2007 restored) 127 min 115 min (DVD special edition)

Sound Mix:

Silent

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.20 : 1