Oleg Zhakov Movies
- 1929
Coming at the end of the silent-film era, Grigori Kozyntsev and Leonid Trauberg's Novj Vavilon became buried in the Western rush to sound. Kozyntsev and Trauberg employ impressionistic cutting and metaphoric compositions to depict the times of the Franco-Prussian War and the Paris Commune of 1870-1871. Centered upon a Paris department store and the struggling French army, there is a constant contrast of emphasis between the capitalism functionaries at the department store and the soldiers at the barricades. Pyotr Sobolevsky plays Jean, a French soldier, trying to hold back the Germans and support the Commune. Meanwhile, on the sidelines, portly bourgeoisie sit on their haunches at Versailles, guzzle wine, and scream, "Kill them! Kill them!" whether the victims be German or communist. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi
- Starring:
- Yelena Kuzmina, Petr Sobolevsky, (more)
- 1935
Red Village was filmed in commemoration of Stalin's "Ten Year Plan" for Soviet progress. The heroine is Marina (R. Sverdola), a blacksmith's daughter who leaves her village to study engineering. Returning home, Marina puts all thoughts of romance aside, dedicating herself to industrializing the community. First, however, she must overcome the resistance of mill-owner Bunitsevich (S. Shkurat), who stoops so low as to sabotage the new turbine engines which were designed to bring his operation into the 20th century. With the help of humble millworker Lyosha (I. Chuvelyev), the villain is foiled and the glories of Soviet industrialization are allowed to bloom full flower. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Stepan Shkurat, Roza Sverdlova, (more)
- 1936
Seven Soviet adventurers launch an expedition into the icy northern wastelands to search for valuable mineral deposits in this adventure. During a blizzard, one of them dies. Meanwhile the doctor and the pilot fall in love. Later the government intervenes and ends the mission. The doctor is allowed to remain in the north to take care of the ailing expedition leader. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Nikolai Bogolyubov, Tamara Makarova, (more)
- 1936
The international reputation of Russian director Efim Dzigan rests solely on his fourth feature film, We Are From Kronstadt. Set in 1919, the story concerns the post-revolutionary warfare between the Red forces and the White Russian army. The heroes are a group of courageous sailors who stand up to the invading Whites, who are depicted as atrocity-happy brutes. Despite death, deprivation and torture, the Reds emerge triumphant, largely thanks to the Herculean efforts of patriotic sailor Artem Balashov (G. Bushuev). We Are From Kronstadt was a Grand Prize winner at the 1937 Paris World's Fair. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Vasiliy Zaychikov, Georgiy Bushuev, (more)
- 1937
This Russian drama encapsulates the 1917 Revolution as seen through the eyes of one "average man." The protagonist is an elderly scientist, Clement Timiryazev. Though well on in years, Timiryazev is among the first to align himself with the architects of the Revolution. Taking the loss of his revolt-minded students in stride (they're all too busy spreading the Bolshevik gospel in the streets to attend classes), Timiryazev elects to educate a group of Baltic sailors in the glories of communism. The film comes to an emotional climax when a group of Timiryazev's former colleagues, all disdainful of his new political outlook, are neatly squelched by a timely phone call from Lenin himself. Adding to the appeal of Deputy from the Baltic is the marvelous performance by N. Cherkasov as the aging Timiryazev. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Nikolai Cherkasov, Mariya Domasheva, (more)
- 1938
Though the Soviet Union's own hands were hardly clean in the matter of religious persecution, Russian filmmakers of the late 1930s wasted little time condemning the vicious anti-Semitism of Hitler's Germany. Professor Mamlock tells the story of a brilliant Berlin surgeon who is literally "intolerated" to death. While performing a delicate operation, Mamlock (S. Mezhinski) is driven out of the hospital by Gestapo goons because he is a Jew. Having failed in his efforts to secure another job, Mamlock attempts suicide. While recovering in a hospital room, he hears the sounds of a Storm Trooper rally outside his window. Unable to stand any more, he delivers an impassioned speech against his Nazi tormentors and is promptly murdered for his troubles. Soon, however, there arises a strong and very vocal anti-Nazi resistance movement, spearheaded by Professor Mamlock's courageous son Rolf (O. Zhakov). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- E. Nikitina, Oleg Zhakov, (more)
- 1938
Few Russian filmmakers genuflected at the altar of Marxist-Leninism with as much frequency-and with as much skill-as documentary director Friedrich Ermler. Filmed over a two-year period, The Great Citizen is a two-part reaction of the events surrounding the infamous "Purge Trials" engineered by Josef Stalin. The alleged plotters against the Soviet Union, who according to court transcripts intended to oust Stalin and wrest control of the Moscow Central Committee, are depicted as black-hearted villains, while those presiding over the trial are seen as scrupulous upholders of the banners of fair play and decency. The actual facts were rather different, but Ermler wasn't about to let those facts get in the way of a good story. American prints of The Great Citizen were compressed into a single, 114-minute feature film, rendering the already complex plotline incomprehensible to those unfamiliar with the original trials. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Nikolai Bogolyubov, Ivan Bersenev, (more)
- 1941
Avoiding the usual dogmatic approach of wartime Soviet propaganda films, The Girl From Leningrad manage to include a wealth of surefire entertainment values. Zoya Fyodorova is starred as Natasha, an idealistic Russian lass who heads to the front lines to serve as a volunteer nurse. Though she isn't supposed to become emotionally involved with her patients, Natasha falls hard for wounded Red Army officer Lt. Korovin (Alevander Abrikosov). Adding seasoning to this romantic stew are several well-staged battle sequences and even a song or two. The Girl From Leningrad was remade in Hollywood in 1944 as Three Russian Girls, with Anna Sten starring as Natasha. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Andrei Abrikosov, Konstantin Adashevsky, (more)
- 1944
A Russian village struggles through the German occupation during World War II in this tense drama from the Soviet Union. As the town doctor finds his home has been taken by German troops, his daughter becomes involved in the anti-Axis resistance, and his son -- confined to a mental hospital -- escapes to fight the invading armies. Directed by Abram Room, who is best remembered for his silent features, Nashestvie was originally released in 1945, then revised for re-release in 1968; it enjoyed a revival at the retrospective on Soviet cinema at the 2000 Locarno Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- V. Gremin, Olga Zhizneva, (more)
- 1947
On a purely technical level, The Road Home is one of the best of the postwar Russian "partisan" films. Oleg Zhakov stars as Yanis, who manages to escape from the Nazi train bearing himself and his fellow villagers to a German concentration camp. At first, Yanis is interested only in returning to his beloved family. But after a run-in with Nazi troops in a Latvian village, Yanis decides to cast his lot with the local resistance movement. Surprising for a Soviet film of the period, The Road Home appears to celebrate individual achievement over teamwork-but only during the first few reels. Director Alexander Ivanov packs plenty of thrills and suspense into the proceedings, while cinematographer Ivan Goldberg sustains a properly forboding atmosphere throughout. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Oleg Zhakov, I. Savelyev, (more)
- 1947
In this Soviet propaganda film, three soldier vow to become doctors after witnessing the carnage and suffering involved in war. Together they also swear to find a cure for paralysis. The film includes very graphic, and real scenes of live animals being dissected. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Viktor Khokhryakov, Mikhail A. Kuznetsov, (more)
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