Mark Bernes Movies
- 1936
A propaganda film disguised as a prison drama, Convicts begins as a train of convicts arrives at a gulag in the north of Russia. Although the prison warden is portrayed as a nice enough guy, he has a hard time winning over a hardened criminal (Mihail Astangov) and his ex-moll (Vera Yanukova, the longtime love of Sergei Eisenstein). According to legend, director Evgeni Chervyakov) was reluctant to make the film, but agreed to do so after the studio promised to let him direct a more liberal-minded pet project in exchange. First released in 1936, Convicts was screened as part of the Soviet Retro series at the 2000 Locarno Film Festival. ~ Rebecca Flint Marx, Rovi
- Starring:
- Mikhail Astangov, Alexandr Cheban, (more)
- 1936
Though its English-language title suggests a western or crime picture, Man With the Gun is actually a Soviet flag-waver about the toppling of the Kerensky government back in 1917. Though Alexander Kerenksy himself is never seen, his political foes Lenin and Stalin are well in evidence, portrayed respectively by M. Shtraukh and M. Gelovani. Not surprisingly, Kerensky's followers are depicted as ineffectual bullies, while Lenin and Stalin are regarded as Gods on Earth, insuring that the Russian peasantry will never again have to fear oppression from "the man with the gun." To "personalize" the story, emphasis is placed upon a humble Soviet soldier (Boris Tenin) who sets the machinery in motion to throw the rascals out, thereby making Russia safe for the glories of Marxist-Leninism. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Maxim Shtraukh, Boris Tenin, (more)
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Portions of Content Provided by Rovi Corporation. 2013 Rovi Corporation.