LENIN IN 1918 Part 6

Description

SUMMARY: Historical film made in 1939 with the characters and events of the 1918 revolutionary period reenacted. Follows the facts more or less except that Stalin's close friendship with Lenin is built up out of proportion with the truth. Reel 1: The picture begins with a map showing how in 1918, the size of Russia had shrunk with the germans pressing from the west, the English from the north, the Czechoslovakians and the White Russians from the east and south. Vassily, a typical revolutionist, takes leave of his hungry wife and child. In the Kremlin, Moscow, Lenin discusses the situation with Svierdlov, the president. "No concessions! We must be strong and destroy saboteurs." Reel 2: Maxim Gorky enters the office to ask bread for a number of starving writers and professors. Lenin says we will need a great deal for science, but in this moment there can be no pity, we must fight our enemies. With another man he discusses the war, bread, steps to be taken against the kulaks who hide wheat. Lenin repeats, "We must be severe. It is a struggle. Such severity is necessary." Reel 3: At a performance of the ballet "Swan Lake", three White conspirators discuss the fall of Simbirsk. Suddenly the performance is interrupted by a soldier who announces the Czar has been killed. Reel 4: A man named Matvieiev is approached by a White and is bribed 2 1/2 million rubles to open the door of the Kremlin. Lenin watches the news tape. Then he takes a homeless little girl into his office, gives her papers, lets her draw as he works. After talking to her and finding out that her father was killed and her mother died of starvation, Lenin is resolved to start a war against the speculators of bread. Reel 5: Dzievzhinsky, head of Tcheka, the secret police, is ordered to shoot without mercy. Matvieiev reports to the head of police and the order is given to surround the house where the Whites are meeting.Lenin meets a peasant from uralwho complains that they were told to take the land, but they have to give all their grain to the city workers so that they have nothing themselves. Lenin listens carefully, finally explaining that if the kulaks won't give bread, it will have to take from them. Reel 6: Vassily, returning after bringing 80,000 bags of grain to Moscow, gives a note to Lenin, then faints from hunger, but revives and is fed. Three Whites are informed by an old man that he could not shoot Lenin. Reel 7: The Whites then call on Dora Kaplan, a severe looking Left Social Revolutionary. Machine gunners hide in a window near the meeting place of the Whites. Matvieiev, hearing that Lenin will be killed within a half hour, tries to leave the meeting. After a struggle, he jumps out the window. In the street battle, he warns Vassily about Lenin before being shot. Reel 8: Vassily tries to warn Lenin as his car drives toward a speaking engagement at a factory. Here Lenin answers complaints that the people have no bread. "It is easier to take power than keep it. The old society is dying. All enemies of the people will be destroyed without mercy. Victory for all." Dora Kaplan and the conspirators are in the cheering audience. Reel 9: The crowd, singing the Internationale, follows Lenin to his car. Dora Kaplan shoots Lenin in the back. Vassily arrives and lifts him into the car. In the ensuing riot, the guilty woman is dragged away by the crowd. Workers from all parts of Russia send delegations to the hospital where Lenin lies. One of the bullets entered his lungs and he is given oxygen. Reel 10: Dzievzhinsky is almost shot by a traitorous policeman, but one of his loyal policemen intervenes. Outside Lenin's room his wife and Vassily weep as a crisis is reached. Reel 11: Lenin calls for Gorky. He tells the latter that he was shot because he was not too severe. "I will come back soon." Reel 12: Stalin on the southern front asks about Lenin.Receiving the latest news, Stalin states that they will start an offensive; there will be no more retreat. A command of Trotsky arrives, but Stalin ignores it and leads a charge, "Long Live Lenin". The Whites flee over a bridge. Reel 13: Stalin follows in his car. On reaching a shelter, Stalin calls Moscow to give the news to Lenin. Vassily enters the sickroom to tell of the army's success; the enemy is behind the Don. This news revives Lenin who against his doctor' s orders begins to work and read. Reel 14: Stalin arrives at the hospital while Lenin is asleep. When he wakes they kiss each other. Vassily, on the way to the front, is about to say goodbye but seeing Stalin and Lenin busy in conversation with the little girl between them, he says goodbye from the corridor. Lenin states "Without an iron hand, one cannot rule. One has to be merciless. Our generation has tremendous work ahead. Tell the doctors I am entirely well and will start to fulfill my duties." Stalin dictates greetings to the front, "Hold the red banner high and destroy the enemy. Our Socialist revolution is invincible." Vassily is shown charging "for Lenin" The picture ends with a symbolical charge: thousands of soldiers rise in rows out of trenches and charge forward.

Collection

National Archives Collection of Foreign Records Seized

Series

Motion Picture Films From G-2 Army Military Intelligence Division