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

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OCTOBER

This film

was made in 1927

by masters

of the nascent Soviet cinema,

headed by Sergei Eisenstein,

for the 10th anniversary

of the Soviet Republic.

The events of 1917

were restored

with the best possible precision.

The camera depicted

many participants of the Revolution:

workers, Red Guards warriors,

soldiers and sailors

including Nikolai Podvoisky,

one of the leaders

of the armed rebellion.

At the time of filming

Leningrad, with its streets

and buildings,

halls of the Winter Palace,

Smolny Palace,

the trams, automobiles,

weapons, clothes

were exactly like they used to be

during the historical battle

for the Soviet power.

Thus the film 'October’

that reached us,

during the 50th anniversary,

from the far past,

is a true-to-life evidence

of the ardent initiation

of our state.

Simultaneously, it will remain,

for all times,

as a wonderful piece of Soviet art,

a great work

of the world’s best film directors.

'October’ belongs to the 'silent’

period of film-making.

It was converted into

a sound version

by Grigory Alexandrov,

Eisenstein’s associate.

The film score was written

by Dmitry Shostakovich.

OCTOBER

Sovkino Production

Dedicated

to the pioneering proletarians,

creators of the October Revolution.

Made for the October Revolution

Jubilee Commission

chaired by N. Podvoisky

Written and Directed by

S. EISENSTEIN and G. ALEXANDROV

Director of Photography - E. TISSE

Production Designer - V. KOVRIGIN

'We can pride ourselves

'in having started the establishment

'of the Soviet state,

'thus opening

a new epoch of the world history’

V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

Dedicated to the great emperor

Alexander Alexandrovich of All Russia

February. The first victory of

proletariat on its way to socialism.

To everybody!

To everybody!

Many years

to the Provisional Government!

To everybody!

To everybody? Does it mean that...

Brother!

Brother!

The provisional government

will absolutely abide by its

obligations before the allies.

Pound...

Half a pound...

One fourth of a pound...

One eighth of a pound...

Everything as it used to be.

It’s w*r and starvation.

But...

Near Finlandksy terminal

on April 3th

there he is,

Ulyanov

Lenin.

Long live revolutionary workers

and peasants

who have overthrown

the monarchy!

No support should be shown to

the Provisional government!

Long live the socialist revolution!

Socialist, not bourgeois.

Under bourgeoisie there is neither

peace for us, nor bread, nor land.

The days of July - the days

of popular anger.

Down with ministers-capitalists!

Down with the provisional

government!

There had been unending rallies

at the palace of Kshesinska.

It’s an abortive rising!

The enemy is plotting provocations!

Show endurance and self-control!

Krondshtadt sailors.

In due time the Party will be here

to be your leader.

On the corner of Sadovaya street

and Nevsky prospect.

Near the den

of Chernaya Sotnya press...

Saving the banner...

Bolshevik!

The government ordered

to raise the bridges,

to cut off the workers’ districts

from the centre.

The winners tried to drown

the Bolsheviks’ 'Pravda’.

The counter-revolution had won.

The 1st machine-g*n regiment.

For the solidarity with workers...

'Traitors'

'Betrayers'

Bolsheviks!

The Petrograd Committee

of the Bolsheviks Party

Dictator.

Military Minister.

Marine Minister

Prime Minister.

Et cetera.

The hope of the motherland

and the revolution -

A. Kerensky.

The tsarist lackeys.

Oh, what a democrat!

A democrat at the tsar’s gates.

'Traitors'

'Betrayers'.

On July 6 the Provisional Government

issued an order to arrest Lenin.

By that time Lenin had been

in clandestine already.

From here he directed

the 6th Party Congress

planning the armed rising.

In the apartments

of Alexandra Fedorovna.

Alexander Fedorovich.

In the apartments of Alexander III -

Alexander IV?

An order restoring capital

punishment at the front.

A Bonaparte? An emperor?

The revolution in danger!

General

Kornilov

is on the offensive.

Kornilov is on the offensive!

Everybody defend Petrograd!

Kornilov is on the offensive!

In the name of God and motherland.

In the name of God.

In the name of motherland.

Hurrah!

Hurrah!

General Kornilov.

Two Bonapartes.

Which of the two?

Kornilov is on the offensive.

With his savage division.

With English tanks.

What about the government?

The government is helpless.

We shall not let

the general through!

Paddocks knocked off prison doors.

'Traitors'

'Betrayers'

Bolsheviks.

The arsenal in the hands of people.

The proletariat of St. Petersburg

had taken

the defense process in hand.

The defense headquarters.

The Smolny Palace.

'Traitors'

'Betrayers'

Bolsheviks.

The savage division.

A Bolsheviks’ leaflet

spoke in understandable terms

For bread!

For peace!

For land!

For fraternity!

Fraternizing.

General Kornilov had been arrested.

'Proletarians, learn how

to handle the r*fle’.

Bolsheviks should seize the power.

This last battle

will decide everything!

The battle will soon begin.

October 10.

The Bolsheviks’ central committee

considering the agenda

of the armed uprising.

Trotsky demanded they should tarry.

It’s either they strangle the

revolution or a rising begins.

Hesitation will mean death.

For Lenin’s proposal.

For Lenin’s proposal!

The Party organized

the rebellion headquarters

'The Military

Revolutionary Committee’

October 24

After four months of conspiracy

Lenin is back in Smolny.

From October 25 Lenin leads

the revolution.

A communique 'To citizens of Russia’

had been printed.

'October 25, 1917, 10 a.m.’

At the bid of the revolutionary

committee they came to Smolny.

Gymnasium headmistress.

Mensheviks

Commissars

To the telegraph...

To the telephone offices...

Stand by!

The morning of October 25

had come...

Summoned by the revolutionary

committee,

the battle cruiser 'Aurora'

sailed ashore.

The bridges had been raised again

and workers’ districts cut off

from the centre.

The rebels had seized the bridges.

Kronshtadt sailors are coming!

The combined regiment of soldiers.

The minister

of military affairs speaking.

Where are the Cossacks?

Mounting their horses already.

Neutrality.

'To citizens of Russia’.

Let’s hurry to the front,

for loyal troops

to crash the Bolshies.

Gentlemen!

The junkers coming

to protect the losers.

Reinforcement will come soon!

Shock members

of the women's battalion.

Till the last drop of blood.

In the pool hall of Nicholas II.

Counter-revolutionary barricades.

To the 2nd Congress of Soviets.

Delegates coming

to the congress.

Mensheviks fraction in session -

room 16.

Social revolutionaries - room 20.

...From the front...

...From east...

...From Kronshtadt...

...From Ukraine...

...From Siberia.

Provisional government powerless,

but still existent.

Head of the government...

Members of the government...

An address to people

had been prepared.

The constituent council is the sole

master of the Russian land.

Meanwhile in Smolny...

Mensheviks and social

revolutionaries opened the congress.

Comrades!

We have one question on the agenda,

and that is

the question of power.

The Provisional Government is

the sole legitimate power.

'The Military

Revolutionary committee'

But people are

of a different opinion.

Russian capital was in the hands

of revolutionary

workers and soldiers.

Bolsheviks had prepared a military

plot against the legitimate power.

Instead of bread it'll be hunger and

devastation! Bolsheviks will perish!

But the revolution will die too!

Down with them!

Down with them!

Down with bourgeois henchmen!

Elections to the presidium

of the congress.

The list of Mensheviks

and social revolutionaries.

They are too few...

Let us vote for the list

of Bolsheviks.

'The All-Russian Congress of

the Soviets'

All power - to the Soviets!

The Winter Palace

in a steel circle.

'To avoid the bloodshed we

suggest that you surrender.

'We give you 20 minutes. The military

revolutionary committee’.

Truce envoys.

Sir?

Madame?

Fellow!

The last ultimatum

to your government.

They are waiting

for an answer.

Still waiting.

Members of the women’s battalion

surrendered one by one.

The time is almost over.

Agitators from Smolny getting

to Cossacks in Winter Palace.

Through the vaults of the Hermitage.

There are about 1100 halls

in Winter Palace.

In the main yard where

the Cossacks’ battery is situated.

Agitators fulfilling their mission.

Officer!

How did you dare to leave the post?

Junker, ...your mother!

...mother!

Junkers, gentlemen.

We have been produced an ultimatum.

We shall not give away our land

to German spies.

And on the next storey...

Agitators were attending

to their mission.

What do you intend to use

for taking power?

Gentlemen!

Bolsheviks!

The Army is not by your side.

The front

is not by your side either!

You’re lying!

You’re lying!

You speak on behalf

of the headquarters!

The 12th Army

on the side of Bolsheviks.

Comrades!

Comrades!

The cyclists

are for the Soviets, too!

The Cossacks a*tillery

have surrendered.

They have betrayed us.

The answer hasn’t arrived yet.

No answer coming yet.

The opportunists coming

with their sweet 'songs’.

This awkward predicament

should be settled by peace.

With no violence, no blood.

Bolsheviks violating

historical processes.

There will be no peace!

There will be no bread!

Time of slogans is over.

For peace!

For bread!

For land!

A signal!

Cannons of Petropavlovsk fortress.

The Committee for saving

the country and the Revolution.

To save the Provisional Government.

To save the government?

Look, it’s the mayor

himself.

We voice our categorical protest!

Yes!

The tsarina’s bedchamber.

Yes to Kerensky!

Gentlemen, let us meet

them honorably.

You are all arrested.

In the name of the military

revolutionary committee.

Antonov-Ovseenko.

I declare the Provisional

Government downthrown.

'Comrades! The socialist revolution

of workers and peasants

'the Bolsheviks had thought to be

so important, has won’.

Decree of peace

Decree of land

'From now on in Russia

we should start

'building the proletariat

socialist state’

V. Ulyanov (Lenin)