Reds and Romanovs: Hollywood’s Projection of the Russian Revolution(s)

• In Event: Screening Revolutions

Abstract

The Russian Revolutions of 1917 captured the attention of producers and directors in Hollywood immediately and forever, because of the obvious political implications for the United States, and as an irresistible human drama with enormous cinematic potential. My paper examines three particularly significant and representative examples: The Last Command (1928), a silent film directed by Josef von Sternberg; Rasputin and the Empress (1932), directed by Richard Boleslawski and starring all three of the legendary Barrymores (John, Ethel, Lionel); and Reds (1981), directed by and starring Warren Beatty as John Reed. All three films use documentary techniques (and even footage), but for very different artistic and political purposes, and demonstrate the difficulty Hollywood confronted in attempting to turn the representation of revolution into an entertainment event.

Author

• Harlow Loomis Robinson, Northeastern U