1812
1944 · Movie · 95 min. · Soviet Union (USSR)
Originally titled Kutuzov, this Russian historical epic re-creates in meticulous detail the Russo-Napoleonic war of the early 19th century. As Napoleon Bonaparte (Semen Mezhinsky) lays siege against Russia, dashing Prince Kutuzov (Alexei Dikiy) mounts a courageous counteroffensive. In a parallel development, Prince Bagration (S. Zakariadze) leads a secondary military unit near Moscow, becoming a martyr to the cause in the process. The film was clearly designed as a plea for the opening of an Allied second front against Hitler in the Soviet Union of 1944 - and seldom has propaganda been presented in so vivid and entertaining a fashion. Reportedly, director Vladimir Petrov, whose other works include the multi-part Peter the First and Battle of Stalingrad, based his camera compositions in 1812 on contemporary paintings and engravings of the actual conflict.
Direction Vladimir Petrov
Cast Aleksei Dikij · Semyon Mezhinsky · Yevgeniy Kaluzhsky · Sergo Zaqariadze · Nikolai Okhlopkov · Sergei Blinnikov · Vladimir Gotovtsev · A. Polyakov · Nikolai Brilling · Boris Chirkov · Mikhail Pugovkin · Ivan Ryzhov · K. Shilovtsev · Ivan Skuratov · Aleksandr Stepanov
Soundtrack Yuri Shaporin
Screenplay Vladimir Solovyov
Cinematography Mikhail Gindin
Original title Kutuzov
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Not rated (FilmAffinity)
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