CineMontage

Q4 2017

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28 CINEMONTAGE / Q4 2017 THIS QUARTER IN FILM HISTORY by Edward Landler A fter 90 years, the premiere of Sergei Eisenstein's October on November 7, 1927 at Leningrad's Bolshoi Theatre still endures as the most famous screening of an unparalleled motion picture epic that was never shown publicly in its entirety. Exactly a decade earlier, in what is now called St. Petersburg, the Bolsheviks, led by Vladimir Lenin, overthrew Alexander Kerensky's short-lived Russian Provisional Government after the deposition of Czar Nicholas II. But, in 1917, November 7 was still October 25 — Lenin's government dropped the nation's traditional Julian Calendar to adopt the modern Gregorian Calendar in 1918, shifting the date 13 days forward. Thus, on the very day of the 10th anniversary of the October Revolution that established the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), the invited audience of Communist hierarchy came to the Bolshoi. They were eager to see two feature-length films produced for the national celebration, starting with the internationally renowned director's re-creation of the glorious event, only to be shown three reels hastily selected for the occasion. This unexpected screening of only a portion of Eisenstein's film was followed by Vsevolod Pudovkin's 'October' Surprise The Revolution Will Be Edited October. Amkino Corporation/ Photofest CONTINUED ON PAGE 31

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