October (Ten Days that Shook the World) (1927) - full transcript
In documentary style, events in Petrograd are re-enacted from the end of the monarchy in February of 1917 to the end of the provisional government and the decrees of peace and of land in November of that year. Lenin returns in April. In July, counter-revolutionaries put down a spontaneous revolt, and Lenin's arrest is ordered. By late October, the Bolsheviks are ready to strike: ten days will shake the world. While the Mensheviks vacillate, an advance guard infiltrates the palace. Anatov-Oveyenko leads the attack and signs the proclamation dissolving the provisional government.
Mosfilm Studios
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 war 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-gun 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 rifle’.
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 artillery
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)
Translated by S. Chulkova
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 war 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-gun 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 rifle’.
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 artillery
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)
Translated by S. Chulkova