At the height of his notoriety, the great russian director came to britain for a whistlestop tour that took in everything from bloomsbury to windsor and hampton. The question and answer section for battleship potemkin is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel. This version was released on dvd in 2009 and bluray in 2010, and theatrically in new york city and in the film archives circuit in the usa. The first is a bit slow and sets the scene, showing the sailors mistreatment at the hands of their officers. Throughout the entire movie, eisenstein uses the kuleshov effect to give more meaning to the facial expressions in the movie. Battleship potemkin is no longer considered the greatest film ever made, but it is obligatory for anyone interested in film history, and the other night in that smalltown parking lot i got a sense, a stirring, of the buried power it still contains, awaiting a call. Proclaimed as on of the best films ever made silent or sound. Everyone knows the story of the battleship potemkin, whose sailors mutinied after they were given maggotinfested meat to eat and rebelled in. Enraged with the deplorable conditions on board the armored cruiser potemkin, the ships loyal crew contemplates the unthinkable mutiny. The sailors of the potemkin rise up against their cruel officers, and inspire the people of odessa to follow them. A restored version of sergei eisensteins landmark drama battleship potemkin is to premiere at next years berlin film festival published. Oct 20, 2010 but, as with so many films since, battleship potemkin s violence is more implied than shown, and takes place mostly in the mind of the viewer no babies were harmed in the making of the famous. Battleship potemkin film by eisenstein 1925 britannica. Battleship potemkin soviet montage style gradesaver.
An early depiction of film montage, battleship potemkin eisenstein, 1925, portrays the beauty of cinema through eisensteins original idea of film editing. Shot in 1925 by sergei eisenstein, potemkin contains one of the most famous scenes the odessa steps massacre in film history. This fame both protected him up to a point and brought him to the constant attention of the authorities, involving him in a cat and mouse game for his entire professional life. Kino is proud to join the deutsche kinematek in association with russias goskinofilm, the british film institute, bundesfilm archive berlin, and the munich film museum in presenting this all new restoration of battleship potemkin. Seizing control of the potemkin and raising the red flag of revolution. Its easy to forget this film was once considered powerful enough to.
Eisenstein with aleksandr antonov, vladimir barsky, grigori aleksandrov, mikhail gomorov, year. There is a little bit of revolutionary talk near the start, but it very soon takes on the feel of a documentary. Considered one of the most important films in the history of silent pictures, as well as possibly eisensteins greatest work, battleship potemkin brought eisensteins theories of cinema art to the world in a powerful showcase. Still hurtling down the steps of movie history like an abandoned pram, sergei eisensteins 1925 propaganda continues to be debated, analysed. Battleship potemkin sometimes rendered as battleship potyomkin, is a 1925 soviet silent film directed by sergei eisenstein. In 2012, the british film institute named battleship potemkin the eleventh greatest film of all time. The film had an incredible impact on the development of cinema and was a masterful example of montage editing.
Eisensteins tribute to the early russian revolutionaries and is widely regarded as a masterpiece of international cinema. Battleship potemkin includes one of the first notable examples of a montage in its infamous odessa staircase massacre scene. Watch battleship potemkin and other free sergei eisenstein. The battleship potemkin has just returned from the war with japan, its crew near mutiny because of brutal treatment and bad rations. Few films have made an impact on the history of cinema like sergei eisensteins battleship potemkin bronenosets potyomkin. Battleship potemkin is the film which brought eisenstein, always a citizen of the world, to world attention. Battleship potemkin sometimes rendered as battleship potyomkin, is a 1925 soviet silent film directed by sergei. Films like battleship potemkin have been familiar to me for years, i know the references to them in other films, their place in early film theory and usually the full plot courtesy of wikipedia. It begins by setting up a showdown between two conflicting forces. In todays world, sitting and watching subtitles and a black and white 1925 standard ratio film seems meaningless and a waste of time. Before the russian revolution of 1917, there was a failed attempt to overthrow the royal government in 1905.
Montage editing is a style of film editing which, speaking generally, use the act of editing as a central artistic tool of film as opposed to a mere technical procedure. Eisenstein repeatedly cuts between the civilians running down. The odessa steps and the use of montage battleship potemkin. Since then, a lot of people have seen and praised the film. Battleship potemkin is really a film of two halves. After potemkin, sergei eisensteins theories of montage and the linkage and collision of shots. Sergei eisensteins battleship potemkin slant magazine. In the midst of the russian revolution of 1905, the crew of the battleship potemkin mutiny against the brutal, tyrannical regime of the vessels officers. Tonights film choice is sergei eisensteins battleship potemkin. As his most famous work, battleship potemkin, from 1925, shows, his analytical, quasiscientific methods bore the mark of both aesthetic and political upheavals. It is widely considered one of the finest and most influential movies of all time. This version was released on dvd in 2009 and bluray in 2010, and theatrically in new york city and in. Potemkin is one of the most famous films in cinema history. Battleship potemkin 1925 considered one of the most important films in the history of silent pictures, as well as possibly eisensteins greatest work, battleship potemkin brought eisensteins theories of cinema art to the world in a powerful showcase.
That is a claim that was hard to swallow especially since this was a silent film. His fallen body is positioned in such a way that it lies perpendicular to the line of the steps, the line of the boys body creating a graphic conflict with the line of the steps. Seizing control of the potemkin and raising the red flag of revolution, the sailors revolt becomes the rallying point for a russian populace ground under the boot heels. Because battleship potemkin is an appeal to fellowfeeling and collective action, it is only right that the restoration work creates a more immersive film, one that places no barriers between a. It was my privilege a few months ago to be present at two private screenings of. It presents a dramatized version of the mutiny that occurred in 1905 when the crew of the russian battleship potemkin rebelled against its officers. In 2012, the british film institute named it the eleventhgreatest film of all time. The film is based on the true events of the russian revolution of 1905. That rebellion is glorified in one of the greatest silent films made, which shows how much can be communicated by facial expressions alone. There are three problematic shots of lion statues in battleship potemkin 1925 that disturb some critics when they discuss the use of montage in film. For eight decades, sergei eisensteins 1925 masterpiece has remained the most influential silent film of all time. Skip to main content classics and discoveries from around the world, thematically programmed with special features, on a streaming service brought to you by the criterion collection.
This may be because it was made only 20 years after the event. This version was released on dvd in 2009 and bluray in 2010, and theatrically in new york city and in the film archives circuit in the usa and canada. Battleship potemkin what they thought battleship potemkin received its premire at the bolshoi theatre, moscow on december 21st 1925. Jan 10, 2011 battleship potemkin signals its devotion to populism forcefully, at the end of the films second segment, boldly shucking off the constraints of characterbased drama. The ship had been built for the imperial russian navys black sea fleet. Director sergei eisensteins film is pure, unashamed propaganda, but its also a true landmark in the history of the movies, with an eye for the spectacular thats rarely if ever been matched since. Sequence analysis the odessa steps in the battleship potemkin. In the 1920s and 30s it was a struggle against the censors to get the likes of battleship potemkin shown in the uk. Led by vakulinchuk aleksandr antonov, the sailors kill the. Battleship potemkin is one of the true masterpieces from the silent film era thanks to the innovative editing techniques used by director sergei eisenstein. The resulting street demonstration in odessa brings on a police massacre. The battleship potemkin aleksandr antonov vladimir barskiy grigoriy aleksandrov 1925 sergei eisensteins classic film depicts the mutiny aboard a czarist battleship during. Griffith had used a decade earlier and revolutionized film with his now famous montages.
Yet each successive generation has seen battleship potemkin subjected to censorship and recutting. A russian doublethreat of filmmaker and film theorist in the 1920s through the late 1940s, eisenstein pioneered many nowessential editing. Now the bfi is celebrating these pioneering russian films. Its famous massacre on the odessa steps has been quoted so many times in other films notably in the untouchables that its likely many. Her crew was served borscht, with rancid maggot infested meat. The sailors raised the red flag and tried to ignite the revolution in their home port odessa. Battleship potemkin from the russian series the year 1905. Battleship potemkin had without a doubt the greatest cinematography of its time, and for decades to come.
Filmen kan betegnes som en blanding av krigsfilm, dramatisert dokumentarfilm og propagandafilm. Methods of montage in battleship potemkin film studies essay. Bronenosets potyomkin, potemkin, the armored cruiser potemkin, the battleship potemkin, bronenosets potemkin. The odessa steps scene was so beautiful and artistic it truly felt like a piece of art. A soviet propaganda film from the silent era, it tells the story of the failed russian revolution of 1905 through the events that happened on the battleship potemkin and in odessa. Eisenstein, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. Battleship potemkin 1925 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. Battleship potemkin is a film directed by sergei m. Apr 12, 2011 eisensteins famous odessa steps sequence from the battleship potemkin is one of the most influential montages in film history, with references to it finding their way into the untouchables and star wars. The sailors, disgusted by the food, refused to eat it. She became famous when the crew rebelled against the officers in june 1905. He took the basic principles of continuous editing that d. However, the film was rejected by both councils, officially because of its violence. Kniaz potyomkin tavricheskiy, prince potemkin of taurida was a predreadnought battleship built for the imperial russian navy s black sea fleet.
For example, eisenstein cast most of the characters in the film according to the notion of typagethe selection of a nonactor to play a role because heshe is the correct physical type for the part. Propaganda synopsis plot the battleship potemkin has just returned from the war with japan, its crew near mutiny because of brutal treatment and bad rations. After the success of strike 1924, sergei eisenstein was commissioned by the soviet government to make a film commemorating the uprising of 1905. Battleship potemkin, released at the end of 1925 as only sergei eisensteins second fulllength film, was an elaboration on the reallife mutiny which took place on the battleship potemkin in june 1905. Before potemkin, film editing was a necessary technical encumbrance. Battleship potemkin study guide contains a biography of sergei m. Battleship potemkin 1925 bluray watch full movie free. Potemkins besetning gjorde oppror og gikk over fra a tilhore. Aug 29, 2018 the potemkin uprising was sparked by a disagreement over food, but it was anything but accidental.
Battleship potemkin 1925 directed by sergei eisenstein. Bronenosets potyomkin is a 1925 soviet film directed by sergei eisenstein. Battleship potemkin was named the greatest film of all time at the brussels worlds fair in 1958. The sensational russian film which is astounding all europe. Battleship potemkin, sometimes rendered as battleship potyomkin, is a 1925 soviet silent film directed by sergei eisenstein and produced by mosfilm. Battleship potemkin 1925 was one of the earliest films to use cinematic editing techniques such as the montage and the kuleshov effect.
David selznick in a memo to harry rapfi october 15, 1926. Following the bbfcs rejection of the film, potemkin was submitted to the london county council and middlesex county council for certificates for local screenings. Morale in russias black sea fleet had long been at rockbottom lows, spurred on by defeats in. Battleship potemkin for eight decades, sergei eisensteins 1925 masterpiece has remained the most influential silent film of all time. He didnt proceed to attack potemkin s most famous montage moment, the odessa steps sequence. What started as a protest strike when the crew was given rotten meat for dinner ended in a riot. Battleship potemkin bronenosets potyomkin is a 1925 soviet film directed by sergei eisenstein. The film is based on the mutiny of russian sailors against their tyrannical superiors. Potemkins debut became an inalterable demarcation point dividing world cinemas aesthetic evolution. In 2016 it was ranked the eleventh best film of all time in a sight and sound magazine critics poll, one of only a handful of silentera films to make the list. Yet each successive generation has seen battleship potemkin. Apr 14, 2020 in the odessa steps sequence a crowd of friendly citizens has gathered on the steps leading down to the port of odessa to celebrate the victory of the mutinous sailors over the czarist officers on the battleship potemkin, which is now waving the red flag of revolution offshore. Yet each successive generation has seen battleship potemkin subjected to censorship and recutting, its unforgettable power diluted in unauthorized public domain editions from dubious sources. The battleship potemkin, a 378foot ship with 18 officers and 705 enlisted men, was on target practice maneuvers.
The battleship potemkin 1925 when they are fed rancid meat, the sailors on the potemkin revolt against their harsh conditions. Sergei eisensteins furiously exciting historical saga of the mutiny aboard the battleship potemkin and the subsequent odessa steps massacre was once such a. Battleship potemkin, soviet silent film, released in 1925, that was director sergey m. Battleship potemkin uk in 1925, the soviet government commissioned a young intellectual named sergei eisenstein the director of strike to create a film commemorating the unsuccessful russian. Battleship potemkin is the classic silent masterpiece from director sergej eisenstein from 1925.
In this paper i will attempt to discuss montage, the film battleship potemkin, analyze eisensteins methods of montage he used for the film, and come up with an idea as to how to transform this historical piece on to theater stage. Yet each successive generation has seen battleship potemkin subjected to censorship and recutting, its unforgettable power diluted in unauthorized. Battleship potemkin british board of film classification. Sep 26, 2018 the film also uses this editing technique to stitch together different shots of vakulinchuks body with closeup shots of the weeping faces of the civilians. Based on the historical events the movie tells the story of a riot at the battleship potemkin. Dozens of missing shots have been replaced, and all 146 title cards restored to eisensteins. But if you want to go deeper and talk about how film editing went from grunt work to art form, you have little choice but to talk about battleship potemkin 1925 and its director, sergei eisenstein. Battleship potemkin, like eisensteins earlier film, strike, has several documentarylike qualities.
Pankreutzer potemkine, the kino international restoration of battleship potemkin, overseen by enno patalas and anna bohn with support from film museums in berlin, london, and moscow, premiered at the 2005 berlin international film festival. By sitting down to watch these movies, i finally get the true experience they. Editing that invisible art of the cinema became fully realized in battleship potemkin, the silent russian masterpiece from director sergei eisenstein for better and for worse from the deft slicing and dicing of footage by longtime martin scorsese editor thelma schoonmaker to the incoherent jumbling in your average michael bay film eisenstein revealed how a true movie is a. Directed by sergei eisenstein 1925 soviet union this incredibly influential soviet silent film depicts a crew mutiny on the russian battleship potemkin. Battleship potemkin, russian bronenosets potyomkin, soviet silent film, released in 1925, that was director sergey m. Sergei eisenstein effectively pioneered many editing techniques that are now ubiquitous in modern cinema.
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