Battleship Potemkin (1925 film)
 Original Soviet release poster in Russian | ||
| Starring |
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| Directed by | Sergei Eisenstein | |
| Produced by | Yakov Bliokh (Ru: Яков Блиох) | |
| Written by |
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| Editing by |
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| Studio | Mosfilm | |
| Music by | Edmund Meisel | |
| Cinematography | Eduard Tisse | |
| Distributed by | Goskino | |
| Released | Dec 21, 1925 in Soviet Union | |
| Runtime | 74 minutes | |
| Country | Soviet Union | |
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Battleship Potemkin (Russian: Броненосец «Потёмкин», romanized: Bronenosets «Potyomkin», [brənʲɪˈnosʲɪts pɐˈtʲɵmkʲɪn]) is a 1925 Soviet silent epic film produced by Mosfilm. Directed and co-written by Sergei Eisenstein, it depicts the mutiny that took place in 1905 when the crew of the Russian battleship Potemkin rebelled against their officers.
The film exemplifies Soviet montage editing, as seen in the "Odessa Steps" scene, which became highly influential and frequently recreated. In 1958, the film was included on the Brussels 12 list at the World Expo. Battleship Potemkin is widely regarded as one of the greatest films ever made. In the latest Sight and Sound critics' poll in 2022, it ranked fifty-fourth among the greatest films of all time, although it had previously been placed in the top 10 in many earlier editions.
Plot
The film is set in June 1905; the protagonists of the film are the members of the crew of the Potemkin, a battleship of the Imperial Russian Navy's Black Sea Fleet. Eisenstein divided the plot into five acts, each with its own title:
Act I: Men and Maggots
The scene begins with two sailors, Matyushenko and Vakulinchuk, discussing the need for the crew of the Potemkin, which is anchored off the island of Tendra, to support the revolution happening within Russia. After their watch, they and other off-duty sailors are sleeping. As an officer inspects the quarters, he stumbles and vents his frustration on a sleeping sailor. The commotion wakes Vakulinchuk, who then gives a speech to the men as they wake up. Vakulinchuk says, "Comrades! The time has come when we too must speak out. Why wait? All of Russia has risen! Are we to be the last?" The scene cuts to morning, where sailors are commenting on the poor quality of the meat. It appears to be rotten and covered in maggots, and the sailors say that "even a dog wouldn't eat this!" The ship's doctor, Smirnov, is called over by the captain to inspect the meat. Instead of maggots, the doctor says they are insects, which can be washed off before cooking. The sailors complain further about the poor quality of the rations, but the doctor declares the meat edible and ends the discussion. Senior officer Giliarovsky forces the sailors still looking at the rotten meat to leave the area, and the cook begins to prepare borscht, although he also questions the quality of the meat. The crew refuses to eat the borscht, opting instead for bread, water, and canned goods. While washing dishes, one sailor notices an inscription on a plate that reads "give us this day our daily bread." After pondering the meaning of this phrase, the sailor smashes the plate, and the scene ends.
Act II: Drama on the Deck
Everyone who refuses the meat is considered guilty of insubordination and is taken to the foredeck where they receive last rites. The sailors are forced to kneel, and a canvas cover is placed over them as a firing squad enters the deck. The First Officer orders the guards to fire, but in response to Vakulinchuk's pleas, the sailors in the squad lower their rifles, and the uprising begins. The sailors overpower the outnumbered officers and seize control of the ship. The officers are thrown overboard, the ship's priest is pulled out of hiding, and finally, the doctor is thrown into the ocean as 'food for the worms.' The mutiny succeeds, but Vakulinchuk, the charismatic leader of the rebels, is killed.
Act III: A Dead Man Calls for Justice
The Potemkin arrives at the port of Odessa. Vakulinchuk's body is taken ashore and displayed publicly by his companions in a tent with a sign on his chest that says "For a spoonful of borscht" (Из-за ложки борща). The citizens of Odessa, saddened yet inspired by Vakulinchuk's sacrifice, soon become enraged against the Tsar and his government by sympathizers. A man connected to the government tries to turn the citizens' anger toward the Jews, but he is quickly shouted down and beaten by the crowd. The sailors gather to say their final goodbyes and praise Vakulinchuk as a hero. The people of Odessa welcome the sailors, but their actions draw the police as they mobilize against the government.
Act IV: The Odessa Steps
The citizens of Odessa board their boats, sailing out to the Potemkin to support the sailors, while a crowd gathers at the Odessa steps to witness the events and cheer on the rebels. Suddenly, a group of dismounted Cossacks forms battle lines at the top of the stairs and marches toward a crowd of unarmed civilians, including women and children, opening fire and advancing with fixed bayonets. Occasionally, the soldiers pause to fire a volley into the crowd before continuing their cold, machine-like attack down the stairs, ignoring the people's pleas. Meanwhile, government cavalry also attack the fleeing crowd at the bottom of the steps, striking down many survivors of the dismounted assault. Brief scenes show individuals fleeing or falling, a baby carriage rolling down the stairs, a woman shot in the face, broken glasses, and the soldiers' high boots moving in unison.
In retaliation, the sailors of the Potemkin fire their ship’s guns at the city opera house, where Tsarist military leaders are holding a meeting. Meanwhile, reports indicate that a squadron of loyal warships is heading to suppress the Potemkin’s revolt.
Act V: One Against All
The sailors of the Potemkin decide to take the battleship out of the port of Odessa to face the Tsar's fleet, flying the red flag along with the signal "Join us." Just as battle seems inevitable, the sailors of the Tsarist squadron refuse to open fire, cheering and shouting in solidarity with the mutineers and allowing the Potemkin to pass between their ships.
Notes
This article has been abridged and edited using Grammarly to make it more user-friendly, and to standardize spelling and text formatting. R/
External links
- Review Battleship Potemkin at the Internet Movie Database
- Review Battleship Potemkin (1925 film) at the Turner Classic Movie Database
- Battleship Potemkin on Russian Film Hub
- {(version reworked in the USSR as described above)
- Battleship Potemkin at official Mosfilm site with English subtitles
- ment |url-status=dead}} Monument in Odessa, explanation of the mutiny.
- Russo-Japanese War Connections Rebellion or Mutiny on the Potemkin had connection to Russia's defeat in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-05-Russian Navy morale was severely damaged.
- Dossier on Battleship Potemkin in Berlin 1926 by Oksana Bulgakowa on WeimarCinema.org
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