Battleship Potemkin (1925)

Directed by Sergei Eisenstein; script by Sergei Eisenstein and Nina Agadzhanova; camera by Eduard Tisse; movie poster by Anton Lavinsky.

This historical and revolutionary epic is based on the mutiny of the sailors of the Black Sea Fleet on board the Prince Potemkin of Tauridia in June 1905.

Russia is swept by revolution. The leaders of the revolutionary network in the Russian Navy command sailors Matyushenko and Vakulinchuk to prepare an armed uprising. On 14 June 1905, the sailors are served rotten meat, which they refuse to eat. This is the signal for a general uprising. The sailors throw the officers overboard and Vakulinchuk is shot in the struggle. His body is taken ashore and his funeral leads to an outbreak of disorders in the port of Odessa. The local workers descend the famous Odessa steps to pay their respects to the sailor and demonstrate their solidarity. A line of soldiers suddenly appears at the top of the steps and opens fire on the workers, killing women and children. The battleship opens fire on the soldiers. The revolutionaries are joined by the sailors of the admiral’s squadron, set to quell the rebellion. The Battleship Potemkin passes through the squadron without a single shot being fired, a red flag flying from its truck. The sound track was made in 1930 and again in 1950.