BATTLESHIP POTEMKIN, THE

(December 1926, U.S.)

We've finally reached a milestone on my blog. This is the first silent film from my film collection that I'm discussing, and it's a hell of a way to start. If you're one of those individuals who can single out "essentials" when it comes to films (like I can), then THE BATTLESHIP POTEMKIN is undenyably one of the essential silent of films of cinematic history.

I have to confess, though, when I first saw this film only a few years ago, it was for one reason only, and that was to see the famous Odessa Staircase sequence which would later influence a sequence just as infamous in Brian DePalma's THE UNTOUCHABLES (1987). However, the entire film blew me away. For those of you who aren't familiar with the film, it presents a dramatised version of the mutiny that occurred in 1905 when the crew of the Russian battleship Potemkin rebelled against their officers of the Tsarist regime. Director Sergei Eisenstein wrote the film as a revolutionary propaganda film, but also used it to test his theories of "montage". The revolutionary Soviet filmmakers of the Kuleshov school of filmmaking were experimenting with the effect of film editing on audiences, and Eisenstein attempted to edit the film in such a way as to produce the greatest emotional response, so that the viewer would feel sympathy for the rebellious sailors of the Battleship Potemkin and hatred for their cruel overlords. In the manner of most propaganda, the characterization is simple, so that the audience could clearly see with whom they should sympathize. These tests prove very effective. During the uprising, there are moments of shocking violence that one can find disturbing even by today's stanards of film violence, particularly the baby carriage rolling down the staircase during the massacre. I actually found myself muttering, "Oh, my God." under my breath.

Let me end this by saying that for those of you who may not have given silent films their fair share of patience and tolerance, you're missing out on some great films.

Favorite line or dialogue:

???

To be perfectly honest, it's my humble opinion that silent films have never been known for their outstanding dialogue. They serve their rightful purpose to tie the story together, but it's primarily a visual experience. However, there is one line in the film that stands out in my head, but not because it's so great, it's because it's so ridiculous! During the Odessa massacre when the Russian soldiers are shooting at the citizens, one of them (the citizens) says, "Let's go and talk them out of it!"

Yeah, right! You're being shot at by Russian soldiers and the first thing you think of is that you can march back up the steps and "talk them out of it". No, I don't think so.