SONG OF RUSSIA
US, 1944, 107 minutes, Black and white.
Robert Taylor, Susan Peters, John Hodiak, Robert Benchley.
Directed by Gregory Ratoff.
Song of Russia was made by MGM in the middle of the 40s - a propaganda movie designed to help the American audience collaborate with the Russian war effort. After suspicion in the 20s and 30s about the Soviet Union, America found itself as as an ally of the Soviet Union against the Nazis. Of course, this was to break down after the end of the war and the coming of the cold war and the Iron Curtain. At this stage such films as Song of Russia as well as Lewis Milestone's The North Star were considered idiologically unsound.
The film is a star vehicle for Robert Taylor, one of MGM's most popular stars. It was directed by emigre Gregory Rattoff. The film is idealistic in its presentation of life in the Soviet Union - happy peasants, Moscow nightclubs and cafes, plenty of singing and dancing and happy villagers etc. However, the film relies for its emotional appeal on the popularity of music which is used extensively througout the whole film.
1. Entertaining war story? Propaganda in its time? Impact in later decades? The history of American and soviet relationships?
2. MGM production values, black and white photography, stars and cast, the use of music?
3. The title, evocative of the music, Russia and its traditions?
4. The structure of the film: John Melville, his experiences in the Soviet union, the conducting of the concert, the flashbacks, his crisis - especially with Nadya? The revealing of her as his pianist at the concert?
5. The film as morale booster, propaganda, idealising of the Soviet Union? Ignoring of repression?
6. Robert Taylor as John Melville, his reputation, conducting? The playing of the American national anthem? Visit to Moscow, concerts and rehearsals. The Russian authorities? The playing of Nadya? Attraction, discussions with her request to go to the town, seeing the sights of Moscow and the collage of Moscow, the cafe? His going to the town, becoming friendly with the people of the village? The meal, the engagement, the marriage? The Russian ceremony? The outbreak of the war, Nadya returning home, his concert work, playing for the troops and their morale, his journey to the village, the interview with the officer, his being allowed to the reunion? The death of the boy? The village and their decision that Nadya should go back with him to New York? That he might tell the story of Russia in the United States?
7. Nadya, the village background, her work in the village, family? Her talent as a pianist? Trying to see John at the airport, playing for him, the discussions, the outings, falling in love? Her return to the village? Cooking the meal for him, in the village, romance, the marriage? Going back because of the war, the bombardment of the town, the decision that she go to America?
8. The people of the village, the preparation for the music festival, love of music, song and dance? The wedding? Boris, Nadya's father, the experience of the war, the committees? Pleading with John to take Nadya back to America? The patriotic tone?
9. Hank, Robert Benchley's comic style, his experience in Russia, managing interaction with the Russian officials?
10. The theme of children, music, the boys and his ambitions to play, being straffed by the Nazi plane?
11. The picture of the war, the collage of war footage? The impact of the Soviet Union? The picturing of Stalin's radio speech and its sentiments?
12. A film of its time? The blend of entertainment and propaganda?
