New York State Writers Institute - Images of Russia in Hollywood

Classic Film Series, Fall 1996

IMAGES OF RUSSIA IN HOLLYWOOD
Two-Part Festival
November 8 & 15, 1996 (Fridays), 7:30 p.m., Page Hall, 135 Western Avenue

With film commentary by Diana Davies
November 8
CRIME AND PUNISHMENT

American, 1935, 88 minutes, black-and-white, 16 mm
Directed by Josef von Sternberg
Starring Tala Birell, Edward Arnold, Peter Lorre

Despite a low budget, director von Sternberg creates a fasinating Holloywood version of Dostoevsky's novel about a man haunted by a murder he committed.

and

THE SCARLET EMPRESS


American, 1934, 110 minutes, black-and-white
Directed by Josef von Sternberg
Starring Marlene Dietrich, John Lodge, Sam Jaffe

Von Sternberg tells the story of Catherine the Great and her rise to power in uniquely ornate fashion with stunning lighting and camera work and fiery Russian music. It's a visual orgy and cinematically fascinating.

November 15
NINOTCHKA

American, 1939, 100 minutes, black-and-white
Directed by Ernst Lubitsch
Starring Greta Garbo, Melvyn Douglas, Bela Llugosi

Garbo plays the title role of a Soviet envoy sent to Paris to clear up some problems with the sale of jewels from Tsarist Russia. Initially a political patriot, she finds herself falling in love with Western culture in Paris.

and

THE NORTH STAR

American, 1943, 105 minutes, black-and-white, 16 mm
Directed by Lewis Milestone
Starring Anne Baxter, Dana Andrews, Walter Huston

Scripted by Lillian Hellman, THE NORTH STAR features good performances. The dramatic battle sequences in WW2 Russia depict the outrage committed upon a peaceful people by the invading armies of Nazi Germany.

Diana Davies will provide film commentary and answer questions at each screening. Davies is a lecturer at SUNY-Binghamton where she teaches courses in Russian language, Russian and East European literature, art, culture, and film.


[an error occurred while processing this directive]