Red Hollywood: The Musicals of
Grigori Alexandrov and Lubov Orlova

In the 1930s, Stalin ordered the production of a great body of popular films to lift the spirits of workers and peasants as they built a bright Communist future. The man responsible for creating Stalin's musical extravaganzas was Grigori Alexandrov, but the woman responsible for their wild success was his wife, Lubov Orlova. Russia's answer to Marion Davies, Ginger Rogers, and Mary Pickford, Orlova broke all box office records in the late 1930s—but first she captivated Stalin himself by becoming a shining star of "Red Hollywood." Co-presented by Seagull Films and the Film Society of Lincoln Center in association with Mosfilm Studio. Curated by Richard Peña, produced by Alla Verlotsky. Special thanks to Karen Shakhnazarov. Co-sponsored by CREECA.

Saturday, October 3, 7:30 p.m. Jolly Fellows (Vesyolye rebyata) Russia, 1934, 35mm, b/w, 96 min. In Russian with English Subtitles Directed by Grigori Alexandrov With Lubov Orlova, Mariya Strelkova, Leonid Utyosov Yelena (Strelkova), an ambitious but untalented singer, mistakes Kostya (Leonid Utyosov), a simple shepherd, for a famous jazz band leader. Kostya readily accepts when she invites him to a swank get-together, but instead of a saxophone, he brings along his pan-pipes—as well as most of the animals from his nearby farm. All is not lost: Yelena's long-suffering servant (Orlova) happens to be a terrific singer. An enormous success, the film transformed Utyosov and especially Orlova into the first Soviet movie stars. Back to top
Saturday, October 10, 7:30 p.m. The Circus (Tsirk) Russia, 1936, 35mm, b/w, 94 min. In Russian with English Subtitles Directed by Grigori Alexandrov With Lubov Orlova, Vladimir Volodi, Yevgeniya Melnikova Orlova stars as Marion Dixon, an American star who takes refuge in a European circus in the wake of a mysterious scandal. After she falls for a Soviet gymnast, the circus manager tries to blackmail her—but is thwarted by an outpouring of love and tolerance from Stalin's people. The Circus features Busby Berkeley style choreography, death-defying stunts, an evil Chaplin, and perhaps the strangest racial politics you will ever see in a big-budget 1930s production. Back to top
Saturday, October 17, 7:30 p.m. Volga, Volga Russia, 1938, 35mm, b/w, 106 min. In Russian with English Subtitles Directed by Grigori Alexandrov With Lubov Orlova, Igor Ilinksy, Vladimir Volodi This is it: Stalin's favorite film. And about this film, anyway, he was right—though it was made at the height of Stalinist repression, it easily ranks among the best musicals of all time. Buoyant Orlova plays alongside Soviet star Igor Ilinsky (a Meyerhold veteran) in a race up the Volga River to teach high-minded bureaucrats a little something about the people's theater. Back to top
Saturday, October 24, 7:30 p.m. The Shining Path (Svetlyy put) Russia, 1940, 35mm, b/w, 102 min. In Russian with English Subtitles Directed by Grigori Alexandrov With Lubov Orlova, Yevgeni Samojlov, Vladimir Volodi In a socialist Cinderella story, humble textile factory worker Tanya Morozova (Orlova) wins the highest Soviet medal, the Order of Lenin, and ascends the Party ladder. Made at the pinnacle of Orlova's career, The Shining Path weds extra-overt ideology to extra-spectacular musical numbers: watch and enjoy as Tanya personally operates 150 looms... singing all the while. Back to top