Stalin: The Television Movie

Theatrical poster for Stalin (1992)

As part of a homework for my GCSE History research into Stalin's reign of the USSR, my teacher suggested that I watch the 1992 film Stalin, starring Robert Duvall (who also played Tom Hagen in The Godfather). Initially, I was apprehensive about watching the film, due to the fact that often, when a film is made about a historical figure, it is inaccurate. However, in watching Stalin, this was not the case.

The film, which has entirely superb acting throughout, begins at the time of the abdicating of Russian Tsar Nicholas II, during the time of the Russian Empire. After the Tsar falls, the Bolshevik Communist Party - of which Stalin, then known as Koba, was a member - takes control of Russia from the Provisional Government through the March (or November, dependant on which calendar you judge it by) Revolution.

Over the course of 2 hours and 52 minutes, Stalin tells the story of how the young revolutionary Koba becomes the Supreme Leader of the Soviet Leader Joseph Stalin. With surprising accuracy, the film portrays the appalling crimes of Stalin against his own people, the unwavering loyalty of his people, the horror of the German Invasion of Russia and more. Most shockingly, the film displays the unique relationship between Stalin and his second wife, Nadezhda Alliluyeva right up to the point of her suicide.

Robert Duvall as Joseph Stalin

Perhaps what is most amazing about Stalin is the scope of the filmmaking involved. Filming took place in Budapest and Hungary. Additional filming was completed in Moscow, Russia and the cast and crew were given extraordinary access to buildings within the Kremlin, due to the collapse of the USSR.

In the role of Joseph Stalin, Robert Duvall was instrumental. His emotional range was supreme, he always stole the scene and definitely looked the part. He managed to slip into the Russian accent, even if he struggled slightly to emulate Stalin's natural Georgian twang.
Duvall's chemistry with Julia Ormand (who played Nadezhda Alliluyeva) was unique, when they were in a scene together, they worked as if they were symbiotic. Duvall and Ormand mastered the complex and, later, disturbed relationship between Stalin and Alliluyeva. The relationship of a ruthless dictator and his horrified wife, who would later be driven to suicide.

Special mention must be given to the late Maximilian Schell as revolutionary leader Vladimir Lenin and David Massey as Stalin's nemesis, Leon Trotsky. They, as with most of the cast, embodied their roles incredibly well, even if they were not prevalent in much of the film.

Joseph Stalin

Primarily, the films focus was on the behaviour of Stalin and the after effects of his often harsh decisions. It depicts the evolution, the transformation of the young Koba into the fearsome Stalin.

The part of the film that stuck in my mind most of all was the section depicting the Nazi invasion of Russia. In stark detail, it contrasted Stalin's inept approach to the Nazi attack, while the supporting cast displayed perfectly the bumbling politicians and generals who refused to lift a finger without the divine permission of Stalin. It showed Stalin's ten day disappearance and his subsequent nervous breakdown, during the period of which the entirety of the government and military failed to react to the German invasion. What this section of the film showed perfectly was the USSR's utter devotion to their "Supreme Leader." It was an ideal illustration of just how terrified those who knew of Stalin's crimes were of the man himself and just how devoted the Russian citizens who'd been subjected to his propaganda were.

Stalin received many awards, with Robert Duvall bagging the Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Miniseries or Television Film. Meanwhile, Maximillian Schell received Best Supporting Actor and Julia Ormand snagged Best Supporting Actress. Stalin also received four Primetime Emmy Awards.

If you wish to watch the film on Youtube, I shall post the video below