Armed Forces Screen Report issue Number 131, “The Soviet Union and Its People” (1951) is a black-and-white military training film to educated Armed Forces personnel about the Soviet Union, its people, political system, and goals. Although the language in the film is not as harsh as that used later in the conflict, it does indicate the increasing level of alarm that follows the USSR’s detonation of an atomic bomb in 1949.
Film opens, title page, emblem of United States Army (0:08). Map of world highlighting the U.S.S.R. (“Russia”) and the United States (0:38). To emphasize sheer size of territory, outlines of United States are fit within country on map (0:56). Diversity in scenery, climate, terrain across territory: Mountains, arid fields, snow (1:06). Ships traveling along Volga River, Amur River (1:17). Shepherd herds sheep through snow-covered peaks of Caucus Mountains (1:27). Homes of what appear to be nomadic farmers set up tents in low lands stretching from Urals into Siberia (1:37). Horses pull carts through snow-covered ground in sub-arctic cold temperatures (1:49). Women tend to field in blistering summer heat wearing bras, shorts (1:53). Plethora of natural resources: Coal reserves, oil field, cotton fields, women sift through cultivated wheat, lumber, water power – dams (2:01). Ethnic diversity, 150 races and nationalities; Montage various ethnic groups in traditional dress (2:38). Ethnic majorities in large cities: Slavs, Great Russians, Ukrainians, Belarusians (3:03). Montage isolated, largely undeveloped vast plains and steppes, nomadic shepherds (3:28). Re-enactment of fighting perhaps Great Northern War 18th Century (3:44). Soviet Invasion of Poland, Winter War Finland (3:56). Greek Orthodox faith in Russia, Saint Basil’s Cathedral (4:03). Mogul Invasion, portrait Genghis Khan, map highlighting path of Mongol conquest “Mongol Yoke” (4:17). Tsar Ivan III (4:37). Peter the Great (4:40). Catherine the Great (4:42). Tsar Alexander I (4:46). Tsar Nicholas II (4:50). Reenactment of lavish life at royal court among Tsars contrasted with footage of Russian peasant village (4:53). Close-up of Stalin sitting at table during what appears to be meeting of Congress of Communist Party (5:20). Montage scenes Russian men, women working in factories in field; Visits from bureaucrats and political officers (5:33). Low standard of living: Emaciated looking man pushes cart with children, women hunched over chopping vegetables (5:51). Propaganda machine, limited freedom of expression, censorship (6:05). Election: Montage people casting ballots, large posters of Stalin, Lenin decorate walls (6:23). Stalin, other Soviet leaders stand on balcony of Kremlin overlooking perhaps May Day Parade 1949 on Red Square (6:48). Contradictory life of political elites wearing latest fashions, fine dining vs. peasant going to shop for rationed portion of bread (7:36). Forced industrialization, Stalin’s Five Year Plan; Montage shots of various factories, adults studying at educational facilities (8:11). Aerial view Red Square: St. Basil’s, State Historical Museum (9:08). Moscow Metro system contrasted with railroad system, underdeveloped roads with flooding (9:34). Battle footage from WWII Red Army, Russian Ski Troops, soldiers killed in battle (10:37). Russian climate and terrain: Camels graze in field, endless steppes, long grim winter farmers working in icy conditions, spring time rain and mud (11:17). Harsh weather conditions also in the city, shots of industrialized factories and museums in cities (12:29). Art and Culture: Drama, opera, ballet, crowds gather around man with accordion form dance circle, music of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (13:08). Rural people gather in similar dance circles wearing folk dress, brass band live music (14:07). Church bells ring, camera pans facade of St. Basil’s Cathedral, interior of orthodox church and churchgoers performing communion (14:29). The people of the Soviet Union, state-controlled media and propaganda (14:46). Russian Revolution/ Bolshevik Revolution, toppling of monuments (16:28). Portrait of Stalin fades, montage portraits of every day “Russian” across walks of life (16:56). Closing credits, film ends (17:34).
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