This black & white educational silent film is about the Bolshevik Revolution in 1917 Russia. This is part 2 of the film OCTOBER re-edited in this version and released internationally in 1928 as TEN DAYS THAT SHOOK THE WORLD. This film was directed by Grigori Aleksandrov & Sergi Eisenstein.
Opening: With General Kornilov in prison, the workers get ready to fight. The workmen of the Petrograd organize themselves into the Red Guard to keep order. The men stomp and march in place (:08-1:20). October 1917 – October 24th Vladimir Lenin returns to the Smolny after four months in hiding and takes control of the uprising on the eve of the 25th. A message is sent to the people declaring the Provisional Government is deposed as of October 25 at 10 AM. Lenin speaks. People raise their weapons. On October 25th, the cruiser “Aurora” sails in as the workers take control of the bridges after some help from the Marines. Bridges are connected (1:21-4:56). The Minister of War calls troops to the aid of the deposed government, and Cossacks and the Women’s Battalion of Death arrive. The men discuss what to do about the insurrection (4:57-7:57). Military cadets arrive to defend the Winter Palace. The Women’s Battalion of Death also assist. On the Czar’s table, the women relax (7:58-11:03). The Provisional Government drafts an appeal to the citizens attempting to reassert its legitimacy, but that evening a congress is held including delegates from all parts of the country and the Soviets are voted into power. Commissars speak. Troops on the march (11:04-13:45). People vote (13:46-16:45). People gather to listen to a speaker. With the weapons and preparations by the Military Revolutionary Committee, the Bolsheviks plan (16:46-18:56). The Bolsheviks cheer. They decide to march on the Winter Palace and demand its surrender. The people drive and walk through the streets. Winter Palace is surrounded by guards (18:57-21:31). The Bolsheviks ask for the guards to surrender. Guns aimed. A final ultimatum is given to the guards/government
(21:32-24:03). The Bolsheviks wait for a reply. At the congress, the Mensheviks appeal for a bloodless end to the conflict, depicted as “harping”, the plea falls on deaf ears (24:04-26:07). Some of the Women’s Battalion of Death surrender. A group of Soviets infiltrate the vast palace through the cellars and locate the government forces inside (26:08-29:53). Some Soviets inside the palace move around. Various factions debate the correct course of action to take (29:54-32:05).
People applaud. Men on horseback go though the streets. Doors open and close. Phones are answered and hung up (32:06-34:49). Inside the palace, Soviets move slowly (34:50-36:14). Artillery is ready outside. Soldiers wait and wait. The signal is given by a shot from the “Aurora” and the assault begins. Soviets start to storm the palace en masse and overwhelm the defending forces. Artillery is fired outside (36:15-39:19). Soviets storm the streets and the palace. Machine gun fire kills some guards who remain near the palace. People fire rifles and charge the palace. Some soldiers surrender while others are killed in the rampage (39:20-42:01). People climb the walls and gates of the Palace. Explosions outside and inside the gates. Cadets inside still protect the government. Soviets race up the Palace stairs, weapons are fired inside and outside of the palace. Soldiers fire at the intruders. In a wine cellar, gunshots break bottles of wine (42:02-45:22). Soldiers in the palace raid the palace for valuables. Some surrender, only to have their pockets turned out by the Soviets once they have given up (45:23-47:47). A crowd charges the remaining guards. People loot the palace (47:48-49:16). The wine cellar is looted and smashed. Soviets beat down the door to the Provisional Government’s chambers and arrest the government members. Rifles held high in celebration
(49:17-51:20). Vladimir Antonov-Ovseyenko drafts a formal statement declaring the Provisional Government deposed. Clocks around the world are shown marking the time of the revolution’s success as the Soviets cheer ‘Lenin!’ (51:21-52:54). End credits (52:55-52:57).
