Moscow's MAY DAY Celebration 1949 DVD - Stalin Agfa Color

Staged amidst intensifying Cold War hostilities, Moscow’s 1949 May Day events were designed as a grand theatrical showcase of Soviet power and resolve – and then captured in this blockbuster Soviet production, involving no less than 25 cameramen working with precious color stock and rush-released into Soviet theaters three weeks later. As Stalin and his inner circle look on, a spectacular military procession unfolds across Red Square, punctuated by squadrons of Soviet planes – including early MiG jet fighters – flying overhead; the purpose of this awesome display is underscored by keynote speaker Marshall A.M. Vasilevskiy, who warns of a “new world war” being unleashed by “American reactionaries.” Parading Muscovites – some 1.25 million reportedly took part – follow; some break into folk dancing, prompting Stalin to clap and smile. As darkness falls, Moscow is reborn as a gaudily lit amusement park, with spectacular fireworks and revelry deep into the night (reportedly 2,000 art groups and 50 “brigades of theater, circus and vaudeville artists” were engaged). Noteworthy too are the film’s extensive glimpses of Stalin’s inner circle (Beria, Malenkov, and Molotov’s murderous infighting was in full swing at the time); several striking camera angles onto iconic Red Square; a heroic appearance from Vasily Iosofovich Stalin, Stalin’s soon-to-be-disgraced son, as well as cameos of Trofim Lysenko, Stalin’s high priest of the sciences, and legendary aircraft designer Artyom Ivanovich Mikoyan. Several color sequences from Moscow’s factories, hailing the heroes of Socialist Competition, add another dimension to this singular look at late Stalinism in all its excess and delirium.

USSR, 1949, Color, 52 minutes, Russian narration with English Subtitles.

NOTE: Utilizing state-of-the-art scanning technology, 95% of the color footage from the original 35mm Agfa color negative has been remarkably preserved in the highest quality. Some scenes that were deemed beyond restoration have been substituted with sepia-tone footage. This previously inaccessible footage, banned for its portrayal of Stalin, has been digitally restored, resulting in a surreal visual expedition through time.

NTSC Region 0 encoding (Entire World)