Another cinema masterpiece out of the Russian studios has its first showing in Boston this week at the Fine Arts Theatre. The film, "Storm over Asia," directed by Vsevold Pudovkin, whose great production, "The End of St. Petersburg" will be remembered, is a tale of the racial revolution in 1918 which took place against the Occupation Forces on the Mongolian steppes.
In order, that the praise which must be showered on this production be tempered, it should be stated that it is not the equal of Pudovkin's earlier film. Only in the tremendous climax and several scattered moments does it attain the heights of the symphonic flow of visual imagery which was maintained through out "The End of St. Petersburg."
It is the tale of a Mongol fur hunter, who after being cheated by a wealthy trader, turns rebel, becomes the leader of the revolutionary forces, and is finally captured and shot. In his posession is an ancient silken document stating that he is the direct descendent of Ghengis Khan. He is rescued by the men who shot him, brought back to health, and dressed up as a prince in order that his people will ally themselves with their former enemies. In the end, one of his people is shot at his feet, he runs amok, and is shown at the close, sweeping over the plains at the head of his Mongol tribesmen.
Pudovkin, as usual, uses real tribesmen and takes the picture in their own country. Verbum sat, Scenery, photography, the stupidity and primitive living conditions of the people, the power, of irresistible forces, and all the possibilities of portraying the struggle of massed human beings, are used to the utmost.
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