Review of The Battle of Stalingrad (1949)

Thu, 05 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The Battle of Stalingrad portrays the Eastern Front of World War 2 in a charming operatic style, centering the drama of the battle upon the key personalities of Stalin, Chuikov, Hitler, and Paulus, along with an array of supporting characters. The main focus is, of course, put on Stalin, endearingly called Josef Vissarionovich by his officers throughout the film.

The pacing of the film is fantastic. I particularly enjoyed how they portrayed the outset of Operation Uranus, with fast cuts between intense artillery barrages, the valiantly advancing Soviet army, the shattered German and Romanian forces, and the tense scenes of the German and Russian headquarters. The German headquarters are frantic and the officers worried, while the Russian officers are cool headed, foreseeing the German response in advance. The Russian officers are shown to be quick thinking and cunning, working to make sure that the German troops meet their doom in Stalingrad, cutting off every attempt they make to withdraw.

For the Grain Elevator

Tue, 11 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000

I think about your marvelous stature, your towering windows, how they overlook the southern railway station and the canning factory. How, from your heights, one can overlook the southern neighborhoods past the Yelshanka river.

And how from your windows, men crowd, intently watching the horizon. From your heights, the barrels of many machine guns simultaneously spew hot lead angrily across the steppe, as voices in a choir, their bullets scattering the many who ardently gaze in admiration, looking up in awe, death shining down as rays from the sun which fall from heaven between the crevices of the clouds. The men cower in the face of your divine posture, fearing the heavy blows which it rains from above.

Historical on DELI ISLAND

Review of The Battle of Stalingrad (1949)

For the Grain Elevator