• Rating:
• Genre: Drama
• Movie Type: Period Film, Film a Clef
• Themes: Political Unrest, Fall From Power
• Director: Josef von Sternberg
• Main Cast: Emil Jannings, Emil Jannings, Evelyn Brent, William Powell, Nicholas Soussanin, Michael Visaroff
• Release Year: 1928
• Country: US
• Run Time: 88 minutes

Plot

Josef vonSternberg's The Last Command was inspired by the true story of General Lodijenski, a Russian aristocrat who arrived penniless in the US after the 1917 Revolution and who supported himself by playing movie bit parts and managing a Russian restaurant. Emil Jannings stars as the Grand Duke Sergius Alexander, who in the last days of the Romanoff regime must decide the fate of two revolutionist actors, Leo Andreyev (William Powell) and the gorgeous Natacha (Evelyn Brent). Andreyev is carted off to prison, while Natacha becomes the Duke's mistress. She fully intends to kill him, but when the chance arises, she hesitates, having come to realize that the Duke is an essentially decent man who loves Russia as much as she does. Comes the revolution, and Natacha helps the Grand Duke escape the Bolsheviks, losing her own life in the process. The death of Natacha sends Sergius Alexander into a nervous shock, from which he never fully recovers. Years later, a shabby Sergius is eking out an existence as a Hollywood extra. Hired to play a Russian general in a crowd scene, Sergius discovers that his director is none other than former Russian revolutionary Leo Andreyev. The meaning of the title is clarified in the film's emotional climax. Plot inconsistencies aside, The Last Command is a stunning cinematic achievement, combining the harsh realities of Russia and Hollywood with vonSternberg's unerring sense of visual beauty. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Review

Josef von Sternberg's films are known for their sumptuous atmosphere; his evocative lighting and shadows made Marlene Dietrich a sex symbol for the ages. Though some critics find his films to be inconsequential exercises in style, 1928's The Last Command demonstrated that he was capable of more. The picture features his typically stunning photography, but, in this case, the plot and performances are equally interesting. Much of the credit for the film's lasting impact goes to venerable German actor Emil Jannings. In the kind of "fallen man" role that he was known for (as in The Last Laugh and von Sternberg's later The Blue Angel), Jannings' gift for forlorn tragedy matches the movie's perceptions about the cruelty of life. He won the first-ever Academy Award for Best Actor for this part, as well as for his role in The Way of All Flesh. The glory was short-lived, as his heavy German accent hindered his career in Hollywood talkies. ~ Brendon Hanley, All Movie Guide

Cast

• Emil Jannings - Gen. Dolgorucki
• Emil Jannings - Grand Duke Sergius Alexander
• Evelyn Brent - Natascha Dobrow
• William Powell - Leo Andreiev
• Nicholas Soussanin - Adjutant
• Michael Visaroff - Serge the Valet

Fritz Feld - A Revolutionist
Alexander Ikonnikov - Drillmaster
Nicholas Kobylianmky - Diillmaster
Gen. Wietshelav Savitsky - A Private
Harry Semels - Soldier Extra
Jack Raymond - Assistant Director

Credit

Hans Dreier - Art Director; Hans Dreier - Set Designer; Bert Glennon - Cinematographer; John F. Goodrich - Screenwriter; Jesse Lasky - Producer; Herman Mankiewicz - Intertitle Writer; B.P. Schulberg - Associate Producer; William Shea - Editor; Josef von Sternberg - Director; Adolph Zukor - Producer; Lajos Biro - Screenwriter

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