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Arsenal

Play trailer Poster for Arsenal 1929 1h 15m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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83% Tomatometer 12 Reviews 73% Popcornmeter 250+ Ratings
A montage of images depicts the social upheaval in Russia following World War I leading to the Russian Revolution.

Critics Reviews

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Mordaunt Hall New York Times 03/25/2006
2/5
Although one is impelled to be in thorough sympathy with its argument against war, one cannot but help feeling that one-fourth of the footage of this production would be ample for one sitting. Go to Full Review
Jonathan Rosenbaum Chicago Reader 03/13/2003
More clearly influenced by Sergei Eisenstein than any of Dovzhenko's other pictures, it's certainly the one that uses fast editing in the most exciting fashion. Go to Full Review
Michael Wilmington Chicago Tribune 06/13/2002
4/4
Represents the summit of Soviet cinema and remains one of the most poetic and visually beautiful of all Russian films. Go to Full Review
Alexander Bakshy The Nation 03/01/2022
The picture as a whole is an amazing performance, no less rich in its technical resourcefulness than in its dramatic sense of human character; and it is splendidly acted. Go to Full Review
Kenneth Macpherson Close Up 03/01/2022
Its greatness is its restraint, its subjectivity, the innovations of technique, its distinguished and poetic horizons. Go to Full Review
Film Daily Staff The Film Daily 02/01/2021
The camera angles are often unique and very well handled, but they are thrown in so loosely that they lose most of their value. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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09/08/2019 Quite confusing plot but great photography. See more 08/04/2014 Most film buffs know who Sergei Eisenstein is and how he's such an important figure in the history of world cinema. Less of them know who Alexander Dovzhenko is which is a pity because I think they deserve to be mentioned in the same breath more often. I've seen "Earth" but not for a long time. After seeing this today, I think it's due for a revisit. The copy I viewed didn't have English inter-titles nor did it have subtitles either but you almost don't need since you can basically get the gist of it. This one is about an uprising of workers and the Bolshevik army in one chapter of the Russian Civil War. The cinematography and the editing of this film simply breathtaking. I also have to say, Dovzhenko has more nuance than Eisenstein who, while technically brilliant, is way RAH-RAH-RAH! with his war pictures. Dovzhenko manages to allow a bit of humanity and grey areas seep in. Man, those faces are haunting! See more 12/30/2013 Another montage crazy film by the Russians here. Instead of Eisenstein laying it on thick, we have Alexander Dovzshenko getting into the act with 'Arsenal'. A film about, yes, the oppression of the people against the state! Instead of the Russians, this time we the Ukrainians becoming oppressed. Mainly set in a arsenal factory (!!) the people fight the threat of Government interference! Set to a frenetic score, Arsenal sure must have kept the editors busy with many crazy jump cuts going at a frenetic pace. What does it all mean? Not 100% sure, as some of the obvious symbolism just flew right by me. It's an OK movie if you're into that sort of stuff. (You know who you are). See more 11/23/2013 fast editing in this quickie See more 10/23/2011 Powerfully made, but it grows tiresome. See more bill t @Spuzz 05/10/2011 Another montage crazy film by the Russians here. Instead of Eisenstein laying it on thick, we have Alexander Dovzshenko getting into the act with 'Arsenal'. A film about, yes, the oppression of the people against the state! Instead of the Russians, this time we the Ukrainians becoming oppressed. Mainly set in a arsenal factory (!!) the people fight the threat of Government interference! Set to a frenetic score, Arsenal sure must have kept the editors busy with many crazy jump cuts going at a frenetic pace. What does it all mean? Not 100% sure, as some of the obvious symbolism just flew right by me. It's an OK movie if you're into that sort of stuff. (You know who you are). See more Read all reviews
Arsenal

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Movie Info

Synopsis A montage of images depicts the social upheaval in Russia following World War I leading to the Russian Revolution.
Director
Aleksandr Dovzhenko
Producer
Aleksandr Dovzhenko
Screenwriter
Aleksandr Dovzhenko
Distributor
Amkino Corporation, LS Video
Genre
Drama
Release Date (Theaters)
Nov 9, 1929, Wide
Release Date (DVD)
Feb 18, 2003
Runtime
1h 15m