Soviet cinema
Archival documents from RGALI, 1923-1935
Descriptive Summary | ||
| Creator: | Sovkino | |
| Title: | Soviet cinema : archival documents from RGALI, 1923-1935 | |
| Dates (inclusive): | 1923-1935 | |
| Abstract: | The archive contains materials providing information on the activities of the Soviet film company Sovkino and its relations with various other companies in the film industry, both in the Soviet Union and abroad, between 1923 and 1935. | |
| Languages: | Materials predominantly in Russian, occasionally in other European languages. | |
| Extent: | 64 archival files; 8 microfilm reels; digital images available in Primary Sources Online (www.primarysourcesonline.nl) | |
| Order no.: | SCA-1 | |
Location of Originals
Russian State Archive of Literature and Art (RGALI)
History note
The film industry in Soviet Russia experienced a formative period in the 1920s and 1930s, when its rapid growth and mastery of talking pictures attracted authorities' attention to the unique industry's potential as a powerful ideological tool. VFKO (the All-Russian Film Department of Narkompros) led the newly-nationalized film industry in 1919, and was replaced by Goskino in 1922 and Sovkino in 1924. Sovkino helped strengthen ideological control over filmmaking by introducing censorship of screenplays and instituting rules for film reviews in central media. Sovkino was also given a monopoly on importing foreign films to the USSR.
Despite the Party's efforts to force filmmakers into a Bolshevik, proletarian mold, during NEP the government was unable to single-handedly finance all film production and distribution. State film organizations were forced to continually maneuver between ideology and the market. In 1928-1929, the country began transitioning from NEP-style liberalism to a hard-line, totalitarian system of social relations, which radically changed the system for managing the film industry. A number of resolutions were passed to shut down entertainment films and expand the production of propaganda films. The USSR Kinokomitet was established in 1929 and later reorganized as Soiuzkino. Sovkino ceased to exist in 1930 and its functions were transferred to the new agency. Soiuzkino was put in charge of studios, distribution centers, part of the cinema circuit, factories, the fotokhimtresty, etc. Cinematography was becoming the most controlled of the arts.
Scope and Content
The collection contains administrative, personnel and financial records, transcripts of meetings, statistical reports, documents related to film export, film import, and film production, reviews, film repertoire, etc. The list and contents of the documents in this collection is shaped by the fact that Soviet cinematography was the target of focused official policies. In the pipeline from the state to the film industry, the role of intermediary was assigned to a system of institutions charged with management functions.
Organization and Arrangement
The archive consists of 1 fond, which in its turn consists of 3 opisi, divided into 63 archival files.
Access Restrictions
One file (opis' 1, file no. 24) could not be filmed due to the physical condition it was found in.
Selected Search Terms | ||
| Organizations | ||
| Sovkino. | ||
| Topics | ||
| Communism and motion pictures--Soviet Union. | ||
| Motion picture studios--Soviet Union. | ||
| Motion pictures--Distribution. | ||
| Motion pictures--Soviet Union. | ||
Indexes
The following persons, organizations and geographical areas are mentioned in the container list of this finding aid:
Persons
- Eisenstein, Sergei, 1898-1948.
- Ėrmler, Fridrikh, 1898-1967.
- Gol′denveĭzer, L. V.
- Nezhdanov, L.
- Nikanorov, Mikhail Konstantinovich.
- Onė, M. IA.
- Rafes, M. G. (Moiseĭ Grigor′evich), b. 1833.
Organizations
- Belgoskino.
- Celtic-cinéma.
- Consorzio italiano per il commercio estero.
- Filmwerke Staaken AG.
- Gosvoenkino.
- Intorgkino.
- Kino-fabrika "Soiuzkino".
- Lumière Pictures (Firm)
- Mezhrabpom-fil′m.
- Mezhrabpom-Rus′.
- Organizatsionnyĭ komitet "Spartakiady".
- Moskovskaia rabochaia kinokonferentsiia (1st : 1929)
- Produits photographiques et plastiques "Prophopla", S.A.
- Russian S.F.S.R. Glavnyĭ repertuarnyĭ komitet.
- Russian S.F.S.R. Narodnyĭ komissariat raboche-krest′ianskoĭ inspektsii.
- Russian S.F.S.R. Vysshiĭ sovet narodnogo khoziaĭstva. Fotokinotrest.
- Severo-zapadnoe oblastnoe upravlenie po delam fotografii i kinematografii.
- Shostkinskiĭ zavod no. 9.
- Sibgoskino.
- Società Anonima Commerciale Italo-Russa (S.A.C.I.R.)
- Soviet Union. Glavnoe upravlenie kino-fotopromyshlennosti.
- Soviet Union. Gosudarstvennyĭ komitet po kinematografii.
- Soviet Union. Gosudarstvennyĭ komitet po kinematografii. 1-ia kinofabrika.
- Soviet Union. Narodnyĭ komissariat legkoĭ promyshlennosti.
- Soviet Union. Narodnyĭ komissariat vneshneĭ torgovli.
- Soviet Union. Raboche-Krest′ianskaia Krasnaia Armiia. General′nyĭ shtab. Voenno-topograficheskoe upravlenie.
- Soviet Union. Revoliutsionnyĭ voennyĭ sovet.
- Soviet Union. Sovet narodnykh komissarov. Glavnyĭ kontsessionnyĭ komitet.
- Soviet Union. Trade Delegation (France)
- Soviet Union. Trade Delegation (Germany)
- Soviet Union. Trade Delegation (Italy)
- Soviet Union. Voenno-khimicheskiĭ trest.
- Soviet Union. Vysshiĭ sovet narodnogo khoziaĭstva. Glavnyĭ kontsessionnyĭ komitet.
- Sovkino.
- Sovkino. Khudozhestvennyĭ sovet.
- Sovkino. Leningradskoe oblastnoe otdelenie.
- Sovkino. Moskovskaia fabrika. Khudozhestvennoe biuro.
- Sovkino. 1-ia fabrika. Biuro Ob″edineniia rabotnikov ucheta.
- Sovkino. 3-ia fabrika.
- Trest "Kinomekhprom".
- Trest "Soiuzfil′m".
- Trest "Soiuztekhfil′m".
- TSentral′naia komissiia po inventarizatsii fabrik "Sovkino".
- TSK VKP(b)
- TSK VKP(b). Orgbiuro.
- T-vo "Proletkino".
- T-vo "Proletkino". Samarskoe otdelenie.
- Uzbekgoskino.
- Vsesoiuznyĭ leninskiĭ kommunisticheskiĭ soiuz molodezhi. TSentral′nyĭ komitet. Severo-zapadnoe oblastnoe biuro.
- VUFKU (Firm)
Geographic Areas
- Austria.
- England.
- France.
- Germany.
- Italy.
- Latvia.
- Moscow.
- Poland.
- Shostka.
- United States.