Stalin | |
---|---|
Genre | Biographical drama Political drama Political thriller |
Written by | Paul Monash |
Directed by | Ivan Passer |
Starring | Robert Duvall Julia Ormond Joan Plowright Jeroen Krabbé |
Theme music composer | Stanisław Syrewicz |
Country of origin | United States |
Original language | English |
Production | |
Producer | Mark Carliner |
Production locations | Moscow Budapest |
Cinematography | Vilmos Zsigmond |
Editor | Peter Davies |
Running time | 172 minutes |
Production company | HBO Pictures |
Budget | 10 million[1][2] |
Original release | |
Network | HBO |
Release | November 21, 1992 |
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Stalin is a 1992 American political drama television film starring Robert Duvall as Soviet leader Joseph Stalin. Produced by HBO and directed by Ivan Passer, it tells the story of Stalin's rise to power until his death and spans the period from 1917 to 1953. Owing to Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev's policies of glasnost and perestroika, producer Mark Carliner was able to receive permission to film in the Kremlin, becoming the first feature film to do so.
Filming was done in Budapest and the Soviet Union with extraordinary access to Soviet historic sites in the weeks before its dissolution. Although the film was almost entirely shot on location and producer Mark Carliner insisted that the film "reflect the truth", several scholars and historians commented that the film focused less on history and more on Stalin's character. This was seen as a flaw by many film critics, while still praising Robert Duvall's performance as Stalin. Julia Ormond's portrayal of Nadezhda Alliluyeva and Vilmos Zsigmond's camera work were also singled out for praise.
The film received several accolades, including four Primetime Emmy Awards (including Outstanding Made for Television Movie) and three Golden Globe Awards.