Behind the Iron Curtain

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Date
1957
Summary
Footage of Bailey's trip across the Soviet Empire in 1957 offering a rich depiction of life under Soviet rule. Features many street scenes capturing local culture in the former Soviet Union, Ukraine, Warsaw, and East Berlin. Numerous depictions of Lenin, in commemorative art, can be seen throughout. The film focuses both on large cities and rural landscapes, where women notably join men in performing hard labor in the fields. Bailey documented trips to many landmarks ; in Leningrad, this includes the Winter Palace, Admirality Tower, Senate Square, Alexander Column, and Peterhof Palace ; in Kiev, the National Opera, St. Sophia's Cathedral, and the Verkhovna Rada building ; in Moscow, the Bolshoi Theatre, Cathedral Square, Red Square, St. Basil's Cathedral, the Grand Kremlin Palace, and many examples of Stalinist architecture ; in Warsaw, the Ghetto Heroes Monument and stone reliefs of workers on Marszałkowska street ; in Berlin, the ruins of the Reichstag, St. Hedwig's Cathedral, and a monument to Soviet soldiers in World War II. The specter of the war lingers throughout as many cities still sport heavy damage from bombing - particularly Berlin and Stalingrad.
Contributor
Bernadine Bailey
Genres
Travelogue; Historical
Subjects
Amateur films; Travelogues (Motion pictures); Soviet Union--Description and travel; Ukraine--Description and travel; Warsaw (Poland)--Description and travel; Berlin (Germany)--Description and travel; Former communist countries
Locations
Leningrad, Soviet Union; Rostov-on-Don, Russia; Warsaw, Poland; St. Petersburg, Russia; Stalingrad, Soviet Union; Berlin, Germany; Kharkov, Ukraine; Volvograd, Russia; Kiev, Ukraine; Moscow, Russia
Collection
Bernadine Bailey Collection
Unit
IUL Moving Image Archive
Physical Description
1 Film (0:00:00); 16mm
Other Identifiers
IULMIA Film Database: 40000003227511; Other: GR00439823; MDPI Barcode: 40000003227511

Access Restrictions

This item is accessible by: the public.