Kutuzov 1943 / Kutusov / Kutusow 1944 / 1812 (English subtitles)

Originally titled Kutuzov, this Russian historical epic re-creates in meticulous detail the Russo-Napoleonic war of the early 19th century. As Napoleon Bonaparte (Semen Mezhinsky) lays siege against Russia, dashing Prince Kutuzov (Alexei Dikiy) mounts a courageous counteroffensive. In a parallel development, Prince Bagration (S. Zakariadze) leads a secondary military unit near Moscow, becoming a martyr to the cause in the process. The film was clearly designed as a plea for the opening of an Allied second front against Hitler in the Soviet Union of 1944 -- and seldom has propaganda been presented in so vivid and entertaining a fashion. Reportedly, director Vladimir Petrov, whose other works include the multi-part Peter the First and Battle of Stalingrad, based his camera compositions in 1812 on contemporary paintings and engravings of the actual conflict. The film covers all the main episodes of the Patriotic war of 1812: the invasion of Napoleon in Russia the battle of Borodino, the fire of Moscow, Ta