On Feature Film Production in 1943
Central Committee of the CPSU(b), Draft Resolution "On Feature Film Production in 1943". May 17, 1943
Translated by James von Geldern
Original Source: RGASPI, f. 17. op. 125. d. 213. ll. 10-11.
The CC, CPSU (b) decrees:
Set aside the thematic plan for the production of feature films for 1943 submitted by the Cinematography Committee of SNK as completely unrealistic in view of the paucity of scenarios for the majority of subjects submitted.
Allow the Cinematography Committee of SNK to produce the following films, for which scripts are prepared: "Kutuzov", "Ivan the Terrible", "Wait for Me", "Rainbow", "George Saakadze" (second series), "The Moscow Sky".
Propose to the Cinematography Committee to amend the following scripts:
a) "Ivan the Terrible." The film must show that the most important reason for intensifying the struggle for the centralization of the Russian state in XVI century, along with the growth of external danger, was its internal development, especially the rapid growth of economic ties. New segments of the population arose in connection with this (merchants, urban traders), which together with a significant sector of the nobility supported Ivan IV in the fight against the boyars.
The film should also reflect the inconsistency of Ivan IV in his fight against the nobles.
b) "Wait For Me." Show that Soviet women and girls, faithful and waiting for the return of their husbands and fiancees from the front, selflessly work to help them overcome the enemy.
c) "The Moscow Sky." Remove from the script scenes of familiarity informality in the behavior of Soviet commanders, show that in every friendly, cohesive team of Red Army soldiers relations are based on strict discipline, respect for a superior, unimpeachable obedience to all his orders.
Propose to the Cinematography Committee to rework the script for "Jambul", so that the movie the main attention is focused on the post-October period of the life and work of Jambul, the period of the social and cultural development of the Kazakh people. The film should reflect the broad participation of the Kazakh people in the Patriotic War.
Reject the scenario of "The Far Country" (by Evgenii Shvarts) as erroneous in content and completely unsatisfactory in an artistic respect.
Rework the scenario for "We from the Urals" (written by Pomeshchikov and Rozhkov), in accordance with the observations of the Propaganda Department of the Central Committee of the CPSU(b).
G. Aleksandrov
Source: Kino na voine: dokumenty i svidetel'stva, Moscow, Materik, 2008), p. 474.