Peter the Great

"Peter the Great" is a Soviet two-part historical and biographical film, filmed at the Lenfilm studio by director Vladimir Petrov, dedicated to the life and work of the Russian Emperor Peter I.

Plot
A historical film about the life and state activities of the 18th century Russian reformer Tsar Peter I, starting from the Battle of Narva. Beginning of the 18th century. The period of the formation of the Great Russian Empire, the time of major reforms and secret conspiracies, great military victories, unrestrained fun of assemblies and cruel bloodshed of executions. The film also depicts the conflict between the tsar and his son Alexei.

History of creation
Even before filming, controversy ensued around the film's script. In the article "Peter I" in the cinema" (1937), A. Tolstoy wrote: Many ... full-time cinema theorists brought down the most contradictory demands on us. The wobbling, hysterical Peter, whom they imposed on us, did not coincide with our plans in any way ... We are far from the idea of reviving the trivial textbook image of the "crowned carpenter", but we do not want in our picture to belittle the significance of the personality of a person who has risen above his era ... the end is the personal intervention of Stalin, who approved the concept of the film. At first, it was supposed to shoot not two, but three series of the film and attract foreign actors. Then these plans were abandoned. Filming of the first series of the film was completed in 1937, the second - in 1938.