The Last Command

1928 1h 28m EN

👍

7.4

SOLID

★7.4TMDB · 96

DramaHistoryWar

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

A former Imperial Russian general and cousin of the Czar ends up in Hollywood as an extra in a movie directed by a former revolutionary.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Where to watch · US

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Cast

Emil Jannings
Gen. Dolgorucki / Grand Duke Sergius Alexander
Evelyn Brent
Natalie Dabrova
William Powell
Lev Andreyev
Jack Raymond
Assistant director
Nicholas Soussanin
The adjutant
Michael Visaroff
Serge (the valet)
Fritz Feld
A revolutionist
Harry Cording
Revolutionist (uncredited)

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Josef von Sternberg
Writers: Lajos Biró, John F. Goodrich, Josef von Sternberg
Languages: No Language
Countries: United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

88 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

98 years old — a genuine piece of film history.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Josef von Sternberg, shot by Bert Glennon. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor William Shea shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Emil Jannings and Evelyn Brent and William Powell carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0019071 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

Only 96 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Josef von Sternberg directs. Bert Glennon behind the camera. William Shea cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in No Language.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

188 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.
298 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
3Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
4Directed by Josef von Sternberg, shot by Bert Glennon. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Editor William Shea shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Emil Jannings and Evelyn Brent and William Powell carry the top of the cast.
7IMDB entry: tt0019071 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
8Only 96 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

The technical file

Cinematography: Bert Glennon
Editing: William Shea
Costume design: Travis Banton
Runtime: 88 min · 1h 28m
Status: Released
Original language: EN
IMDB: The Last Command (1928)

Awards

Academy Award for Best Actor

Individual records documented via Wikidata; the summary above may count more.

Also by

Josef von Sternberg

Trailers & featurettes

Watch the pieces

Community reviews

What people are saying

CinemaSerf2022-06-06
★ 7/10
Emil Jannings is masterful in this depiction of an elderly gentleman selected by an Hollywood director (William Powell) to play the part of a Russian general in a film. When he arrives on set, his colleagues tease him about a medal he is wearing. He proceeds to tell them it was given to him by Czar Nicholas II himself, and after a bit of playful derision, they return the medal and the "General" finds himself looking into the mirror of his make-up box whence he drifts into a retrospective of his true self - the commanding General Grand Duke Sergius Alexander, cousin to the Czar and the man in charge of Imperial Russian forces in 1917. His portrayal of this proud, effective man who displays some sense of pragmatism about their military situation, coupled with a sense of gentleness to Evelyn Brent (who is actually the Bolshevik spy sent to eliminate him "Natalie") is nuanced and engaging. As the revolution turns the tables on this once powerful man, we see his character exposed to hardship and degradation before his new love manages to help him escape the clutches of the murderous mob. When we return to the present day, this old, fading, patriot sees his candle burn brightly just one last time... Though it may have some basis in truth - it was frequently safer for European generals who lost battles to flee rather than face the consequences at home - it is a fictional story and I think that allows Josef von Sternberg much more licence to create and develop the characters. Jannings is super, but to a lesser extent, so is Brent as the dedicated revolutionary who falls in love with the old Duke, and sees in him a different sort of love for his country, one she finds endearing and honourable. The photography works well in illustrating the revolutionary scenes amidst the poverty and cold and sparing use of inter-titles gives us plenty to keep this strong, impassioned narrative moving along perfectly. Great watch.

Production companies