ABSTRACT
The Soviet-produced film Meeting on the Elbe (Vstrecha na El’be)6 of 1949 reflects the official Soviet view of the origins of the Cold War and the competition of the systems. It shows how the USSR wanted to depict its policy towards Germany. The film was realised by one of the most distinguished film directors of the Stalin era, Grigorii Aleksandrov. He had worked as an assistant and scriptwriter alongside Sergei Eizenshtein,7 and in the 1930s accompanied him on a long journey to the USA, where he became acquainted with Hollywood, the dream factory. Since then, he has made films in which he has tried to beat the USA entertainment industry at its own game.8 In particular his musical comedy films, aimed at the masses, became legendary and still have a cult status today.9 Another long-term colleague of Eizenshtein was involved in the production of Meeting on the Elbe, namely Eduard Tisse´, a prominent cameraman.10 The soundtrack to the film was written by no less than Dmitrii Shostakovich, who had suffered under the Soviet state’s cultural and educational policy in 1936, but who had remained loyal to the Soviet system and had since managed to re-establish himself in the official cultural scene.11 The film achieved further prominence due to the fact that two female roles were awarded to stars of the Soviet cinema. Both Liubov’ Orlova, who had played leading roles in numerous other films by Aleksandrov, and the great tragicomic actress, Faina Ranevskaia, played leading parts.12 The lead male role was performed by Vladlen Davydov, who, because of the film, became one of the few new stars of cinema in the 1940s. With his impressive figure, he was particularly well-suited physically to represent the superiority of Soviet power.13
