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THE ARMED FORCES OF THE RUSSIAN EMPIRE AND THE CINEMA

A.A. Bocharov, I.V. Aladyshkin, A.A. Mikhailov, O.A. Kocharovskaya

Abstract

The article examines the relationship between the armed forces of the Russian Empire and film companies in the early twentieth century. It shows the Emperor Nicholas II’s interest in the cinema. The history of A. A. Khanzhonkov’s company, which created the films "Defense of Sevastopol city" and “The Baltic fleet", is shown. The paper gives examples of military people participation in the feature and documentary films. It also shows the role of cinema in promoting the Russian Empire armed forces’ reputation at the beginning of the First World War and during the war years. The paper shows the armed forces command activities on the organization of films demonstration in military units and on the regulation of the troops going to the cinema theaters. The work also describes the history of the ruling circles of the Russian Empire discussing the question of the state monopolization of the cinema. Basing on archival materials and memoirs the authors concluded that the cooperation of the armed forces and motion picture firms in the early twentieth century was active and fruitful, and the cinema played a prominent role in the promotion of the armed forces of the Russian Empire.

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