Original subtitles

"STRIKE", the first film of prominent director

Sergei Eisenstein, has been released in 1925.

It played a considerable part

in the development

of the art of cinema.

A Production of the First State Film Factory.

The film has been restored in Gorki studios in 1969.

STRIKE

Scenario PROLETKULT Under the Editorship of V. Pletnykov

Performed by the First Workers' Theatre of Proletkult

Directed by Sergei Eisenstein

Camera Eduard Tisse

Sets V. Rakhals

"The strength of the working class is organization.

Without organization of the masses, the proletariat is nothing.

Organized, it is everything. Being organized means unity of action,

the unity of pratical activity." Lenin, 1907

PART ONE : All is calm at the factory

All is calm at the factory,

BUT...

There is trouble brewing.

They hurry to...

The Director

Reporting

He laid down the law.

Through the hierarchy.

"Get me the files on the factory district."

Information of "Private Agents".

List of Agents who spy:

The Monkey, The Quiet One, The Patriarch, The Fellow-Countryman,

Zoya, Bulldog, The Fox, The Taylor, The Shepherd, The Owl, The Fly-by-night.

Preparations.

"The Fox"

Alms for the Blind.

"The Owl"

To the meeting place.

"The Monkey"

"The Bulldog"

A group of activists.

"They've pushed us into a corner, so we've got to strike."

"With our people..."

"It would be better if the people didn't go out on strike."

Preparations.

"Agitate everywhere."

"The Owl" is in a tight spot.

A spy.

Secret meetings.

They're stirring up the people.

Accordion accompaniment.

"You've become even more insolent, you scum."

Meanwhile, in the underground...

CALLS TO STRIKE

The boys are taking action.

"Enough of patience. Let's go out on strike, comrades, into the struggle."

PART TWO A REASON TO STRIKE

The micrometer is stolen.

The price of the micrometer is 25 rubles.

A loss of three weeks pay.

To the office to report the loss.

"We haven't had any thieves before."

The Manager.

"Thief!"

Thief...

Comrades, the boss accused me of the theft.

I'm not guilty but I can't prove it. I cannot leave the factory with

the stigma of a thief. So I have decided to put an end to myself.

Goodbye and remember I'm not guilty. Yakov Strongen."

"Break it up!"

"Stop work!"

The master craftsmen.

"Blow the whistle!"

"Go to hell!"

For the whistle.

To the Old Foundry.

The assembly.

The Old Foundry resists.

"C'mon, lads, let's take it!"

"To the office, comrades!"

"Don't open the gates!

Let no one in or out."

The Tribune of Labor.

In the office.

"Without our labor the furnaces will go out,

the machines will stop, the plant will die."

"We have the power, we are the power,

if we are united to struggle against the capital."

A "carriage" for the administration.

"Why didn't you warn us about all this?!"

PART THREE THE PLANT STOOD STOCK-STILL

The first days.

"Get up for work."

Copying their fathers.

Orders pour in...

Everything on which their thrones rest

is made by the worker's hands.

"Is that on strike too?!"

Formulating demands.

"We demand an eight hour work day."

"...Fair treatment by the management."

"A 30% increase in wages."

At the police station.

"There are no cowards or traitors among us.

We'll defend our demands

to the end."

The stockholders.

"I'll read them."

"A 6 hour work day for minors."

"They're demanding a 30% wage increase."

"It's shocking. They've brought the factory into politics."

"This is impudence."

"And now, gentlemen..."

Police!

Sit down!

"Oh, that isn't all..."

"You press down hard and you get...juice."

The demands.

"The administration, having

considered the workers' demands with the utmost care..."

"Clean it up."

A nice reply.

And late into the night they studied the workers' welfare.

PART FOUR THE STRIKE DRAGS ON

Notice Food store closed for repairs

"He's hungry."

To the flea market.

The tobacco pouch is empty.

"Want my dinner, Daddy."

On the prowl.

The Owl sees by day as well.

"Having reviewed the workers' demands with the utmost care,

the administration considers them impractical

for the following reasons:

1. The eight hour work day is completely illegal

and does not depend upon the administration.

2) The wage increase...

At a prearranged place.

A civil manner from the administration is recommended

only if the workers submit unconditionally.

In the evening.

In the night.

"Beat him!"

"Beat him!"

The next night.

"Article 102 : 4 to 6 years of hard labor... or..."

Towards morning.

"They've brought him around."

"The leader.. and dangerous.".

They are discussing the refusal.

"Who is for continuing the strike?"

"Against?"

"A minority for work."

(An arrest warrant)

PART FIVE THE PROVOCATION TO DISASTER

The Czarist police are not squeamish.

"I'll announce you immediately."

"The King"

A shady deal.

"My realms are limitless.".

The Kadushkino Cemetery.

Tough sorts.

"I need five unscrupulous men."

They're ALL without conscience!

Down to "business".

The Monkey works in wholesale, the Owl in retail.

Pass it on.

The war council.

Liquor store.

From a meeting.

At "work".

Worming their way in...

SMASH IT!

The "King's" boys go into action.

Press the button. Wait for the firemen.

"It's provocation. Call out the firemen."

Stop gossiping and guard the fire alarm or they will foil the plan.

"Comrades, follow me!"

"They want to buy us with vodka!

Don't be provoked!"

"Provocateurs are here working with the police."

"Everybody go home, Comrades!"

It's been foiled...

"Follow me!"

"Fools!"

A dead end.

Struggling for a way out.

They have broken through.

"He got away."

"Flush out" the ringleaders!

"You scum! Your own people..."

They've caught him.

PART SIX LIQUIDATION

In the factory district

a State Liquor Store was smashed, looted and burned by the strikers.

The crowd was dispersed with water hoses.

The situation is tense. There is fear of further unrest.

Troops have been sent to the district by order of the Governor.

The First Strike

"DIS-PER-SE!"

"Comrades, help!"

"To the forge, comrades, to the sledge hammers."

"Go to your apartments."

They have broken in.

Wild animals.

"You can't put them all in prison. Our boys will hold out.".

"The boys..."

"Your little district..."

"...is already..."

"But you, young man, could maybe join us... we could help you.

What do you say?"

"Back to my cell!"

The carnage.

The defeat.

And like bloody unforgettable scars on the body of the proletariat

lay the wounds of Lena, Talka, Zlataust, Yaro,

Slavl, Tsaritsin and Kosteroma.

REMEMBER!

PROLETARIANS!