Soviet cinema : archival documents from RGALI, 1923-1935
Collection guide written by:
Finding aid prepared by IDC Publishers, LeidenDigital version:
Finding aid processed and encoded by Peter Smaardijk.Descriptive Summary
Creator: Sovkino
Dates (inclusive): 1923-1935
Extent: 64 archival files; 8 microfilm reels; digital images available in Primary Sources Online (www.primarysourcesonline.nl)
Languages: Materials predominantly in Russian, occasionally in other European languages.
Abstract: The archive contains materials providing information on the activities of the Soviet film company Sovkino and its relations with various other companies in the film industry, both in the Soviet Union and abroad, between 1923 and 1935.
Order no.: SCA-1
Publisher: IDC Publishers
Location of Originals
Russian State Archive of Literature and Art (RGALI)
History note
The film industry in Soviet Russia experienced a formative period in the 1920s and 1930s, when its rapid growth and mastery of talking pictures attracted authorities' attention to the unique industry's potential as a powerful ideological tool. VFKO (the All-Russian Film Department of Narkompros) led the newly-nationalized film industry in 1919, and was replaced by Goskino in 1922 and Sovkino in 1924. Sovkino helped strengthen ideological control over filmmaking by introducing censorship of screenplays and instituting rules for film reviews in central media. Sovkino was also given a monopoly on importing foreign films to the USSR.
Despite the Party's efforts to force filmmakers into a Bolshevik, proletarian mold, during NEP the government was unable to single-handedly finance all film production and distribution. State film organizations were forced to continually maneuver between ideology and the market. In 1928-1929, the country began transitioning from NEP-style liberalism to a hard-line, totalitarian system of social relations, which radically changed the system for managing the film industry. A number of resolutions were passed to shut down entertainment films and expand the production of propaganda films. The USSR Kinokomitet was established in 1929 and later reorganized as Soiuzkino. Sovkino ceased to exist in 1930 and its functions were transferred to the new agency. Soiuzkino was put in charge of studios, distribution centers, part of the cinema circuit, factories, the fotokhimtresty, etc. Cinematography was becoming the most controlled of the arts.
Access Restrictions
One file (opis' 1, file no. 24) could not be filmed due to the physical condition it was found in.
Scope and Content
The collection contains administrative, personnel and financial records, transcripts of meetings, statistical reports, documents related to film export, film import, and film production, reviews, film repertoire, etc. The list and contents of the documents in this collection is shaped by the fact that Soviet cinematography was the target of focused official policies. In the pipeline from the state to the film industry, the role of intermediary was assigned to a system of institutions charged with management functions.
Organization and Arrangement
The archive consists of 1 fond, which in its turn consists of 3 opisi, divided into 63 archival files.
Selected Search Terms
Organizations
Sovkino.Topics
Communism and motion pictures--Soviet Union.Motion picture studios--Soviet Union.
Motion pictures--Distribution.
Motion pictures--Soviet Union.
Indexes
The following persons, organizations and geographical areas are mentioned in the container list of this finding aid:Persons
- Eisenstein, Sergei, 1898-1948.
- Ėrmler, Fridrikh, 1898-1967.
- Gol′denveĭzer, L. V.
- Nezhdanov, L.
- Nikanorov, Mikhail Konstantinovich.
- Onė, M. IA.
- Rafes, M. G. (Moiseĭ Grigor′evich), b. 1833.
Organizations
- Belgoskino.
- Celtic-cinéma.
- Consorzio italiano per il commercio estero.
- Filmwerke Staaken AG.
- Gosvoenkino.
- Intorgkino.
- Kino-fabrika "Soiuzkino".
- Lumière Pictures (Firm)
- Mezhrabpom-fil′m.
- Mezhrabpom-Rus′.
- Organizatsionnyĭ komitet "Spartakiady".
- Moskovskaia rabochaia kinokonferentsiia (1st : 1929)
- Produits photographiques et plastiques "Prophopla", S.A.
- Russian S.F.S.R. Glavnyĭ repertuarnyĭ komitet.
- Russian S.F.S.R. Narodnyĭ komissariat raboche-krest′ianskoĭ inspektsii.
- Russian S.F.S.R. Vysshiĭ sovet narodnogo khoziaĭstva. Fotokinotrest.
- Severo-zapadnoe oblastnoe upravlenie po delam fotografii i kinematografii.
- Shostkinskiĭ zavod no. 9.
- Sibgoskino.
- Società Anonima Commerciale Italo-Russa (S.A.C.I.R.)
- Soviet Union. Glavnoe upravlenie kino-fotopromyshlennosti.
- Soviet Union. Gosudarstvennyĭ komitet po kinematografii.
- Soviet Union. Gosudarstvennyĭ komitet po kinematografii. 1-ia kinofabrika.
- Soviet Union. Narodnyĭ komissariat legkoĭ promyshlennosti.
- Soviet Union. Narodnyĭ komissariat vneshneĭ torgovli.
- Soviet Union. Raboche-Krest′ianskaia Krasnaia Armiia. General′nyĭ shtab. Voenno-topograficheskoe upravlenie.
- Soviet Union. Revoliutsionnyĭ voennyĭ sovet.
- Soviet Union. Sovet narodnykh komissarov. Glavnyĭ kontsessionnyĭ komitet.
- Soviet Union. Trade Delegation (France)
- Soviet Union. Trade Delegation (Germany)
- Soviet Union. Trade Delegation (Italy)
- Soviet Union. Voenno-khimicheskiĭ trest.
- Soviet Union. Vysshiĭ sovet narodnogo khoziaĭstva. Glavnyĭ kontsessionnyĭ komitet.
- Sovkino.
- Sovkino. Khudozhestvennyĭ sovet.
- Sovkino. Leningradskoe oblastnoe otdelenie.
- Sovkino. Moskovskaia fabrika. Khudozhestvennoe biuro.
- Sovkino. 1-ia fabrika. Biuro Ob″edineniia rabotnikov ucheta.
- Sovkino. 3-ia fabrika.
- Trest "Kinomekhprom".
- Trest "Soiuzfil′m".
- Trest "Soiuztekhfil′m".
- TSentral′naia komissiia po inventarizatsii fabrik "Sovkino".
- TSK VKP(b)
- TSK VKP(b). Orgbiuro.
- T-vo "Proletkino".
- T-vo "Proletkino". Samarskoe otdelenie.
- Uzbekgoskino.
- Vsesoiuznyĭ leninskiĭ kommunisticheskiĭ soiuz molodezhi. TSentral′nyĭ komitet. Severo-zapadnoe oblastnoe biuro.
- VUFKU (Firm)
Geographic Areas
- Austria.
- England.
- France.
- Germany.
- Italy.
- Latvia.
- Moscow.
- Poland.
- Shostka.
- United States.
Container List
Title: Materials from an exhibit of ten years of Soviet photography: minutes of meetings of the plenum and presidium of the exhibition committee, the exhibition jury and a commission of experts; jury regulations; lists of exhibit pieces to be transferred to the collection of the Photography museum .
Date(s): 14 Nov. 1927 - 16 May 1928
Extent: 41 leaves
Microfiche number: reel 2
Microfiche number: 121
Title: Minutes of meetings of the central inventory committee for Sovkino studios, the studios' permanent conference, meetings of the Sovkino 1st studio's directorate and operations and distribution bureau; excerpts from minutes of Sovkino managing board meetings that were sent to the 1st studio accounting department for verification.
Date(s): 8 Sept. 1928 - 29 Aug. 1929
Extent: 36 leaves
Microfiche number: reel 3
Microfiche number: 129
Title: Estimate of costs for Sovkino's 3rd studio, screenplay and correspondence of Sovkino managing board with the Spartakiada organization committee on shooting the 1928 film Vsesoiuznaia Spartakiada.
Date(s): 31 Jan. 1928 - 15 Aug. 1928
Extent: 16 leaves
Microfiche number: reel 3
Microfiche number: 133
Title: Materials from the 1st Moscow Workers' Film Conference: abstracts of papers by M.K. Nikanorov ("Kul′trabota vokrug kinoteatra") and M. Rafes ("Kakaia kinokartina nuzhna rabochemu zriteliu"); resolutions on the papers. Typed, printed, collotype.
Date(s): 5 July 1929 - 6 July 1929 (not earlier)
Extent: 9 leaves
Microfiche number: reel 4
Microfiche number: 138
Title: Materials from the export-import department of Sovkino and Intorgkino: correspondence between the USSR People's Commissariat of Foreign Trade and the managing board of Sovkino on exporting and importing films and film photographic materials; plans and reports, foreign currency income and expense reports; lists of films sold abroad, etc.
Date(s): 1925 - 1934
Extent: 159 leaves
Microfiche number: reel 5
Microfiche number: 201
Title: Correspondence between the Sovkino managing board and USSR trade offices in Austria, England, Germany, Italy, Latvia, Poland, France and other countries on organizing distribution of Soviet films, purchasing foreign films, film stock and other materials.
Date(s): 1926 - 1930
Extent: 110 leaves
Microfiche number: reel 5
Microfiche number: 203
Title: Materials on Sovkino personnel: correspondence, employee notices, information forms, performance reviews. Leaf no. 6 - "Kino-vory" article; Leaf no. 24 – Arbitration court ruling on L. Nezhdanov's use of the theme of L.V. Gol′denveĭzer's and M.IA. Onė's libretto "Nikolaĭ I i kantonisty" for a screenplay. Typed copies.
Date(s): 1924 - 30 Dec. 1927
Extent: 37 leaves
Microfiche number: reel 5
Microfiche number: 207
Title: Excerpt from the minutes of a meeting of the Glavnyĭ kontsessionnyĭ komitet under the USSR Council of People's Commissars on altering the charter of Mezhrabpom-Rus′, notes on the activity of the Uzbekgoskino trust; a letter from the managing board of Sovkino to the VKP(b) Orgbiuro on sending a commission to the U.S. in relation to the construction of a film studio in Moscow.
Date(s): 27 Dec. 1927 - 18 Sept. 1928
Extent: 8 leaves
Microfiche number: reel 5
Microfiche number: 208
Title: Letters from the directorate of the Sovkino film studio to the VKP(b) Central Committee, the crew of the film "Pyshka," Staaken Filmwerke and others about work on a documentary and about the terms of a contract with Staaken to film "Pyshka" and others. Typed copies.
Date(s): 30 Mar. 1928 - 12 July 1928
Extent: 9 leaves
Microfiche number: reel 5
Microfiche number: 209
Title: Decree of the USSR Revvoensovet on transferring Gosvoenkino to the management of the Military and Topographic Administration of the Workers' and Peasants' Red Army; letter from the head of Gosvoenkino to the USSR Revvoensovet on the studio's status; minutes of a meeting at the People's Commissariat of the RSFSR Workers' and Peasants' Inspectorate on the issue of liquidating the company Mezhrabpom-fil′m with an attached report on an analysis of the company in 1929; memorandum from an agent of Belgoskino to the RSFSR Workers' and Peasants' Inspectorate on Belgoskino's relationship with Sovkino.
Date(s): 25 Mar. 1929 - 2 Okt. 1929
Extent: 13 leaves
Microfiche number: reel 6
Microfiche number: 212
Title: Materials on a purge of VKP(b) cells at Mezhrabpomfil′m, Glavnoe upravlenie kinofotopromyshlennosti, and the Kinomekhprom and Soiuzfil′m trusts: conclusions and proposals from the party purge commission, shorthand records of meetings, reports from VKP(b) cells and party members, lists.
Date(s): 17 Sept. 1929 - 1933
Extent: 212 leaves
Microfiche number: reel 6
Microfiche number: 213
Title: Contract between the Voenno-khimicheskiĭ trest of the USSR Vysshiĭ sovet narodnogo khoziaĭstva with the French company Lumière on providing technical assistance in the production of film stock. Attached are specifications of all types of film stock. Corrpespondence between the managing board of Vokhimtrest, Lumière, the VSNKh Glavnyĭ kontsessionnyĭ komitet and others regarding the contract. In Russian and French.
Date(s): 16 Aug. 1928 - 17 Nov. 1928
Extent: 88 leaves
Microfiche number: reel 6
Microfiche number: 301
Title: Correspondence between the managing board of the Voenno-khimicheskiĭ trest of the USSR Vysshiĭ sovet narodnogo khoziaĭstva and the USSR trade office in France, the French company Lumière, and the director of Shostka factory No. 9 regarding construction of a factory to produce film stock. In Russian and French.
Date(s): 26 Feb. 1929 - 28 Nov. 1929
Extent: 19 leaves
Microfiche number: reel 6
Microfiche number: 302
Title: Correspondence between the managing board of the Voenno-khimicheskiĭ trest of the USSR Vysshiĭ sovet narodnogo khoziaĭstva with the USSR trade office in France, the French company Lumière, and the managing board of Sovkino on construction of a factory to produce film stock, shipments of equipment for the factory and transfer of all issues relating to construction of the factory to Sovkino. In Russian and French.
Date(s): 3 Mar. 1930 - 27 Nov. 1930
Extent: 68 leaves
Microfiche number: reel 6
Microfiche number: 303
Title: Records of agreements between Sovkino and Lumière, minutes of technical meetings, work acceptance certificate, correspondence between Sovkino and the Fotokhimicheskiĭ Trest with Lumière and other documents on the construction, installation of equipment and commissioning of the film stock factory in Shostka. In Russian and French.
Date(s): 8 Jan. 1931 - 22 Dec. 1931
Extent: 394 leaves
Microfiche number: reel 7
Microfiche number: 304
Title: Correspondence between the managing board of Soiuzkino and the Fotokhimicheskiĭ Trest with the USSR trade office in France, the Lumière company and others regarding cancellation of technical assistance contracts with the company; reports by Lumière engineers on the Shostka film stock factory. In Russian and French.
Date(s): 26 Jan. 1932 - 29 Dec. 1932
Extent: 170 leaves
Microfiche number: reel 7
Microfiche number: 305
Title: Correspondence between the Fotokhimicheskiĭ Trest and the Lumière company, the USSR People's Commissariat of Light Industry and Intorgkino on termination of a technical cooperation contract with Lumière, on the purchase abroad of raw materials, sending engineers for training at the Lumière factory, on technical production issues. Attached is a draft contract, an order from the USSR People's Commissariat of Light Industry on confirming the contract, etc. In Russian and French.
Date(s): 5 Jan. 1933 - 23 Oct. 1933
Extent: 185 leaves
Microfiche number: reel 7
Microfiche number: 306
Title: Correspondence between the Fotokhimicheskiĭ Trest and Intorgkino, the USSR trade offices in France and Germany, the Lumière company and other foreign companies on importing chemical raw materials and equipment for the film stock factory, etc.
Date(s): 9 Jan. 1934 - 30 Sept. 1934
Extent: 276 leaves
Microfiche number: reel 7
Microfiche number: 307
Title: Lawsuit filed by the managing board of Sovkino against the Italian company of industrialists for foreign trade CICE, seeking monetary damages for violation of items in a contract dated July 31, 1925 on the acquisition of commercial licenses to 19 films. Original, typed copies.
Date(s): 31 July 1925 - 30 Sept. 1930
Extent: 77 leaves
Microfiche number: reel 8
Microfiche number: 308
Title: Contract between the Italian-Russian company SACIR and Sevzapkino on providing Italian and American films for showing in the USSR, and correspondence between Sevzapkino and Soiuzkino and the USSR trade office in Italy, the USSR People's Commissariat of Foreign Trade and others regarding SACIR's lawsuit against the USSR trade office in Italy over contract disputes. In Russian and Italian. Original, typed copies.
Date(s): 7 Feb. 1924 - 2 Mar. 1935
Extent: 32 leaves
Microfiche number: reel 8
Microfiche number: 309
Title: Contract between the USSR government, represented by the VSNKh, and the French photographic and plastics company Prophopla (formerly SIMP) to acquire license and materials on its acceptance from the firm: the consolidated balance sheet of Prophopla, acceptance certificates for materials and property, etc.
Date(s): 1 April 1930 - 22 Aug. 1930
Extent: 324 leaves
Microfiche number: reel 8
Microfiche number: 310
Title: Materials on foreign licenses, the activities of foreign companies and their representatives in the USSR relating to the film business and joint productions of films: correspondence, copies of agreements and contracts.
Date(s): 2 Jan. 1926 - 31 Dec. 1934
Extent: 323 leaves
Microfiche number: reel 8
Microfiche number: 311