{"id":72724,"date":"2021-06-11T11:02:14","date_gmt":"2021-06-11T18:02:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=72724"},"modified":"2021-06-11T11:10:01","modified_gmt":"2021-06-11T18:10:01","slug":"last-command-the-1928","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=72724","title":{"rendered":"Last Command, The (1928)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;I would gladly die tonight &#8212; if it would help Russia.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Last-Command-Poster.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Last-Command-Poster-197x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"197\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-72726\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Last-Command-Poster-197x300.png 197w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Last-Command-Poster-674x1024.png 674w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Last-Command-Poster-84x128.png 84w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Last-Command-Poster-178x270.png 178w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Last-Command-Poster.png 735w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 197px) 100vw, 197px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nWhen a Hollywood movie director (William Powell) carefully selects a former Russian general (Emil Jannings) to perform in his latest movie, he flashes back to their interactions during the Russian Revolution, when a beautiful revolutionary (Evelyn Brent) helped save Jannings&#8217; life.\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Actors and Actresses<\/li>\n<li>Flashback Films<\/li>\n<li>Josef von Sternberg Films<\/li>\n<li>Movie Directors <\/li>\n<li>Revolutionaries<\/li>\n<li>Silent Films<\/li>\n<li>William Powell Films<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nJosef von Sternberg&#8217;s <em>The Last Command<\/em> (1928) is notable for earning Emil Jannings the first ever Best Actor Academy Award, albeit in conjunction with his performance in <em>The Way of All Flesh<\/em> (1927) (not listed in <em>GFTFF<\/em>). In his <em>Alternate Oscars<\/em>, Peary gives this award to Charlie Chaplin for <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=24357\"><em>The Circus<\/em><\/a> instead, noting that &#8220;Jannings was a powerful actor who gave excellent performances,&#8221; but his work in 1927-1928 was &#8220;just preparation for the greatest of his humiliated characters: the proud Professor Unrath, who loses position and dignity when he falls for Marlene Dietrich&#8217;s sexy songstress in [von] Sternberg&#8217;s <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=5269\"><em>The Blue Angel<\/em><\/a>.&#8221; On its own merits, <em>The Last Command<\/em> remains an interestingly structured &#8220;meta&#8221; film about a reversal of power dynamics, with one-time revolutionary Powell (looking remarkably dour and world-weary): <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Last-Command-Powell.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Last-Command-Powell.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"488\" height=\"360\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-72731\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Last-Command-Powell.png 488w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Last-Command-Powell-300x221.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Last-Command-Powell-128x94.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Last-Command-Powell-366x270.png 366w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 488px) 100vw, 488px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>now possessing the power to manipulate the man he once hated most, and sultry Brent forced to make a difficult ethical choice: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Last-Command-Brent.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Last-Command-Brent.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"488\" height=\"360\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-72733\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Last-Command-Brent.png 488w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Last-Command-Brent-300x221.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Last-Command-Brent-128x94.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Last-Command-Brent-366x270.png 366w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 488px) 100vw, 488px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The question remains &#8212; what will Powell do with\/to Jannings, and what type of humiliation does he have in store for him? The outcome is somewhat surprising, but the film as a whole doesn&#8217;t quite bring enough narrative interest to bear, and thus isn&#8217;t must-see viewing. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Redeeming Qualities and Moments:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Emil Jannings as the Grand Duke Sergius Alexander<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Last-Command-Jannings.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Last-Command-Jannings.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"488\" height=\"360\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-72729\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Last-Command-Jannings.png 488w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Last-Command-Jannings-300x221.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Last-Command-Jannings-128x94.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Last-Command-Jannings-366x270.png 366w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 488px) 100vw, 488px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Bert Glennon&#8217;s cinematography<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Last-Command-Cinematography2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Last-Command-Cinematography2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"488\" height=\"360\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-72728\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Last-Command-Cinematography2.png 488w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Last-Command-Cinematography2-300x221.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Last-Command-Cinematography2-128x94.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Last-Command-Cinematography2-366x270.png 366w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 488px) 100vw, 488px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Last-Command-Cinematography.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Last-Command-Cinematography.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"488\" height=\"360\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-72727\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Last-Command-Cinematography.png 488w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Last-Command-Cinematography-300x221.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Last-Command-Cinematography-128x94.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Last-Command-Cinematography-366x270.png 366w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 488px) 100vw, 488px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nNo, though von Sternberg fans will want to check it out. Listed as a film with Historical Importance in the back of Peary&#8217;s book. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0019071\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/trailersfromhell.com\/3-silent-classics-by-josef-von-sternberg\/\">Trailers From Hell Review (scroll down)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/1928\/01\/23\/archives\/the-screen-desert-fights.html\">NY Times Original Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.qnetwork.com\/review\/4183\">Q Network Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;I would gladly die tonight &#8212; if it would help Russia.&#8221; Synopsis: When a Hollywood movie director (William Powell) carefully selects a former Russian general (Emil Jannings) to perform in his latest movie, he flashes back to their interactions during the Russian Revolution, when a beautiful revolutionary (Evelyn Brent) helped save Jannings&#8217; life. Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors: Actors and Actresses Flashback Films Josef von Sternberg Films Movie Directors Revolutionaries Silent Films William Powell Films Review: Josef von Sternberg&#8217;s The&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=72724\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-72724","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reviews"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/72724","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=72724"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/72724\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":72742,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/72724\/revisions\/72742"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=72724"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=72724"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=72724"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}