Red Monarch

[Nick Dando]

I've long wanted to see this Channel 4 production again, and now I can get my chance!

Red Monarch DVD | Television | Films by Movie Mail UK

Released on D-Day.


Nick

[oxfam1uk]

Holy mackerel - I've been trying for nearly 30 years to remember the title of this C4 film, and to find a copy !
I thought it might be called "Red Emperor", so this explains why I couldn't find it.
I recall seeing just bits of it, and, because I had little interest in political history in those days, it just seemed odd. Now I realise that it was very largely the grotesque truth about Stalin and his cronies.
Perhaps the script was based on Nikita Kruschev's memoirs - he went into great detail about Stalin's appalling personality and vindictive actions. Kruschev was played in this film by our old friend Brian Glover.

[icetorch]

Nikita Khrushchev served Stalin with zeal, and he was himself up to his arms in blood. During the Great Terror, Stalin had set quotas for the number of citizens from each city to be sent to prison camps. A document exists that shows that Khrushchev requested permission for an increase in his quota for Leningrad from 25,000 to 30,000. Stalin simply signed it: "Granted". Remember that this was about getting cheap slave labour for their industrial revolution: right and wrong didn't come into it.

In a speech to party members in the 1960s, Khrushchev, referring to Stalin, said, "Who lives by the axe, dies by the axe!" Some historians regard this as proof that Stalin's death was not by natural causes and that he was possibly poisoned. So Khrushchev was himself no saint.

[Steve Crook]

Nikita Khrushchev served Stalin with zeal, and he was himself up to his arms in blood. During the Great Terror, Stalin had set quotas for the number of citizens from each city to be sent to prison camps. A document exists that shows that Khrushchev requested permission for an increase in his quota for Leningrad from 25,000 to 30,000. Stalin simply signed it: "Granted". Remember that this was about getting cheap slave labour for their industrial revolution: right and wrong didn't come into it.

In a speech to party members in the 1960s, Khrushchev, referring to Stalin, said, "Who lives by the axe, dies by the axe!" Some historians regard this as proof that Stalin's death was not by natural causes and that he was possibly poisoned. So Khrushchev was himself no saint.

I liked the story about how, when Khrushchev finally denounced Stalin and called him a criminal for what he had done, a little voice piped up and asked "Well why didn't you stop him then?"

"WHO SAID THAT?" Bellowed Khrushchev, scanning the room.
Everyone in the audience quaked in terror lest they be accused

"Now you know why" said Khrushchev quietly after a while

Steve