Russia's Forgotten Role in the Birth of Hollywood

It might be the best good news Russia story of the year!  It turns out that, contrary to popular opinion, Birth of a Nation—a film with an odiously racist message—was not the first American feature movie.  That honor instead belongs to a 1912 silent film version of Leo Tolstoy’s great third novel, Resurrection, a story about love and social justice.

Educator, author and talk show host John Bredin is on a mission to educate the world about Hollywood’s mostly unknown ethical origin; one that, given its Tolstoy connection, has a Russian literary twist.  By giving this talk in libraries and bookstores, he hopes to spur interest in reading this forgotten classic by Tolstoy—a story even more relevant to our times than his more famous books, War & Peace and Anna Karenina.

By re-imagining its birth narrative, it could even inspire a more justice-loving “Hollywood for the greater good” moving forward.  Bredin also has a family connection to the star of Resurrection, the great Belle Epoque actress Blanch Walsh, which he’ll reveal during the talk.

Interview with John Bredin via Voice of America (in Russian)

Event listing @ NYPL

RACC's events are made possible in part with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature, New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, in partnership with the city Council, Cojeco and Tianaderrah Foundation.