Forty-First, The (1956)

[bunniefuu]

Based on a story

by B. Lavrenyov

Written by

G. KOLTUNOV

Directed by

G. CHUKHRAI

Director of Photography

S. URUSEVSKY

Creative workshop

of Mikhail Romm

Cast:

Maryutka - Izolda IZVITSKAYA

Lieutenant - Oleg STRIZHENOV

Commissar Yevsyukov -

Nikolai KRYUCHKOV

That time has gone

from us for good...

...yet it will stay

with us forever.

Let's go back to those turbulent,

beautiful years,

the first years

of the Revolution.

A defeated Red Army

detachment was retreating

from the Caspian Sea

into the sands of Kara Kum.

Only twenty three people

and their Commissar, Yevsyukov,

managed to break out

of the deadly encirclement.

They were Red Army men,

just ordinary people.

And among them, there was Maryutka,

their unit's best sn*per.

She never missed a shot.

She had thirty eight White Guards

to her credit.

An officer!

The thirty-ninth!

The fortieth!

Captain!

They're bout five versts away!

Semyonov and Kharundzha

have been k*lled.

- How many of them?

- About twenty.

We're not going

to chase them.

They'll die themselves

in the sands.

Thus, the remnants of

the Guriev special detachment

found themselves 37 versts

North-West from the wells,

without food, water

and any hope of rescue.

There's only one way for us -

across the sands

to the Aral Sea.

And from there take a detour

to Kazalinsk,

where the front's

headquarters are.

And what are we going to eat?

We'll have to tighten our belts.

We're not some princes.

You want to be served

sardines and honey?

We've got some rice.

When we eat it up,

we'll k*ll camels.

And then each other?

No arguing!

You know your revolutionary duty?

Or up against the wall!

There's no wall here,

only that damned sand.

- Get up, Comrade Commissar!

- What? What is it?

- What's up?

- A caravan's coming!

What caravan?

Stop lying!

Camels, about a dozen of them!

It's not far,

about three versts from here.

Follow me!

I hope we'll catch them!

As soon as we see them, attack!

Half of you to the right,

the rest to the left! Forward march!

God has sent them.

He had mercy on us.

The God Almighty!

There's no God, how many times

do I have to tell you?

There's a reason

for everything!

Halt! Any g*ns?

Put them on the ground!

Or I'll k*ll everybody!

Follow me!

Get down!

Don't fire at the camels!

They're good shots!

- An officer behind the camel.

- I see him.

The forty-first!

I missed!

- That's it!

- Wait!

And no arguing!

It's death for a Kazakh

without camels!

Take the money.

How much money do you want?

- Leave me the camels!

- You blockhead,

I'm not robbing you,

I'm taking them

for revolutionary needs!

My lord!

It will be death without camels!

I'm no lord to you.

You can walk,

but we're going to die here.

The czar's money.

I'm leaving you half of them.

For these, I'll give you a receipt.

What do I need it for?

Oh, my lord.

Too bad.

Oh, it's too bad.

Don't do so.

- Take the money.

- You got your receipt. That's all.

Who are you?

Lieutenant Govorukha-Otrok.

And who are you?

Comrade Commissar,

there's

a note under the lining.

He got it sewn into the lining.

Here. To whom it may concern.

Lieutenant Govorukha-Otrok,

Vadim Nikolayevich,

is authorized by the government

of Russia's supreme ruler,

Admiral Kolchak,

to represent him

at the Caspian government

of General Denikin.

The secret information

is to be communicated verbally

to General Dratsenko.

What secret information?

Come on, tell me everything.

You're our prisoner.

And I'm the commander,

Commissar Yevsyukov.

Monsieur Yevsyukov?

Nice to meet you.

Answer my questions!

I've no authority

for diplomatic negotiations

with the likes of you.

You... White moth!

Tell me

or you'll gobble up the b*llet!

If you k*ll me...

You'll gobble up nothing at all.

All right. Soon you'll sing

a different song.

You'll dance to another tune!

Comrade Commissar,

want me to send him to paradise?

No, we'd better not.

He's a big fish.

We'll deliver him to headquarters.

Let them interrogate him.

- What do we need him for?

- To drag him with us?

Now we're recruiting officers?

Quiet! I'm taking him,

I will answer for him.

Maryutka...

I entrust his excellency to you.

Keep your eyes on him!

- Don't let him escape!

- Yes!

Umankul.

Guard the camels.

Without them we'll be dead.

All right, Commissar.

They'll be safe with me.

Get ready!

Hey, you! You'll be

under my guard.

Why are you staring?

You think you can

escape from me?

I won't miss again.

- Very nice.

- What?

It's nice to be a prisoner

of a charming Amazon.

- Riffraff!

- Merci.

Merci!

I bet you only know

how to dance.

Go on!

Fish cholera.

- Well, we're doing fine?

- Doing alright.

Now, the camel.

Stop whoa-ing him!

It's a camel, not a horse.

He doesn't understand

your horsy language.

Just look at Maryutka

taming her lover boy.

She's hobbled his excellency

in no time at all.

What are you doing?

He's got no tail.

How is he going to chase flies away?

And what if he runs away?

You silly, there's nothing

but sands around.

It might be sands,

but I'll feel surer this way.

Go on, sleep, "cavalier".

Boy, I wish I could find

a way to approach her.

One guy already tried

to approach her...

- Well?

- Nothing doing.

He was rebuffed before

he could approach her.

- Who was he?

- It was before your time.

Come on, tell me, who was he?

- Come on!

- It was me!

- You're lying!

- I got a mug swollen like that.

She did me over with a g*n's

handle. One tooth is gone.

Serious girl.

If you only try,

you'll lose all your teeth.

It's unfair,

- one would be enough.

- I'll take care of the rest.

What is that?

A hungry jackal wailing.

Crying like a child.

p*ssy willows now in bloom

in our village.

I pity that Kazakh...

A Kazakh can't do

without a camel.

Sure thing... It's no life

for a peasant without cattle.

Where are the camels?

Where are the camels?

You were asleep, weren't you?!

Where're the camels?

Damn it!

What have you done!

The camels have been stolen.

- Come on.

- 'twas Umankul.

And Chipilko was sleeping.

That's what I call discipline!

- Shut up!

- Enough of that.

Can you at least keep silent,

fish cholera?

Commissar!

Commissar,

you were cursing Umankul.

I would've strangled him

with my own hands.

Come on, Commissar.

Umankul's lying over there.

Forgive us, brother.

There's no wall here,

Commissar.

sh**t me just like that.

Line up!

Why are you standing?

Let's go.

Get in the line,

Andrei.

We'll try you when we get

to headquarters.

Come on!

Here, Colonel.

Now tell me the truth,

how it happened?

It is the truth,

I swear!

We were attacked by soldiers.

They took the camels.

It's death for a Kazakh

without camels.

- Where's the officer?

- What have you done with him?

What I have done?

Did the Reds k*ll

the officer?

He went to Kara Kum.

I'm a poor man. Where can I

go without a camel?

Send men after them now!

- It's impossible!

- Are you out of your mind?

Our fate depends on the information

that officer has!

- To the headquarters!

- Yes, sir!

Mount up!

And now only eleven of them

are going over the sands.

Others snatched out

from the ranks by the desert.

Their graves have stood like

landmarks on the black path.

And those who remained alive

continued on their way

to the Aral Sea.

Let's do the b*stard in!

Why drag him along?

You look so puny,

but you carry on for two men.

- What? Is it bad?

- That's the end.

I'm staying here.

No!

You can't be a deserter

from the Revolution.

Get up.

I'm not going any further!

We'll die anyway!

Get up!

Give me a break...

I can't stand it any more!

Get up!

The Aral Sea,

guys!

The Aral Sea!

Where are you going?

We're the Reds.

We're going to Kazalinsk.

Take us in, good man.

Give us some food.

The Soviet power

will thank you for us.

- Are you a Red?

- A Bolshevik?

- Did you come from the center?

- No.

We're making our way

from Guriev.

- From Guriev? Kara Kum?

- Yes.

- Without camels?

- Yes, without camels.

Have a nap,

eat some pilaf.

Has she lassoed him?

Tie up your lover boy tight.

Like a dog on a chain!

- Is this yours?

- Yes, mine.

What's your name?

Don't you understand?

I am Maryutka, and you?

- I am Altynai.

- Altynai, give me a piece of paper.

I need to write something.

- It's pretty.

- Yes, pretty.

Why tying up?

Pretty?

Altynai, stay away from him.

He's a prisoner.

- Leave her alone.

- Why tying up?

I know myself what to do.

Go away.

- What do you want?

- She likes my shoulder strap.

Then give it to her.

Take it and get out.

Go away!

Leaping for joy, like a child.

I'llshow you something.

What do I do with it?

I'll wear it here.

And I'll wear it here.

It'll be mine. Beautiful.

- What is it you're writing?

- What do you care?

A letter? You can dictate.

I'll untie your hands

and you will escape?

You're barking up the wrong tree,

my dear.

I don't need your help.

I'm writing verses.

Verses?

You're writing verses?

You think I'm too stupid for that?

I'm not stupider than you are.

I don't think

you're stupid.

But is it the right time

for writing verses?

It's just the time! But they

don't work out all right.

Read it to me.

I understand about verses.

No, you won't understand.

You're of lordly blood,

you like verses

about flowers...

And I'm writing

about the revolution.

Perhaps they're alien to me,

but I can understand them.

Well, what the heck!

Listen!

- You won't laugh at me?

- No.

Listen, then.

When the Cossacks were attacking,

Hangmen, hirelings of the czar,

We just met them with fire cracking,

We, Red fighters, brave we are!

There were lots of those Cossacks -

We were forced to beat a retreat.

Yevsyukov, our leader heroic,

Ordered us to break through

their breed!

Our machinegun fired b*ll*ts,

We were bound to die anyway.

Down went all our unit,

Twenty to the steppe made way!

Can't make it up any further.

I can't, for the life of me!

I don't know

where to put the camels in.

Yes...

It's very good.

- So much expressivity.

- Much of what?

A lot of feeling, understand?

One can see it's written

from the heart.

Yes, they're heartfelt.

I write from my heart.

But they won't print them,

they say they're not finished.

But how to finish them?

Tell me, as an intelligent.

It's not a simple thing to explain.

Writing verses is an art.

And every art

requires knowledge.

If an engineer doesn't know

the rules

of constructing a bridge,

he will either never build it,

or build a bad bridge.

A bridge that cannot be used.

For a bridge

you need arithmetic,

but my verses

come from my heart.

- But you've got no skill.

- No, I haven't.

You need to study.

I'm afraid I do. But never mind.

First we'll crush

the counterrevolution,

and then I'll study versification.

Are there such schools?

I think there are.

Listen, Cadet,

do your hands hurt?

Not very much.

They just feel numb.

Look...

Swear you won't run away,

then I'll untie you.

Where can I run away? To the sands?

To be eaten by jackals?

Come on, swear.

Repeat after me.

I swear by the poor proletariat

fighting for its rights,

and before Maria Basova,

that I shall not run away.

I swear.

Now if you run away,

you'll be the worst scoundrel.

Here, cover yourself.

Thank you.

Good night, Maria.

Filatovna.

The Commissar wanted

to deliver the cadet quickly.

So he decided to send him by sea,

with Maryutka and two soldiers.

The rest were to go along

the shore in order

to form a new detachment

on their way.

Why are you standing?

Go.

You'll be in charge.

Don't let him slip away.

Or it'll be your end.

Goodbye.

And one more thing.

Tell them at headquarters

to send us backup.

If you meet the Whites,

don't let them have him alive.

- All right.

- You got it? Go.

All together.

Come on, push!

Just look at him!

Taking himself to prison.

They'll interrogate him at

HQ, and up against the wall.

Where did you learn

seafaring?

In Petersburg.

I had my own yacht.

I used to sail in the bay.

At home in Astrakhan,

the rich also had yachts.

Very beautiful.

Water!

So clean, so blue!

I don't even know what to

compare it to. Do you?

Yes, it's amazingly blue!

Oh God!

And your eyes are

as blue as the sea!

Damn it!

The wind is from the east!

Never mind.

They'll soon be in Barsa.

Cut the sheets!

Vyakhir!

Vyakhir!

Our soldiers got drowned!

Oh, hell! It's just a fairy tale!

Robinson accompanied by Man Friday.

We need some light

to look around.

The wick got wet.

Where are you?

Answer me!

Here I am!

Here, unscrew the b*llet.

- Ready.

- Pour the gunpowder out.

Done it?

Light it up.

Good.

- What are we going to burn?

- The fish. It's fatty.

How is it possible?

Fishes burn better

than firewood.

Oh, the boys drowned

just for nothing.

We need to dry our clothes,

or we'll catch a cold.

What's stopping you?

Take them off and dry them.

You dry up

and I'll wait out there.

Just look

at that strong wind!

- You'll freeze to death!

- Won't I embarrass you?

The ideas you gentlefolks get!

Go on, undress!

Undress, you idol!

What a pain in the neck you are!

- Maria Filatovna?

- What?

I want to lie down.

I have a terrible headache.

That's from the smoke

and exhaustion.

Cover yourself.

Go to sleep. I'll sit here.

Then you'll stand on guard.

Get up.

Come on, wake up! Do you hear?

Watch the fire.

I'll go onto the shore.

We're lucky that

the boat hasn't sunk.

Perhaps we can make it

to Kazalinsk.

There're some cakes in the sack.

Eat them.

Get up, we're in trouble!

Wake up, we're in trouble!

It's our end!

Gentlemen, don't do that...

Tresor - a partdridge!

He did catch cold.

He's going to die.

What shall I say to the commissar?

Oh, my poor

blue-eyed fool!

Friday...

What is it?

Where am I?

Have you forgotten? It's me,

Maryutka! You remember now?

- Ah, Man Friday!

- Raving again.

You and your Friday.

- I don't keep count of days.

- It's the name of a story.

Don't get up and don't talk,

or you'll get ill again.

Oh, I have to give you

something to eat. Wait a minute.

- It's hot! Does your head hurt?

- No.

Good.

You yelled in your sleep.

You talked

and gave commands.

Wind and emptiness,

only we two on the island.

- I was scared.

- How did you manage?

I managed alright.

I was only afraid

you were going to die.

- Eat it.

- Thank you, my dear.

Eat.

I'm not some beast

to let a man die.

- But I'm a cadet, your enemy.

- Enemy?

Some enemy, if you can't

even raise your hand.

Go on, eat.

- I had enough, now you eat.

- I don't want to, I'm not hungry.

Come on, eat.

What is it?

- I'd like a smoke.

- A smoke?

There's some tobacco left.

I dried it up.

I knew

you'd like a smoke.

You're pure gold!

Better than a nurse!

I see you can't do

without a nurse.

- Too bad there's no paper.

- Paper?

Here, roll yourself

a cigarette.

But these are your poems!

You're out of your mind!

I will not take it!

Take it, damn you!

What a pain in the neck you are!

Thank you, Mashenka.

I shall never forget it.

Answer the officer,

or we'll sh**t you down.

The Reds, have they

been here, in the aul?

I don't know.

We only stay home.

Have they been

to other auls?

He doesn't know.

We found a shoulder strap

in the hut.

Maybe it's his, or maybe not.

The devil only knows.

So you say there have been

no Reds?

And what is this?

Where's the officer?

I'm asking you

for the last time!

Get ready!

- Speak up, you dog!

- You yourself a dog!

You've got no truth!

The truth is mine!

Take aim!

I took the shoulder strap!

It's my fault!

Take her!

I'm looking at you

and can't understand

why you've got

such eyes?

I was born like that.

When we took you prisoner,

I thought...

About your eyes...

You've got dangerous eyes.

Dangerous for whom?

For women.

They get right to your heart,

they stir you up.

Have they stirred you up too?

You devil!

Don't ask such questions!

You blue-eyed fool!

Hey, cadet!

We'll do fine! I found something.

I found a fisherman's hut!

It's a real palace!

Glass windows, a stove!

- And where are you going?

- To meet you.

Silly, you'll catch a cold again.

The wind is so strong.

Tomorrow we're moving

to a new flat.

- Let me carry something too.

- Go on!

I can't go like that!

You'll get ill again!

Go on!

- I'm absolutely well!

- No way you're well!

I'm telling you, I'm well!

Silly!

All right, take it!

Look what I found!

Flour, rice!

We'll live like kings now!

Good for you, Masha!

I would have died without you.

Sure thing,

with your delicate hands.

- What are we going to do now?

- Wait for the fishermen.

They'll be here in a couple of weeks

for fishing, and they'll help us.

I hope they will.

Or what if Yevsyukov shows up?

That would be a real luck,

wouldn't it?

Yes... real luck.

My sweet Man Friday.

There you go again.

I told you:

there's such a story,

about a man finding himself

on an island.

And he had a friend

named Man Friday.

- Tell me about it.

- It's a long story.

We're in no hurry.

Tell me.

- I almost forgot it.

- Try to remember!

Tell me!

In the city of Liverpool,

once there lived a man.

His name was Robinson Crusoe.

And he had a passion

for traveling and adventures.

So he decided to see how people

live in other parts of the world

and set out

for a long journey

on a tall sailing ship.

That's the story

of the adventures of Robinson

and his friend, Man Friday.

How interesting!

I could listen to it

forever...

You liked it?

How do you know all that?

I wasn't born a lieutenant.

Before the w*r, I was a student.

Studying philology.

And I had a normal

human life:

our house in Petersburg,

books... Three walls of books.

Our lamp with a green lampshade.

What? Why did you stop?

Go on, tell me.

I don't feel like it.

I feel tired after my illness.

Oh, my poor, weak boy!

Oh hell, how nonsensical!

What do you mean?

Life is so nonsensical!

I've lived 27 years,

wandering around the world

in search of some ideal.

If someone had told me

that here, surrounded by the sea,

I would spend the most

content days of my life,

I would have never believed it.

- What days did you say?

- Content.

The days when...

...you merge into nature,

when you feel part of it

and rejoice

together with it.

You speak like a learned man,

I will put it simply: I am happy.

I wish I never had

to leave this island.

Just stay here forever.

Basking in the sun.

No, I wouldn't stay here.

I miss real people.

- Aren't we real?

- Of course we are...

It's not the time

to loaf around.

Our men are shedding

their blood there.

You want to be

a soldier again?

Of course!

And I'm sick and tired

of all that nonsense!

So many years

of blood and venom!

The German w*r, the civil w*r!

- It's some nightmare!

- People are fighting for the truth.

I don't want that truth!

I want peace!

To get back to my books...

Forget everything!

So may the earth

split apart,

and you'll be

reading your books?

Split apart?

Let it split apart!

With no ideals,

no home country!

The devastated earth

is perishing!

Oh, hell!

There're thousands of truths!

For Germans, for Russians,

for peasants, for owners,

for the Bolsheviks!

I don't want

any other truth but my own!

I don't want to sully myself!

Let the others

rummage in the dung, right?

Yes, let the others do it!

Those who like it!

How can you?

Mashenka, wait!

I didn't mean to hurt you!

Try to understand, I'm very tired!

We'll get out of here

and go to my place.

We'll live together,

just the two of us.

You'll go to school.

You're offering me

to loll on a feather-bed with you

and eat chocolates?

Chocolates smeared with blood?

- Why are you being so crude?

- Crude?

And you want it handed to you

on a silver platter?

You don't like the Bolshevik truth,

but what do you know about it?

Do you know that it's

all soaked through with tears?

No, I don't know it.

It's strange. You're a girl,

but you've become so hardened.

To get mixed up

with the like of you! For shame!

Mashenka, let's go

and wallow in bed!

You sluggard!

You dirty louse!

Stop swearing!

Don't forget yourself! You lout!

You're lucky you are a woman.

I hate you! Trash!

For how long are we to go on

like that?

All right...

I'm sorry. It pains me

that I have hurt you.

Why? Are you hungry?

- Don't dare saying so! Do you hear?

- I hear you, I'm not deaf.

What kind of talk is that?

It's no way to talk.

We're in love with each other!

We lived so well before that fight!

You know what, my dear?

Forget about everything

there was between us.

Why?

What happened?

Nothing happened.

I just forgot myself

looking at your eyes.

Listening to your voice.

It's all gone now,

as if it has never been.

So calm down.

Better eat some fish.

As you wish!

I'm not forcing myself upon you.

Mashenka!

Why did I fall in love with you?

You're breaking my heart.

You have worn me out!

Stop it, Masha.

Calm yourself.

I thought you were strong! That

you were clever, would understand me!

Let's not talk about that now!

I'll think about it later.

But don't do it now,

don't cry, my dear.

Calm yourself.

Now, that's good.

Let's forget about it.

Mashenka!

My darling!

My good one!

You don't know yourself

how good you are.

Say that you love me.

I do, but I am grieved

that you're so backward.

Well, I've got some

grievances, too.

The revolution!

I dreamed of it as of a bride.

I believed in it.

In all my career of an officer

I've never laid

a finger on a soldier!

But they caught me in Gomel

and spit in my face!

Why?

And the other officers,

they bled the soldiers white!

How they abused us.

You forgot about it?

How can you talk

about your grievances?

Maybe you're right...

It's stupid.

I can't stand it

any longer!

If the fishermen are not here in

three days, I'll sh**t myself.

And wasn't it you

who called my a sluggard!

I did because

you deserved it.

Will you deny it?

Come on!

Say that you deserved it!

- Yes, I deserved it.

- So you got wiser now?

Yes, I got wiser. Thank you,

you helped me to get wiser.

It's too early to think

of getting back to my books.

I still have to live a real life!

And grit my teeth.

And bite like a wolf!

Did you really

come to your senses?

I did.

If we go back

to our books now

and let you

manage the land,

you're going to do

something terrible to it!

No, Man Friday!

A sail!

- A sail!

- The fishermen!

Mashenka!

Oh, my little fool!

The queen of the land of Amazons!

White sail is wandering alone

along waves...

Let go, you...

We need to give them a signal.

Why signal?

They may pass by us.

What if they head towards

the other island?

- Come on!

- Yes!

Stop fooling!

Fire three times!

That sail is very strange...

It doesn't look like

they're the fishermen.

Fire again.

Our men!

These are our men!

Hurry up, gentlemen!

This way!

Halt!

Halt, you lousy cadet!

Halt!

Masha...

Blue Eyes!

Blue Eyes!

Blue Eyes!

No, blue Eyes!