Song of Russia is a pro-Soviet propaganda film made and distributed by MGM Studios in 1944. The picture was credited as being directed by Gregory Ratoff, though Ratoff collapsed near the end of the five-month production, and was replaced by László Benedek, who completed principal photography; the credited screenwriters were Paul Jarrico and Richard Collins. The film starred Robert Taylor, Susan Peters and Robert Benchley. For alternate meanings of MGM, see MGM (disambiguation). ... Gregory Ratoff was an American film director, actor and producer. ... László Benedek (March 5. ... Paul Jarrico (January 12, 1915 – October 28, 1997) was an American screenwriter and film producer who was Blacklisted by the Hollywood movie studio bosses during the era of McCarthyism. ... It is proposed that this article be deleted, because of the following concern: Non-notable. ... There are many people known as Bob Taylor or Robert Taylor, including: Bob Taylor (cricketer) (born 1941), English cricketer Robert Taylor (cricketer) (1873-?), a different English cricketer Bob Taylor (footballer) (born 1967), English footballer Bob Taylor (hockey), ice hockey player, played for Boston Bruins Bob Taylor (luthier), American maker of... Susan Peters (July 3, 1921 - October 23, 1952) was an American film actress. ... Robert Charles Benchley (September 15, 1889 in Worcester, Massachusetts – November 21, 1945) was an American humorist, newspaper columnist, film actor, and drama editor. ...

The picture was a major studio release, and an unabashed pro-Soviet propaganda film. The House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) would later use Song of Russia as one of the three noted examples of pro-Soviet propaganda films made by Hollywood, the other two pictures being Warner's Mission to Moscow and RKO's The North Star. HUAC hearings House Committee on Un-American Activities (HUAC or HCUA) (1938–1975) was an investigative committee of the United States House of Representatives. ... The House Committee on Un-American Activities (HUAC) was an investigating committee of the United States House of Representatives. ... Warner Bros. ... Mission to Moscow is a 1943 movie directed by Michael Curtiz with a screen play by Howard Koch based on the book by Ambassador Joseph E. Davies. ... The classic opening logo of RKO Radio Pictures. ...

The plot of Song of Russia is stock melodrama, similar to other releases at the time. Robert Taylor plays a conductor who, along with his manager, played by Benchley, goes to Russia shortly before the outbreak of World War II. He falls in love with a beautiful Soviet pianist, played by Peters, while the two of them travel through the country on a 40-city tour, along the way seeing examples of happy, healthy, smiling and free Soviet citizens, blissfully living the Communist dream. This peaceful state is interrupted by the Nazi attack, the lovers horrified as they watch this Soviet Eden destroyed by the yoke of Nazism. Robert Charles Benchley (September 15, 1889 in Worcester, Massachusetts – November 21, 1945) was an American humorist, newspaper columnist, film actor, and drama editor. ... National Socialism redirects here. ...

After the fact, Robert Taylor protested that he had had to make the picture under duress, as he was under contract to MGM. This is the rationale he used to explain why he was a friendly witness during the HUAC hearings in the 1950's. MGM logo Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer or MGM, is a large media company, involved primarily in the production and distribution of cinema and television programs. ... The House Committee on Un-American Activities (HUAC) was an investigating committee of the United States House of Representatives. ...

External links

• Song of Russia at the Internet Movie Database
• Testimony before HUAC by Ayn Rand concerning this film, including synopsis