The Inner Circle *** (1991, Tom Hulce, Lolita Davidovich, Bob Hoskins, Aleksandr Zbruyev, Feodor Chaliapin Jr) – Classic Movie Review 11,454

Russian director Andrei Konchalovsky’s 1991 drama film The Inner Circle stars Tom Hulce, Lolita Davidovich and Bob Hoskins in a real-life story in which a Russian film projectionist finds himself on placement to Stalin and becomes absorbed into the Communist Party.

Tom Hulce plays Joseph Stalin’s private projectionist and KGB officer Ivan Sanchin (real name Alex Ganchin) between 1939 and 1953, the year Stalin died.

The Inner Circle is on the whole a successful and unusual drama thanks to the central performances from Hulce, Hoskins and the popular Russian actor Aleksandr Zbruyev (as Stalin).

Konchalovsky was the first director to gain access to film in the hallowed interior of the Kremlin.

Written by Andrei Konchalovsky and Anatoliy Usov, it is based on a true story.

It is an American, Italian and Russian co-production in English, with a running time of 137 minutes.

Also in the cast are Lolita Davidovich as Anastasia, Bob Hoskins as Lavrentiy Beria, Aleksandr Zbruyev as Joseph Stalin, Feodor Chaliapin Jr as Professor Bartnev, Bess Meyer as Katya (16 years), Mariya Baranova as Katya (10 years), Irina Kupchenko as Directress, Vladimir Kuleshov as Colonel Schelkasov, Vsevolod Larionov as General Rumiantsev, Aleksandr Filippenko as Major Khitrov, and Evdokiya Germanova as Governess.

© Derek Winnert 2021 Classic Movie Review 11,454

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