Emil Jannings (General Dolgorucki), Evelyn Brent (Natascha Dobrowa), William Powell (Leo Andreiev), Nicholas Soussanin (adjutant), Michael Visaroff (Serge, the valet), Jack Raymond (assistant director), Viacheslav Savitsky (private), Fritz Feld (revolutionist), Harry Semels (soldier), Alexander Ikonnikov, Nicholas Kobyliansky (drill- masters), Shep Houghton (Russian youth).Director: JOSEF VON STERNBERG. Screenplay: John F. Goodrich. Based on an original story by Lajos Biro and Josef von Sternberg (which was in turn based on a suggestion by Ernst Lubitsch). Titles: Herman J. Mankiewicz. Photography: Bert Glennon. Film editor: William Shea. Art director: Hans Dreier. Make-up: Fred C. Ryle. Technical adviser: Nicholas Kobyliansky. Production supervisor: J. G. Bachmann. Associate producer: B. P. Schulberg.Copyright 21 January 1928 by Paramount Famous Lasky Corp. Presented by Adolph Zukor and Jesse L. Lasky. New York opening at the Rialto, 22 January 1928. U.S. release: 21 January 1928. 9 reels. 8,154 feet. 90 minutes.SYNOPSIS: Former Russian general is reduced to working as an extra in Hollywood.NOTES: Academy Award, Best Actor, Emil Jannings (for this picture and The Way of All Flesh). Also nominated for Best Picture (Wings) and Original Story (Underworld).Number 3 in the Film Daily poll of U.S. film critics (after The Patriot and Sorrell and Son).COMMENT: One of the films that confirms Chaplin's observation that just as the Silent Cinema achieved maturity, it was thrown away. Von Sternberg's fluid direction is a joy to watch and his ironic story is concisely told with a minimum of sub-titles. Jannings deserved his Academy Award and is given excellent support, particularly by Brent and Visaroff.

On a movie set in 1927 there is a call for an extra to play a Russian general in a war scene. The director (William Powell) calls in an old man (Emil Jannings) who receives the call at his boarding house. The old and confused man arrived at the studio amid a crowd of extras. As he pins a medal on his costume, he tells the story of how the Czar had given it to him and we flash back to 1917.Jannings in a general in the Russian army and a cousin to the czar, He recalls dealing with two revolutionaries: a theatre director (Powell) and a beautiful actress (Evelyn Brent). While Powell is sent off to prison (from which he escapes) he takes Brent along with him as a consort. She eventually learns that his love for Russia is true and deep and she falls for him.But while on a train to Petrograd, revolutionaries overtake the train and kill most of the military men. As they beat and harangue the general, Brent jumps to the front and demands that they take him to Petrograd to hang him in public. Brandishing her revolutionary flag in the wintry wind while she screams to the crowds, Brent is remarkable.As the train proceeds with its prized prisoner, Brent helps Jannings jump off the train to safety as she explains this was the only way she could save him. From a snowbank, the general watches as the train speeds away across a bridge over an icy river.Back in Hollywood, the old man is stirred by his memories of old Russia and as the movie scene is set he blinks and stares at the familiar images of war. As the director yells for lights, camera the old man, who has now totally lost his hold on reality, engages in a ferocious scene of war action, raising the flag of old Russia in one last burst of glory, his last command.Emil Jannings is just superb in this film and won the first Best Actor Oscar for it; the finale is an emotional tour de force. Evelyn Brent is also excellent and gives perhaps her finest performance. This was an important film role for William Powell as well.This is a beautifully done film and is not to be missed.

The Last Command (1928) is a silent film directed by Josef von Sternberg.It shows us Czarist General, Grand Duke Sergius Alexander (Emil Jannings) in his days of glory.In 1917 he had all the power but after the revolution and the collapse of Imperial Russia he has nothing.He also had the love of a woman, Natalie Dabrova (Evelyn Brent).About ten years later he applies for a small part in a film about the revolution.His old enemy Lev Andreyev (William Powell) is the director who gets to choose whether to hire him as a film extra or not.The Last Command is very good silent drama.Emil Jannings does memorable role work in the lead.Evelyn Brent is wonderful playing the woman lead.William Powell is great as always.There are plenty of scenes to remember in this movie.Like many scenes with Jannings and Brent.And then there is the ending with Powell and Jannings.This is a movie that touches in many parts.

The Last Command was one of the best movies I've ever seen. Chronicling the rise and fall of a Russian dictator with so much power, emotion, and humanity that it is very easy to forget this is a silent picture. Emil Jannings as General Dolgurucki shows such mad obsession for power over everyone and everything, only to be betrayed by his entire country and left a sad withering shell of the man he once was. The scene where Jannings gives his "last command" was amazing in his portrayal of the sad old man reliving his glory days. The flaring of his eyes, the strength of his stature, the passion of his words are a fitting end to a great man's life. It make sense that the general would die on a movie set since it was the only plausible place left that he could die an honorable death on the battle field. Perhaps The Last Command is a portrait of the first method actor, but that would sell it short because it is about so much more than that. Every character seems to have a few tricks up their respective sleeves, or skirts. One of the running themes is that people are capable of anything, and it shows to a great extent. The general goes through such a physical change from stately dictator to grubby extra that it is hard to believe that each end of the spectrum ever had anything to do with the other.