There are not many films by Sergei Eisenstein that ARE NOT listed in "The Book" and for good reason. This Soviet director, who's films show great love for his country and it's history , was a true pioneer of the medium, who's technics were still borrowed by film makers. The majority of his films are political in nature especially his earliest which seems meant to justify the need and the justice of the Russian Revolution.
Strike (1924) The first of what could be called his homage to the revolution, Eisenstein shows the cruelty and injustice that would lead to the the strike of a factory in Russia. Full of images of the rich industry owners as fat cats and weasels, and rats, he present the workers in much more flattering images.
Battleship Potemkin (1925) After a series of indignities rained on the men on a navy battleship, one of which is being fed spoiled meat complete with crawling maggots, a rebellion is orchestrated. While not completely successful, the deaths suffered inspire others to rebel against injustice. This rebellion results in an extremely graphic massacre on the Odessa Steps that could well be one of the most copied scene every filmed.
October 1916: Ten Days That Shook the World (1926): All that revolting had to lead somewhere and October is the point where Eisenstein stages the revolution providing glimpses of the leaders and the revolution that broke out in the streets.
Ivan The Terrible Parts I & II (1945): Eisenstein looks back a bit farther into Russian history the present a story of Czar Ivan as he comes to power. Story goes that Stalin really liked Eisenstein and loved the first part of this movie. However, upon viewing the second part, he felt that Ivan was portrayed as extremely paranoid and cruel. With all that government purging going on thanks the Stalin's own plans, he pulled all support for Eisenstein's planned Part III.
Notable exceptions: With WWII close to a starting point and the threat of German invasion very real, Eisenstein filmed "Alexander Nevsky" the story of a 13th century Russian noblemen who lead his people against an invasion by the Teutonic Knights. A true treasure especially for it's battle sequences,
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