The only thing scarier than Stalin? His own terrified yes-men plotting his demise.
In late 1952, an aging and increasingly paranoid Stalin puts in motion a purge against his doctors, with antisemitic overtones. His lackeys, including Khrushchev, Molotov and Beria, fear it will spread to the Politburo, and plan to strike first.
Acting
Melvyn Douglas makes Stalin terrifying without leaving his chair.
Direction
Mann turns living rooms into execution chambers.
Writing
Dialogue so sharp you'll forget it's mostly true.
Director
Delbert Mann
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Adapted from a 1952 'Playhouse 90' live broadcast so controversial it was suppressed for years; this 1958 film version used the original actors.
Released months after Khrushchev's actual Secret Speech denouncing Stalin—Hollywood accidentally made real-time political commentary.
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