The Russian Miracle
Das russische Wunder
Synopsis
A two-part East German documentary tracing Russia’s transformation from the Tsarist Empire to the Soviet Union, from the 1917 October Revolution to the achievements of the space program. Directed by Andrew Thorndike and Annelie Thorndike, the film assembles extensive archival footage to chart political upheaval, ideological consolidation, and technological ambition in twentieth-century Russia. Produced by DEFA and first broadcast on East German television in 1963.
Top Cast
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Wolfgang Heinz
(narrator)
Günter Grabbert
(narrator)
Fred Düren
(narrator)
Günther Simon
(narrator)
Horst Drinda
(narrator)
Lotte Loebinger
(narrator)
Wolfgang Langhoff
(narrator)
Helmut Müller-Lankow
(narrator)
Walter Niklaus
(narrator)
Yuriy Yakovlev
(Russian version narrator)
George Coulouris
(English version narrator)
Mark Dignam
(English version narrator)
Ina De La Haye
(English version narrator)
Gerry Wolff
(English version narrator)
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Annelie Thorndike, Andrew Thorndike
- Screenplay & Story
- Klaus Alde, Joachim Hadaschik, Annelie Thorndike, Manfred Krause, Andrew Thorndike, Richard Cohn-Vossen
- Original Score
- Paul Dessau
- Original Title
- Das russische Wunder
- Country of Origin
- East Germany
- Spoken Languages
- German
- Runtime
- 3h 49m
- Production Studios
- DEFA-Studio für Dokumentarfilme
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Annelie Thorndike, Andrew Thorndike
Klaus Alde, Joachim Hadaschik, Annelie Thorndike, Manfred Krause, Andrew Thorndike, Richard Cohn-Vossen
Paul Dessau
Renate Cohn-Vossen, Christa Bramann
Department Leadership Roster
Renate Cohn-Vossen
Editor
Christa Bramann
Editor
Annelie Thorndike
Director
Klaus Alde
Writer
Joachim Hadaschik
Writer
Annelie Thorndike
Writer
Andrew Thorndike
Director
Manfred Krause
Writer
Andrew Thorndike
Writer
Richard Cohn-Vossen
Writer
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Russian Miracle.
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Russian Miracle
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Russian Miracle about?
A two-part East German documentary tracing Russia’s transformation from the Tsarist Empire to the Soviet Union, from the 1917 October Revolution to the achievements of the space program. Directed by Andrew Thorndike and Annelie Thorndike, the film assembles extensive archival footage to chart political upheaval, ideological consolidation, and technological ambition in twentieth-century Russia. Produced by DEFA and first broadcast on East German television in 1963.
Who directed The Russian Miracle?
The Russian Miracle was directed by Annelie Thorndike, Andrew Thorndike.
Who stars in The Russian Miracle?
The principal cast of The Russian Miracle includes Wolfgang Heinz, Günter Grabbert, Fred Düren, Günther Simon, Horst Drinda.
When was The Russian Miracle released and how long is it?
The Russian Miracle was released in 1963 with a total runtime of 3h 49m.
Who composed the musical score for The Russian Miracle?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Russian Miracle was composed by Paul Dessau.