Chapaev Response
While watching the film today, I could not believe that one character(Chapaev and in some ways Furmanov) was being glorified above all others. Communism places a lot of emphasis on community and denounces individuality. Chapaev definitely seemed to be glorified for being a little different and inspring his soldiers. By being different, he was being successful. This seemed like something the Soviets would not want to encourage. Finally, at the end of the film everything made sense. Chapaev was killed by the White Army and the Red Army was able to vanguish the White Army without Chapaev's help. The ability of the Red Army to succeed without Chapaev is key because it shows that the cause(communism) extended beyond outstanding individuals and that only through excitement and determination by individuals would the cause be realized.

This combination of individual heroism and the overriding theme of community probably made this film the blockbuster that it was. It was not clearly propaganda, making it palatable for the proletariat. The former proletariat general also contributed to its popularity among the proletariat. The themes of community and the cause being bigger than the invidual made it popular among members of the Party and allowable by the Stalin regime.