HOUSE ON THE FRONT LINE

Original Russian 29 1/4 inch x 41 inch Poster for the 1962 Stanislav Rostotsky Russian World War II Drama THE HOUSE ON THE FRONT LINE (NA SEMI VETRAKH) starring Larisa Luzhina, Vyacheslav Tikhonov, Sofiya Pilyavskaya, Klara Luchko and Vladimir Zamansky.

In 1942 Stanislav Rostotsky was enrolled in the Red Army. In 1944 Rostotsky was seriously injured during the fight near Dubno when he was driven over by a Nazi tank. He survived only due to a trench where his body was partly buried. According to Rostotsky, one of his legs was ruined, as well as his rib cage and his hand. “In addition, a shell fragment hurt me in the head… Good thing the mates took my gun away — otherwise I would’ve probably shot myself. Because I spent 22 hours lying in that swamp, losing my consciousness, so I had time to think.” He was saved by one of the passing soldiers and then — by a front nurse Anna Chugunova who carried him to the hospital. He later dedicated his film The Dawns Here Are Quiet to her. As a result, Rostotsky lost one of his feet. He wore a prosthesis, yet never mentioned it and led an active life. Many people working with him didn’t even realise he was disabled. He was awarded the 1st class Order of the Patriotic War and the Order of the Red Star.

On September, 1944 at the age of 22 Stanislav joined VGIK (Gerasimov Institute of Cinematography) to become a film director. His teacher was Grigori Kozintsev. He studied for seven years, simultaneously working as Kozintsev’s assistant at the Lenfilm studio. In 1952 Rostotsky directed his graduation movie Ways-Roads. The movie was ultimately banned by censorship, yet Rostotsky received good recommendations and was sent to work at the Gorky Film Studio where he spent 35 years.

Poster art by Datskevich

The film is set in the confines of a large house, at a crossroads of a border town, to which the pretty young Svetlana has come from far-off Vladivostok to await the return of her fighting sweetheart. Housed in this shattered “Grand Hotel” is, first, a team of war correspondents—one of whom wryly says of their rear-echelon position, “This is a fine place to publish a paper called ‘Forward.'” Later the newsmen and ladies leave to be supplanted by a field hospital which, in turn, is pushed back to the rear as an advance infantry company takes over this battered outpost. And, finally, as the tide of battle begins to favor the Russians, the “House” is again occupied by the hospital crew.

The poster is in very good folded condition with a few edge nicks and one short cross fold tear.