while this movie style isn not a understated and realistic a a sound version probably would have be and this be still a very good film . in fact and it be see a an excellent film in it day and a it be nominate for the first best picture oscar ( lose to wing ) . i still consider wing to be a superior film and but this one be excellent despite a little bit of overact by the lead and emil jannings . jannings be a general from czarist russia who be live out his final day make a few buck in the 1920s by be a hollywood extra . his luck appear to have change a he get a casting call to play an imperial russian general fighting against the communist during the revolution . naturally this isn not much of a stretch act wise and but it also get the old man to think about the old day and the revolution . exactly what happen next i will leave to you and but it a pretty good film particularly at the end . by the way and look for william powell a the russian director . despite be make in 1928 and with the makeup he doesn not look much young than he do in many of his late film .