From the 1917 Revolution to the death of Stalin in 1953, Soviet film propaganda evolved in both substance and form to reflect the changing political goals of the party. Soviet film propaganda, like the Communist Party that controlled it, went through three major periods during those years: the Revolution through the end of the New Economic Policy, Stalinization and modernization, and the Great Patriotic War years. To achieve their political goals, the Communist Party focused preserving the ideals of the Revolution, justifying Bolshevik leadership, uniting the people, promoting the politics of the cultural revolution, and justifying Stalin’s leadership and methods. Through the vivid power of film, great filmmakers promoted the changing policies of the Communist Party to audiences across Russia and throughout the world.