A Russian & Soviet Movie Podcast with Ally Pitts

Ally Pitts
  • 4.7 (14)
  • Film Reviews
  • Updated Monthly

Cinephile, history fan, and one-time Muscovite Ally Pitts explores contemporary and Soviet-era Russian language cinema one film at a time! The show combines interviews and movie discussion, and features expert guests including authors, journalists, stand-up comedians, and indie podcasters. From time to time, it also tackles Hollywood’s attempts to bring aspects of Russian culture, literature, and history to the Silver Screen.

  1. 4d ago ·  Bonus

    BONUS: The Passion of Joan of Arc (Carl Theodor Dreyer; 1928) Ally guests on Media-eval: A Medieval Pop-Culture Podcast

    To celebrate Silent Movie Day—29th September every year!—host Ally Pitts shares a favourite episode from his podcasting archive. Back in 2021, deep in the Covid-19 pandemic he guested on Media-eval: A Medieval Pop-Culture Podcast, hosted by historian Dr. Sarah Ifft-Decker. Ally also trails that the next regular episode of A Russian & Soviet Movie Podcast will be about Lev Kuleshov's 1926 gothic western masterpiece By the Law. Support Ally's film & culture work, keep the show on the road etc. patreon.com/cw/allypittsmoviesbooksmusicetc UK & Republic of Ireland folks, you can support the show by buying from Ally's bookshop.org affiliate shop. Folks elsewhere, please have a browse and get inspiration for what you might want to pick up from your nearest independent bookshop! uk.bookshop.org/shop/russian-soviet-movie-podcast Buy The Story of Film by Mark Cousins (hardback) from Ally's UK bookshop.org affiliate shop Buy The Story of Film by Mark Cousins (audiobook) from Ally's UK bookshop.org affiliate shop Buy The Fruit of Her Hands Jewish and Christian Women’s Work in Medieval Catalan Cities by Dr Sarah Ifft-Decker from from Ally's UK bookshop.org affiliate shop More links! Event listings by US state & by countries besides the US: https://silentmovieday.org/participate-1  https://silentmovieday.org/about-nsmd  Ultimate Picture Palace Oxford: https://uppcinema.com/show/a-page-of-madness-live-score/ Her Head in Films episode on The Passion of Joan of Arc https://www.criterion.com/current/posts/69-realized-mysticism-in-the-passion-of-joan-of-arc Socials: All the links for a Russian & Soviet Movie Podcast and Ally Pitts you're ever likely to want or need: linktr.ee/russiansovietmoviepodcast linktr.ee/ally_pitts  YouTube: youtube.com/@russiansovietmoviepodcast Letterboxd: letterboxd.com/Ally_Pitts/ Instagram: instagram.com/russiansovietmoviepodcast/  instagram.com/allypittsmoviesbooksmusicetc/  Listen to Ally's other podcast appearances on Podchaser

  2. Sep 22 ·  Bonus

    29th September is Silent Movie Day!

    29th September is Silent Movie Day, which means cinemas/movie theaters around the world will be showing some of the best surviving films from this incredible era of film! In this mini-sode, host Ally Pitts also trails that the next regular episode of the show will be about Lev Kuleshov's 1926 gothic western masterpiece By the Law. Links mentioned/alluded to in the episode: Event listings by US state & by countries besides the US: https://silentmovieday.org/participate-1  https://silentmovieday.org/about-nsmd  Ultimate Picture Palace Oxford: https://uppcinema.com/show/a-page-of-madness-live-score/ Contact us/socials: All the links for a Russian & Soviet Movie Podcast and Ally Pitts you're ever likely to want or need: linktr.ee/russiansovietmoviepodcast linktr.ee/ally_pitts  We changed the name of the show quite a while back, but the social handles/contacts are a bit of a mishmash. Letterboxd: letterboxd.com/Ally_Pitts/ Instagram: instagram.com/russiansovietmoviepodcast/  instagram.com/allypittsmoviesbooksmusicetc/  Listen to Ally's other podcast appearances on Podchaser

  3. Trailer

    Introduction: what to expect from the show

    Host and creator Ally Pitts outlines what you can expect from the podcast, shares why he started it, and his experience of making the show since 2017. He signposts some popular episodes to get you started. He also outlines the show's position on the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. Short version: the show stands with Ukraine. This trailer was written, recorded, and released late August 2026. Contact us/socials: All the links for a Russian & Soviet Movie Podcast and Ally Pitts you're ever likely to want or need: linktr.ee/russiansovietmoviepodcast linktr.ee/ally_pitts  Letterboxd: letterboxd.com/Ally_Pitts/ Instagram: instagram.com/russiansovietmoviepodcast/  instagram.com/allypittsmoviesbooksmusicetc/  Listen to Ally's other podcast appearances on Podchaser

  4. Jul 25 ·  Bonus

    R.E.M.'s New Adventures in Hi-Fi + Ally introduces Sherlock Jr in Oxford Mon 27th July '26

    Ally Pitts will be introducing Silents Synched's R.E.M. x Sherlock Jr, directed by Buster Keaton at the Ultimate Picture Palace in Oxford on Monday 27th July '26 as part of the Oxford Comedy Festival 2026. Besides this show, Ally co-hosts Gentlemen Don't Get Caught: An R.E.M. track-by-track podcast with Lyn Seren. More links mentioned/alluded to in the episode: https://uppcinema.com/show_type/oxford-comedy-festival-2026/  https://oxfordcomedyfestival.co.uk/ourshows  https://www.silentsynced.com/  https://silentmovieday.org/ Contact us/socials: All the links for a Russian & Soviet Movie Podcast and Ally Pitts you're ever likely to want or need: linktr.ee/russiansovietmoviepodcast linktr.ee/ally_pitts  We changed the name of the show quite a while back, but the social handles/contacts are a bit of a mishmash. Letterboxd: letterboxd.com/Ally_Pitts/ Instagram: instagram.com/russiansovietmoviepodcast/  instagram.com/allypittsmoviesbooksmusicetc/  Listen to Ally's other podcast appearances on Podchaser Email: russophilesunite@gmail.com

  5. Jul 19 ·  Bonus

    R.E.M.'s Monster + Ally introduces Sherlock Jr in Oxford Mon 27th July '26

    Ally Pitts will be introducing Silents Synched's R.E.M. x Sherlock Jr, directed by Buster Keaton at the Ultimate Picture Palace in Oxford on Monday 27th July '26 as part of the Oxford Comedy Festival 2026. Besides this show, Ally co-hosts Gentlemen Don't Get Caught: An R.E.M. track-by-track podcast with Lyn Seren. More links mentioned/alluded to in the episode: https://uppcinema.com/show_type/oxford-comedy-festival-2026/  https://oxfordcomedyfestival.co.uk/ourshows  https://www.silentsynced.com/  https://silentmovieday.org/ Contact us/socials: All the links for a Russian & Soviet Movie Podcast and Ally Pitts you're ever likely to want or need: linktr.ee/russiansovietmoviepodcast linktr.ee/ally_pitts  We changed the name of the show quite a while back, but the social handles/contacts are a bit of a mishmash. Letterboxd: letterboxd.com/Ally_Pitts/ Instagram: instagram.com/russiansovietmoviepodcast/  instagram.com/allypittsmoviesbooksmusicetc/  Listen to Ally's other podcast appearances on Podchaser Email: russophilesunite@gmail.com

  6. Jul 5 ·  Bonus

    What's the Frequency, Buster? Keaton's silent classic returns to screens with an epic 1990s soundtrack

    Ally Pitts will be introducing Silents Synched's R.E.M. x Sherlock Jr, directed by Buster Keaton as part of the Oxford Comedy Festival 2026. Besides this show, Ally co-hosts Gentlemen Don't Get Caught: An R.E.M. track-by-track podcast with Lyn Seren. More links mentioned/alluded to in the episode: https://uppcinema.com/show_type/oxford-comedy-festival-2026/  https://oxfordcomedyfestival.co.uk/ourshows  https://www.silentsynced.com/  https://silentmovieday.org/ Contact us/socials: All the links for a Russian & Soviet Movie Podcast and Ally Pitts you're ever likely to want or need: linktr.ee/russiansovietmoviepodcast linktr.ee/ally_pitts  We changed the name of the show quite a while back, but the social handles/contacts are a bit of a mishmash. Letterboxd: letterboxd.com/Ally_Pitts/ Instagram: instagram.com/russiansovietmoviepodcast/  instagram.com/ally_pitts_movies_etc/  Listen to Ally's other podcast appearances on Podchaser Email: russophilesunite@gmail.com

  7. Mar 22 ·  Bonus

    POLISH CINEMA! Celebrating Andrzej Wajda’s centenary in 2026

    Our host Ally Pitts has co-programmed a season of four films by the Polish director Andrzej Wajda at Oxford's Ultimate Picture Palace cinema as part of the Kinoteka Polish Film Festival 2026. To launch the season, he’ll be introducing Ashes and Diamonds there at 3pm on Sunday 12th April. https://uppcinema.com/show_type/kinoteka-on-tour-2026/ More links mentioned/alluded to in the episode: For a 30-day free trial of the streaming service Klassiki: https://klassiki.online/arussiansovietmoviepodcast/ If you use the code RUPOD50, you can get 50% off an annual subscription. https://uppcinema.com/show_type/kinoteka-on-tour-2026/  https://kinoteka.org.uk/programme/strands/kinoteka-on-tour/manchester  https://kinoteka.org.uk/programme/strands/kinoteka-on-tour/edinburgh https://kinoteka.org.uk/programme/strands/kinoteka-on-tour/newcastle https://kinoteka.org.uk/programme  https://letterboxd.com/ally_pitts/list/my-10-favourite-polish-films/  https://letterboxd.com/ally_pitts/list/my-klassiki-recommendations-updated-regularly/detail/  https://www.secondrundvd.com/index.html  Contact us/socials: All the links for a Russian & Soviet Movie Podcast and Ally Pitts you're ever likely to want or need: linktr.ee/russiansovietmoviepodcast linktr.ee/ally_pitts  We changed the name of the show quite a while back, but the social handles/contacts are a bit of a mishmash. Letterboxd: letterboxd.com/Ally_Pitts/ Instagram: instagram.com/russiansovietmoviepodcast/  instagram.com/ally_pitts_movies_etc/  Listen to Ally's other podcast appearances on Podchaser Email: russophilesunite@gmail.com

  8. 11/30/2025

    NOIRVEMBER SPECIAL: Not Russian, a novel by Mikhail Shevelev

    Cameron Lallana of The Slavic Literature Pod joins host Ally Pitts for a special episode on this short but hard-hitting novel about a Russian journalist whose life is thrown into chaos when a figure from his past suddenly comes back into his life as the leader of a terrorist group. The premise sounds run-of-the-mill, but the execution is anything but as the situation causes our protagonist to dig into his memories of the past few decades to try to figure out what has happened to Russian society during that time. Links mentioned/alluded to in the episode: https://slaviclitpod.com/ https://europaeditions.co.uk/book/9781787704879/not-russian  https://www.europaeditions.com/author/337/mikhail-shevelev  https://letterboxd.com/ally_pitts/list/noirvember-2024/detail/ Not Russian By Mikhail Shevelev (uk.bookshop.org affiliate link)  A Very Short Introduction to Film Noir (uk.bookshop.org affiliate link) - Film Noir https://ko-fi.com/russiansovietmoviepod https://patreon.com/ally_pitts_movies_etc BBC Radio 4 - The Reith Lectures, Geoffrey Hosking - The Rediscovery of Politics https://herheadinfilms.com/  Contact us/socials: All the links for a Russian & Soviet Movie Podcast and Ally Pitts you're ever likely to want or need: linktr.ee/russiansovietmoviepodcast linktr.ee/ally_pitts  We changed the name of the show a little while back, but the social handles/contacts are a bit of a mishmash. Email: russophilesunite@gmail.com Letterboxd: letterboxd.com/Ally_Pitts/ Instagram: instagram.com/russiansovietmoviepodcast/  instagram.com/ally_pitts_movies_etc/  Listen to Ally's other podcast appearances on Podchaser

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4.7
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About

Cinephile, history fan, and one-time Muscovite Ally Pitts explores contemporary and Soviet-era Russian language cinema one film at a time! The show combines interviews and movie discussion, and features expert guests including authors, journalists, stand-up comedians, and indie podcasters. From time to time, it also tackles Hollywood’s attempts to bring aspects of Russian culture, literature, and history to the Silver Screen.

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