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Communism and Popular Culture in the 20th Century

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The monument to the Soviet writer Maxim Gorky. The statue is of Maxim Gorky sat down holding a walking stick.

The Ivor Montagu Papers

Montagu was a significant journalist and publicist of communist causes, whose less intensive involvement in party activities allowed him scope for an extraordinary range of interests.
Kevin Morgan,  University of Manchester

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Explore the intersection between popular culture and communism through the eyes of a prominent activist

An image of the podium at the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow, featuring Soviet athletes Nikolay Solodukhin and Iliyan Nedkov.

Ivor Montagu (1904-1984) was best known for his work as a filmmaker, scriptwriter, and producer. He was also a trained naturalist, the founder of the International Table Tennis Federation, president of the Southampton F.C. Supporters’ Club, and an active member of the Communist Party of Great Britain (CPGB). 

This collection contains Montagu’s personal, political, and professional papers. Of particular interest is his correspondence with prominent public figures such as Alfred Hitchcock, Bernard Shaw, and Solly Zuckerman. Montagu’s papers are a useful resource for students and scholars who are interested in the impact of communism on British popular culture and vice-versa.

The collection is accompanied by three contextual essays written by Professor Kevin Morgan, a senior academic at the University of Manchester.

Contents

Communism and Popular Culture in the 20th Century...

The Ivor Montagu Papers

Discover 
A black and white image of the Soviet 1960 Olympics women's fencing team. There are six women stood in a row with matching tracksuits that read 'CCCP'.

Highlights

Olympic-themed stamp featuring an illustration of two runners with the text Magyar Posta beneath, dated 1980.

Licensed to access International relations, politics, and sport, 1922-1953

These items, which cover events such as the 1936 Olympic Games and discussions about sport's diplomatic function, shed light on Montagu's keen interest in the politics of sport.
Black and white photograph of several men dressed in military attire, with one in a heavy coat.

Licensed to access Lobbying for Trotsky’s entry to Britain, 1929-1931

Montagu’s extensive social network and influence is outlined through this episode with Russian revolutionary Leon Trotsky. Montagu lobbied for Trotsky's entry to and asylum in Britain after his banishment from the Soviet Union.
Top section of a typed letter addressed to Ivor Montagu, dated 19 October 1976. Features a Communist Party of Great Britain letterhead.

Licensed to access Correspondence relating to written publications abroad, 1938-1976

These letters outline Montagu's credentials as a prominent writer. Montagu wrote extensively for publications in all corners of the globe on a wide range of subjects.
Commemorative coin celebrating the 100 year anniversary of the birth and 50 year anniversary of the death of Sergei Eisenstein, featuring a carving of Eisenstein's face and the dates 1898 and 1948.

Licensed to access Discussions on cultural politics, 1942-1965

This item highlights Montagu’s wide-ranging interest in cultural phenomenon and their adjacent politics, including his views on poetry, creative writing, cinema, and high-profile celebrities like Charlie Chaplin.

Insights

  • Like many of his communist peers, Montagu was born into a wealthy family. His father, Louis, was the 2nd Baron of Swaythling.
  • The collection draws from Montagu’s extensive personal papers, which offer a detailed and often intimate portrait of Montagu’s busy life as a socialite, from his childhood in elite education to his numerous political activities with the CPGB.
  • Montagu visited the Soviet Union from 1925 onwards and subsequently fell in love with the relatively new medium of cinema. He became the first film critic for The Observer and New Statesman magazines and eventually helped produce films for directors such as Alfred Hitchcock and Sergei Eisenstein during the 1920s and 1930s.
  • An avid sportsman, Montagu was a table tennis champion and is largely credited with reviving the sport to a highly competitive standard. His love and passion for sport is also shown through his personal collection of papers on association football and cricket.
  • During the early 1930s, Montagu formed a friendship with Leon Trotsky and lobbied the British government to grant him asylum. This friendship waned after Montagu joined the CPGB in 1931, and in 1936, Montagu officially denounced Trotsky as a counter revolutionary.
  • Montagu became a staunch Stalinist and vehemently denied any allegations of improper conduct on the part of the Soviet Union. This eventually led to Montagu being recruited as a Soviet spy during the Second World War under the code name ‘Intelligentsia’. His legacy in espionage is disputed, although, rather ironically, his brother did work for the MI5.
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