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In 1949, distinguished Soviet filmmaker Sergei Gerasimov made a visit to New York City, where he railed against the immoralities of Hollywood movies. Be that as it may, Gerasimov's The Young Guard managed to secure bookings in Manhattan. Based on a best-selling novel by Alexander Fadeyev, the film stars Vladimir Ivanov as Oleg Koshevol, a Russian teenager who nobly serves his mother-country during WW II. With the help of his friends, Oleg successfully sabotages Nazi installations and encampments -- over and over again. Originally released in two parts, The Young Guard was pared down to a single 135-minute release for American consumption. In its original from, the film was honored with a State Prize in the USSR.