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October (Ten Days that Shook the World) (1927) movie poster

Timeline

October (Ten Days that Shook the World) (1927) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
1927 · 115 mins
JustWatch #33,591 4
Directed by
Sergei Eisenstein, Grigori Aleksandrov
Starring
Vasili Nikandrov, Vladimir Popov, Boris Livanov, Mikholyev, Layaschenko, Chibisov

Eisenstein's 1928 docu‑drama portrays the 1917 October Revolution, produced a decade after the upheaval. Using his signature Soviet Montage editing, the film stages and dramatizes pivotal moments of the Bolshevik takeover, presenting them in a triumphant, celebratory tone.

Drama Cast, crew & box office
On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (14)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like October (Ten Days that Shook the World)
  6. 6 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch October (Ten Days that Shook the World) (1927)

Where can you watch October (Ten Days that Shook the World)? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on IndieFlix, Fawesome and JustWatch TV: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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14 events in order · contains spoilers

October (Ten Days that Shook the World) Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of October (Ten Days that Shook the World) (1927) in order, scene by scene, with when and where it takes place. Use it to untangle flashbacks, time jumps and parallel storylines, to refresh your memory before the sequel or to find the exact scene you are thinking of.

  1. News of Sputnik 1 Launch Reaches Homer Hickam

    In October 1957, Homer Hickam learns about the Soviet Union's successful launch of Sputnik 1, which sparks his interest in rocketry. This event inspires Homer to pursue building his own rockets despite the community's skepticism. His family and friends remain skeptical of taking up space endeavors in a coal mining town.

    When
    October 1957
    Where
    Coalwood, West Virginia

  2. Homer Teams Up with Quentin Wilson and Friends

    Homer teams up with his friend Quentin Wilson, a math enthusiast who shares an interest in aerospace engineering. They begin constructing small rockets with the support of their friends Roy Lee Cooke, Sherman O'Dell, and their science teacher, Miss Riley. Their intention is to prove their capabilities in rocketry.

    When
    Shortly after Sputnik news
    Where
    Coalwood, West Virginia

  3. Rocket Builds Attract Townsfolk's Attention

    The boys' rocket launches draw attention from local townspeople. One of their rockets lands dangerously close to John's office, nearly injuring workers. John Hickam warns Homer against building rockets on his property, expressing concern for safety.

    When
    Shortly after initial rockets
    Where
    Near John's office, Coalwood

  4. Continued Rocket Development and Assistance from Ike Bykovsky

    The boys continue their rocket experiments by hiking beyond the coal company's property, with help from Ike Bykovsky, the mine's machine shop manager. His assistance helps them succeed, but he faces punishment from John for helping the boys, being sent to work in the mines.

    When
    Following initial launches
    Where
    Coalwood, near mine property

  5. Police Accuse Rocket Boys of Starting a Fire

    The rocket boys are accused by police of igniting a wildfire with a stray rocket. As a result, they are arrested, leading them to abandon their rocketry pursuits temporarily due to the charges and community fear.

    When
    After several successful launches
    Where
    Coalwood

  6. Mining Accident and Tragic Loss

    During a mining accident, John Hickam is injured, and Ike Bykovsky is killed. Homer feels responsible for the tragedy, which devastates him deeply. John later reassures Homer, revealing that Ike chose to work in the mines for better pay.

    When
    Following rocket abandonment
    Where
    Coalwood Mine

  7. Homer Decides to Return to School

    Homer drops out of high school to work in the mines to support his family while his father recovers from injury. Inspired by Miss Riley, he studies applied rocket science through books, learning to calculate rocket trajectories to improve his designs.

    When
    After tragedy and economic hardship
    Where
    Coalwood

  8. Proving Rocket's Non-Causing of Fire

    Using his knowledge, Homer and Quentin locate their missing rocket and demonstrate it couldn't have caused the wildfire. They present their findings to Miss Riley and the principal, who conclude the fire was caused by a flare from an airfield.

    When
    After re-engaging with rocketry
    Where
    Coalwood school

  9. Homer Resumes School and Wins Science Fair

    Homer decides to return to high school and excels in rocketry, winning the school science fair. He is selected to participate in the National Science Fair in Indianapolis, representing their school with his rocket projects.

    When
    Prior to National Science Fair
    Where
    Coalwood High School

  10. Strikes and Family Tensions

    The coal miners' union goes on strike against the coal company, threatening to shut down the mines. Homer, resenting the strike's impact, leaves home in anger, vowing not to return until the strike is resolved. This creates tension within his family.

    When
    During the lead-up to the National Science Fair
    Where
    Coalwood

  11. Homer Wins at the National Science Fair

    Homer's project, including a machined rocket part and an autographed picture of Wernher von Braun, wins top honors at the science fair. His display is well-received, leading to college scholarship offers and a close encounter with Dr. Von Braun, whom he admires.

    When
    During the National Science Fair
    Where
    Indianapolis, Indiana

  12. Community Support and Family Reconciliation

    The town's support helps Homer recover his stolen rocket parts. Homer's mother intervenes to end the strike, persuading John to support her son's aspirations. Homer also visits Miss Riley, who is terminally ill, paying tribute to her influence.

    When
    Following the science fair
    Where
    Coalwood and Indianapolis

  13. Rocket Launch of Miss Riley

    Homer launches his largest rocket, named in honor of Miss Riley, with nearly the entire town gathered. John is honored to push the launch button, and the rocket reaches an altitude of 30,000 feet, symbolizing Homer’s achievements and his father's pride.

    When
    After returning from Indianapolis
    Where
    Coalwood

  14. Future Paths and Final Reflection

    The epilogue reveals that the main characters went to college and had successful careers, with Homer eventually working at NASA. Miss Riley passed away, the mines closed, and John Hickam died later, but the story ends on a note of achievement and personal growth.

    When
    Later life, after the events of the story

Last updated: August 19, 2025 at 05:13

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Timeline questions answered

October (Ten Days that Shook the World) Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of October (Ten Days that Shook the World) (1927): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

What inspired Homer Hickam to start building rockets?

Homer was inspired by the Soviet Union's launch of Sputnik 1 in October 1957. When he learned that Russia had successfully placed the first artificial satellite in orbit, he became fascinated with the possibility of space exploration and decided to build his own rockets, despite living in a coal mining town where such pursuits were seen as impractical.

  • sputnik
  • hom Hickam
  • rocket building inspiration
  • space dream
Q2

Why did John Hickam oppose Homer's rocket experiments?

John Hickam wanted Homer to follow the traditional path in Coalwood by working in the coal mines, just as generations of their family had done. He saw rocketry as a dangerous distraction that would prevent his son from securing a stable future. Additionally, one of the early rockets landed dangerously close to his office, nearly injuring workers, which reinforced his opposition.

  • john hickam
  • father opposition
  • coal mines
  • rocket ban
Q3

What happened to Ike Bykovsky in the story?

Ike Bykovsky, the mine's machine shop manager who helped the boys with their rocket experiments, was punished by John Hickam for assisting them. He was sent to work in the mines, where he later died during a mining accident. John later told Homer that Ike had chosen to stay in the mines for better pay to support his family.

Foreshadowing: Ike's punishment for helping the boys foreshadows the tragic consequences of the mining accident.

  • ike bykovsky
  • mining accident
  • death
  • punishment
Q4

Why did Homer drop out of high school after the mining accident?

After the mining accident that injured his father and killed Ike Bykovsky, Homer felt responsible for the tragedy and decided to drop out of high school to work in the mines. He wanted to support his family financially while his father recovered from his injuries.

  • homer drops out
  • high school
  • mining work
  • family responsibility
Q5

How did Homer prove his rocket didn't start the wildfire?

After studying rocket science through books, Homer used his new knowledge to calculate trajectories. He and Quentin located their missing rocket and demonstrated that based on its flight path and engine burn time, it couldn't have reached the location where the wildfire started. They proved the fire was actually caused by a flare from a nearby airfield.

  • wildfire
  • rocket accused
  • innocence proof
  • trajectory calculation
Q6

What was the significance of the de Laval nozzle at the science fair?

Homer built a model of a de Laval nozzle, which is a crucial component of rocket engines that allows gases to expand and accelerate to supersonic speeds. His working model impressed judges at the National Science Fair and helped him win top honors, leading to college scholarship offers.

  • de laval nozzle
  • rocket engine
  • science fair
  • scholarship
Q7

Why did John Hickam end the miners' strike to help Homer?

When Homer's rocket models and his autographed picture of Dr. Wernher von Braun were stolen before the science fair, Homer called his mother for help. Elsie Hickam persuaded John to end the strike so the machine shop could build a replacement nozzle. Touched by his wife's insistence and frustration with his lack of support for their son, John agreed to end the strike.

  • miners strike
  • john hickam
  • eltie persuasion
  • family support
Q8

What happened to Miss Riley after the story?

Miss Riley, the science teacher who inspired Homer's interest in rocketry, was battling Hodgkin lymphoma during the events of the story. The epilogue reveals she passed away, but her influence on Homer and the other rocket boys continued throughout their lives and careers.

  • miss riley
  • hodgkin lymphoma
  • death
  • inspiration
Q9

Did Homer actually meet Wernher von Braun at the science fair?

Yes, Homer won the National Science Fair and met Dr. Wernher von Braun, though he didn't recognize him at first. This meeting was a pivotal moment for Homer, as von Braun was a legendary figure in space exploration who would later become a key figure at NASA.

  • wernher von braun
  • nasa
  • science fair meeting
  • inspiration
Q10

How high did the rocket named after Miss Riley fly?

The largest rocket Homer built, named "Miss Riley" in honor of his teacher, reached an altitude of 30,000 feet, higher than Mount Everest. This historic launch was witnessed by the entire town of Coalwood and symbolized the culmination of Homer's hard work and dreams.

  • miss riley rocket
  • 30000 feet altitude
  • coalwood launch
  • record
Q11

What career did Homer Hickam pursue after college?

After attending college on scholarships earned from his rocket achievements, Homer Hickam eventually worked at NASA. The epilogue reveals that all four rocket boys went on to successful careers, with Homer fulfilling the dreams that were sparked by Sputnik in 1957.

  • homer hickam nasa
  • career
  • rocket boys success
  • future
Q12

What changed between Homer and John Hickam to repair their relationship?

The relationship changed when John pushed the launch button for the Miss Riley rocket, showing public pride in his son's achievement. This moment, where John placed his hand on Homer's shoulder and smiled, marked the first time he openly supported and celebrated Homer's dreams, leading to their reconciliation.

  • father son reconciliation
  • pride
  • launch button
  • family healing

Movie threads

More Movies Like October (Ten Days that Shook the World), by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes October (Ten Days that Shook the World) tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Revolutionary Stories Like October (Ten Days that Shook the World)

Cinematic portrayals of historical upheavals, told with energy and optimism. If you enjoyed the optimistic and artistic portrayal of the 1917 October Revolution, explore other movies like October (Ten Days that Shook the World) that depict major historical upheavals with a celebratory and hopeful tone. These films capture the energy of political change.

  • inspiring
  • determined
  • triumphant
  • historical
  • political
  • energetic
  • Tone: hopeful, triumphant
  • Pacing: steady, rhythmic
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Narratives in this thread often dramatize key events from a historical turning point, structuring them as a series of pivotal moments leading to a victorious conclusion. They focus on the momentum of a collective movement and the ideological triumph, often using distinctive cinematic techniques to energize the story.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped together because they share a core belief in the positive potential of radical change. They possess a similar hopeful tone, a steady pace that builds toward a climax, and a focus on the inspirational aspects of revolution.

Jesus Revolution movie poster

Jesus Revolution

2023
!W.A.R.: !Women Art Revolution movie poster

!W.A.R.: !Women Art Revolution

2010
The Black Rose movie poster

The Black Rose

1950
The Red Detachment of Women movie poster

The Red Detachment of Women

1961
Here Come the Videofreex movie poster

Here Come the Videofreex

2016
Rooted in Peace movie poster

Rooted in Peace

2016
The Postman movie poster

The Postman

2025
Vietnam Colony movie poster

Vietnam Colony

1992

Epic Historical Films Like October (Ten Days that Shook the World)

Sweeping dramatizations of real events, brought to life with grand scale. Discover more epic historical dramatizations similar to October (Ten Days that Shook the World). These movies like October use a large scale and powerful visuals to bring major world events to life, offering a blend of education and cinematic spectacle.

  • historical
  • epic
  • grand
  • educational
  • nostalgic
  • reflective
  • Tone: neutral, celebratory
  • Pacing: steady, expansive
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Stories in this thread are defined by their commitment to recreating a documented historical event. The narrative is often driven by the real-world chronology of the event itself, prioritizing the sweep of history over deep individual character development. The goal is to convey the scale and impact of the moment.

Why they belong together: These movies are united by their documentary-like approach to grand history. They share a steady, deliberate pacing suitable for explaining complex events, a medium intensity focused on the drama of the situation, and a straightforward narrative structure that clearly presents cause and effect.

A Gathering of Eagles movie poster

A Gathering of Eagles

1963
Partition movie poster

Partition

2007
If I Were King movie poster

If I Were King

1938
One Night with the King movie poster

One Night with the King

2006
King of the Khyber Rifles movie poster

King of the Khyber Rifles

1953
The Gathering Storm movie poster

The Gathering Storm

2002
Hercules movie poster

Hercules

1958
In Pursuit of Honor movie poster

In Pursuit of Honor

1995

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Every angle

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