Editing Battleship Potemkin (section)

===Act IV: The Odessa Steps===
The citizenry of Odessa take to their boats, sailing out to the ''Potemkin'' to support the sailors, while a crowd of others gather at the [[Potemkin Stairs|Odessa steps]] to witness the happenings and cheer on the rebels. Suddenly a detachment of dismounted [[Cossack host|Cossacks]] form battle lines at the top of the steps and march toward a crowd of unarmed civilians including women and children, and begin firing and advancing with fixed bayonets. Every now and again, the soldiers halt to fire a volley into the crowd before continuing their impersonal, machine-like assault down the stairs, ignoring the people's pleas. Meanwhile, government cavalry attack the fleeing crowd at the bottom of the steps as well, cutting down many of those who survived the dismounted assault. Brief sequences show individuals among the people fleeing or falling, a baby carriage rolling down the steps, a woman shot in the face, broken glasses, and the high boots of the soldiers moving in unison.<ref>Motion Pictures, Art of; pages 499 & 525, Vol 12, Encyclopaedia Britannica Macropaedia</ref>

In retaliation, the sailors of the ''Potemkin'' use the guns of the battleship to fire on the city opera house, where Tsarist military leaders are convening a meeting. Meanwhile, there is news that a squadron of loyal warships is coming to quell the revolt of the ''Potemkin''.