BBC RADIO 4 - Russia's Lone Rangers: "Lucy Ash explores the history of the Red Westerns, action films made in the former Soviet Union during the Brezhnev era. White Sun of the Desert, based on the experiences of a soldier who fought in Central Asia during the Civil War, remains popular to this day."

Story: New Statesman: "Soviet-era cowboy films have inspired politicians, writers and cosmonauts alike (...) While Pravda editorials attacked decadent Hollywood, Soviet leaders couldn't resist a good western. Stalin was both fascinated and infuriated by John Wayne; the American actor's anti-communism so disturbed Uncle Joe that, accor ding to Orson Welles, he once sent the KGB to California to assassinate him."