Knight Without Armour

Infobox Film
name = Knight Without Armour


caption = Original film poster as reproduced on bookcover
director = Jacques Feyder
producer = Alexander Korda
writer = Lajos Biró
Frances Marion
James Hilton (novel)
Arthur Wimperis (additional dialogue)
starring = Marlene Dietrich
Robert Donat
music = Miklós Rózsa
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
cinematography = Harry Stradling Sr.
editing = Francis Lyon
distributor = United Artists
released = 1 June 1937
runtime = 107 min
country = UK
awards =
language = English
budget =
preceded_by =
followed_by =
amg_id = 1:27581
imdb_id = 0029087

"Knight Without Armour" is a 1937 historical English drama film made by London Films and distributed by United Artists. It was directed by Jacques Feyder and produced by Alexander Korda from a screenplay by Lajos Biró adapted by Frances Marion from the novel by James Hilton. The music score was by Miklós Rózsa, his very first for a motion picture, with additional music by Tchaikovsky. The film stars Marlene Dietrich and Robert Donat.

Plot

Englishman A.J. Fothergill (Robert Donat) is recruited by Colonel Forrester (Laurence Hanray) to spy on Russia for the British government because he can speak the language fluently. As "Peter Ouranoff", he infiltrates a revolutionary group led by Axelstein (Basil Gill). The radicals try to blow up General Gregor Vladinoff (Herbert Lomas), the father of Alexandra (Marlene Dietrich). When the attempt fails, the would-be assassin is tracked down and killed in Peter's apartment. For his involvement, Peter is sent to Siberia.

World War I makes Alexandra a widow and brings the Bolsheviks to power, freeing Peter and Axelstein. When the Russian Civil War breaks out, Alexandra is arrested for being an aristocrat, and Peter is assigned by now-Commissar Axelstein to take her to Petrograd to stand trial. However, Peter instead takes her to the safety of the White Army. Their relief is short-lived; the Red Army defeats the White the next day and Alexandra is taken captive once more. Peter frees her again, and the two, now deeply in love, flee. They board a train, but arouse the suspicions of Poushkoff (John Clements), a Red official. Fortunately for them, the young Poushkoff is entranced by Alexandra's charm and beauty; he allows them to escape, then commits suicide.

The lovers board a boat traveling down the Volga River. Alexandra becomes seriously ill, forcing them to go ashore, where they become separated. Peter is about to be executed by the Whites when a battle erupts around him. He escapes in the confusion and catches the Red Cross train transporting Alexandra out of Russia.

Cast

*Marlene Dietrich as Alexandra Adraxine, née Vladinoff
*Robert Donat as A.J. Fothergill / "Peter Ouranoff"
*Irene Vanbrugh as Duchess
*Herbert Lomas as General Gregor Vladinoff
*Austin Trevor as Colonel Adraxine
*Basil Gill as Axelstein
*David Tree as Maronin
*John Clements as Poushkoff
*Frederick Culley as Stanfield
*Laurence Hanray as Colonel Forester
*Dorice Fordred as the Maid
*Franklin Kelsey as Tomsky
*Laurence Baskcomb as Commissar
*Hay Petrie as Station Master
*Miles Malleson as Drunken Red Commissar

Further reading

*cite journal |first= Sarah|last= Street|year= 2005|title= Sets of the imagination: Lazare Meerson, set design and performance in Knight Without Armour (1937)|journal= Journal of British Cinema and Television|publisher= Edinburgh University Press|url= |volume= 2|issue= 1|pages= 18–35|doi= 10.3366/jbctv.2005.2.1.18

External links

*tcmdb title|id=80463
* [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0029087/ Knight Without Armour: IMDB entry]