Moscow Nights

Moscow Nights - 1935 | 90 mins | Drama | B&W

The Production Team

Director: Anthony Asquith.
Asst Director: Teddy Baird.
Producer: Alex Granowsky.
Executive Producer: Alexander Korda.
Script: Anthony Asquith and Eric Siepmann. (from the novel by Pierre Benoit)
Cinematography: Phillip Tannura.
Art Direction: Vincent Korda.
Editing: Francis Lyon.
Supervising Editor: William Hornbeck.
Costume Design: John Armstrong.
Music Direction: Muir Mathieson.

The Cast

Harry Baur - Brioukow
Laurence Olivier - Capt. Ignatoff
Penelope Dudley-Ward - Natasha
Athene Seyler - Mme. Sabline
Kate Cutler - Mme. Kovrin
Morton Selten - Kovrin
Robert Cochran - Polonsky
Walter Hudd - Doctor
Edmund Willard - Prosecution
Hay Petrie - Spy

Plot Synopsis

It is wartime. Natasha, a well-born Russian girl, is persuaded by her impoverished parents to become engaged to Brioukow, a prosperous middle-aged contractor. While nursing in a hospital, she falls in love with Captain Ignatov, a wounded officer. Though Ignatov loves her, she remains faithful to Brioukow. The young officer and the older man quarrel over her and Ignatov accuses Brioukow of being a war profiteer. Angered, Ignatov is goaded into gambling beyond his means.

To his aid comes Madame Sabline, an aged eccentric who offers to finance him. Knowing that Natasha loves him, and that ignominy and death are the only alternatives, the young man accepts; later, however, it transpires that Madame Sabline is a German spy and Ignatov is arrested as her accomplice. The only man who can help him is Brioukow, and knowing of Natasha's love for the young man, Brioukow clears him at the cost of his own happiness.
Excerpt© 'Puffin Asquith' by R.J. Minney.