Knight Without Armour – 1937 | 108 mins | Drama | B&W

Plot Synopsis

Based on the novel by James Hilton, Knight Without Armour is a well-directed, lush romantic adventure that became a modest commercial success for Alexander Korda. Dietrich was the biggest star imported to Denham Studios by Korda, and her onscreen chemistry with Donat is an enjoyable highlight of this film.

Set in 1914 Russia, Ainsley Fothergill (Robert Donat), a young journalist working in St. Petersburg is required to leave after writing an article critical of the state. A British secret agent offers to arrange for Fothergill to stay in Russia on the understanding he will agree to spy for England. Posing as a Russian revolutionary, Fothergill infiltrates a group of radicals planning to assassinate General Gregor Vladinoff (Herbert Lomas), but the plot fails and Fothergill falls in love with the minister’s daughter Alexandra (Marlene Dietrich). He is later captured by the authorities and sent to Siberia for his involvement in the conspiracy. With the 1917 revolution, he is released and made Commissar of a small town – then entrusted with escorting the lovely Countess Alexandra to Petrograd to stand trial. Instead they flee through Russia on foot, by train and on the River Volga, eventually escaping on a train to safety.