Knight Without Armour (1937)

66% of users liked it
(180 ratings)

Marlene Dietrich and Robert Donat star in this gripping melodrama about the Russian revolution, based on the novel by James Hilton. Donat plays A.J. Fothergill, a British interpreter in St. Petersburg who is ordered to leave Russia after writing an article that criticized the czar. Fothergill meets… More Marlene Dietrich and Robert Donat star in this gripping melodrama about the Russian revolution, based on the novel by James Hilton. Donat plays A.J. Fothergill, a British interpreter in St. Petersburg who is ordered to leave Russia after writing an article that criticized the czar. Fothergill meets a British secret agent who can arrange for him to stay in Russia if he will agree to spy for England and monitor revolutionary groups trying to depose the czar. Fothergill infiltrates a group planning to kill Russian nobleman Vladinoff (Herbert Lomas); the radicals bomb Vladinoff's coach, but he and his daughter, Alexandra (Marlene Dietrich) escape unharmed. Fothergill is arrested and sent to Siberia. When the monarchy is deposed during the Russian Revolution in 1917, Alexandra is arrested by Communist forces and put on trial. Fothergill is freed from prison with his friend Axelstein (Basil Gill), and they are now revolutionary heroes. Alexandra must go to Petrograd to face trial and Fothergill is chosen to escort her. When they reach the train station, Fothergill discovers the White Army (fighting to restore the czar) is coming. He leads Alexandra to safety behind the White Army lines, but the Red Army has surrounded the city and Fothergill, smitten with Alexandra, rescues her again before the city is shelled. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 47 min.
Directed By: Jacques Feyder
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure, Romance, Classics

In Theaters: Jun 1, 1937 Wide
On DVD: Jun 28, 1990
Studio: United Artists

Critic Reviews

Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
A big-budget sumptuous love-on-the-run adventure story, with the chaotic Russian revolution of 1917 in the background.

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Featured Audience Ratings

Stella D

robert donat is in deep cover with russian revolutionaries and winds up in siberia. after two years he's released and made assistant to a commissar in the new soviet government. one of his first assignments is to accompany the beautiful countess alexandra to petrograd to stand… More
robert donat is in deep cover with russian revolutionaries and winds up in siberia. after two years he's released and made assistant to a commissar in the new soviet government. one of his first assignments is to accompany the beautiful countess alexandra to petrograd to stand trial. instead he tries to help her escape. full of romance and espionage; a terrific adventure story! a bit anti-communist but all in the service of making la dietrich look like a goddess ;)

Cast

            Marlene Dietrich as Alexandra Vladinoff

            Robert Donat as Ainsley Fothergill

            Herbert Lomas as Gen. Gregor Vladinoff

            Austin Trevor as Col. Adraxine

            Basil Gill as Axelstein

            David Tree as Alexis Maronin

            John Clements as Poushkoff

            Frederick Culley as Stanfield

            Lawrence Hanray as Forrester

            Franklyn Kelsey as Tomsky

            Hay Petrie as Station Master

            Miles Malleson as Drunken Soldier

            Lyn Harding as Bargee

            Raymond Huntley as White Officer

            Evelyn Ankers as Bit Part

            James Carew
            
            Allan Jeayes as White General

            Torin Thatcher as Passport Official

            Peter Evan Thomas as Gen. Andreyevitch

            Irene Vanbrugh as Duchess of Zorin

            Lisa D'Esterre as Czarina

            Peter Bull as Commissar

            Paul O'Brien
            
            Lawrence Baskcomb as Commissar

            Dorice Fordred as Maid
See full cast