THE RED DANUBE
US, 1949, 119 minutes, Black and white.
Walter Pidgeon, Ethel Barrymore, Peter Lawford, Angela Lansbury, Janet Leigh, Louis Calhern, Francis L. Sullivan, Melville Cooper, Robert Coote, Alan Napier.
Directed by George Sidney.
The Red Danube is set in post-World War Two Europe in 1946, opening in Rome and moving to Vienna. It is based on a novel by Bruce Marshall, Vespers in Vienna.
It was produced at the time of the falling of the Iron Curtain, the beginnings of the cold war. The critical reputation for the film then suffered because it was seen as rather more openly anticommunist. However, as the decades have gone on, with the fall of the Soviet empire, the realisation of the cruelty of Stalin, the film stands up better as a picture of Europe at that period.
The film has a strong cast, with Walter Pidgeon as the colonel in charge, Ethel Barrymore as the mother superior of the convent where the British are billeted. Peter Lawford and Janet Leigh are the romantic leads, Janet Leigh playing an ill-fated ballerina who does not want to return to Russia. Angela Lansbury is the efficient assistant to the colonel. Louis Calhern is the Russian colonel. Character actors like Francis L. Sullivan, Melville Cooper (Mr Collins in Pride and Prejudice) and Robert Coote also appear.
The film was directed by George Sidney, director of short films who moved into features and made several of MGM’s top musicals including Anchors Aweigh, Annie Get Your Gun, Kiss Me Kate. He also made some colourful historical films including The Three Musketeers, Scaramouche and Young Bess. After the MGM musicals finished he moved out of the studio and made such films as Pal Joey, Bye Bye Birdie and his last film, in England, Tommy Steele in Half a Sixpence.
1. The success of the film in the late 1940s? Its anticommunist stances? The feeling about the Iron Curtain? Stalin and the behaviour of the Russian communists? The later critique of the film as anticommunist? Even later the film finding its proper balance in criticism? Bruce Marshall’s title, Vespers in Vienna compared with the provocative, The Red Danube?
2. Black and white photography, Rome, Vienna, the Austrian countryside? The atmosphere of the film noir at the time? Especially in the portrayal of Vienna?
3. The news footage, Rome, the Vatican, the sequence of Pius XII’s blessing people? The Russians and post-war occupation?
4. The influence of anticommunism at the time? The influence of the film? The speeches, especially by Colonel Nicobar? The harsh stories of the Russian military, the repatriation of unwilling citizens? The communist authorities, the issues of refugees, the United Nations’ decision about refugees not having to return to their home country?
5. The Rome episodes, the British and their presence, Colonel Nicobar, his experience, leadership, losing his arm? In charge, the visit of the general and his casual approach to the general? The transfer to Austria? The background of his family and daughter?
6. Peter Lawford as Twingo? The playboy style, the attraction to the Italian countess? The contrast with Audrey, her efficiency, devotion to Nicobar? Melville Cooper as the private who acted as chauffeur, his comments?
7. Catholic Rome, Nicobar and his reaction, the dialogue about faith, loss of faith, church, superstitions, the possibility and impossibility of miracles?
8. The British work in Vienna, the bombed city, headquarters, billeted in the convent? The scenes of convent life, the sisters, the chapel? The authorities? The general and his continued interest? The brigadier and his rather more blasé attitude?
9. Maria, her situation, meeting the British in the convent, Twingo and his attraction, following her, sitting in on the rehearsals? Audrey and her finding out where Maria lived? Her different name, on the Russian list? Her fear of being deported? The superior hiding her as one of the nuns? The Russian colonel later realising this and returning? Nicobar and his temporarily shielding her? The nuns, their attitude? The Russian colonel, Maria being handed over, for transportation, her being seen in the back of the truck? Her later escape? Nicobar and the superior and their going to the refugees in the train, discovering Maria? Twingo and his protecting her? The Russian colonel, his search? Her love for Twingo, her killing herself?
10. The professor, the discussions with him, his message to his wife, his suicide? The wife and her cleaning job? Pessimism about Russia?
11. The picture of the Russians, the colonel, his command, following orders, his rather more ruthless underlings? Maria’s reputation and the ballet, her being returned to Moscow, the lies, following orders, the UN situation about refugees?
12. Ethel Barrymore as the superior, benign yet strong? The nuns, sheltering refugees? Their beliefs, prayer? Saint Walburga of Gratz and her miracles, flying to Rome and the humorous aspects of the conversations?
13. Nicobar, his anger about the refugee situation, firing off the letter to London? His going to Rome, the risk, the loss of his job? His mistakenly taking the general’s coat? The mother superior, her forcefulness, going to Rome, talking to the pope? The return? The general and his summoning Nicobar, his praising his initiative, demanding that he say that he took the coat on purpose, giving him a new job? Forthright, intuitive, management? Everybody going back to England, Audrey extricating herself by her comments to Colonel Omicron’s wife?
14. A film of the 1940s and 50s, as a drama – and the background of its role in anticommunist propaganda?
