George Sidney’s agitprop melodrama, The Red Danube, reflected the climate of the times, specifically the political relations between the U.S. and the Soviet Union.
The tale is set shortly after the end of World War II, mostly in Rome and Vienna.
Walter Pidgeon gives an authoritative performance as British Colonel Michael ‘Hooky’ Nicobar, a one-armed man, who’s assigned to a unit in the British Zone of Vienna. Nicobar’s duty is to help the Soviet government repatriate citizens of the Soviet Union, though many of whom do not wish to return to their country; they feel it’s not their home anymore.
The best scenes involve the interaction between the Colonel in the convent where he stays with Mother Auxilia (wonderfully played by the great dramatic actress Ethel Barrymore).
Nicobar, his military aides Major John ‘Twingo’ McPhimister (Peter Lawford, at his most appealing, sporting a thin mustache), and Audrey Quail (Angela Lansbury) become involved in the plight of a young ballerina (played by the very young Janet Leigh), who is trying to avoid being deported to Moscow.
Nicobar’s sense of duty is tested when he observes first-hand the plight of the people he is helping return to the Soviet Union. His lack of faith is shaken by his contact with the Mother Superior, whose commitment to Christian humanist values reawakens his inner conscience.
The plot is preposterous, and the love story unconvincing, in a film that’s sheer propaganda, replete with speeches about Western democracy and individual rights. He says at one point: “One of our duties is to liberate people from tyranny.”
The movie ends on an upbeat note with singing of “Row Row Row Your Boat Gently Down the Street.”
Strangely, MGM considered the movie to be a prestige, important feature, thus allocating it larger-than-the usual budget and production values. For example, for the scenes of the war camps, 1,500 extras were used. The crew admitted they were looking for real war refugees but found that most of them were already looking too healthy.
Despite the high-caliber cast, the movie was a commercial failure due to its simplistic propaganda, aimed at making Americans hate Russia and recognizing the Vatican as the true champion of freedom.
What elevates the film is the good acting from all concerned, especially Barrymore, but also the supporting cast, which includes Angela Lansbury, Louis Cathern, and Melville Cooper.
George Sidney is better known for his lavish musical movies at MGM, such as “Anchros Aweigh,” “Annie Get Your Gun,” “Show Boat,” and others.
My Oscar Book:
Oscar Nominations: 1
Art Direction-Set Decoration (b/w): Cedric Gibbons and Hans peters; Edwin B. Willis and Hugh Hunt
Oscar Awards: None
Oscar Context:
The winner of the b/w Art Direction Oscar was Billy Wilder’s “Sunset Boulevard.
Cast
Walter Pidgeon as Col. Michael “Hooky” Nicobar
Ethel Barrymore as The Mother Superior
Peter Lawford as Maj. John “Twingo” McPhimister
Angela Lansbury as Audrey Quail
Janet Leigh as Maria Buhlen
Louis Calhern as Col. Piniev
Francis L. Sullivan as Col. Humphrey “Blinker” Omicron
Melville Cooper as Private David Moonlight
Robert Coote as Brigadier C.M.V. Catlock
Alan Napier as The General
Roman Toporow as 2nd Lieut. Maxim Omansky
Tamara Shayne as Helena Nagard
Kasia Orzazewski as Sister Kasimira
