The Demi-Paradise

Overview

Ivan Kouznetsoff, a Russian engineer, recounts during World War II his stay in England prior to the war working on a new propeller for ice-breaking ships. Naïve about British people and convinced by hearsay that they are shallow and hypocritical, Ivan is both bemused and amused by them. He is blunt in his opinions about Britons and at first this puts off his hosts, including the lovely Ann Tisdall, whose grandfather runs the shipbuilding firm that will make use of Ivan's propeller. The longer Ivan stays, however, the more he comes to understand the humor, warmth, strength, and conviction of the British people, and the more they come to see him as a friend rather than merely a suspicious Russian. As a romantic bond grows between Ivan and Ann, a cultural bond begins to grow as well, particularly as the war begins and Russia is attacked by Germany.

Details

Status

Released

Release date

November 18, 1943

Original language

English

Spoken languages

English

Countries

United Kingdom

Production

The Rank Organisation

Cast

Penelope Dudley-Ward,Charles Paton,Niall MacGinnis,Jack Vyvyan,Margaret Rutherford,Felix Aylmer,Leslie Henson,George Street,Gladys Henson,Marian Spencerand 28 more

Director

Anthony Asquith

Writer

Anatole de Grunwald

Producer

Anatole de Grunwald

Cinematography

Bernard Knowles

Music

Nicholas Brodszky

Budget

Not recorded

Revenue

Not recorded

IMDb

tt0035793