SCARLET DAWN(director:William Dieterle; screenwriters: based on the novel Revolt by Mary McCall Jr./Niven Busch/Erwin Gelsey; cinematographer: Ernest Haller; editor: James Morley; cast:, Douglas Fairbanks Jr. (Baron Nikita ‘Nikki’ Krasnoff), Nancy Carroll (Tanyusha Krasnoff), Mischa Auer (Sergei, a soldier), Guy Kibbee (Mr. Murphy); Runtime 58; MPAA Rating: NR; producer: Hal B. Wallis; Warner Brothers; 1932)
“Entertaining oddity that’s set in 1917 during the Russian Revolution.”
Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz
William Dieterle (“The Last Flight”/”Fog Over Frisco”/”Juarez”) sylishly directs this entertaining oddity that’s set in 1917 during the Russian Revolution. It’s based on the novel Revolt by Mary McCall Jr. and is written by Niven Busch and Erwin Gelsey. Though heavy going at times, it’s still enjoyable due to the old-fashioned hysterical acting and the excellent set decorations.
Baron Nikita ‘Nikki’ Krasnoff (Douglas Fairbanks Jr.) is the Russian nobleman who elopes with his servant fiancee, Tanyusha (Nancy Carroll), where they dwell as peasants in Turkey during the Russian Revolution. To escape his fate during battle, the Baron takes a dead peasant’s clothes and poses as a peasant. In Turkey, he works as a dishwasher and she as a cleaning lady. When recognized by a fellow exile, he’s introduced to some gullible Americans and receives aid to take a trip alone to America. There he has an affair with Marjorie Murphy, the daughter of a rich American. But he can’t go through with his scam to get her to buy pearls and returns to wife in Turkey. The reunited couple find themselves in the line with other Russian refugees returning to their country and agree to start over and make the best of things.
REVIEWED ON 2/4/2010 GRADE: B
Dennis Schwartz: “Ozus’ World Movie Reviews”
© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED DENNIS SCHWARTZ