ID

FBW000019      Fiction

Country / Year

USA, 1943

Original Title

Song of Russia

Directed by

Gregory Ratoff

Produced by

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios (MGM) (Loew's, Inc.), Culver City, CA (New York, NY)

Staff

Producer: Joe Pasternak, Pandro S. Berman; Assistent director: Marvin Stuart; Script: Paul Jarrico, Richard Collins; Based on: Leo Mittler, Viktor Trivas, Guy Endore; Camera: Harry Stradling; Special optical effects: A. Arnold Gillespie; Editing: George Hively; Montage: Peter Ballbusch, John Hoffman; Sound: Douglas Shearer; Art direction: Cedric Gibbons, Leonid Vasian; Set decoration: Edward G. Boyle, Edwin B. Willis; Music: Eric Zeisl, Herbert Stothart; Music based on themes by: Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky; Musical direction: Albert Coates; Orchestration: Peter Meremblum (California Junior Symphony Orchestra); Songs: Jerome Kern, E.Y. Harburg; Lyrics: Jerome Kern ("And Russia Is Her Name"), E.Y. Harburg ("And Russia Is Her Name"); Choreography: David Lichine

Cast

Robert Taylor (John Meredith); Susan Peters (Nadya Stepanova); John Hodiak (Boris); Robert Benchley (Hank Higgins); Felix Bressart (Petrov); Michael Chekhov (Stepanov); Darryl Hickman (Peter); Jacqueline White (Anna); Joan Lorring (Sonia); Vladimir Sokoloff (Meachov); Zoia Karabanova (Natasha); Leo Mostovoy ( Yanovich); Konstantin Shayne (Priest); Feodor Chaliapin, Jr. (Maxim); Patricia Prest (Stasha); Michael Dalmatov (Ivanov); Leo Bulgakov (Faber); Georgia Akst (Tania); John Wengraf (Red Army Commander); Barbara Bulgakov (Truck driver); Tamara Shayne (Mme. Orlova); Moishe Oysher (als: Walter Lawrence) (Singer); John Nesbitt (Commentator); Tommy Rall (Dancing Peasant)

Length

2930 m / 107'05''

Format

35mm/sw/1:1,37

Dates

- 04 Jan 1944: Premiere, New York, NY (Capitol)
- 10 Feb 1944: Release date, New York, NY (Capitol)

Abstract

It is the story of the famous American symphonic conductor John Meredith who is caught in the midst of the Nazi invasion of the USSR after he has become intrigued by, and married, the young Russian pianist Nadya Stepanova. The pair's digress loyalties - he for the music, she for her little village threatened by the invadors - bring what is intended to be a temporary parting. Before they say goodbye, both swear their undying love for each other and promise they will meet again after the war.

Subject Terms

Anti-Nazi films (US); Soviet Union; USA; World War II

Bibliography

- Kahn, Nat (als: Kahn): "Song of Russia", in: Variety, 29.12.1943
- , in: Motion Picture Herald (New York, NY), Vol. 154, Nr. 1, 01.01.1944
- Crowther, Bosley: "Song of Russia", in: The New York Times, 11.02.1944
- , in: Today's Cinema, Vol. 62, Nr. 4996, 18.02.1944
- , in: Kinematograph Weekly (London), Nr. 1923, 24.02.1944
- , in: New York Motion Picture Critics Reviews, Vol. 1, Nr. 1, 20.03.1944
- Nash, Ray R. / Ross, Stanley R. / Conelly, Robert B. (Ed.): Motion Picture Guide. Chicago, IL: Cinebooks, 1987