The Red Danube

Director: George Sidney George Sidney

Overview

In this anti-communist tract, Janet Leigh plays Maria Buhlen, an Eastern Bloc ballerina who seeks political asylum in the British-occupied zone of Vienna. Maria's plight turns into a political tug-of-war involving a British colonel and a Soviet colonel.

Product Details

Release Date:	03/15/2012
UPC:	0883316451823
Original Release:	1949
Rating:	NR
Source:	Warner Archives
Presentation:	[B&W]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Mono]
Language:	English
Time:	1:59:00
Sales rank:	39,819

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Walter Pidgeon	Col. Michael "Jokey" Nicobar
Ethel Barrymore	Mother Superior
Peter Lawford	Maj. John "Twingo" McPhimister
Angela Lansbury	Audrey Quail
Janet Leigh	Maria Buhlen
Louis Calhern	Col. Piniev
Francis L. Sullivan	Col. Humphrey `Blinker' Omicron
Melville Cooper	Pvt. David Moonlight
Robert Coote	Brig. C.M.V. Catlock
Alan Napier	The General
Roman Toporow	2nd Lt. Maxim Omansky
Kasia Orzazewski	Sister Kasmira
Tamara Shayne	Helena Nagard,Prof. Serge Bruloff
Janine Perreau	`Mickey' Mouse
David Hydes	Lt. Guedalia-Wood
Audrey Long	Countess Cressanti
Margo von Leu	Lani Hansel
Tito Vuolo	Italian Billposter
Argentina Brunetti	Italian Woman
Lotus Thompson	Woman Private
John Royce	Sergeant
Henry Kulky	Lieutenant
Doris Lloyd	Mrs. Omicron
Kenneth Hunter	Brigadier General
Richard Fraser	Pilot
Geoffrey Alah	Major
Sigmund Halperon	German
Miklós Rózsa	Composer

Technical Credits

Gina Kaus

Arthur Wimperis

George Sidney	Director
Carey Wilson	Producer
Gina Kaus	Screenwriter
Arthur Wimperis	Screenwriter

Editorial Reviews

Modern audiences will likely view The Red Danube as little more than an anti-communist film, but it actually had somewhat loftier intentions. Sure, it was intent on demonstrating that there's a big difference between red and red, white blue, but it also attempted to explore, however slightly, the role that Allied acquiescence played in the post-War repatriation of Soviet refugees. In addition, Danube spends an inordinate amount of time discussing the pros and cons of theism. So Danube is perhaps better intentioned than some might give it credit for -- but it also must be admitted that those intentions do not add up to a good film. Danube is an excessively talky film, which fact by itself would not be a problem if the talk were more interesting, entertaining or just plain involving. But it's dry and academic, and it often brings the movie to a dead halt, no matter which side of the debate one is on. George Sidney's laconic direction does not help matters, nor does Peter Lawford's wooden performance. Walter Pidgeon and Ethel Barrymore do much better, especially considering that they must handle all of the God vs. atheism duels. But only Janet Leigh and Angela Lansbury truly rise above the material, turning in solid performances that go a long way to keeping one's interest in Danube.