Comrade X
(1940)
87 mins | Comedy-drama | 13 December 1940
Cast:
Clark Gable, Hedy Lamarr, Oscar Homolka [ More ]Director:
King VidorWriters:
Ben Hecht, Charles LedererProducer:
Gottfried ReinhardtCinematographer:
Joseph RuttenbergEditor:
Harold F. KressProduction Designer:
Cedric GibbonsProduction Company:
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Corp.Although onscreen credits list George Renavent as Laszlo, the Var review credits John Picorri with the role. According to a news item in HR, Herman Mankiewicz was to have written the screenplay for the film, but his participation in the final film cannot be confirmed as he is not credited on screen, in SAB or reviews. The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Screenplay. ...
Although onscreen credits list George Renavent as Laszlo, the Var review credits John Picorri with the role. According to a news item in HR, Herman Mankiewicz was to have written the screenplay for the film, but his participation in the final film cannot be confirmed as he is not credited on screen, in SAB or reviews. The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Screenplay.
McKinley B. Thompson, a newspaper reporter for the Texas Bugle , masquerades as an irresponsible roue in order to hide his identity as Comrade X, the mysterious reporter who is sending embarrassing stories about Russia to a big newspaper syndicate. Thompson learns that Vanya, the valet in his Moscow hotel, has discovered his secret identity when the old man demands that the reporter take his daughter out of the country before she is shot as a Communist. Under threat of exposure, Thompson agrees to meet Vanya's daughter, a streetcar conductor who uses the name Theodore because only men are allowed to drive streetcars. Thompson tries to convince the girl to go to America with him to spread the gospel of Communism, but she stubbornly refuses to leave until she has had time to investigate him. Later that night, Theodore appears on Thompson's doorstep and announces that they will be married because that is the only way they can leave the country to spread Communism. After returning from their perfunctory wedding ceremony, Thompson is arrested with his bride by police commissar Vasiliev and questioned about the secret camera of Comrade X that was found in Vanya's room. Sentenced to death by the state, Thompson offers to expose the head of the counter-revolution in exchange for his life and those of Vanya and Theodore. Taken to the commissar's office, Thompson is shocked to find not Vasiliev but Michael Bastakoff, the new commissar and the former leader of the resurgents. Tricking Bastakoff by offering to turn over his evidence, Thompson seizes the opportunity to escape with Vanya and Theodore. The ...
McKinley B. Thompson, a newspaper reporter for the Texas Bugle , masquerades as an irresponsible roue in order to hide his identity as Comrade X, the mysterious reporter who is sending embarrassing stories about Russia to a big newspaper syndicate. Thompson learns that Vanya, the valet in his Moscow hotel, has discovered his secret identity when the old man demands that the reporter take his daughter out of the country before she is shot as a Communist. Under threat of exposure, Thompson agrees to meet Vanya's daughter, a streetcar conductor who uses the name Theodore because only men are allowed to drive streetcars. Thompson tries to convince the girl to go to America with him to spread the gospel of Communism, but she stubbornly refuses to leave until she has had time to investigate him. Later that night, Theodore appears on Thompson's doorstep and announces that they will be married because that is the only way they can leave the country to spread Communism. After returning from their perfunctory wedding ceremony, Thompson is arrested with his bride by police commissar Vasiliev and questioned about the secret camera of Comrade X that was found in Vanya's room. Sentenced to death by the state, Thompson offers to expose the head of the counter-revolution in exchange for his life and those of Vanya and Theodore. Taken to the commissar's office, Thompson is shocked to find not Vasiliev but Michael Bastakoff, the new commissar and the former leader of the resurgents. Tricking Bastakoff by offering to turn over his evidence, Thompson seizes the opportunity to escape with Vanya and Theodore. The threesome steal a Russian general's tank complete with the general and, followed by the Soviet army, rumble their way to freedom across the Rumanian border.
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