The Red Danube (1949)
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- Passed
- 1h 59min
- Drama, Romance
- 14 Oct 1949 (USA)
- Movie
Shortly after the end of World War II, British Colonel Michael S. "Hooky" Nicobar (Walter Pidgeon) is assigned to a unit in the British Zone of Vienna. His duty is to aid the Soviet authorities to repatriate citizens of the Soviet Union,...
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Director:
Writers:
Award:
- Nominated for 1 Oscar.
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Photos and Videos
Complete, Cast awaiting verification
| Walter Pidgeon | ... |
Col. Michael 'Hooky' Nicobar
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| Ethel Barrymore | ... |
The Mother Superior ('Mother Auxilia')
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| Peter Lawford | ... |
Major John 'Twingo' McPhimister
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| Angela Lansbury | ... |
Audrey Quail
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| Janet Leigh | ... |
Maria Buhlen
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| Louis Calhern | ... |
Col. Piniev
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| Francis L. Sullivan | ... |
Col. Humphrey 'Blinker' Omicron
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| Melville Cooper | ... |
Private David Moonlight
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| Robert Coote | ... |
Brigadier C.M.V. Catlock
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| Alan Napier | ... |
The General
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Roman Toporow | ... |
2nd Lieut. Maxim Omansky
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| Kasia Orzazewski | ... |
Sister Kasmira
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Tamara Shayne | ... |
Helena Nagard
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| Konstantin Shayne | ... |
Prof. Serge Bruloff
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| Janine Perreau | ... |
'Mickey Mouse'
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| Victor Wood | ... |
Lt. Guedalia-Wood
(as David Hydes)
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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Geoffrey Alan | ... |
Major (uncredited)
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George Bookasta | ... |
Devout Pilgrim (uncredited)
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Regina Bookasta | ... |
Devout Pilgrim (uncredited)
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| Argentina Brunetti | ... |
Italian Woman (uncredited)
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Lyle Clark | ... |
British Major (uncredited)
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Janna DeLoos | ... |
Ballet Mistress (uncredited)
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Antonio Filauri | ... |
Devout Italian Pilgrim (uncredited)
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| Richard Fraser | ... |
Transport Pilot (uncredited)
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Sigmund Halperon | ... |
German (uncredited)
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Kenneth Hunter | ... |
Brigadier General (uncredited)
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| Kenner G. Kemp | ... |
Staff Sergeant (uncredited)
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| Terry Kilburn | ... |
Sloppily-dressed Airman (uncredited)
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Henry Kulky | ... |
Russian Officer at Camp 12 Deportation (uncredited)
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| Doris Lloyd | ... |
Mrs. Omicron (uncredited)
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Ola Lorraine | ... |
UNRRA Member (uncredited)
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Mickey McCardle | ... |
British Major (uncredited)
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Clive Morgan | ... |
Brigadier General (uncredited)
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Henry Mowbray | ... |
Colonel (uncredited)
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Emil Rameau | ... |
Proprietor (uncredited)
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Phillip Rock | ... |
UNRRA Member (uncredited)
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John Royce | ... |
Sergeant (uncredited)
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Charles Sadler | ... |
Cobbler (uncredited)
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| Carol Savage | ... |
Private Jemima (uncredited)
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Arthur Stenning | ... |
Colonel (uncredited)
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Lotus Thompson | ... |
Woman Private (uncredited)
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Margo Von Leu | ... |
Lani Hansel (uncredited)
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| Tito Vuolo | ... |
Italian Billposter (uncredited)
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Eric Wilton | ... |
Colonel (uncredited)
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| Audrey Young | ... |
Countess Cressanti (uncredited)
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Directed by
| George Sidney | ||
Written by
| Gina Kaus | ... | (screen play) and |
| Arthur Wimperis | ... | (screen play) |
| Bruce Marshall | ... | (novel "Vespers in Vienna") |
| Carey Wilson | ... | () (uncredited) |
Produced by
| Carey Wilson | ... | producer |
Music by
| Miklós Rózsa | ... | (as Miklos Rozsa) |
Cinematography by
| Charles Rosher | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
| James E. Newcom | ||
Art Direction by
| Cedric Gibbons | ||
| Hans Peters | ||
Set Decoration by
| Edwin B. Willis | ||
Makeup Department
| Jack Dawn | ... | makeup creator |
| Sydney Guilaroff | ... | hair stylist |
Art Department
| Hugh Hunt | ... | associate set decorator |
Sound Department
| Douglas Shearer | ... | recording supervisor |
Special Effects by
| Warren Newcombe | ... | special effects |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Durward Graybill | ... | still photographer (uncredited) |
| John M. Nickolaus Jr. | ... | camera operator (uncredited) |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Helen Rose | ... | costumes: women |
Music Department
| Eugene Zador | ... | orchestrator (uncredited) |
Additional Crew
| Alex Romero | ... | choreographer (uncredited) |
Production Companies
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (controlled by Loew's Incorporated)
Distributors
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1949) (United States) (theatrical)
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1949) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1950) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1950) (Norway) (theatrical)
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1950) (Belgium) (theatrical)
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1952) (Argentina) (theatrical)
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (1953) (Austria) (theatrical)
- Warner Home Video (2012) (United States) (DVD) (dvdr)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Western Electric (sound system)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
Shortly after the end of World War II, British Colonel Michael S. "Hooky" Nicobar (Walter Pidgeon) is assigned to a unit in the British Zone of Vienna. His duty is to aid the Soviet authorities to repatriate citizens of the Soviet Union, many of whom prefer not to return to their home country. Billeted in the convent run by Mother Auxilia (Ethel Barrymore), Nicobar, and his military aides Major John "Twingo" McPhimister (Peter Lawford) and Audrey Quail (Dame Angela Lansbury), become involved in the plight of young ballerina Olga Alexandrova (Janet Leigh), who is trying to avoid being returned to Moscow. Nicobar's sense of duty is tested as he sees first hand the plight of the people he is helping return to the Soviet Union; his lack of religious faith is also shaken by his contact with the Mother Superior.
Written by Ron Kerrigan |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | Beautiful Maria...the four lives that touched hers were never the same again! See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
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Box Office
| Budget | $1,961,000 (estimated) |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | Konstantin Shayne (Professor Bruloff) and Tamara Shayne (Helena Nagard) play husband and wife; in reality are siblings. See more » |
| Goofs | Melville Cooper's role is credited as "Private David Moonlight", but his uniform bears Sergeant's stripes throughout the movie. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in Some of the Best: Twenty-Five Years of Motion Picture Leadership (1949). See more » |
| Soundtracks | On the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe See more » |
| Quotes |
Mother Superior:
[Referring to a previous conversation about religion and its inefficacy in wartime]
Like that ladder... Col. Michael S. 'Hooky' Nicobar: The ladder? Mother Superior: There is the ladder, there is the ceiling and there is the paint. If you want the ceiling painted, someone must climb the ladder. Col. Michael S. 'Hooky' Nicobar: Yes, you, um, need a painter. Mother Superior: But suppose the painter remains at the foot of the ladder? You cannot say that the ladder has failed you, or the paint has failed you, or the ceiling has failed you. Col. Michael S. 'Hooky' Nicobar: No, no you can't. Mother Superior: I know about you more than you know about yourself. You want the ceiling painted but... all the cruelty in the world, all the horror and tragedy you see, these you do not oppose with your own courage. You do not try to replace them with your own high hopes for the world and the human race. You complain that God has failed you. No, my friend. God has not failed man- man has failed God. For every man knows what God wants him to do. See more » |