Not the most accomplished of Jacov Protazanov's movies, this one takes a while to work up to a passably melodramatic climax.
The earlier stages pile on the agony with put-upon waiter Michael Chekhov seeing his wife and soldier son victims of World War One, leaving him with only his (thirty something) school girl daughter dismissed from college but found a spot in the all girl orchestra which plays in his restaurant. There the customers are profiteers and uniformed military officers. The plot develops the seeds of DARK EYES with the waiter finding his own daughter is to be the victim of the business man's lust full attentions at the event he is catering.
There is a bit of Soviet montage editing in the insets of the kitten playing with the ball of wool in the grim moment and the one note performances are effective - particularly Mikhail Narokov's leering manufacturer. Chekkov was already an accomplished performer before he went to Hollywood and the camera-work is by Pudovkin's regular photographer.
The You Tube sub titled copy runs too fast and has fair picture quality.
The earlier stages pile on the agony with put-upon waiter Michael Chekhov seeing his wife and soldier son victims of World War One, leaving him with only his (thirty something) school girl daughter dismissed from college but found a spot in the all girl orchestra which plays in his restaurant. There the customers are profiteers and uniformed military officers. The plot develops the seeds of DARK EYES with the waiter finding his own daughter is to be the victim of the business man's lust full attentions at the event he is catering.
There is a bit of Soviet montage editing in the insets of the kitten playing with the ball of wool in the grim moment and the one note performances are effective - particularly Mikhail Narokov's leering manufacturer. Chekkov was already an accomplished performer before he went to Hollywood and the camera-work is by Pudovkin's regular photographer.
The You Tube sub titled copy runs too fast and has fair picture quality.