The Demi-Paradise

The Demi-Paradise

114 mins | Drama, Comedy, Romance | Nov. 18, 1943

Ivan Kouznetsoff, a Russian engineer, recounts during World War II his stay in England prior to the war working on a new propeller for ice-breaking ships. Naïve about British people and convinced by hearsay that they are shallow and hypocritical, Ivan is both bemused and amused by them. He is blunt in his opinions about Britons and at first this puts off his hosts, including the lovely Ann Tisdall, whose grandfather runs the shipbuilding firm that will make use of Ivan's propeller. The longer Ivan stays, however, the more he comes to understand the humor, warmth, strength, and conviction of the British people, and the more they come to see him as a friend rather than merely a suspicious Russian. As a romantic bond grows between Ivan and Ann, a cultural bond begins to grow as well, particularly as the war begins and Russia is attacked by Germany.

The Demi-Paradise

114 mins | Drama, Comedy, Romance | Nov. 18, 1943

The Demi-Paradise
Ivan Kouznetsoff, a Russian engineer, recounts during World War II his stay in England prior to the war working on a new propeller for ice-breaking ships. Naïve about British people and convinced by hearsay that they are shallow and hypocritical, Ivan is both bemused and amused by them. He is blunt in his opinions about Britons and at first this puts off his hosts, including the lovely Ann Tisdall, whose grandfather runs the shipbuilding firm that will make use of Ivan's propeller. The longer Ivan stays, however, the more he comes to understand the humor, warmth, strength, and conviction of the British people, and the more they come to see him as a friend rather than merely a suspicious Russian. As a romantic bond grows between Ivan and Ann, a cultural bond begins to grow as well, particularly as the war begins and Russia is attacked by Germany.
IMDb rating 6.2
Producers The Rank Organisation
Original title The Demi-Paradise
Directors Anthony Asquith
Writers Anatole de Grunwald

Cast

Laurence Olivier

as Ivan Kouznetsoff

Penelope Dudley-Ward

as Ann Tisdall

Marjorie Fielding

as Mrs. Tisdall

Margaret Rutherford

as Rowena Ventnor

Felix Aylmer

as Mr. Runalow

George Thorpe

as Herbert Tisdall

Leslie Henson

as Himself

Guy Middleton

as Dick Christian

Michael Shepley

as Mr. Walford

Edie Martin

as Miss Winifred Tisdall

Muriel Aked

as Mrs. Tisdall-Stanton

Joyce Grenfell

as Sybil Paulson

Everley Gregg

as Mrs. Flannel

Jack Watling

as Tom

David Keir

as Jordan

Miles Malleson

as Theatre Cashier

Aubrey Mallalieu

as Toomes, the Butler

John Laurie

as Wounded Sailor

Brian Nissen

as George Tisdall

John Boxer

as British Sailor

Marie Ault

as Mrs. Jones

Alexis Chesnakov

as Russian Delegate

Mavis Clair

as Barmaid

George Cole

as Percy

Harry Fowler

as Small Boy (An Evacuee)

Gladys Henson

as Mrs. Frost

Wilfrid Hyde-White

as Nightclub Waiter

Niall MacGinnis

as Man on Ship-Dedication Stand

Josephine Middleton

as Mrs. Tremlow

Charles Paton

as Mr. Bishop

Marian Spencer

as Mrs. Teddy Beckett

George Street

as Heckler

Ben Williams

as Heckler

Ian Wilson

as Army Bandmaster

Margaret Withers

as Mrs. Elliston

Jack Vyvyan

as Orator in Hyde Park