COMRADE X (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1940), directed by King Vidor, became the studio's attempt in duplicating the success of director Ernst Lubitch's NINOTCHKA (1939) starring Greta Garbo and Melvyn Douglas. Although similar in mood, with Hedy Lamarr playing a no-nonsense Russian Communist, with NINOTCHKA co-stars Felix Bressart and Sig Rumann, it's not as timely as its predecessor but quite entertaining on its own merits. Starring Clark Gable as an American newspaper reporter, it reunites him with Lamarr for the second and final time, having worked together previously in BOOM TOWN (1940) opposite Claudette Colbert and Spencer Tracy. With Lamarr playing the other woman in the dramatic story about oil tycoons, she proves she can handle comedy in the best possible manner for COMRADE X.
Set in Russia, "the never-never land of stepps, samovars and spies - beards, bears, bombs and borscht - when most anything can happen - and usually does," the story opens at a press conference hosted by Vasiliev (Oscar Homolka), head of the secret police, with foreign correspondents, including Jane Wilson (Eve Arden) in attendance, regarding having all reports restricted until the elimination of a writer known as "Comrade X" for sending uncensored information outside their jurisdiction to American newspapers. The only reporter not in attendance is McKinley B. Thompson (Clark Gable) of the Topeka Bugle, who can talk his way in and out of anything, until approached by Vanya (Felix Bressart), a Moscow Hotel valet, for a particular mission. After taking a photograph of a man (Vladimir Sokoloff) attempting to assassinate Vasiliev during a funeral procession of his predecessor, McKinley, knowing him as the elusive Comrade X, blackmails him into taking his daughter out of Russia to the United States so she won't be executed as a Communist sympathizer. Meeting with his daughter, Theodore (Hedy Lamarr), working as a streetcar conductor, she at first refuses to go anywhere with McKinley until she investigates him. On McKinley's agreement to marry her (this will be Theodore's third marriage), which will be the only way they could leave Russia, a series of unforeseen events soon follow. Co-starring Natasha Lytees (Olga Milanava); Edgar Barrier (Rubick); Mikhail Rasummy (The Russian Officer) with Keye Luke, Michael Marke and Mary Healy in smaller roles.
COMRADE X is a grand mix of humor and serious situations. While Lamarr's Theodore (appearing 25 minutes into the start of the story) speaks five languages, has a photographic memory and capable of walking seven miles back to Moscow after dropping off her streetcar, and Gable, born to play newspaper reporters (having won an Academy Award for playing such for IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT (1934), the only attempt that gives COMRADE X a slapstick comedy feel is its well staged chase sequence revolving hundreds of Army tanks that should remain in memory long after the movie is over. Not overly done at 90 minutes, COMRADE X may not be another NINOTCHKA, but something as entertaining without the option of comparisons.
Available on home video and DVD format, COMRADE X, once a frequent late show offering on commercial television from the 1960s to 1980s, occasionally plays on Turner Classic Movies cable channel where it can be seen and enjoyed. (***1/2)
Set in Russia, "the never-never land of stepps, samovars and spies - beards, bears, bombs and borscht - when most anything can happen - and usually does," the story opens at a press conference hosted by Vasiliev (Oscar Homolka), head of the secret police, with foreign correspondents, including Jane Wilson (Eve Arden) in attendance, regarding having all reports restricted until the elimination of a writer known as "Comrade X" for sending uncensored information outside their jurisdiction to American newspapers. The only reporter not in attendance is McKinley B. Thompson (Clark Gable) of the Topeka Bugle, who can talk his way in and out of anything, until approached by Vanya (Felix Bressart), a Moscow Hotel valet, for a particular mission. After taking a photograph of a man (Vladimir Sokoloff) attempting to assassinate Vasiliev during a funeral procession of his predecessor, McKinley, knowing him as the elusive Comrade X, blackmails him into taking his daughter out of Russia to the United States so she won't be executed as a Communist sympathizer. Meeting with his daughter, Theodore (Hedy Lamarr), working as a streetcar conductor, she at first refuses to go anywhere with McKinley until she investigates him. On McKinley's agreement to marry her (this will be Theodore's third marriage), which will be the only way they could leave Russia, a series of unforeseen events soon follow. Co-starring Natasha Lytees (Olga Milanava); Edgar Barrier (Rubick); Mikhail Rasummy (The Russian Officer) with Keye Luke, Michael Marke and Mary Healy in smaller roles.
COMRADE X is a grand mix of humor and serious situations. While Lamarr's Theodore (appearing 25 minutes into the start of the story) speaks five languages, has a photographic memory and capable of walking seven miles back to Moscow after dropping off her streetcar, and Gable, born to play newspaper reporters (having won an Academy Award for playing such for IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT (1934), the only attempt that gives COMRADE X a slapstick comedy feel is its well staged chase sequence revolving hundreds of Army tanks that should remain in memory long after the movie is over. Not overly done at 90 minutes, COMRADE X may not be another NINOTCHKA, but something as entertaining without the option of comparisons.
Available on home video and DVD format, COMRADE X, once a frequent late show offering on commercial television from the 1960s to 1980s, occasionally plays on Turner Classic Movies cable channel where it can be seen and enjoyed. (***1/2)