''The Demi-Paradise'' (also known as ''Adventure for Two'') is a 1943 British

comedy film A comedy film is a category of film which emphasizes humor. These films are designed to make the audience laugh through amusement. Films in this style traditionally have a happy ending ( black comedy being an exception). Comedy is one of the o ...

made by Two Cities Films. It stars

Laurence Olivier Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier (; 22 May 1907 – 11 July 1989) was an English actor and director who, along with his contemporaries Ralph Richardson and John Gielgud, was one of a trio of male actors who dominated the British stage ...

as a Soviet Russian inventor who travels to England to have his revolutionary propeller manufactured, and Penelope Dudley-Ward as the woman who falls in love with him. It was directed by Anthony Asquith and produced by

Anatole de Grunwald Anatole "Tolly" de Grunwald (25 December 1910 – 13 January 1967) was a Russian British film producer and screenwriter. Biography De Grunwald was born in Saint Petersburg, Russia, the son of a diplomat (Constantin de Grunwald) in the s ...

and Filippo Del Giudice from a screenplay by de Grunwald. The music score was by

Nicholas Brodszky Nicholas "Slug" Brodszky (russian: Николай Бродский; April 20, 1905December 24, 1958) was a composer of popular songs for the theatre and for films. Brodszky was born in Odessa, Russian Empire, into a Jewish family, who moved to ...

and the cinematography by Bernard Knowles. The film was shot at Denham Studios with sets designed by the art director

Carmen Dillon Carmen Dillon (25 October 190812 April 2000) was an English film art director and production designer who won an Oscar for the Olivier version of ''Hamlet'' (1948). Life Dillon was born in Hendon to Irish-born Joseph Thomas Dillon and his wife ...

. The film is a gentle satire on the values the English hold so dear. It was designed to encourage sympathy between Britain and the

Soviet Union The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, it was nominally a federal union of fifteen nationa ...

. The film's title is a reference to John of Gaunt's famous speech in '' Richard II'' which begins: :This royal throne of kings, this scepter'd isle, :This earth of majesty, this seat of Mars, :This other Eden, demi-paradise

Plot summary

Ivan Kouznetsoff (

), a Russian inventor, travels to England to introduce the British shipping industry to his newly invented and improved propeller blade. There he meets socialite Anne Tisdall ( Penelope Dudley-Ward), and falls for her. Meeting Anne and hearing her views turn his own previous conceptions about the capitalist system and its degenerates upside down. After a lovers' quarrel, Ivan heads back to Russian only to be recalled to England a year later to smooth out imperfections in his design. Despite his efforts, his modifications prove to be unsound and he seems destined to return to the Soviet Union in disgrace. Anne convinces the local shipbuilders to work around the clock in order to realise the revolutionary propeller. Soon they solve the problem, and there is a very successful launch of the new line of ships. Ivan can return to the Soviet Union to aid the war effort, enriched by Anne's love.

Cast

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 Leslie Lincoln Henson (3 August 1891 – 2 December 1957) was an English comedian, actor, producer for films and theatre, and film director. He initially worked in silent films and Edwardian musical comedy and became a popular music hall comed ...

as Himself *

Guy Middleton Guy Middleton Powell (14 December 1906 – 30 July 1973), better known as Guy Middleton, was an English film character actor. Biography Guy Middleton was born in Hove, Sussex, and originally worked in the London Stock Exchange, before ...

as Dick Christian * Michael Shepley as Mr. Walford * Edie Martin as Miss Winifred Tisdall *

Muriel Aked Muriel Aked (9 November 1883 – 21 March 1955) was an English film actress. Early life, family and education Aked was born in Bingley, West Riding of Yorkshire, England to George Henry Aked and his wife Emma (née Bairstow). She was a student ...

as Mrs. Tisdall-Stanton * Joyce Grenfell as Sybil Paulson * Everley Gregg as Mrs. Flannel * Jack Watling as Tom * David Keir as Jordan * Aubrey Mallalieu as Toomes, the Butler *

Beatrice Harrison Beatrice Harrison (9 December 1892 – 10 March 1965) was a British cellist active in the first half of the 20th century. She gave first performances of several important English works, especially those of Frederick Delius, and made the first or ...

as Herself * Miles Malleson as Theatre Cashier * John Laurie as Wounded sailor *

Brian Nissen Brian Nissen (20 October 1927 in London – 8 February 2001 in Salisbury, Wiltshire) was a British actor and television continuity announcer. Biography Nissen made an early appearance in Laurence Olivier's film of Shakespeare's ''Henry V'', an ...

as George Tisdall * George Cole as Percy * Harry Fowler as Evacuee * Marie Ault as Mrs. Jones * Gladys Henson as Mrs. Frost *

John Boxer John "Johnny" Boxer is an Australian television and film actor and commercial voice-over best known for his role as Bobo Gigliotti in ''Pizza''. Early life He grew up in Belmore, New South Wales and attended Belmore Boys High School, where he ex ...

as British Sailor * Alexis Chesnakov as Russian Delegate * Josephine Middleton as Mrs. Tremlow * Margaret Withers as Mrs. Elliston *

Charles Paton Charles Ernest Paton (31 July 1874 – 10 April 1970) was an English film actor. He joined the circus at 14, and had early stage and music hall experience. He appeared in more than 100 films between 1927 and 1952, including ''Freedom of the ...

as Mr. Bishop * Wilfrid Hyde-White as Nightclub Waiter * Mavis Clair as Barmaid

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Demi-Paradise, The 1943 films 1943 romantic comedy films British romantic comedy films British satirical films British black-and-white films Universal Pictures films Films directed by Anthony Asquith Films with screenplays by Anatole de Grunwald Films produced by Anatole de Grunwald Films set in London Films shot at Denham Film Studios Two Cities Films films Films set in 1941 1940s English-language films 1940s British films