The Volga Boatman (1938)

Genres - Drama  |   Sub-Genres - Melodrama  |   Run Time - 82 min.  |   Countries - France  |  
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Synopsis by Hal Erickson

Though its title and director are Russian, The Volga Boatmen was lensed in its entirety in France. Set in pre-revolutionary days, the story concentrates on the miserable lives of the boatmen who pull their merchant vessels up and down the Volga. When army officer Vadime Borzine (Pierre Blanchar)is caught in a compromising position with the wife of his commander, Borzine is punished by being forced to join the ranks of the Volga boatmen. Fate intervenes when a yacht carrying his sweetheart catches fire, enabling Vadime to perform conspicuous acts of bravery, thereby clearing his name. Though not a remake of the 1927 Cecil B. DeMille film of the same name, both versions of The Volga Boatmen have a great deal in common.

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Keywords

courage, damsel-in-distress, extramarital-affair, honor [recognition], officer, punishment, sweetheart