Based on the play by Jacques Deval, Tovarich (1937) is the story of two Russian aristocrats who flee their homeland at the outset of the Bolshevik revolution. Although they are entrusted with millions from the Czar, they seek refuge in the house of a French banker, posing as servants while they safeguard the money. When a visiting Soviet official uncovers their true identities, the couple agrees to return the fortune in order to aid the Russian people. Inspired by their loyalty, the banker asks them to stay on as his employees, a situation they are only too happy to accept.

Tovarich starred two major Hollywood players, Claudette Colbert and Charles Boyer, as the Russian nobles and was directed by the esteemed Russian director Anatole Litvak, who emigrated to the U.S. in 1937. Rounding out the prestigious cast, Basil Rathbone was featured as the Soviet commissar. Within two years, he would be forever identified with the screen character of Sherlock Holmes thanks to his flawless performances in The Hound of the Baskervilles and The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (both released in 1939). Although Tovarich translates as "comrade", the atmosphere on the film was anything but friendly during shooting.

At the time, Litvak was riding high on the success of Mayerling (1936), filmed in Paris, and was being heralded as the next great European director. However, a shaky preproduction and rising budget costs soon called his talents into question. Litvak insisted on time consuming and costly set-ups for camera work, and he was often at odds with Robert Lord, the producer. Lord himself vehemently disagreed with Litvak's casting choices. In a letter to Warner executives, he pleaded for Edward G. Robinson to play the role of the Soviet official, and preferred ANYONE except Boyer in the role of the Russian prince. Colbert and Boyer also factored into the difficulties; both felt that the left side of their face was their most photogenic, and both demanded to be shot from that angle. Despite the rocky dynamics, however, Tovarich was a big hit with audiences of its era.

Although she was one of the most popular actresses at the time, Colbert was not the first choice for the leading lady, indeed not even the second or third! Miriam Hopkins, whom Litvak would soon marry, was first approached for the part but then ruled out as too expensive. Kay Francis was also briefly considered and then rejected for not being a big enough box office name (her career at Warner Brothers was on the downslide at this point). Another possibility, Bette Davis, was already committed to another film instead - Jezebel (1938). Colbert, on loan from Paramount, was finally cast, making it the second of her three collaborations with Boyer. Born in Paris but thoroughly Americanized, Colbert shot to fame in 1934 starring with Clark Gable in Frank Capra's It Happened One Night (1934). The film not only sent undershirt sales plummeting but also earned Colbert an Oscar in the category of Best Actress. Poised for success, she was Hollywood's highest paid star by 1938.

Charles Boyer, a native Frenchman, made his mark in European films before breaking into the American market. With his suave demeanor and dashing looks, he quickly established himself as a continental ladies' man. So seductive was his persona as Pepe Le Moko in Algiers (1938), that his character in that film was used as the inspiration for the Warners cartoon character, Pepe Le Pew. Boyer initially resisted being cast in Tovarich, claiming it was ludicrous for a Frenchman to portray a Russian living in Paris. His performance, however, was well received, particularly in France. Off screen, Boyer was the devoted husband; he married only once (to actress Pat Paterson) and when she died in 1965, the grieving Boyer committed suicide two days later.

Basil Rathbone refers to Tovarich as one of his "bread and butter jobs." Lauded for his keen characterization of the commissar Gorotchenko, Rathbone had fond memories of the film, particularly Colbert. In his autobiography, he noted that Colbert had married Joel Pressman, a medical doctor, in 1935, and was constantly searching for any sign of illness among the crewmembers during filming. It was a familiar sight to see her armed with a first aid kit, taking temperatures of cast and crewmembers and administering diagnoses.

One last bit of trivia: Tovarich was the first film to begin with the unmistakable Warners introduction music written by legendary composer Max Steiner.

Producer: Robert Lord
Director: Anatole Litvak
Screenplay: Casey Robinson, Robert E. Sherwood, based on the play by Jacques Deval
Production Design: Anton Grot
Cinematography: Charles B. Lang
Costume Design: Travis Banton, Orry-Kelly
Film Editing: Henri Rust
Original Music: Max Steiner
Principal Cast: Claudette Colbert (Grand Duchess Tatiana Petrovna), Charles Boyer (Prince Mikail Alexandrovitch Ouratieff), Basil Rathbone (Gorotchenko), Anita Louise (Helen Dupont), Melville Cooper (Charles Dupont).
BW-99m. Closed captioning.

by Eleanor Quin