KnightWithout Armour (1937) | Presenting Hitchcock Podcast

Gooooood evening. In this month’s episode of Presenting Hitchcock, Cory and Aaron skip out on their aristocratic ways as they discuss Knight Without Armour.

Written by: 

Adaptation by Frances Marion

Screenplay by Lajos Biro

Dialogue & Scenario by Arthur Wimperis

Based on the novel by James Hilton

Starring: Marlene Dietrich and Robert Donat

Directed by: Jacques Feyder

Trailer:

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Hitchcock comparisons:

• The 39 Steps
• Secret Agent
• Foreign Correspondent
• Lifeboat
• Torn Curtain
• Topaz

The film was co-written by the renowned Frances Marion, who adapted James Hilton’s 1934 novel Without Armour, and directed by Jacques Feyder, a Belgian who is little remembered today even though he directed a handful of famous Hollywood movies such as The Kiss (1929) and Anna Christie (1930), both starring Greta Garbo. Mostly, however, Feyder worked in Europe.

Marlene Dietrich was imported at great expense to star opposite Robert Donat. Dietrich was eager to work with Donat on Knight Without Armour (1937) because she believed he would be as romantic and irresistible in person as she found him on screen. Dietrich was disappointed to find that Donat was married, that he wasn’t a bon vivant, and that his asthma condition severely hindered his work. 

During the shooting, Robert Donat had a severe asthma attack and the film was delayed for almost a month. The producers wanted to replace him, but Marlene Dietrich refused. According to Robert Osborne, host of Turner Classic Movies, Dietrich waived her salary during Donat’s illness and nursed him until he was well enough to return to filming.

The poem quoted by Fothergill, aka Ouronov, is “Prospice” by Robert Browning. The one quoted by the Countess is “I have outlasted all desire” (1821) by Alexander Pushkin.

Enormous time and expense were spent on authentic sets and costumes. The resulting budget of $350,000 prevented the film from making a profit, and producer Alexander Korda was unable to pay Marlene Dietrich her full salary. She agreed to forgo the rest if Korda hired Josef von Sternberg to direct I, Claudius.

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Next up, we’ll be discussing Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead

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