A Petersburg Night (Russian: Петербургская ночь) is a 1934 Soviet drama film directed by Grigori Roshal and Vera Stroyeva, loosely based on Fyodor Dostoevsky’s novel Netochka Nezvanova and short story "White Nights". The film debut of actress Lyubov Orlova, the future star of Soviet cinema.
Contents
Plot
The story follows Yegor Yefimov, a gifted self-taught violinist and former serf, who is freed by his landowner, Velemirov, and sets out for Saint Petersburg in pursuit of true art and professional musical training. On his way, Yefimov becomes stranded in a provincial town and takes a job at the local theater. There, he meets Schults, a diligent and disciplined violinist determined to succeed in music through hard work. One day, Yefimov abruptly leaves the theater and continues on foot to Petersburg. However, the cold and bureaucratic nature of the city quickly shatters his illusions.
Cast
Lyubov Orlova as Grushenka
Boris Dobronravov as violinist Yegor Yefimov
Kseniya Tarasova as Nastenka
Anatoliy Goryunov as Schults
Lev Fenin as Landlord Velemirov
Igor Doronin as Student
Ivan Kudryavtsev as weaver Ivan Vasilyev
Sergei Vecheslov as Tavern guest
Antonin Pankryshev as Gendarm
Leonid Yurenev as His Excellency