Mission to Moscow

source: Mission to Moscow

Moviecut—Mission to Moscow

Mission to Moscow

Is that why he put forward this saccharine view of the Soviet Union? It was done sincerely and naively, was it? I remember this -- the 1943 film version of Ambassador Davies' book -- as quite dull, in spite of its obvious historical and political interest, from when I last saw it a number of years ago. In the notes I took down at the time, I have the film labelled as "disturbing propaganda" and cite two choice quotations: "At least, one European nation with no aggressive intentions is ready for whatever comes", exclaims Ambassador Davies (as portrayed by Walter Huston). According to a Soviet minister, "The army is strengthened by the purge of its traitors." (Stalin almost succeeded in strengthening his army right out of existence.) Amazon lists a couple of scholarly titles specific to the Ambassador Davies controversy. Perhaps this film will whet your appetite for a little more background.