The Young Lovers

The Young Lovers (1954)

They fought for happiness in a world that would not let them love!

A young employee of the British State Department falls in love with the daughter of a top Russian diplomat, much to the panic of their respective countries' officials, who suspect espionage. The cast includes David Knight, Odile Versois, Theodore Bikel and David Kossoff.

Date of release
1954-08-24
TMDB
6.1 / 10 (7)
Runtime
1h 36m
Genres
Drama, Romance
Director
Anthony Asquith

Casting

Interesting facts

  • Filmed in: Pinewood Studios

The Young Lovers is a 1954 British Cold War romantic drama film directed by Anthony Asquith and starring Odile Versois and David Knight. The film was produced by Anthony Havelock-Allan, with cinematography from Jack Asher and screenplay by George Tabori and Robin Estridge. It was shot at Pinewood Studios with sets designed by the art directors John Box and John Howell. At the 1955 British Film Academy Awards, The Young Lovers picked up the prizes for Best Screenplay and Most Promising Newcomer to Film.

Production

The script was originally written by George Tabori. Director Joseph Losey read it in Hollywood and called it "extraordinary... I very much wanted to do [it] but I was not in a position in Hollywood to get it produced."

Producer Tony Havelock Allen later claimed he wanted Mark Robson to direct and Jimmy Stewart to star. He said:

The Rank Organisation said they didn't have the money for an American star and wanted me to use the young American, David Knight. Puffin [Anthony Asquith] was the wrong director for it; it should have been made in that stark, realistic style the Americans were so good at, but Rank wanted to use Puffin. I hadn't made a film for some time and was getting lazy, so I agreed to do it as Rank wanted.

Knight was an American who had studied at RADA; this got him a screen test and a six month contract in Hollywood to make a film that fell over. Earl St John saw his test and flew him back for Young Lovers - after further tests he got the party. Aquith said "Young love is a delicate thing and because David has never made love or been in front of the cameras I'm sure he will be splendid." Filming took place at Pinewood in January and February 1954.

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