TOVARICH (1937) Movie on DVD

TOVARICH (1937) — DVD | Claudette Colbert | Charles Boyer | Basil Rathbone | Not Rated

When empires fall, etiquette becomes the last currency of survival.

Elegant, witty, and steeped in pre-war sophistication, Tovarich is a sparkling screwball comedy with a political edge — a story of displaced nobility, mistaken identities, and the absurd resilience of class and dignity in exile.

After the Russian Revolution, a once-wealthy Grand Duchess (Claudette Colbert) and her loyal steward (Charles Boyer) find themselves living in Paris under assumed identities, reduced from imperial privilege to quiet anonymity. Refusing to sell off the crown jewels entrusted to them, they instead take jobs as domestic servants in the household of a wealthy banker — all while carefully concealing their true identities.

What follows is a delicate balancing act of deception, pride, and increasingly complicated social entanglements, especially as suspicion grows within the very household they serve. Basil Rathbone adds sharp sophistication and subtle tension as a figure who begins to question the odd behaviour of the “ordinary” servants.

Directed by Anatole Litvak, the film blends romantic comedy with political undertones, capturing the absurdity of class distinction even in exile. It’s light on its feet but quietly poignant beneath the surface — a comedy about dignity when everything else has been stripped away.

A charming relic of 1930s Hollywood, Tovarich remains a refined, underrated gem for fans of sophisticated comedy and Old World elegance.

A story where titles may be lost… but manners endure.

Format: DVD | Black & White | English
Genre: Comedy / Romance
Runtime: 97 minutes