Balalaika (film)

Balalaika is a 1939 American musical romance film based on the 1936 London stage musical of the same name. Produced by Lawrence Weingarten and directed by Reinhold Schunzel, it starred Nelson Eddy and Ilona Massey.

In 1914 Tsarist Russia, Prince Peter Karagin Nelson Eddy is a captain of the Cossack Guards, riding home from manoeuvres to an evening of wine, women and song at St. Petersburgs Cafe Balalaika. The Balalaikas new star, Lydia Pavlovna Marakova Ilona Massey, is blackmailed into attending the officers party and is expected to choose a favoured one. She intrigues Karagin when she makes good her escape instead.Masquerading as a poor music student, Karagin insinuating himself into Lydias family and circle of musician friends, unaware that they are dedicated revolutionaries. He discovers his larcenous orderly, Nikki Poppov Charles Ruggles, courting the Marakovs maid, Masha Joyce Compton. Karagin then bullies Ivan Danchenoff Frank Morgan, Director of the Imperial Opera, into giving Lydia an audition Danchenoff is pleasantly surprised to find that unlike the 60 other women foisted on him by other aristocrats she has real talent. Later, Karagin orders his usual arrangements for seduction, but falls in love instead and tries to cancel them. She understands both his former and current motives, and admits she loves him too. ........

Source: Wikipedia