Night Without Mercy

Based on a story by K. Zandner. An American air base is located in the mountainous desert of a Middle Eastern country. Henry Davis (Alexander Belyavsky) dreamed of being an art historian, but became a military pilot. His work is associated with risk, but the hero is satisfied with a decent income. Performing a reconnaissance flight, Henry invades the airspace of the Soviet Union and comes under fire from border anti-aircraft guns. Davis barely manages to make it to the base. He is presented with an award and offered to prepare to fly a new super-fast airplane.

Directed by Alexandr Faintsimmer, Night Without Mercy leans on a strong ensemble — Aleksandr Belyavskiy, Larisa Kronberg, Nikolai Timofeyev — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about drama titles of 1962.