Maximka (1952)

A young Black boy is rescued by Russian sailors, who name him Maksimka. After overcoming his fear of white people, he proves to be remarkably clever and kind-hearted. The rough, hard-drinking sailor Ivan Luchkin grows especially fond of him. When foreign labor recruiters try to seize Luchkin, it is Maksimka who saves him through quick thinking. For his bravery and resourcefulness, the boy is accepted into the corvette's crew and becomes a cabin boy of the Russian fleet.