Just because The Russians are Coming, the Russians are Coming was vastly overrated by contemporary critics does not make it any less amusing. The story gets under way when a Soviet submarine accidently gets lodged in a sandbar on the coast of a New England town. In his feature film debut, Alan Arkin plays the sub's second-in-command, who is ordered by commander Theodore Bikel to free up the sub and skeedaddle before an international incident erupts. Hoping to secure a power boat to tug the sub out to sea, Arkin and his men ...
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Just because The Russians are Coming, the Russians are Coming was vastly overrated by contemporary critics does not make it any less amusing. The story gets under way when a Soviet submarine accidently gets lodged in a sandbar on the coast of a New England town. In his feature film debut, Alan Arkin plays the sub's second-in-command, who is ordered by commander Theodore Bikel to free up the sub and skeedaddle before an international incident erupts. Hoping to secure a power boat to tug the sub out to sea, Arkin and his men call upon vacationing TV writer Carl Reiner, passing themselves off as Norwegians. When this ruse fails, Arkin is reluctantly compelled to force Reiner at gunpoint to fetch his motorboat, while gentle-natured Russian sailor John Philip Law is left behind to guard Reiner's wife Eva Marie Saint and pretty neighbor girl Andrea Dromm (yes, love blooms). The plot thickens when the locals, notably bullnecked sheriff Brian Keith and superpatriot Paul Ford, spread the word that the Russians have "invaded" their little community. Several slapstick complications later, the Russians and the locals face each other down in the center of the village, weapons at the ready. Fortunately, World War 3 is averted when the Russians and the villagers band together to rescue young Johnny Whittaker from falling to his doom. Enormously popular upon its first release, The Russians are Coming, the Russians are Coming still works on a slick sitcom level. The film was based on a novel by Nathaniel Benchley, the son of humorist Robert Benchley and the father of Jaws author Peter Benchley. Hal Erickson, Rovi
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Seller's Description:
Alan Arkin, Carl Reiner, Eva Marie Saint, Brian Keith, Jonathan Winters. Very good. 1966 Run time: 126. Providing great media since 1972. All used discs are inspected and guaranteed. Digital copy/codes may be expired or not included. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
I first saw this film then it was released to the movie theaters. There were no multiplex theaters I those days .... and the Cold War with the Soviet Union was at is height. The threat of nuclear war was all-too-real.
THEN, this gem of a film came along and gave people a chance to rethink our Russian 'enemies', to breathe, and, most importantly, to laugh. And, in no small way, 'The Russians Are Coming! The Russians Are Coming!!' probably did more for moving both counties toward peace than any inter-national meeting ever could.
The entire cast is wonderful!! It is a feel-good film that should not be missed!
mehaul
Mar 28, 2010
The Three M's: Madcap Militia Mayhem
TITLE: The Russians Are Coming, The Russians Are Coming
GENRE: Big Cast Comedy
CAST: Alan Arkin, Carl Reiner, Eva Marie Saint, Brian Kieth, Johnathan Winters, Paul Ford, Ben Blue, John Philip Law, Andrea Dromm, Tessie O'Shea and Theodore Bikel
PLOT: A sightseeing Russian Submarine Captain grounds his ship on an American Island's sandbar. He sends an expeditionary force to commandeer a power boat to tug his ship free. As that force makes their way across the island, they give good example that they are not trained for that particular duty. Two speak broken English and so some headway is made. Ultimately the tide frees the sub and a US/Soviet confrontation takes place in the island's harbor, faced off, gun barrel to gun barrel, the tension is imitative of real life detente until....
RETURN ON INVESTMENT: 8 of 10; This is a very funny movie, but it isn't a seamless tale. That is its only drawback, the directors attempt to do segues which stop certain trails of humor in their tracks. When the skits are running, you can appreciate a well written dialogue. The stunts are accomplished well. This is a funny movie (did I say that already?) Even Reiner's toupee is a riot!
DVD BONUS: The director's (Jewison) take on why he did such a great job making this film and how he 'showed up' the US military and the Rusian government with its message.
ADDED NOTES: Ben Blue, a silent era comic, does a horse chase of a different color, gold.
pamela1717
Apr 9, 2008
Rich classic!
Yet again, one of my favorites. I remembered watching this movie as a child and I have never forgotten it. I was ecstatic to find it on video. The subtle humor provided by Reiner, Arkin, and the master, Johathon Winters, can't be missed. I've seen this movie over and over again and it never fails to amuse me. Humor in this film is derived from excellent character development, fantastic performances, and great writing.
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