The Russians Are Coming the Russians Are Coming (1966)

Director:

Norman Jewison

Writers:

Nathaniel Benchley (novel)
William Rose (screenplay)

Release Date:

25 May 1966 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | War

Tagline:

It's A Plot!... to make the world die laughing!!

Plot:

Without hostile intent, a Soviet sub runs aground off New England. Men are sent for a boat, but many villagers go into a tizzy, risking bloodshed.

Plot Keywords:

Boat | Submarine | Island | Sailor | New England

Awards:

Nominated for 4 Oscars. Another 6 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

Carl Reiner	...	Walt Whittaker
Eva Marie Saint	...	Elspeth Whittaker
Alan Arkin	...	Lt. Rozanov
Brian Keith	...	Police Chief Link Mattocks
Jonathan Winters	...	Norman Jones
Paul Ford	...	Fendall Hawkins
Theodore Bikel	...	The Russian captain
Tessie O'Shea	...	Alice Foss (telephone operator)
John Phillip Law	...	Alexei Kolchin
Ben Blue	...	Luther Grilk
Andrea Dromm	...	Alison Palmer
Sheldon Collins	...	Pete Whittaker (as Sheldon Golomb)
Guy Raymond	...	Lester Tilly
Cliff Norton	...	Charlie Hinkson
Richard Schaal	...	Oscar Maxwell

Also Known As:

The Russians Are Coming! The Russians Are Coming! (USA) (alternative spelling)

Runtime:

126 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Russian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Portugal:M/12 | Finland:S | Sweden:11 | USA:Unrated | Australia:G

Filming Locations:

Bodega Bay, California, USA

Company:

Mirisch Corporation, The

Trivia:

The Air Force fighters sent to bomb the sub are F-101 Voodoos.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Kolchin is saying goodbye to Allyson before jumping on the submarine, a woman in a blue coat passes by behind them on her way to the small crafts. A few moments later, the same blue-coated woman is running behind them again.

Quotes:

[after the Russians in the boat eluded capture]
Fendall Hawkins: I'm holding you responsible!
[draws sword]
Fendall Hawkins: As Commander of the Civilian Forces, in this emergency! I'm charging you with treason!
Police Chief Link Mattocks: Gimme that thing!
[grabs his sword and breaks it in half]
Fendall Hawkins: [half tearful-half enraged] That's a Dexter F. Mettles Memorial Sword.
Police Chief Link Mattocks: Yeah.
Fendall Hawkins: [enraged] You traitorous fink!
[goes for Mattocks, resulting in a brawl]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Hogan's Heroes: The Kamikazes Are Coming (#6.20)" (1971)

Soundtrack:

The Shining Sea

I'd watch this anytime

As someone who remembered how and where to crouch when the air raid siren went, and wondering how we were supposed to know when it was safe to come out, I have always cherished this film as a reminder that we're all human. It has every stereotype going, but it's okay - the characters are so lovingly drawn you don't care. I live in New England now, and while you don't see this version of xenophobic hysteria anymore(thank God!), you still hear the accents and see the regional quirks. Alan Arkin is dead on in his role, and as a student of Russian, I've gotten so I actually understand most of the dialogue. My daughter doesn't get the point of the movie, but then she didn't have duck and cover drills. I wish I knew when or if it were coming out on DVD.