The Russians Are Coming the Russians Are Coming (1966)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

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:

Johnny Whitaker (spelled 'Johnnie' in the credits) so impressed Brian Keith that when TV's "Family Affair" (1966) began casting later that same year, Keith requested Whitaker test for the part of his nephew.

Goofs:

Factual errors: Established etiquette for displaying the United States flag when hung vertically is to have the blue union on the uppermost left - during the credits at the end of the movie the flag appears with the union on the upper right.

Quotes:

Lieutenant Rozanov: Is great idea. I send my men fifty paces and BLOOEY! I congratulate you on extreme genius of this plan. Ptooey!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Psych: Any Given Friday Night at 10PM, 9PM Central (#3.13)" (2009)

Soundtrack:

The Shining Sea

great movie

This is one of the better 1960s comedies and the acting is first-rate. Alan Arkin as the Soviet Navy officer and Brian Keith as the police chief got deserved Oscar nominations. This was one of Jonathan Winters' first movies and he steals every scene he's in. Carl Reiner is excellent as "Whittaker Walt", the musical comedy writer who is the only sensible person on the island. One part of the movie that stands out for me is how well Theodore Bikel and Arkin are able to speak Russian which they do flawlessly although I doubt either of them grew up speaking Russian. And the girl who plays Allison? Zowie!

The ending of the movie always gets me choked up. . .Rent it and enjoy.