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 | Island | New England | Sailor | Submarine

Awards:

Nominated for 4 Oscars. Another 8 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
Philip Coolidge	...	Mr. Porter
Don Keefer	...	Irving Christiansen
Cindy Putnam	...	Annie Whittaker
Parker Fennelly	...	Mr. Everett
Doro Merande	...	Muriel Everett
Vaughn Taylor	...	Mr. Bell
Johnny Whitaker	...	Jerry Maxwell
Danny Klega	...	Polsky
Ray Baxter	...	Brodsky
Paul Verdier	...	Maliavin
Nikita Knatz	...	Gromolsky
Constantine Baksheef	...	Vasilov
Alex Hassilev	...	Hrushevsky
Milos Milos	...	Lysenko
Gino Gottarelli	...	Kregitkin
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Paul Lambert	...	(uncredited)
Michael J. Pollard	...	Stanley (airplane mechanic) (uncredited)

Directed by
Norman Jewison

Writing credits
Nathaniel Benchley		(novel "The Off-Islanders")
William Rose		(screenplay)

Produced by
Norman Jewison	....	producer
Walter Mirisch	....	producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Johnny Mandel

Cinematography by
Joseph F. Biroc		(director of photography) (as Joseph Biroc)

Film Editing by
Hal Ashby
J. Terry Williams

Casting by
Lynn Stalmaster

Art Direction by
Robert F. Boyle

Set Decoration by
Darrell Silvera

Makeup Department
Del Armstrong	....	makeup artist
Naomi Cavin	....	hair stylist
Sydney Guilaroff	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Jim Henderling	....	production manager (as James E. Henderling)
Fred Lemoine	....	unit manager
Allen K. Wood	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Kurt Neumann	....	assistant director (as Kurt Neumann Jr.)
Leslie Gorall	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Anthony Bavero	....	property master (as Anthony N. Bavero)
Lewis E. Hurst Jr.	....	set designer
James F. McGuire	....	set designer
Thomas J. Wright	....	sketch artist (as Thomas J. Wright Jr.)

Sound Department
Al Overton	....	sound (as Alfred J. Overton)
Clem Portman	....	sound re-recordist
John Romness	....	sound
Sidney Sutherland	....	sound editor (as Sidney E. Sutherland)
James D. Young	....	assistant sound editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Daniel Hays	....	special effects (as Daniel W. Hays)

Stunts
John Moio	....	stunts (uncredited)
Felix Silla	....	stunts (uncredited)
Bobby Somers	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Bob Young	....	grip (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Wesley Jeffries	....	wardrobe

Music Department
Richard Carruth	....	music editor

Other crew
Leon Belasco	....	dialogue director
Betty Levin	....	script supervisor
Peter Nelson	....	assistant to producer

Production Companies

• Mirisch Corporation, The

Distributors

• United Artists (1966) (USA) (theatrical)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1970) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (2002) (USA) (VHS)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2005) (Germany) (DVD)
• United Artists (1966) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Warner Home Vídeo (????) (Brazil) (VHS)

Special Effects

• Film Effects of Hollywood

Other Companies

• Pablo Ferro Films  titles

Also Known As:

"The Russians Are Coming! The Russians Are Coming!" - Australia (imdb display title), International (English title) (imdb display title), UK (imdb display title), 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:

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

Filming Locations:

Bodega Bay, California, USA

Company:

Mirisch Corporation, The

Trivia:

According to a Los Angeles Times story, the fake submarine had been previously used in the 1965 Marlon Brando movie Morituri (1965).

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): 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:

[first lines]
[Rozanov arrives on the bridge of the Russian submarine after learing from the chart man how close they are to the USA coast]
Lieutenant Rozanov:[in Russian; subtitled] What is it Captain? What are you doing?
[to a chart man]
Lieutenant Rozanov:Show me our position.
[the chart man shows Rozanov how close they are to an island]
Lieutenant Rozanov:[in Russian] What? WHAT? Tovarich Captain...
The Russian Captain:[in Russian] Take it easy.
Lieutenant Rozanov:[in Russian] Permit me, Captain. Look at our position.
The Russian Captain:[in Russian] I don't need your advice.
[...]

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Private Screenings: Norman Jewison" (2007)

Soundtrack:

The Shining Sea

A Russian Riot

I rarely rate a movie 10/10, but this is a welcome exception. It is, without doubt, Alan Arkin's finest hour.

The story line is a laugh riot in it's own right. A Russian sub accidentally grounds on an island off New England. A squad of Russians, led by Alan Arkin, are sent ashore to secure a power boat to help free the sub. It all goes flooey and the laugh riot begins. I did think the ending was sappy, but honestly I couldn't think of one more appropriate, so I had to give them a pass.

The cast, in general, is first rate, but the casting of Alan Arkin in the lead role is inspired. He is absolutely hilarious as things spiral out of his control. "Soon there will be World War III and everybody is blaming YOU!" You will recognize some of the faces. Carl Reiner as the self-important New York writer, Brian Keith as the Town Constable, Jonathon Winters as his befuddled deputy, Ben Blue as the town drunk, and Paul Ford as a pompous retired military type. The only flaw was the casting of John Philip Law. He is an engaging actor, but his portrayal of the sensitive Russian sailor just didn't make the grade.

Usually, in a comedy this frantic, the characters tend to get lost in the slapstick. Not so in this case. Each of the characters are fleshed out to the point that you really think you know what they are thinking.

I don't know why I'm writing this review. For those of you who have seen it - no review is necessary. For those of you who haven't - there is no excuse.