Reviews & Ratings for
The Russians Are Coming the Russians Are Coming More at IMDbPro »

Filter:

Best Chronological Prolific Authors Loved It Hated It Hide Spoilers:

Page 1 of 6:

[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]

Index

59 reviews in total

---

36 out of 41 people found the following review useful:
A Russian Riot, 9 March 2003

Author: howdymax from Las Cruces, New Mexico

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.

---

30 out of 33 people found the following review useful:
great movie, 4 April 2002
Author: Ajtlawyer from Richland, WA

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.

---

33 out of 42 people found the following review useful:
Funny and Reassuring, 15 July 2002
Author: de_niro_2001 from scotland

It's fair to say Norman Jewison has never directed a bad film. Fiddler on the Roof, Jesus Christ Superstar and Other People's Money are excellent. This film is an antidote to all other Cold War films which are either about spies or impending nuclear holocaust. The Russian submarine beaches on the New England coast by accident and the crew are very anxious about the blunder they have made. I think there's a chance this film was partly inspired by 49th Parallel. At the beginning, it's obvious that they do not wish to use their guns in anger. John Phillip Law does well as Alexei; there's a lot more to him than the angel in Barbarella. He is quite afraid of what may happen and is genuinely distraught after he pointed his gun at the wee lass because she made a noise that made him panic. The Americans are not portrayed favourably for the most part. They are shown as jingoistic and they behave in a manner reminiscent of the people who thought Orson Welles' War of the Worlds broadcast was a news report on an actual Martian invasion. Americans, young and old, from Whittaker's 9 year old son to the elderly guys in the American Legion beanies are shown as spoiling for a fight. This might be meant to represent American cold war paranoia which had its dark side in blacklisting by the House Un-American Activities Committee and Ronald Reagan's keenness to use military action in the 1980s. The Russians are shown as well meaning and decent, genuinely afraid of what might happen to them. The scene between Alexei and Alison on the beach is very good and what they say to each other (to be found in the memorable quotes section) makes perfect sense. Alan Arkin is also very good as Lieutenant Rozanov. Whitakker is very concerned when he thinks he's killed him after impulsively firing a gun at the car he's driving. It's good the way mutual distrust turns into friendship. Leaving the serious analysis aside, there are some very funny moments like when Arkin & co tie the elderly lady up and place her on top of the cupboard and her husband doesn't notice she's there. It's a good scene at the end when the townspeople escort the submarine out the harbour in their boats and with them being there the McDonnell F-101 Voodoos flying overhead don't attack the sub. A feel good comedy indeed.

---

17 out of 18 people found the following review useful:
Spasibo, Gospodin Jewison...vy khoroshiy kinorezhissyor! (English translation: Thank you, Mr. Jewison...you're a great director!), 20 June 2005

Author: Lee Eisenberg (eisenberg.lee@gmail.com) from Portland, Oregon, USA

It looks like the Cold War just froze! When a Soviet submarine gets lost at sea, they dock and realize that they've landed on American soil. Not sure what to do, they go to the Whittakers, a family on vacation. Of course, as soon as the Whittakers realize that these strangers are Russians, the Russians have to take them hostage. Commanding officer Lt. Rozanov (Alan Arkin) orders his men to venture into town, looking for a way out. But, once even the tiniest unverifiable report gets out that the Russians have "invaded", the townspeople just flip.

What was especially funny about "The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming" was the way that every time someone spread the news that the Soviet Union was "taking over", the story got mangled, getting blown out of proportion every time! Alan Arkin does a great job as Rozanov (I can't believe that he still hasn't won an Oscar after all these years), along with great performances by Carl Reiner and Eva Marie Saint as Walt and Elspeth Whittaker (listen to what Rozanov does with Walt's name), and Jonathan Winters as a cop (uh-oh). It's a full-scale laugh riot from beginning to end.

---

21 out of 26 people found the following review useful:
Funnier still if you've lived on a New England island, 20 August 2001
Author: heckles from St. Albans, VT

I lived on Martha's Vineyard for three years, which is why this film still commands a place in my heart. I was particularly amused by the habit of the lawmen (Keith, Winters) to regard the summer people as idiots because they don't know them, and the year-round residents as idiots because they know them too well. Gloucester Island is televisionless and almost radioless, as Nantucket was at the time, which added to the buildup of confusion in this long (in the style of the '60s) but still enjoyable comedy.

---

15 out of 16 people found the following review useful:
Human Spirit Overreaches Ideological Boundaries, 3 October 2004

Author: mdm-11 from United States

A Cold War "comedy" delivers lots of laughs, but also much to think about. Knowing what we know now (years after the fall of Communism), the story seems to foreshadow a brighter future for humankind. Carl Reiner's Masterpiece!

A small New England island town is visited by the crew of a Russian submarine. The submarine has run adrift, and is stuck. The townspeople, through a series of misunderstandings, quickly perpetuate ever-increasing rumors about a Russian paratrouper invasion. Although the town is in a complete panic, the focus on a few characters and their interactions with the "alien enemies" reveals a more human side of the global East/West conflict. The final scenes are a heartwarming testimony to the triumph of the human spirit. A wonderful "Sunday afternoon" family film

---

17 out of 20 people found the following review useful:
This has long been just about my favorite comedy., 16 October 2001

Author: allenbj from Oshawa, Ontario, Canada

My wife and I have watched this many times over the years and always find it hilarious. Often during an everyday event something will remind us of scenes in the movie and I'll comment, "Ethel, what are you doing up there?" or "Don't do it again." Arkin was so right for the part he played and the submarine Captain came across as a tough guy who really was a softie. They don't make movies like this anymore!

---

12 out of 12 people found the following review useful:
I'd watch this anytime, 10 March 2003
Author: ejev from Rhode Island

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.

---

14 out of 16 people found the following review useful:
A personal favorite!, 4 July 2002
Author: Robert L. Folkner from West Lafayette, Indiana

"Hilarious" doesn't begin to describe it! I saw this in the theater in 1966 when it first came out, and I enjoyed it immensely! Arkin was great and Bikel excels in just about everything he does! This gets ***** out of ***** with me!

So it's an excellent comedy, but like all truly great comedy, it has a dark and serious side: that people will become hysterical with xenophobia when they live in a culture that expects it of them. During the Cold War, it was a given among us kids that ALL the Russians were evil beings, godless Communist robots out to destroy us. We were taught to so regard ALL of them.

This movie serves as a poignant reminder that not everyone who lives in an officially "hostile" nation hates us.

---

5 out of 5 people found the following review useful:
Great, Very Funny Cold War Flick, 30 March 2004

Author: MachoBigJ from Santa Cruz, California

If you're old enough to remember the Cold War, you will laugh heartily at The Russians are Coming. Alan Arkin is spectacular as the XO of a Russian Sub that has accidentally beached on an island off the New England coast, and the supporting cast of Carl Reiner, Jonathan Winters, Brien Keith and Eve Marie Saint is superb.

Beware, there are lines in this film that that you may never forget, most notably "emergency - everybody to get from street".

The best place to see this movie is on TCM, because Robert Osborn interviewed director Norman Jewison at length about this film and together they reveal some fascinating insights, including the story of Jewison's private screening for Kruschev.

I must warn you, however, that this film has a happy ending. If that offends you, perhaps you'd prefer one of my other Cold War favorites such as Fail-safe or Stanley Kubrick's excellent satire of Fail-safe, Dr. Strangelove.

---

---

Page 1 of 6:

[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]

Add another review

---

Related Links

Plot summary	Plot synopsis	Ratings
Awards	External reviews	Parents Guide
Plot keywords	Main details	Your user reviews
Your vote history