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"Semnadtsat mgnoveniy vesny" More at IMDbPro »

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49 out of 50 people found the following review useful:
Bond, Step Aside: Stierlitz is in town, 10 January 2003

Author: Yuri Ashuev from Chicago, US

One of the little-recognized deficiencies of spy movies is that 'action'--chases, shootings, explosions, etc.--is dominant content. Of course, the trend caters to modern audiences that are addicted to sound and special effects. However, action-driven spy movies (e.g., James Bond) suffer from 3 major defects: 1)They are not believable 2)They contain little or no acting performances to speak of 3)As such, they are easily forgettable. This is not the case with "17 moments of spring" (hereafter SMOS)

The 12 episodes of the series have been specifically shot in Black and White, in fairly simple studio sets, with no special visual effects. What makes SMOS the favorite of audiences, is a gamut of absolutely incredible acting. Each role, even a minor one, casts an "all-star" Soviet actor, and they deliver deep psychological performances. Tikhonov is an obvious star as Stierlitz, but consider Leonid Bronevoy as Mueller, the friendly, always suspicious and incredibly cruel inside Gestapo chief. Or Oleg Tabakov, as cheerful Schellenberg of the German intelligence. Or Plyatt as very vulnerable and very human Pastor Schlag who nevertheless embodies the power of the Church.

So essentially SMOS is not a spy movie, but a tight psychological drama. But we must not forget the subject, and it is an important one, based on a major real life event: in early 1945, trying to finish off the Nazi Germany, the Russians found out that SS-gruppenfuehrer Karl Wolff (essentially a representative of the odious Himmler) attempted to negotiate a separate piece with the Americans in Italy. The talks were top-secret (OSS star Allen Dulles was the US negotiator) and essentially meant a betrayal of Russia by its anti-Nazi allies. SMOS is about how the Russians discovered the secret and forced the end to negotiations.

In short, this is one of the greatest all-time spy thrillers. Just as "Rosemary's Baby" is arguably the best horror movie because of its acting and directing, so does SMOS shine through the mediocrity we are fed today. I wish it were shown to the wide Western audiences, so that they can see for themselves!

32 out of 33 people found the following review useful:
Greatest psychological film on war, 21 November 2004

Author: sunlion from Riga, Latvia

This series are far greater than anything that has been filmed about war ever. It shows closely characters of German Nazi top during the last weeks of the war, when they understand that the war is lost. A Russian spy is working among them speeding up the war's end.

The pace of the film is slow and thorough, the movie is meant for people with ability to analyze, reflect. Characters of the people involved are depicted are so lively that the film fuses with the documentary pieces. Acting is extremely raw and natural, it actually in't acting, it's living. Tihonov in a role of Stirlitz portrays a real spy - brilliantly talented, sharp, calm, cold, patient - everything that areal spy has to be. At the same time he is not a greedy adventurous coat-turner, he works for his country, his people, his family. And the last - this film works as a litmus test on people. If you don't understand it you simply haven't matured for it. The film itself is flawless.

31 out of 33 people found the following review useful:
Opinion from Russia, 23 October 2002

Author: (lowway@mail.ru) from Russia

One of the best films of Soviet Union. It is not about intrigues and spy games, though the plot is really gripping. Last months of WW II. Shtirliz - Soviet resident is under suspection of Gestapo. Being in the heart of Hitler's sistem, he struggled with hazi regime long years. The Third Reich bosses Himmler, Shellenberg, Wolf understand that their game is over, they try to save their own skin and seek for separate peace with USA and Great Britain. This treaty could be big calamity for Soviet people, and USSR secret service breakes ignouble plans of nazi. The famouse Soviet actor Vyacheslav Tikhonov (Prince Andej in "War and peace" by Bondarchuk) have excellent incarnated the interesting and very complicated character of Shtirliz. All other roles were played by the best actors of Soviet screen.

Some parts of film were shot in GDR. For the first time after WW II in Soviet cinema appeared the German soldier character, who was kind and humane person. Gestapo guard Helmut saved Russian secret service woman Katya with her child, but himself perished. This role was brillant played by GDR actor Otto Mellies.

"Seventeen moments of spring" is about people, who were cut off their home, country, families in order to fighting with nazi criminals.

27 out of 28 people found the following review useful:
This is a jewel of spy cinema, 31 August 1999
Author: Godfathe from United States

I watched this movie many years ago with Spanish subtitles. I still remember the remarkable acting,intriguing action, and excellent scenography that transports the viewer to Germany during the nazi's years. The plot is very interesting beside of having some historical touches.In a now gone URSS's book compiling secret correspondence between Stalin and other head of states, the former Soviet dictator mentioned Maxim, a soviet spy "planted" in the high ranks of nazy's Germany during the war years. Seventeen Moments of Spring is an excellent movie that I personally would like to enjoy again if it were available with English subtitles in video stores in our country.

25 out of 25 people found the following review useful:
Absolutely perfect! A must see., 20 February 2001

Author: Stanislav (stanislav67@hotmail.com) from Toronto, Canada

This movie is one of the top 10 movies for any Russian. Even if you are a foreigner, if you have subtitles or other mean of understanding the plot - you will be stick to your chair for all 11 (is it 11 or 13?) episodes.

The book of Semenov was great and the movie is even better. Great actors, who knew what the war is and how to show it. Amazingly intense plot, without any special effect, all rooted in the chess game between a Russian spy and German (nazi) opponents. Stylish black and white. In 1973 it was common, now it just looks good, as a true documentary.

What else? Music is perfectly suited to the moment and the whole movie is not seeking to draw a line between "good" and "bad" guys but, instead, trying to draw you into the tense atmosphere of the last 3 months preceding the end of WW2.

If you ask a few Russians in the street of Moscow or any other city what number 17 means to him, I bet $100 that over 90% will say "17 Moments of Spring" which stands for "Semnadtsat mgnovenij vesny".

21 out of 21 people found the following review useful:
Humane, 26 May 2007

Author: vldv22 from New Zealand

What make this movie unique, is how Germans are shown. They are villains, but unlike in many modern movies these villains are not ugly, stupid or emotionless. They have personalities, they are clever, cunning and often charming. Just like one would assume many Nazis were in real life.

There is no much shooting or killing in this film. No special effects. What it has is a great story (loosely based on actual events, I think), great acting, dialogues, and cinematography. Although there are 12 episodes of the film, you will wish there have been more.

Great film. I should watch it again...

20 out of 21 people found the following review useful:
All-time classic spy movie, 2 September 1998
Author: Max Kobzev (axima@garnet.ru) from Moscow, Russia

In the history of Soviet movie there are only two examples of transformation of screen heroes in folk story ('anecdote') heroes. The first was famous "Chapayev" (1934) and the heroes were Chapayev and Petka. The second is "Semnadtsat mgnoveniy vesny" and the heroes are Stirlitz and Muller. Despite of thousands of anecdotes, "Semnadtsat mgnoveniy.." is a very nostalgic, humane, sincere movie and it delivers to us moments of truth. I like it very much.

18 out of 18 people found the following review useful:
Excellent, 16 June 2005

Author: South62 (vperisic_ri@msn.com) from Croatia

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

Reading comments I am glad to see that 90 percent of them are speaking about this serial in superlatives. Nothing better could be done in Brezhnev Era but in this context I am not underlining that fact like an obstacle. Russian creativity was always able to overrun political circumstances. I am posting this comment to point out one of the most touching and best acted scenes in entire motion-picture history. Character acted by Tikhonov is Soviet spy enduring 17 years in Nazi-surroundings. Bosses from Moscow Centre know in what kind of psychological pressure he was and want to help him in in some way. NKVD arranges meeting between Stierlitz and his real Soviet wife. They met in one restaurant somewhere in Third Reich. They did not see each other for years but due to security reasons and keeping Stierlitz's under cover job, man and woman must not talk, must not show that they even know each other. They are permitted just to look each other for couple of minutes. Tikhonov made acting bravura: extremely high emotional suffering suppressed by duty. He did not show he knows the lady. Nobody in German restaurant noticed nothing but TV audience understood his pain.

18 out of 18 people found the following review useful:
The history is talking to us, 18 June 2002
Author: AnsM29 (kulik_a@yahoo.com) from Moscow, Russia

I've seen this movie a lot of times and year after year I have a strong desire to watch it again. The story never ends. I got addicted to it as millions of Russians did. The war still means a lot to me. The movie spins the brain in the right direction. The best war series ever seen. Nothing to compare with the modern blockbusters. Totally different athmospere and completely different result. Simply the best.

19 out of 21 people found the following review useful:
A TV series about the Soviet agent Stirlitz, 18 September 2001

Author: esteban hernandez from Italy

If anyone would like to see a good TV Series he/she must see "17 moments of the Spring", where Viacheslav Tikhonov played wonderfully the role of the Soviet agent Stirlitz. In fact, this agent never existed, but he was like a compilation of those soviet agents (Kuznetsov, Sorge and others) who died fighting nazi occupation in the territories of former USSR. Leonid Bronevoi also played in excellent way the role of nazi officer Heinrich Mueller. The story of the series was like the one of cat vs mouse. Mueller always suspected of Tikhonov, but could prove nothing.

The soundtrack of the series is also melodic and easy to listen.

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