The Russians Are Coming the Russians Are Coming (1966)

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

Director:

Norman Jewison

Writers:

Nathaniel Benchley (novel), William Rose (screenplay)

Stars:

Carl Reiner, Eva Marie Saint, Alan Arkin

Nominated for 4 Oscars. Another 5 wins & 9 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Carl Reiner	...	Walt Whittaker
Eva Marie Saint	...	Elspeth Whittaker
Alan Arkin	...	Lt. Rozanov
Brian Keith	...	Police Chief Link Mattocks
Jonathan Winters	...	Norman Jonas
Paul Ford	...	Fendall Hawkins
Theodore Bikel	...	The Russian Captain
Tessie O'Shea	...	Alice Foss
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

Storyline

In the Cold War, when the captain of a Russian submarine comes too close to the Gloucester Island in Massachusetts to give a look at America, the submarine gets stranded. A nine-man team commanded by Lieutenant Rozanov goes onshore to search a motor boat to release the submarine and arrives at the summer house of the New Yorker writer Walt Whittaker that is spending the weekend with his family in Gloucester. When he realizes that they are Russians, he believes that it is an invasion. Soon the information leaks, leading hysteria and paranoia along the inhabitants of the small village.

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Plot Keywords:

soviet submarine | stranded | soviet navy | language barrier | cold war | 

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Taglines:

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

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Genres:

Comedy | War

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Certificate:

Unrated

Did You Know?

Trivia

The actress who plays Agnes Grilk (the motorcycle driver) gets no credit although she has several lines and is in a few scenes with Doro Merande, who plays Muriel Everett.

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Goofs

As the flotilla of small boats moves away from the docks, registration numbers can be seen on their bows. Most of the registration numbers start with CF (California), even though Gloucester Island is in Massachusetts according to the shoulder patches on the police uniforms.

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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.
[...]

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Crazy Credits

In the title, the letters R and N in RUSSIANS are reversed to resemble Russian letters (which would literally translate to Ya and I), and the G in COMING is a hammer and sickle.

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Alternate Versions

Some local stations played a slightly different version of the film in the mid-80's: they cut at least part of both credits. For example, instead of beginning the movie with the credits that show the title, and such things (the one that alternates between Russian and American flags), but the tv version removes most of the opening credits. They only credit the writer, producer and director. This means that most of the credits are cut, and the film opens with the shot of the captain opening his eye over a black screen. Also, the end credits were also shortened-they fade out immediately after the last of the cast list has been shown, and it doesnt show the scroll end. This basically only deletes about three seconds, and all that is really noticable is the rather abrupt ending of the credit music.

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Connections

Referenced in Eva Marie Saint: Live from the TCM Classic Film Festival (2014)

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Soundtracks

The Shining Sea
(uncredited)
Written by Johnny Mandel & Peggy Lee
Performed by Irene Kral

User Reviews

Social Commentary can be funny!

This film is a rare find. It connects two, often mutually exclusive, film characteristics—comedy and social comment. The comedy is uproarious and the social comment pointed without getting in the way of the comedy. This is a career highlight for Alan Arkin, Carl Reiner and the director Norman Jewison.

The plot is simple enough. A Russian submarine is run aground off the New England coast. With nowhere else to turn the Russian submariners are forced to attempt contact with the "natives". Therein lies the tale.

Rumors fly around the little town. Mis-conceptions and stereotypes add fuel to the fire and the whole mess is fanned to absolute silliness by inspired acting and humor.

Do yourself a favor, rent or buy it and enjoy.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Russian

Release Date:

25 May 1966 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Russians Are Coming! The Russians Are Coming!

Filming Locations:

Eureka, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$3,900,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

The Mirisch Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

126 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1