White Sun of the Desert (1970)

At the end of the Russian Civil War, Red Army soldier Fyodor Sukhov is ordered to guard the harem of a Caspian Sea guerrilla leader.

Director:

Vladimir Motyl

Writers:

Valentin Ezhov, Rustam Ibragimbekov

Stars:

Anatoliy Kuznetsov, Pavel Luspekayev, Spartak Mishulin

Cast

Credited cast:
Anatoliy Kuznetsov	...	Fyodor Sukhov
Pavel Luspekayev	...	Pavel Vereshchagin
Spartak Mishulin	...	Sayid
Kakhi Kavsadze	...	Abdulla
Raisa Kurkina	...	Nastasya, zhena Vereshchagina (as R. Kurkina)
Nikolai Godovikov	...	Petrukha (as N. Godovikov)
Tamara Fedotova	...	Gyulchatay (as T. Fyedotova)
Musa Dudayev	...	Rakhimov (as M. Dudayev)
Nikolai Badyev	...	Lebedev (as N. Badyev)
Vladimir Kadochnikov	...	podporuchik Semyon (as V. Kadochnikov)
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
I. Abdulragimov	...	(as N. Abdulragimov)
Yu. Darumov
Velta Deglav	...	Khafiza (as V. Deglav)
D. Gerami	...	Ibragim
Tatyana Krichevskaya	...	Dzhamilya (as T. Krichevskaya)

Storyline

A soldier of the Red Army named Sukhov has been fighting in the Russian Civil War in Russian Asia for many years. Just as he is about to return home to his wife, Sukhov is chosen to guard and protect the harem of a guerilla leader (Abdulla). Abdulla is wanted by the Red Army and left his harem behind because the women hindered him. Sukhov's task proves to be more difficult than he imagined...

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Plot Keywords:

harem | russian civil war | desert | caspian sea | cultural difference | 

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Comedy | Drama | Romance | War | Western

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Official Sites:

Mosfilm [rus]

Country:

Soviet Union

Language:

Russian

Release Date:

June 1973 (USA)

Also Known As:

White Sun of the Desert

Filming Locations:

Luga, Leningrad Oblast, Soviet Union

Company Credits

Production Co:

Lenfilm Studio, Mosfilm, Eksperimentalnoe Tvorcheskoe Obedinenie

Technical Specs

Runtime:

84 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

One stuntman died in an accident during the filming.Many other accidents occurred due to the poor overall discipline and security.Some props were stolen by local thieves overnight but security improved after director Motyl hired a local crime boss to play the role of a gang member in Abdullah's gang.

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Goofs

The movie takes place in Turkmenistan circa 1920. At that time Tukrmenistan had already became a part of Soviet Russia (Dec-1917) and some people began using Russian language, but the official language up 1928 was Turkmen where an alphabet based on Arabic graphics had been used. Still all the signs and inscriptions seen throughout the movie are in Russian (cyrillic) only.

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Quotes

Vereschagin: [grief-laden after Abdulla killed Petrukha; climbs onboard a small trawler filled up with the loot pillaged by Abdulla and his pack] Look, Abdulla... Ain't you got too much merchandise? I take it all was duty-free?
Abdulla: [at shore] But there is nobody in the Customs office! Would you like it - we can pay in gold?
Vereschagin: You do know me, Abdulla: I don't accept graft - it is what is done to the Great State that insults me.
Abdulla: [to one of his accomplices] Aristarkh, negotiate with the Customs!
[...]

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Connections

Spoofed in Starye pesni o glavnom 3 (1998)

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Soundtracks

Vashe blagorodiye, gospozha Razluka
Written by Isaac Schwarts and Bulat Okudzhava
Performed by Pavel Luspekayev

User Reviews

Cult movie

Being completely agree with all other comments, I can add a simple explanation what a cult movie it is. Every time when a manned spaceship is launched in Russia, it's team watches Beloye Solntse Pustyni right before takeoff. It's a tradition they never forgive. Even Dennis Tito had to watch it, together with other crew members, yet he probably had no translation or subtitles.