Unbelievable Adventures of Italians in Russia (1974)

The mad adventures of the mad Italians, searching for the mad treasures in the mad Russia.

Directors:

Francesco Prosperi (as Franco Prosperi), Eldar Ryazanov

Writers:

Emil Braginskiy, Franco Castellano

Stars:

Andrey Mironov, Ninetto Davoli, Antonia Santilli

Cast

Credited cast:
Andrey Mironov	...	Andrey Vasilyev
Ninetto Davoli	...	Giuseppe
Antonia Santilli	...	Olga
Alighiero Noschese	...	Antonio Lo Mazzo
Tano Cimarosa	...	Rosario Agrò
Evgeniy Evstigneev	...	Lame italian
Olga Aroseva	...	Andrey Vasilyev's mother
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Gigi Ballista	...	Dottore (as Luigi Ballista)
Vadim Grachyov	...	Customs officer
Zoya Isaeva	...	Doctor (as Z. Isaeva)
King	...	Lion
Aleksandr Lukyanov	...	Bit part
Yuri Mikhajlov	...	Bit part (as Yu. Mikhajlov)
Ella Nekrasova	...	Bit part (as E. Nekrasova)
Boris Runge	...	Cars for hire employee

Storyline

In Italy, a dying woman tells her granddaughter that she hid her treasure many years ago in Russia, in the city of Leningrad. Other people (who were around when she died) also learn about it. Thus several people arrive in Leningrad trying to find the treasure, each one for himself/herself. What's worse - the only information they have is that the treasure is under a lion - and it's in Leningrad, a city known by its numerous statues of lions. The story gets even more interesting when the soviet militia (police) learns about the whole thing and send an undercover agent...

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Plot Keywords:

lion | detective | red car | lion statue | cigar smoking | 

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Genres:

Adventure | Comedy | Crime

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Certificate:

TV-PG

Details

Country:

Soviet Union Italy

Language:

Russian

Release Date:

31 January 1974 (Italy)

Also Known As:

Unbelievable Adventures of Italians in Russia

Filming Locations:

Moscow, Russia

Company Credits

Production Co:

Dino de Laurentiis Cinematografica, Mosfilm, Produzioni Cinematografiche Inter. Ma. Co.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

104 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film was produced to cover Dino De Laurentiis's outstanding debts to Mosfilm studios for services rendered to the production of Waterloo (1970).

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Connections

Remake of It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World (1963)

User Reviews

nice Russian comedy about treasure hunt

It is not my favorite Ryasanov's movie, but nevertheless I recommend it for everybody who like comedies about treasure hunting. The plot is quite usual. Somewhere in very poor Italian hospital dies old Russian lady, who appears to be one of noble Russian aristocrats. She left Russia after revolution 1917, but she was not able to take with her all her treasures. So in the hospital, before she dies, she reveals to everybody, who is near her (her granddaughter, gangster, doctor, paramedics, patients) her secret. And treasure hunt begins! The movie is quite funny, but not the best example of Russian comedies. The good news is that unlike many Russian comedies which are fun only for native speakers, this one can be comprehended by any audience.