The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming (1966)
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83% of critics liked it
(18 reviews) -
71% of users liked it
(4,548 ratings)
Just because The Russians are Coming, the Russians are Coming was vastly overrated by contemporary critics does not make it any less amusing. The story gets under way when a Soviet submarine accidently gets lodged in a sandbar on the coast of a New England town. In his feature film debut, Alan Arkin… More Just because The Russians are Coming, the Russians are Coming was vastly overrated by contemporary critics does not make it any less amusing. The story gets under way when a Soviet submarine accidently gets lodged in a sandbar on the coast of a New England town. In his feature film debut, Alan Arkin plays the sub's second-in-command, who is ordered by commander Theodore Bikel to free up the sub and skeedaddle before an international incident erupts. Hoping to secure a power boat to tug the sub out to sea, Arkin and his men call upon vacationing TV writer Carl Reiner, passing themselves off as Norwegians. When this ruse fails, Arkin is reluctantly compelled to force Reiner at gunpoint to fetch his motorboat, while gentle-natured Russian sailor John Philip Law is left behind to guard Reiner's wife Eva Marie Saint and pretty neighbor girl Andrea Dromm (yes, love blooms). The plot thickens when the locals, notably bullnecked sheriff Brian Keith and superpatriot Paul Ford, spread the word that the Russians have "invaded" their little community. Several slapstick complications later, the Russians and the locals face each other down in the center of the village, weapons at the ready. Fortunately, World War 3 is averted when the Russians and the villagers band together to rescue young Johnny Whittaker from falling to his doom. Enormously popular upon its first release, The Russians are Coming, the Russians are Coming still works on a slick sitcom level. The film was based on a novel by Nathaniel Benchley, the son of humorist Robert Benchley and the father of Jaws author Peter Benchley. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Directed By
- Norman Jewison
- Written By
- William Rose
- Genres
- Classics, Comedy
Unrated,
- In Theaters
- Jan 1, 1966 Wide
- Studio
- MGM
Critic Reviews
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Variety Staff, Variety
Arkin, in his film bow, is absolutely outstanding as the courtly Russian who kisses a lady's hand even as he draws a gun.
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Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader
More memorable for its title than for anything else.
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Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
Inexplicably nominated for Best Picture Oscar, Norman Jewison's situation comedy is mildly amusing, benefiting from a catchy title and allowing Alan Arkin to sport a Russian accent as sailor of a Soviet submarine.
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, TV Guide's Movie Guide
Though the film is more than two hours long, the pace is always quick, thanks to the fine editing done by Williams and future director Ashby.
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, Empire Magazine
Sweet and charmingly funny in many places, this is dated but entertaining.
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Cast
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Carl Reiner
as Walt Whittaker
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Eva Marie Saint
as Elspeth Whittaker
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Alan Arkin
as Lt. Rozanov
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Brian Keith
as Link Mattocks
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Jonathan Winters
as Norman Jonas
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Theodore Bikel
as Russian Captain
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Paul Ford
as Fendall Hawkins
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Tessie O'Shea
as Alice Foss
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John Phillip Law
as Alexei Kolchin
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Andrea Dromm
as Alison Palmer
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Ben Blue
as Luther Grilk
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Sheldon Golomb
as Pete Whittaker
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Cindy Putnam
as Annie Whittaker
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Guy Raymond
as Lester Tilly
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Cliff Norton
as Charlie Hinkson
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Philip Coolidge
as Mr. Porter
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Don Keefer
as Irving Christiansen
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Parker Fennelly
as Mr. Everett
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Doro Merande
as Muriel Everett
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Vaughan Taylor
as Mr. Bell
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Johnny Whitaker
as Jerry Maxwell
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Nikita Knatz
as Gromolsky
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Milos Milos
as Lysenko
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Gino Gottarelli
as Kregitkin
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Peter Brocco
as Rev. Hawthorne
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Sheldon Collins
as Pete Whittaker
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Michael J. Pollard
as Airplane Mechanic (uncredited)
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Richard Schaal
as Oscar Maxwell
