The Russians Are Coming! The Russians Are Coming! (1966)

Good story, Not enough for a whole film

Fresh and Exciting

How wonderful it is to see this fine actress carry a film and carry it so beautifully.

One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming (1966) Director: Norman Jewison Watched: May 24, 2018 Rating: 7/10 Ah, the things we could learn from The Telephone Game, Amusingly confusing with half the film in poor English and (in the original version) deliberately unsubtitled Russian. An entertaining and heartwarming watch- though largely implausible, overdone, overlong, and predictable, A cheesy but completely unlikely ending that teaches love and harmony, because "I do not mistrust... not really sinceriously. I wish not to hate anybody!" Anyone who gripes that this Cold War satire is outdated should try replacing "Russians" with "Terrorists". ---- Gogyohka literally translates to "five-line poem." An alternative to the tanka form, the gogyohka has very simple rules. Five lines with one phrase per line. What comprises a phrase? Eye of the beholder- or the poet, in this case. #Gogyohka #PoemReview #GoldenGlobesBestPicture #War

Being eight years old and nothing to do on a gray Sunday afternoon, My Sister dragged me to the movies to watch this compounded misunderstanding of Detente. The Post World War two era had the Soviet Union and The U.S.A. at odds with each also known as the Cold War.A simple case of Communism against Democracy in it's purest form.This also carried over to the Olympic games which made it more entertaining as The U.S. would battle the Soviets for athletic supremacy. Getting to our picture and review. A Soviet submarine is floating off the coast of New England. Through their periscope they see Gloucester Island. The Submarine Captain (Theodore Bikel) wants to have a closer look so the Sub drifts into a sandbar. Embarrassed but prideful, the Captain orders his second in command Lieutenant Yuri Rosanov (Alan Arkin)who speaks a fractured English but comprehend-able to the language. Takes his landing party of eight to shore and try to steal a boat secretly to free the sub without an international incident and embarrassment. Meanwhile an Obnoxious nine year old Pete Whittaker(Sheldon Collins) notices the strangers in black outside his summer home. He tells his Dad Walt Whittaker (Carl Reiner)that there's Russians outside their home with machine guns. Rosanov enters the house and tells Whittaker that they are Norweigen fisherman but his story falls apart as Rosanov admits he's Russian and draws his pistol at the Whittaker's demanding their station wagon. Meanwhile the Whittakers attractive babysitter Allison Palmer (Andrea Dromm) shows up to tend to the Whittakers three year old daughter Annie. Mrs. Whittaker (Eva Marie Saint joins in on the encounter offering the car keys to displaced Russians. One Russian stays behind to guard the family named Kolchin (John Phillip Law). Meanwhile the other eight Russian sailors drive toward the town but the Station wagon runs out of gas. The Russian steal another car,an old sedan owned by Muriel Everett (Doro Merande)a letter carrier who quickly phones the homely gossipy telephone operator of the island Alice (Tessie O'Shea). Muriel tells Alice that her car was stolen from Russian paratroopers who plan to invade and take over the Island. The bumbling Deputy Norman(Jonathan Winters) gets wind of this information and sets up a Militia led by over zealous Fendall Hawkins (Paul Ford) complete with a sword at his side ready to attack. A domino effect takes over the locals as there ready to fight to save their country. One problem though except for a few people no one has seen the Russians. The Police chief,the relaxed Brian Keith feels there only rumors and everyone should go home. One mishap after another makes this film memorable and a laugh out loud comedy for all to enjoy . A running gag throughout the film is when the town drunk Luther (Ben Blue) is trying to saddle his horse to re-create the midnight ride of Paul Revere. Another one of my favorite scenes is when Whittaker is recaptured by the Russians then tied together back to back with Alice the operator. Their mouths gagged trying to untie each other. The film reminds me of It's A Mad Mad Mad Mad World with so many recognizable character actors spattered all around. Break out performance for Alan Arkin fresh off the Second City ensemble in Chicago One last question? Does Norman Jewison ever direct a bad Film? Off camera Brian Keith meets Johnny Whittaker for the first time. Johnny plays the boy who is hanging from the steeple in the film. Johnny will reunites with Keith on the TV show Family Affair a year later playing the orphaned nephew Jody.

"We have... GOT... to get organized!"This is the story of a Russian sub running aground somewhere in New England, at the height of the cold war. A small party of sailors is sent on a mission to "infiltrate" the town, get a boat and tow it out of it's predicament. Comedy ensues.As far as comedies go, this is one of the more entertaining ones. It features a lot of great actors, a great script, good music and beautiful cinematography. The situations are funny, the story follows the rules of drama, starting small and growing and growing until it explodes out of all proportion. It is a fun movie to watch, even if it might not be the laugh-out-loud type.The directing is great. Norman Jewison does an excellent job, the camera work is very good, the angles are well chosen, the framing is perfect, even if he tends to use a lot of tight shots. Some of the scenes could have used a little more room to grow.The actors are great and the languages they speak are hilarious: American, Russian and body language, they all are great (even if no self respecting Russian would ever speak that way). Alan Arkin excels at using his body language and his impersonation of a soviet officer is memorable. Carl Reiner, Brian Keith and Jonathan Winters are hilarious. The music is good, funny and witty.As with other movies made by Mr. Jewison, this one has a message: people do not want to hate each other; it is a waste of time. And talking about time, the movie is a bit too long, at a little over two hours. Problem is I wouldn't know which part to leave out.The Russians are coming. A very entertaining comedy from 50 years ago, with one of the most hilarious trailers I have ever seen. 9/10.

I just saw this film for the first time & it is quite funny (i do remember hearing the title of this movie when it was first released in the mid-to-late 60s when i was a teenager). Anyway after 40+ years this movie still resonates as its characters are well drawn. The way it reflects human nature under fear & hysteria as well as the nuances of a small New England island resort town is priceless. With its strong comedic cast the viewer gets to see also how an ensemble of good actors can make a comedy shine (reminiscent in some respects of It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World" only this film here is more focused). Actors Carl Reiner, Brian Keith, Jonathan Winters, Paul Ford and Eva Marie Saint all are memorable.