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

I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.

Easily the biggest piece of Right wing non sense propaganda I ever saw.

The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

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.

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 (Alan Arkin) goes onshore to search a motor boat to release the submarine and arrives at the summer house of the New Yorker writer Walt Whittaker (Carl Reiner) 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."The Russians Are Coming the Russians Are Coming" is a hilarious parody of the America's paranoia in times of Cold War. The situations are extremely funny and despite the dated theme, it is still a great comedy from the 60's. My vote is eight.Title (Brazil): "Os Russos Estão Chegando!" ("The Russians Are Coming!} – Not available on DVD or Blu-Ray.

I've been reading many of the reviews and comments here and the message boards by many who just don't get it or seem to have a sense of humor. I first saw this movie at the drive-in when I was a young boy. My parents didn't have to keep telling us to cover our eyes unlike the movies of today. You look at many of the movies like Ghostbusters, Click etc. where they just had to stick in inappropriate scenes unlike the family movies back in those days. You also have to place yourself during the middle of the Cold War in the 60's when the belief was that all Russians were evil and wanted to destroy us. Even a cartoon like Rocky & Bullwinkle, with the characters Boris and Natasha, was teaching us the Russians were evil and this movie comes around showing they are as human as the rest of us and pokes fun as to the paranoia and suspicion that let's everyone's minds run away from them.I guess I'm old fashioned though because I just don't get today's movies which runs short on a plot and reality and just can't help with all the CGI, massive explosions and massive gunfights.

Perhaps this movie played a lot better back in 1966 or perhaps it was a really, really poor year for films or perhaps the Oscar folks were just nuts. All I know is that when I saw "The Russians Are Coming, The Russians Are Coming", it was hard to imagine that it was nominated for the Best Picture Oscar! The picture begins with an accident in which a Soviet submarine gets stuck. It seems the Captain (Theodore Bikel) wanted to get a look at America and the ship just got too close. So, an officer (Alan Arkin) takes a few men ashore--looking to steal a boat so they can tow the sub away from the sandbar. Obviously, they should have just asked for help and by sneaking ashore, townsfolk soon think they are being invaded. Ultimately, this results in a huge confrontation where the Captain threatens to blow up the town and the Sheriff (Brian Keith) threatens to shoot back! This confrontation is broken up by an accident involving young Johnny Whitaker--and everyone is instantly buddies and the world is saved.All in all, the film suffers from three problems. First, as a comedy, it just isn't funny. Second, at times the film shows poor writing. The romance happens way too fast and way too easily and the ending involving Whitaker is embarrassingly done, as it's so contrived and obvious. And, what happens next strains credibility WAY beyond the breaking point. Third, the film tries hard to make a statement about peace and the Cold War--and I think it should have focused more on this than attempts at humor (attempts, mind you, only ATTEMPTS). All in all, a great idea for a film and some nice performances--but it's all for naught. A decent time passer but NOT another "Dr. Strangelove"--another picture that was nominated for Best Picture but actually deserved this (and so much more).By the way, although some of the principles in the film (Keith, Arkin, Paul Ford and Carl Reiner) all have good parts and make quite a bit of it, some other folks are totally wasted. In particular, Jonathan Winters is in the film but has absolutely NOTHING to do and is wasted. How could they do this with such a naturally funny man?!