The Russians Are Coming the Russians Are Coming

source: The Russians Are Coming the Russians Are Coming

As a parody of the Cold War hysteria that gripped America in the 1960's this movie isn't bad. There are two basic flaws with it though that hold it back. The first is that it's supposed to be a comedy but just isn't very funny. In all honesty it didn't raise a chuckle out of me the whole way through. Second, there just isn't enough substance to the story to keep it going for over two hours. It's promising. A Soviet submarine accidently runs aground just off a small island on the U.S. East Coast. Nine sailors come ashore to try to find a boat to pull the sub back to sea. The next thing you know the whole island is awash with rumours. The Russian Navy has invaded, Russian paratroopers have seized control of the island airport, and a civilian militia under the leadership of a gung-ho ex soldier named Fendall Hawkins (played by Paul Ford) is formed to take back the island, much to the consternation of police chief Mattocks (Brian Keith), who seems to be the only one not infected by the paranoia. It has potential, and has a great cast (Carl Reiner, Eva Marie Saint, Alan Arkin, Jonathon Winters), but just didn't live up to the potential of either the story or the cast. 4/10

"The Russians are Coming" is a dated comedy not because of its subject matter, but because of a 1960s comedic style that, for whatever reason, some found amusing then but is now painful to watch. At least for me. This film has been compared to "It's a Mad, Mad, etc. World" and it is an appropriate comparison. If you found that film funny you will no doubt find this amusing as well. For myself, it takes more than an all start cast hamming it up before a camera and extras running around in the background to make me laugh. I require some cleverness or unpredictability to the shtick. Unfortunately, this film has neither. For example, from the moment Ben Blue (Luther) is not able to immediately corral the horse he needs in order to warn the town that "the Russians are coming," was there any doubt that the camera would continue to check in on him from time to time, as he tries to capture the horse in drab, unfunny ways? Or that the film would end with him riding through the town long after the Russians left? What amazes me is that you can watch comedies from the silent era that can blow you away with the inventiveness and creativity of the stunts and situations. A movie like "The Russians are Coming" doesn't even give it half an effort. Instead, this is what is supposed to pass for "hilarious" according to reviewers here: townspeople running around while Jonathan Winters with a grimace admonishes "Let's get organized!" And if you found that hilarious, you're in for a treat, because evidently the director found it so funny the bit just HAD to be repeated! Don't get me wrong, I like Carl Reiner, Alan Arkin, Paul Ford, Jonathan Winters, even Brian Keith in some things when the material is good. For instance, Paul Ford in "The Music Man" was funny. Here, doing the same kind of character, but without any funny lines, he is just outright annoying. To make matters worse, the bits which are not funny to begin with are dragged out in order to stretch this film out to over 2 hours. Example: toward the end of the film, Sheriff Brian Keith tells the Russian sub commander he is under arrest. This "joke" is dragged out for what seems like fifteen minutes, long past the time when it could be amusing to anyone. How anyone can describe this as "hilarious" is beyond me. Maybe those who have do not know what the word means. Here is the definition, just in case: Hilarious: marked by or causing boisterous merriment or convulsive laughter. This film may force you to convulse something, but for myself it was absolutely not laughter.

What happened to make sixties comedies unpleasant? "The Russians Are Coming" presumably satirizes Cold War hysteria, but this mess does not work. This is not "Doctor Strangelove" and it is most certainly not "The Charge of the Light Brigand". Unlike the makers of those masterwork films,Norman Jewison never attains a plausible sense of the pervading hysteria of the sixties. I do not know why because he directed many excellent films. One would never know that from this movie. Eva Marie Saint is as enchantingly beautiful as she is in other films, but she is wasted here. What made anyone think that Carl Reiner and Jonathan Winters yelling was funny? Both men were said to be comedic geniuses, but here they are not comical. The dialogue is mind numbing and repetitive. An annoying aspect of the movie is that the largely California locations look nothing like New England, though Nantucket was one location used. This film is just not funny; that it might once have seemed amusing is a sad commentary on our taste during the sixties.

This movie is horrible and it's hard to believe this is from the same director of ...And Justice For All. The movie was made in the mid 60's when we were still in a cold war with Russia. A Russian sub lands on a small island off the coast of Maine and they get stuck. So Alan Arkin and several other Russians are going ashore to try to find another boat so they can get away. They wind up in the house of Carl Reiner and Eva Marie Saint and holding them hostage while the rest of them go into town and find a boat. Reiner breaks free and and people in town see the Russians and they go crazy and think a war has broken out and several citizens start a militia. Brian Keith is the sheriff who tries to keep them under control and it's not an easy job. This is a comedy but it's just awful and i can't see how anyone could actually like this movie.

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?!

This is an often over looked cinematic comedy. Our xenophobia fears have just been relocated, but the message is the same; xenophobia is hilarious when accompanied by a classic cast and good screen writing. Saw this film when first released and every time I view it, I still find something new and still laugh in the same places.

My wife and I have watched this many times over the years and always find it hilarious. Often during an everyday event something will remind us of scenes in the movie and I'll comment, "Ethel, what are you doing up there?" or "Don't do it again." Arkin was so right for the part he played and the submarine Captain came across as a tough guy who really was a softie. They don't make movies like this anymore!

It looks like the Cold War just froze! When a Soviet submarine gets lost at sea, they dock and realize that they've landed on American soil. Not sure what to do, they go to the Whittakers, a family on vacation. Of course, as soon as the Whittakers realize that these strangers are Russians, the Russians have to take them hostage. Commanding officer Lt. Rozanov (Alan Arkin) orders his men to venture into town, looking for a way out. But, once even the tiniest unverifiable report gets out that the Russians have "invaded", the townspeople just flip. What was especially funny about "The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming" was the way that every time someone spread the news that the Soviet Union was "taking over", the story got mangled, getting blown out of proportion every time! Alan Arkin does a great job as Rozanov (I can't believe that he still hasn't won an Oscar after all these years), along with great performances by Carl Reiner and Eva Marie Saint as Walt and Elspeth Whittaker (listen to what Rozanov does with Walt's name), and Jonathan Winters as a cop (uh-oh). It's a full-scale laugh riot from beginning to end.

I lived on Martha's Vineyard for three years, which is why this film still commands a place in my heart. I was particularly amused by the habit of the lawmen (Keith, Winters) to regard the summer people as idiots because they don't know them, and the year-round residents as idiots because they know them too well. Gloucester Island is televisionless and almost radioless, as Nantucket was at the time, which added to the buildup of confusion in this long (in the style of the '60s) but still enjoyable comedy.