The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming

Do you remember that hilarious comedy film from '66 titled `The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming'? If you've never seen it you're in for a treat. This movie is an ingenious spoof concerning the Cold War mindset in America during the sixties and posits the question "How would we react if we were to encounter a group of Russian servicemen wander about in our community?"

Well that's just what happens in `The Russians Are Coming, the Russian Are Coming'. A Russian submarine runs aground on the New England coastline while doing a little unauthorized sightseeing and is forced to send a small group ashore on a recognizance mission. As you might have already guessed when their presence is discovered by the locals all you-know-what breaks loose and the results will have you in stitches. Is a Soviet Invasion underway, or is it just a case of strangers in need of a helping hand?

Beyond the well conceived storyline what really makes this film shine is its incredible cast of zany characters lead by the likes of; Carl Reiner, Alan Arkin, Jonathan Winters and Brian Keith. There is also an enjoyable love story subplot thrown in for good measure featuring John Phillip Law as Seaman Alexei Kolchin and the beautiful Andrea Dromm as Alison Palmer.

Lots of fun to be had watching this one!

Although it is a bit dated now, this movie is a scream. Everyone...repeat...everyone in this movie is funny. The action never stops and I think it would be a big mistake to single anyone out in the movie as being the star. Just watch it and laugh.

This movie is such a classic. If you remember "the Cold War," this movie is even more meaningful. It's such a great comedy. We love it at our house, you will too!

I remember when they made this movie near Fort Bragg, California in 1966. I was 8 at the time and my mom went to the set every day from our home in Willits, CA with her friends. What fun they had getting autographs from and pictures taken with Jonathan Winters and Brian Keith, etc. I got to see a Saturday shoot at the beach where they shoot at the Russians from the porch of the beach house. Alan Arkin in his first film role lingered by the garage between takes...man if I had only known what a great actor he'd become. Wouldn't it have been great to talk to him then? My first experience watching actors and a film crew; it was awesome.

The scene in town where young Johnny Whitaker was rescued from the church steeple created quite a buzz around the area when they staged it. It was that role where Brian Keith then asked him to try out for the "Jody" role in Family Affair on T.V.(remember Buffy, Uncle Bill and Mr. French?). He was 2 years younger than me.

Anyway, the pastoral setting of this movie was every bit the same in the movie as in real life. Wikipedia explains it well....

"Despite being set on the fictional "Gloucester Island" off the coast of New England, the movie was actually filmed on the California coast in Mendocino. The harbor scenes, however, were filmed in a small town (Noyo Harbor) south of Fort Bragg, California. Because of the filming location, the dawn scene at the beginning of the movie was actually filmed at dusk.

The submarine used in the movie is actually a fabrication. The US Navy refused to loan one of their own and also barred the studio from bringing a real Russian submarine, forcing the studio to create their own. It is segmented into 4 parts, each having its own motor to power it. Upon close inspection while watching the film, you can actually see the separate parts as the "sub" floats in the water."

Oh the memories of a simpler day when our only enemies were the Russians. It was that film that showed me as a kid that the Cold war was not to be taken seriously and that in reality the Russians could be just like us. I have a lot of good friends today that are Russian ex-pats, and they're pretty nice people....and very hard working. I'm honored and proud that they're my friends. Enjoy this movie.

Okay, so it is dated material. I saw it years ago and it was funny then because the cold war made Russians great targets for humor.

Cast is loaded with notable comedians such as Winters and others. The movie is not as funny today as it was then, yet is still a good laugh not only at the movie's content but at our own cultural biases at the time.

Not a must have, just fun to have.