Directed by Norman Jewison
Written by William Rose from a novel by Nathaniel Benchley
1966/USA
The Mirsch Corporation
First viewing/Netflix
[box] Pete Whittaker: [to his father] Don’t tell them anything! He hasn’t even tortured you yet![/box]
Peacenik comedy was undoubtedly funnier at the time than it is now.
A Soviet submarine commander comes up for a look at America off the coast of a small Massachusetts island and runs aground. He sends a nine-man team headed by fractured English speaker Lt. Ronozov (Alan Arkin) off in search of a motorboat to pull the sub back out to sea.
The townspeople think they are being invaded. Mild hilarity ensues en route to international understanding, with even some international romance along the way. With a lot of funny fellows including Theodore Bickel, Carl Reiner, Brian Keith, Johathan Winters and Paul Ford and Eva Marie Saint as Reiner’s wife.
I remember this as being better than it is. The premise is good, the actors are funny, but it just didn’t make me laugh much. Your mileage may vary. The Russians Are Coming the Russians Are Coming was nominated for Academy Awards in the categories of Best Picture; Best Actor (Arkin); Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Coming from Another Medium; and Best Film Editing.
This has been on my list to revisit. Thanks for the “not so funny now” warning.
You’re welcome! I hope you laugh your head off.
This was originally my pick as my third extra movie for 1966, but I also recalled it as not as funny as its premise, so I changed it to your recommendation Manos, The Hands of Fate. A good choice I think.
I should be coming up to Manos within the week. Can’t wait. I used to listen to a podcast that made endless fun of this movie but have not managed to see it.