"The Russians are Coming; the Russians are Coming" is a comedy from the height of
the Cold War about a Russian invasion of America. Of course, the joke is that there is no invasion; rather a lone Russian submarine has strayed too close to the shore, (of an island community off the mainland), causing widespread panic among the inhabitants. Rather than aim for outright farce as Spielberg did in the not dissimilar 1941 the humour here is almost quaint which should come as no surprise
since it was written by William Rose. It was also the film that brought
stage actor Alan Arkin to the movies and he turns in a brilliant comic
performance and one that won him an Oscar nomination for Best Actor.
There is also excellent work from the likes of Brian Keith, Jonathan
Winters, Paul Ford and a very likeable John Phillip Law. The fine
direction is by Norman Jewison and the splendid location photography is
by Joseph Biroc.The films reviewed here represent those I have liked or loved over the years. It is not a list of my favourite films but all the films reviewed here are worth seeing and worth seeking out. I know many of you won't agree with me on a lot of these but hopefully you will grant me, and the films that appear here, our place in the sun. Thanks for reading.
Monday, 14 January 2019
THE RUSSIANS ARE COMING; THE RUSSIANS ARE COMING
"The Russians are Coming; the Russians are Coming" is a comedy from the height of
the Cold War about a Russian invasion of America. Of course, the joke is that there is no invasion; rather a lone Russian submarine has strayed too close to the shore, (of an island community off the mainland), causing widespread panic among the inhabitants. Rather than aim for outright farce as Spielberg did in the not dissimilar 1941 the humour here is almost quaint which should come as no surprise
since it was written by William Rose. It was also the film that brought
stage actor Alan Arkin to the movies and he turns in a brilliant comic
performance and one that won him an Oscar nomination for Best Actor.
There is also excellent work from the likes of Brian Keith, Jonathan
Winters, Paul Ford and a very likeable John Phillip Law. The fine
direction is by Norman Jewison and the splendid location photography is
by Joseph Biroc.
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