L'incredibile signor Detockin

This amazing story may well be considered fantastic. Modest and shy insurance agent, amateur theater actor Yuri Detochkin turns out to be an implacable fighter for justice. However, for justice, represented by the actor of the same theater, and in the world-the investigator Podberezovikov, this Robin Hood is a dangerous, cunning, inventive and elusive criminal...

Russian film "Watch Out for the Automobile" is about the role of cars in people's lives. It was made at a time when it was not possible for everybody to afford cars. This is one reason why dishonest people were able to buy cars without great difficulty. It is in such an unethical climate that this film's hero decides to steal cars which acquired through illegal money. Director Eldar Ryazanov has directed his film in such a manner that viewers get the feeling that there is nothing extraordinary about this car thief and the cars stolen by him. This effect is created by portraying the hero as an ordinary man who has nothing to do with crime. The film begins with tightly constructed scenes of a heavily guarded car being stolen.This leads viewers to ask what would really happen when the thief is not recognized by other people ? On his part,the car thief is able to fulfill his wishes as he wants to make a wise use of money for poor people. Apart from drama about incidents of car theft,genuine comedy can also be found in form of comical situations witnessed during a Shakespearean play's rehearsal by the hero and his nemesis.Lastly,this film's moral message is conveyed immediately after a truly mind boggling car chase sequence.

The absence of reviews here prompts me to say a few words. I saw this in a cinema in Moscow in 1966 [despite date above], a popular film there at the time. I couldn't follow all the dialogue at the time, but I recall being struck by the believability and humanity of the whole thing. Russian public were right on the side of the anti-hero, though he was no swashbuckler and the ending is dispassionate. This was still during the time of the Soviet thaw, and Moscow was heaving with American tourists. Life was better for Russians and things were looking up. The old gallant Soviet war heros had become less interesting, and the time was right for someone more complex, surfacing, perhaps, from the rich literary tradition. A perfect Geroi nasha vremeno - my theory anyway. I'd just like to see it again before giving it a rating!

It's a really accomplished movie with LOTS of technical screenplay and classic action chases and great drama sequences.

The acting is humble and sound. The lead protagonist is a car thief who steals cars for the good. Not to harm but to provide for the kids. He is apologetic and a classic Gentleman.

He is chased by his best friend who happens to be a cop and his co-star. There is many times when the cop has to question his idealologies and it pans out so beautifully in this moive.

This movie is also a rare chance to see Russia in the 1960's and how they have German lager and have not been graced by the style of swinging sixties' London.

It's a Russian noir movie and it is really well-acted and choreographed and the plot is excellent. The narrative is great. Innokentiy Smoktunovskiy's (the lead actor) own background memoirs are excellent credentials for a movie.

Excellent acting from Innokentiy Smoktunovskiy; Oleg Efremov; Georgi Zhzhyonov (who survived 18 years in prison under Starlin; maybe a movie about him?) and Olga Aroseva amongst others.

Great film with inspiration from early American cinema and slapstick Chaplin and crime drama novels. 8/10.

This is one of my favourite comedies, and it's a real shame that as I write this there is no version with English subtitles available. This is truly one of the funniest movies that I've ever seen, especially the hilarious narrated car chase sequence.

This is quite a well-known movie in Russia so it seems strange that there is no English version yet. We can only hope that RusCiCo or KINO will eventually release something.

The movie's humour is gentle, ironic, and just plain wacky at times, and the main character is easy to identify with, even if he is technically a criminal (though not a criminal at heart); there are no actual "bad people" in the movie, and there are some pretty funny situations when the protagonist reveals through his own honesty how the morals of other people can be much more crooked than his (for example, the guy who desperately needs a ride and isn't at all put off after being told that the guy he's asking for a ride is about to steal the car).

Highly recommended (if you can understand Russian).