Arrivano i Russi, arrivano i Russi

This is a funny movie! Arkin, in his first starring role, was particularly good. I enjoyed the accent and the mangled English. Also, the photography was first-rate.

I sat through this film twice when it was in the theaters the first time around, and have seen it on TV every ten years or so.

Some of the critics say it's overrated. Fine. Maybe it's just me, but I *still* think it's funny.

If you're looking for a pleasant movie the kids can watch, this is a good one.

A situation comedy of errors with lots of sight gags, a who's who of character actors, and a heartwarming ending.

However, I don't understand the "goof" listed above: "Errors in geography: Both the US and Russian maps show Gloucester as an isolated island, which is clearly not the case. There is also the implication (in the film) that Gloucester is not connected to the mainland, also not the case."

How can this be an error when Gloucester is a fictional island? The map looked like Nantucket stood on its end.

Better quotes for this movie are:

"Emergency. Everybody to get from street." -- Russian landing party "We've got to get organized!" --Jonathan Winters "Muriel, whatcha doin' up there?"

A Cold War "comedy" delivers lots of laughs, but also much to think about. Knowing what we know now (years after the fall of Communism), the story seems to foreshadow a brighter future for humankind. Carl Reiner's Masterpiece!

A small New England island town is visited by the crew of a Russian submarine. The submarine has run adrift, and is stuck. The townspeople, through a series of misunderstandings, quickly perpetuate ever-increasing rumors about a Russian paratrouper invasion. Although the town is in a complete panic, the focus on a few characters and their interactions with the "alien enemies" reveals a more human side of the global East/West conflict. The final scenes are a heartwarming testimony to the triumph of the human spirit. A wonderful "Sunday afternoon" family film

As someone who remembered how and where to crouch when the air raid siren went, and wondering how we were supposed to know when it was safe to come out, I have always cherished this film as a reminder that we're all human. It has every stereotype going, but it's okay - the characters are so lovingly drawn you don't care. I live in New England now, and while you don't see this version of xenophobic hysteria anymore(thank God!), you still hear the accents and see the regional quirks. Alan Arkin is dead on in his role, and as a student of Russian, I've gotten so I actually understand most of the dialogue. My daughter doesn't get the point of the movie, but then she didn't have duck and cover drills. I wish I knew when or if it were coming out on DVD.

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.