The Russians Are Coming! The Russians Are Coming! (1966)

Why I watched this one? I think over the years I have seen bits and pieces of this movie….so I figured it was time to finally watch it from beginning to end. Plus somehow this movie picked up a Best Picture Oscar nomination.

What is this one about? A Soviet sub runs aground off New England. Men are sent for a boat, but many villagers go into a tizzy, risking bloodshed. You have to remember that this was during the height of the Cold War.

My thoughts on this one? Yes this movie is very much out dated. Yes this movie is very very silly. Yes this movie fails to hit the funny bone much of the time. So why did I like the movie? Well for some reason two movies I really like kept popping into my head while watching this one…Jaws (the town kept reminding me of Amity Island…plus the sub was a big threat in the water) and It’s A Mad Mad Mad Mad World (same type of tone….plus you get Jonathan Winters too).

Movie also offers up some nice performances by Carl Reiner (one of his few starring roles), Eve Marie Saint, Brain Keith and Alan Arkin (his very first movie role). Final thought: A better than average movie….but I found it entertaining especially for a movie that is almost 50 years old. Although I must admit I am puzzled how it picked up a Best Picture Oscar nomination….must have been a bad year for movies.