It looks like the Cold War just froze! When a Soviet submarine gets lost at sea, they dock and realize that they've landed on American soil. Not sure what to do, they go to the Whittakers, a family on vacation. Of course, as soon as the Whittakers realize that these strangers are Russians, the Russians have to take them hostage. Commanding officer Lt. Rozanov (Alan Arkin) orders his men to venture into town, looking for a way out. But, once even the tiniest unverifiable report gets out that the Russians have "invaded", the townspeople just flip.
What was especially funny about "The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming" was the way that every time someone spread the news that the Soviet Union was "taking over", the story got mangled, getting blown out of proportion every time! Alan Arkin does a great job as Rozanov (I can't believe that he still hasn't won an Oscar after all these years), along with great performances by Carl Reiner and Eva Marie Saint as Walt and Elspeth Whittaker (listen to what Rozanov does with Walt's name), and Jonathan Winters as a cop (uh-oh). It's a full-scale laugh riot from beginning to end.
What was especially funny about "The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming" was the way that every time someone spread the news that the Soviet Union was "taking over", the story got mangled, getting blown out of proportion every time! Alan Arkin does a great job as Rozanov (I can't believe that he still hasn't won an Oscar after all these years), along with great performances by Carl Reiner and Eva Marie Saint as Walt and Elspeth Whittaker (listen to what Rozanov does with Walt's name), and Jonathan Winters as a cop (uh-oh). It's a full-scale laugh riot from beginning to end.