The Russians are Coming, The Russians are Coming

The Russians are Coming, The Russians are Coming. 1966 The Mirisch Corporation & United Artists; now owned by MGM.
Starring: Alan Arkin, Carl Reiner, Eva Marie Saint, Brian Keith, Jonathan Winters, John Phillip Law
Director: Norman Jewison
Available at Amazon.

A Russian submarine runs aground on a sandbar near an island off Cape Cod. Lieutenant Rozanov (Arkin) leads a landing party of nine men to look for a mator launch to help free the submarine, which they do not find at the home of Walt Whittaker (Reiner), a New York playwright, who is eager to get his wife Elspeth (Saint) and their two children back to the Big Apple. After failing to convince the family that they are Norwegians, Rozanov pulls a gun on the Whittakers. He promises no harm to them if they inform the Russians about the military on the island (none whatsoever), the police (Keith and Winters), and demanding the keys to their car. Alexei Kolchin (Law) is left behind to guard the Whittakers, along with their attractive 18-year-old neighbor Alison Palmer (Andrea Dromm).

As Rozanov and his men bumble from one vehicle to another, a gossipy telephone operator manages to spread wild rumors that quickly circulate around the island. Police chief Link Mattocks (Keith) and his wacky assistant Norman Jonas (Winters) try to keep the peace. Meanwhile, Kolchin has fallen in love with Alison.

Tensions reach a boiling point, but an unlikely person manages to avert World War III, by somehow uniting the locals and Russian sailors.

A great comedy that was nominated for three Oscars, including Best Picture, and Best Actor for Alan Arkin. It was also one of the very few movies made during the Cold War to portray the Russians in a positive manner. Highly recommended.

"Emergency! Everybody to get from street!"