Beregis Avtomobilya
Encyclopedia
Beware of the Car is a Soviet 1966 crime
comedy
film
directed by Eldar Ryazanov
based on a screenplay by Emil Braginsky. Produced by Mosfilm
.
It is often credited as one of the best Soviet (Russian) comedies (although a DVD with English subtitles is not currently available). The film includes a star cast of Innokenty Smoktunovsky
, Oleg Yefremov
, Anatoli Papanov
, Andrei Mironov
, Georgy Zhzhyonov, and others.
). Detochkin applies great resourcefullness and exceptional driving skill to stealing cars
from crooks in a Robin Hood
way, disappointed by the Militsiya
(Soviet police) being unable to fight them efficiently. He then sells the cars and anonimously transfers the money to the accounts of various orphanages. Detective Maxim Podberyozovikov investigates his crimes and tries to prosecute him, but faces a serious moral problem in doing that, partly because the suspect appears to be his amateur theater mate and friend.
Awards: Edinburgh
-66, Sydney
-66, Melbourne
-67, Cartagena
-69.
Crime fiction
Crime fiction is the literary genre that fictionalizes crimes, their detection, criminals and their motives. It is usually distinguished from mainstream fiction and other genres such as science fiction or historical fiction, but boundaries can be, and indeed are, blurred...
comedy
Comedy film
Comedy film is a genre of film in which the main emphasis is on humour. They are designed to elicit laughter from the audience. Comedies are mostly light-hearted dramas and are made to amuse and entertain the audiences...
film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
directed by Eldar Ryazanov
Eldar Ryazanov
Eldar Aleksandrovich Ryazanov is a Soviet/Russian film director whose comedies, satirizing the daily life of the country, are very famous throughout the former Soviet Union....
based on a screenplay by Emil Braginsky. Produced by Mosfilm
Mosfilm
Mosfilm is a film studio, which is often described as the largest and oldest in Russia and in Europe. Its output includes most of the more widely-acclaimed Soviet films, ranging from works by Tarkovsky and Eisenstein , to Red Westerns, to the Akira Kurosawa co-production and the epic Война и Мир...
.
It is often credited as one of the best Soviet (Russian) comedies (although a DVD with English subtitles is not currently available). The film includes a star cast of Innokenty Smoktunovsky
Innokenty Smoktunovsky
Innokentiy Mikhailovich Smoktunovsky was a Soviet actor acclaimed as the "king of Soviet actors". He was named People's Artist of the USSR in 1974 and the Hero of Socialist Labour in 1990....
, Oleg Yefremov
Oleg Yefremov
Oleg Nikolayevich Yefremov was a Soviet/Russian actor and Moscow Art Theatre producer. People's Artist of the USSR , Hero of Socialist Labour ....
, Anatoli Papanov
Anatoli Papanov
Anatoli Dmitrievich Papanov was a popular Soviet film and theatre actor.Papanov starred in some of the best and well-known Soviet films, often together with his friend, Andrei Mironov. Mostly known for his great performances in comedies, he also had serious and dramatic roles, such as that of the...
, Andrei Mironov
Andrei Mironov
Andrei Alexandrovich Mironov was a Soviet theatre and film actor who played lead roles in some of the most popular Soviet films, such as The Diamond Arm, Beware of the Car and Twelve Chairs...
, Georgy Zhzhyonov, and others.
Plot summary
The movie plot evolves around Yuri Detochkin, a humble Soviet insurance agent suffering from a minor mental disorder (the name hints to his childishnessInfantilism
Paraphilic infantilism, also known as autonepiophilia and adult baby syndrome is a sexual fetish that involves role-playing a regression to an infant-like state. Behaviors may include drinking from a bottle or wearing diapers...
). Detochkin applies great resourcefullness and exceptional driving skill to stealing cars
Motor vehicle theft
Motor vehicle theft is the criminal act of stealing or attempting to steal a motor vehicle...
from crooks in a Robin Hood
Robin Hood
Robin Hood was a heroic outlaw in English folklore. A highly skilled archer and swordsman, he is known for "robbing from the rich and giving to the poor", assisted by a group of fellow outlaws known as his "Merry Men". Traditionally, Robin Hood and his men are depicted wearing Lincoln green clothes....
way, disappointed by the Militsiya
Militsiya
Militsiya or militia is used as an official name of the civilian police in several former communist states, despite its original military connotation...
(Soviet police) being unable to fight them efficiently. He then sells the cars and anonimously transfers the money to the accounts of various orphanages. Detective Maxim Podberyozovikov investigates his crimes and tries to prosecute him, but faces a serious moral problem in doing that, partly because the suspect appears to be his amateur theater mate and friend.
Cast
- Innokenty SmoktunovskyInnokenty SmoktunovskyInnokentiy Mikhailovich Smoktunovsky was a Soviet actor acclaimed as the "king of Soviet actors". He was named People's Artist of the USSR in 1974 and the Hero of Socialist Labour in 1990....
as Yury Detochkin, former taxi driver, now an insurance agent - Oleg YefremovOleg YefremovOleg Nikolayevich Yefremov was a Soviet/Russian actor and Moscow Art Theatre producer. People's Artist of the USSR , Hero of Socialist Labour ....
as Maxim Podberezovikov, detective, working on Detochkin's Case - Lyubov Dobrzhanskaya as Detochkin's Mother
- Olga ArosevaOlga Aroseva-External links:...
as Lyuba, a trolley-bus driver, Detochkin's fiance - Andrei MironovAndrei MironovAndrei Alexandrovich Mironov was a Soviet theatre and film actor who played lead roles in some of the most popular Soviet films, such as The Diamond Arm, Beware of the Car and Twelve Chairs...
as Dima Semitsvetov - Anatoli PapanovAnatoli PapanovAnatoli Dmitrievich Papanov was a popular Soviet film and theatre actor.Papanov starred in some of the best and well-known Soviet films, often together with his friend, Andrei Mironov. Mostly known for his great performances in comedies, he also had serious and dramatic roles, such as that of the...
as Sokol-Kruzhkin, father-in-law of Dima Semitsvetov - Tatyana Gavrilova as Inga Semitsvetova, wife of Dima Semitsvetov
- Georgy Zhzhyonov as Patrol policeman
- Yevgeniy YevstigneyevYevgeniy YevstigneyevYevgeniy Aleksandrovich Yevstigneyev was a prominent Soviet movie and theater actor and one of the founders of Moscow's Sovremennik Theatre. People's Artist of the USSR ....
as Acting coach - Donatas BanionisDonatas BanionisDonatas Banionis is a Lithuanian and Soviet actor. He is best known in the West for his performance in the lead role of Tarkovsky's Solaris as Kris Kelvin....
as Priest, buyer of Detochkin's Volga car - Lyubov Sokolova as Judge
- Vyacheslav Nevinnyy as Car mechanic
- Gotlib Roninson as Yakov Mihailovich, Senior Insurance Agent, Detochkin's boss
- Galina Volchek as Customer
- Sergey Kulagin as Pub manager
- Yakov Lents as Tobacconist's shop salesman
- Nikolay Parfyonov as Prosecutor
- Victoria Radunskaya as Tanya, criminalist
- Boris Runge as a man with suitcases
- Antonina Maksimova
- Antonina Dmitrieva
- Nina Krachkovskaya
Trivia
- The waltz performed in the film is a distinguished melody composed by Andrei PetrovAndrei PetrovAndrey Pavlovich Petrov was a Russian and Soviet composer. Andrey Petrov is known for his music for films such as I Step Through Moscow, Beware of the Car, and Office Romance.-Life:...
. Sergey Nikitin's repertoire includes a song named Glassy Gentleman (lyrics by Evgeny Evtushenko), which used a waltz from the film.
Awards
The film was the leader of Soviet film distribution for 1966 watched by 29 million people (11 place). Innokenty Smoktunovsky recognized as the Best Actor of 1966.Awards: Edinburgh
Edinburgh International Film Festival
The Edinburgh International Film Festival is an annual fortnight of cinema screenings and related events taking place each June. Established in 1947, it is the world's oldest continually running film festival...
-66, Sydney
Sydney Film Festival
The Sydney Film Festival is an annual film festival held in the Australian city of Sydney and is held over 12 days in June. The competitive film festival draws international and local attention, with films being showcased in several venues across the city centre and includes features,...
-66, Melbourne
Melbourne International Film Festival
The Melbourne International Film Festival is an acclaimed annual film festival held over three weeks in Melbourne, Australia. It was founded in 1951, making it one of the oldest in the World....
-67, Cartagena
Cartagena Film Festival
The Cartagena Film Festival, or Festival Internacional de Cine y T.V. de Cartagena de Indias. is a Colombian film festival which focuses on the promotion of Colombian television programs, Latin American films, and videos...
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