The Russians Are Coming | Soundtrack Suite (Johnny Mandel)

[@garypayne2157]

I remember seeing this film back in 1967 when it showed up in theaters and thought it was so funny. And what a cast: Carl Reiner, Alan Arkin, Brian Keith, Eva Marie Saint, Jonathan Winters, Paul Ford, Ben Blue, etc. And the score by Johnny Mandel was one of his best.

[@SoundtrackFred]

The plot of "The Russians Are Coming... The Russians Are Coming" (1966) might remind you of Steven Spielberg's cult (flop) "1941" (1979). This time it is the Russians in a submarine who get stranded at the coast of New England (instead of the Japanese). To get their submarine back to work, they send out a small group of their men to find help at land in a small town, just causing trouble and making the population think they get invaded... Funny gags and on point direction by Norman Jewison (known from "Fiddler On The Roof" (1971) earned the movie four Academy Award nominations and two Golden Globe wins (among them "Best Picture (drama or comedy). The music was composed by Johnny Mandel, who not only provided a lovely March for the Americans but cleverly adapts known Russian songs (e.g. Song Of The Volga Boatmen) into the score, accompanied with chorus, making the soundtrack fun but a testimony for quality scoring. Enjoy!

[@rr7firefly]

It was a small miracle that this movie came out during the Cold War between arch enemies US and USSR. A copy of this movie was screened in the Kremlin. According to director Norman Jewison, when screened at the Soviet film writers' union, Sergei Bondarchuk was moved to tears. In an interview, Jewison said that not only were the Russians thrilled, they were a bit disappointed they hadn't thought of the plot first. It might be a good idea to replay this classic farce during our current friction with dictator Putin. So we remember that everyday Russians are still human beings. That war with Ukraine is the work of the mad man at the top.

[@TheVid54]

Johnny Mandel was one of the best songwriters the movies ever had. The Shining Sea is a surprisingly beautiful melody at the heart of this comedy score, and Peggy Lee's lyrics made for a wonderful song, right up there with Mandel's other great classics: The Shadow of Your Smile from The Sandpiper, Emily from The Americanization of Emily, A Time for Love from An American Dream, Suicide is Painless from MASH and Close Enough for Love from Agatha.

[@TorontoJon]

Film composition is tricky enough, but it takes a very special kind of talent to inject humor into a score for a comedic movie and to give it a light touch. Johnny Mandel did a fantastic job and also interwove the Russian folk song 'Song of the Volga Boatmen' into the score. :)

[@unowen-nh9ov]

Esp. Cold War comedy @ a time when many thought it couldn't be done.

[@morlock2086]

Beautiful and fun score. Thanks Fred.

[@TorontoJon]

About two or three years ago, I was lucky enough to buy 'The Russians Are Coming, The Russians Are Coming' LP soundtrack from a local Value Village for two bucks and it was in pristine shape. :)

[@kalashnikovtankie]

Thanks for posting this!!!! I'm 16 and this is my favorite movie of all time lolol

[@adrianahinestrosa3518]

Excellent movie 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰

[@biancabarbasgrimiao301]

Hi, Fred! I watched this film a looong time ago ( in " Band TV ", I guess )! The canadian director Norman Jewison had political and social worries, I like it ( I love the sadly forgotten " A Soldier's Story, 1984 ). The jazzist Johnny Mandel - wow! - was the responsible for the extraordinary arrangements in " Unforgettable ", 91' version, with the magic duet Natalie & Nat King Cole ( directed by Steve " Billie Jean " Barron ). " The Russians Are Coming... "( originally a phrase of the Secretary of Defense James Forrestal in 1949 ) have a very good score!! The pieces with russian choral reminds me a " comic version " of " The Hunt for Red October "( 1990, by Basil Poledouris )! Well, that's all! Thanks again, Fred, and nice weekend!!

[@unowen-nh9ov]

It's a long way to Tipperary - is this where Ted got his inspiration for MTM finale?

[@thunderstruck5484]

Remember watching this on tv back then really enjoyed, “Emergency emergency everyone to get from streets “ haha Alan Arkin if I remember correctly, thanks for posting the soundtrack!

[@rr7firefly]

That line was impossible to forget. This movie must have been a blast to make. Its insanity came through on so many levels, including the cast of memorable actors. When I saw this movie I said to my sister, "Paul Ford was the perfect person to play a loud-mouthed blowhard."

[@thunderstruck5484]

@@rr7firefly wasn’t he the guy in the tower trying to talk Mickey Rooney and Buddy Hackett down in that twin Beech with Jim Backus knocked out in the back? Haha classic! All timer!

[@rr7firefly]

@@thunderstruck5484 Good question. What movie was that? Not familiar.

[@thunderstruck5484]

@@rr7firefly “the Russians are coming the Russians are coming “

[@thunderstruck5484]

@@rr7firefly o the other movie was “It’s a mad mad mad mad world “ all time classic

[@rdm925]

Thanks, for the soundtrack suite. Loved the music and the movie when it came out. BTW, I also loved 1941 (the flop🤣🤣) and the music when it came out.

[@miltonabbiati7598]

Bravo Fred.👍🏻😁 Il film ebbe diverse nomination e riconoscimenti. Questa farsa, tratta dal romanzo "The Off-Islander" di Nathaniel Benchley, ai tempi ebbe un buon successo di pubblico. Le riprese del film sono state effettuate principalmente in Massachusetts, ma anche nella Northern California.

[@unowen-nh9ov]

Another reason Jewison is my favourite 🇨🇦 - classic movies about humanity, directed Doris & won Cher the Oscar (she called him her favourite curmudgeon, inspiration!).

[@chaquichan1968]

Una de las películas más divertidas que he visto en mi vida. Se rodó en plena guerra fría y es sencillamente genial.

[@unowen-nh9ov]

Slapstick, politics, suspense, classic comedy cast, only Norman Jewison🇨🇦 (& got Cher her Oscar for Moonstruck!).

[@vanpelt2321]

Another Soundtrack Fred triumph deluxe. Classic film written by the "Mad, Mad, Mad World" writer William Rose (sans wife Tania) and a dream team cast of comic and dramatic greats. Still one of the greatest lines is delivered by Brian Keith as Chief Mattocks, smoking a cigarette sitting on the edge of the bed, woken and mulling over to himself the intel of how the long-dreaded Soviet invasion of the U.S. is unfolding: "The Russians have landed in East Village. The Russians have landed in East Village and they're attacking the Postmistress. They're attacking Muriel Everett. Hmmmmph." Now THAT is humor for the ages.

[@markvon4650]

I just totally love Sailors Chorus; I play it over and over AGAIN.❤️❤️❤️🇷🇺🇷🇺🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@markvon4650]

The Cold War was such a great tragedy due to the worlds worst psychopath of all time Stalin. Worst than even Hitler if that’s possible.

[@markvon4650]

It must be my Most Favorite piece of music ever, it is on my ULTRA ULTRA LIST of songs.

[@markvon4650]

And how often do you see F101 Voodoos fly over your head. Never!

[@unowen-nh9ov]

In Bavaria @ Mad King Ludwig's Disney castle, perfect idyllic day, hang gliders, then American fighter jets flew over - reality check! Later toured Hitler's Eagle's Nest same day I took Sound of Music bus tour out of Salzburg - guess which was VW Microbus & which was Greycoach?