User reviews

This is a classic comedy that, in my opinion, belongs to the same League one can find such exclusive titles like "Some Like It Hot". I don't think we need to explicitly mention that this is a Soviet comedy, it's not Sovietic in that sense that, unlike, say, "Watch Out for the Automobile" the setting just doesn't depend on the story happening in Soviet union. I'd rather say that this is the most international Soviet comedy.

Oh, and above the lion - for God sake please stop spreading rumors that has been disproven gazillion times - they didn't killed lion, it's a myth. The only fatality was a piglet who've been accidentally eaten by tiger.

Due to my not declining years, I have seen this film only two times: first, being a child, and now, being a student. I may confess, I didn't like the film very much first time - it seemed not very funny, perhaps, I expected more. But after watching it now, without any superstitions, I can say that my opinion on this film has fully changed.

Let's begin with the great acting, which is proper for almost all soviet comedies and soviet cinematography altogether. I cannot distinguish any actor personally, but all of them were trying to keep up with an unequalled Evgeniy Leonov and they had accomplished their mission. What can I say about a plot? It looks expected and simple enough, but I think, that's a great advantage to the film. It's the comedy, and, I think, fan comes out of everywhere in this performance, to begin with acting, mentioned earlier, and to finish with jokes and dozens of funny situations. Fun of this movie tastes very easy, understandable and pleasant. To get a little bit down, the story is constructed around the animals, people relations and affairs. It looks like there's nothing odd in the movie, all the occurrences, dialogs and locations look appropriate. This film doesn't contain a lot of morale (unless you would seek between the lines), but you'll get a lot of quotations from it - funny and surely to remember.

In the end I will say that it's really a great comedy and even after half of a century past, it remains actual and funny.

classic comedy. humor at high level. crazy mixture of cinema and circus. and beautiful animals, courageous woman and hilarious characters. its virtue - for its time to represent something different by common propaganda tool. for today - fascinating show, delightful entertainment. but, more important, seal of Soviet cinema and its fight to propose a coherent message, clear image. because each scene is spectacular. because it has a lot of virtues who are far to define contemporary blockbusters. because, in the web of lions and tigers, the precise art of a great tradition is the answer to each new image. short, a memorable film. the flavor of many childhoods and the charming science to propose a great comedy.a film for entire family. because not only the smiles are its virtues but a convincing pledge for pure joy.

The lion didn't cooperate with the team, so by the order of the director he was shot in ear. That's how the scene of "sleeping lion on the handbarrow" was made. The lion in the scene is not sleeping, but killed. He was the property of Odessa' zoo. Actress Nazarova couldn't work for a few days crying refusing to continue but money made her agree. The killer was a fire-worker of the team. He took 2 full glasses of vodka and after the deed everybody was laughing and smiling. The lion didn't eat the sleeping pills and was doomed. The name was Vasya, and he was a lion-actor for many films. The name of director Fetin must be erased from history as a name in good standing.

it is one of my childhood films. a pure crazy comedy, perfect show out of politic, nice, seductive and interesting model for this kind of circus and cinema mixture. a ship, a travel and a great adventure. unique scenes and a drop of love story. a satire ? maybe. but one of the best. because it can be adaptation of Gulliver travels. sure, it is not really a surprise. the Soviet cinema was a good laboratory for this forms of experiment but it is little different by usual films. difference - its spirit. joy, emotion and moralistic end. a piece of innocence and delicate beauty. a film for entire family. and precious legacy from a great cinema school.