User reviews

I watched this movie as a small boy. I liked it. Then I watched it again, as a bigger boy. I liked it again :) Then I found it nowadays on video... was tempted to watch it again... and liked it again :-)

This is classics! It's good! It's... yes, it's way too Russian......but because I know Russian language, and Russian culture a bit, too, I could understand almost all of the movie's plot, and jokes, and sometimes (too Russian?;) humour.

The movie is real good. It has good plot, good acting, it's directed good, it has good music... I've given it 9/10 stars. It's worth watching! But... beware - maybe you wouldn't understand it. Because it's way too Russian? Maybe. Well, you can try, at least...

I really enjoyed it:)

One word-summary: recommend! ...for whoever want to try it:)

Mistaken for a professional contrabandist, a bumbling tourist is given an arm cast full of smuggled goods and inadvertently becomes a government spy after going to the police in this energetic Soviet comedy. Once voted as the funniest Russian comedy of time, 'The Diamond Arm' certainly does an impressive job incorporating various forms of humour. The first five minutes, for example, play out as a dialogue-free silent comedy, but later on there are also pratfalls, sight gags and lines that crack with wit. At its zaniest, the chief smuggler has a red tinted dream in which he is tormented by a laughing black cat (!), though the most amusing moments come from characters narrating their thoughts out loud, whether it be the protagonist's paranoia over a taxi ride or his wife's concern that he is cheating on her. Less successful are the film's attempts at satire - or perhaps this angle is just lost on a western viewer. By some accounts, the film offers a sharp and biting parody of life under the Soviet regime, but ostensibly, it is just an offbeat motion picture about things going incredibly wrong. Yuriy Nikulin (reportedly a former circus clown) does okay as a man out of his depth, wearing the much sought-after cast, but the best moments are had by Andrey Mironov as the actual contrabandist who was meant to be given the cast. Whether it be repeatedly failing to knock Nikulin unconscious during a fishing trip, being kicked in the mouth during a drunken dance or fondling the precious cast, Mironov is simply sensational in a rather thankless role.

After watching "Brilliantovaya ruka" I can well believe that it's with very good reason that it has such a beloved reputation among Russian language comedies. The vibe it generates it of an extremely high level of breezy fun, and it sustains that with supernatural consistency all the way through.

Combine that with an abundance of simply good jokes drawing from farce, slapstick, and everything in between. The performances are just the right level of broad to pull the maximum number of laughs. The almost constant underscoring perfectly compliments the fact that the pacing is masterfully timed and the fact that all the location filming simply looks fantastic to make this one of the most all-around fun viewing experiences you could imagine.

Moments such as the walking-on-water, the set-up seduction, and the division of the "two parts" are among hilarious moments that also draw in character for their humor and even border somewhat on what might be called "Pythonesque" in style. At the same time, roots in the best of silent comedy, farce, and adventure film are happily evident.

I can easily image how this comedy would reward reviewing, which it evidently for many other commentators here.

It is a crime film with no cruelty, that presents a bright and very honest snapshot of the everyday life of an average soviet citizen and of his morale. The invasion of the capitalist valuables into the socialist society produces very funny situation. The film is not ideologically inclined: You feel sympathy towards both victims, criminals and police. You laugh both at human greediness, vices of the bureaucracy and the naivety of average Russians of that time. The film itself has influated the Russian language. Many of witty phrases from this film have already become proverbs.

Perfect from the first till the last minute. Not a single word in this movie said in vain - this is absolute masterpiece of comedy. But I do not believe that it is possible to translate it properly into English - so, you have to know Russian language (and you've got to have a good idea of Russian realities of 70th) to be able to fully enjoy it. This movie was, I believe, the first soviet comedy which contained a short "sexual" scene (topless actress shot from behind). Many lines from this film are now living their own lives - you can hear quotations on TV, in people talks, in other movies - while some of those who uses it do not remember the words origin. Must have, must see - anyway!

I like this movie. Like all other Gaidai's films I saw, its very dense in humor, without empty gaps. For a non Soviet, it can give some insight to this country. Well, it helps if you have some background knowledge, like I have. the film is surely as critical as was possible, but the main thing is that it gives you a good feeling, laugh helps to forget bad things. My favorite is the scene in the restaurant, it shows the joy of drinking in a good company, I think Russian people really can create a good party. The music is also nice, Andrei Mironov is superb on the ship with his song about island of unlucky people in ocean. He also commented afterward his role i such a film: it is good to have one diamond arm, two is too much, tree is a catastrophe.

A regular guy goes on a cruise abroad, gets mistaken for a mafia courier and receives a load of diamonds in the bandage on his broken arm. Mafia tries to return the goods, KGB tries to catch mafia, and our hero struggles in between. Tons of great humor. Many jokes from this absolutely hilarious comedy have made it into everyday language. I would like to invite visitors to see pictures from the movie and watch a detailed trailer at RussArt.com. Those who read Russian can find more materials useful: reviews, actor biographies, articles, etc.

Pictures: http://russart.com/?moviepictures&mid=10

Trailer: http://russart.com/?movietrailer&mid=10

This is a comedy that stood the test of time. I've recently bought the newly released DVD of this movie and it's worth every penny. Of course I've seen this comedy a million times on TV and video, but the DVD makes this funny in a whole new way. I believe that even english speaking audiences will love this flick if they get the DVD. The translation into English is superb. Speaking Russian myself , it's actually very funny to hear this Soviet cinema classic translated into English , having seen it only in Russian before. Now , I believe that even our friends in Turku, Finland would find this film funny. Mironov , Nikulin and Papanov give superb comical performances by any standards. And the actors who's voices are used to dub this film into english are an excellent match. What can I tell you, go to your nearest Russian video store and get this DVD, you'll love it.

It's simply the best comedy ever made by anyone. Even the best Russian - or as some say - Soviet comedies don't stand even close to it. Well, maybe 12 Stools or The Golden Calf... There are dozens of catch phrases and extremely hilarious moments - you can talk to a any friend who saw it all night and laugh about it all anew. You can watch this comedy on and on and on. Every time it gets even more funny! ... " - Hey, stupid, what for did you shave the mustaches? - Off whom?" ... " - There, in London, the dog is the man's best friend... - Well, maybe a dog is a man's best friend over there, but here the Upravdom [a Soviet one certain household's members union] is a man's best friend." And so on... Brilliant!

All I can say about this film is that it is a masterpiece of Soviet cinema. In addition to excellent humor, a great comedy plot, which includes a little detective, excellent acting, there is music and songs that everyone in Russia knows by heart. So, it's the best soviet comedy.

It's the mostly liked by the several generations of the Russian people comedy of Leonid Gaidai together with 'Operatsiya Y' and 'Kavkazskaya plennitsa', full of light irony and brilliant folksy humor of the late soviet time. The performance of the main actors (Andrei Mironov, Yuri Nikulin and Anatoli Papanov) is absolutely superb. Perhaps though it's not much appreciated amongst some high-minded intellectuals, which have their own cinema.

The only reason to watch this is if you wish to study Soviet communist society of the late 1960s. (The film was released in 1969.)

The plot is predictable and the comedy Jerry Lewis style slapstick. If that is your thing then by all means watch it for the laughs.

This movie was never intended for foreign audiences. It is simply way too Russian (or too Soviet, actually) to be funny for anyone not familiar with the realities of local life. Most of the real comedy comes from Mironov and Papanov, who play hilarious villains on the track to recover stolen jewels, mistakenly put into Nikulin's arm cast. Russian-speaking audiences will enjoy Papanov's one-of-a-kind "Ukrainian" accent, but the jokes are too ethnic for anyone else to understand. Nikulin (a circus clown turned great comic actor) isn't particularly believable in an unfamiliar role of a good guy (his characters usually also were drunken and hilarious crooks), but turns in an adequate performance. Mironov is at his usual fast-talking, silly self, and Papanov is a riot. Mordyukova steals several scenes in a small role of a house superintendant, a towering woman with a thunderous voice. Overall, a terrific Soviet comedy, the kind they simply don't make anymore.

I was prepared for a crime comedy, but not for one with this much madcap energy. 'The diamond arm' is an absolute delight.

This is very much a comedy of errors, enhanced with exaggerated characterizations, physical comedy, and wordplay. Focusing on a bumbling every-man protagonist, and criminals just as bumbling, nosy supporting characters round out the writing of a far-fetched scenario. Add in a couple songs to taste, performed by the actors, and what ensues is a wild farce.

Hand in hand with those songs, the frenetic original music of Aleksandr Zatsepin, upbeat and jaunty, is super and does much to add to the humor and general vigor of the film. Some scenes are edited to be sped up, a bit garishly imparting further merry energy. Even with that in mind, 'The diamond arm' is a fantastically well made movie. The image is sharp and clear, and its high production values don't truly betray its age. Filming locations and set design are wonderful, some with vivid color that's especially eye-catching.

The writing, direction, and production design work in concert to arrange phenomenal scenes. Many individual shots are fetching all on their own, but there is scarcely one moment in the picture that's not rife with detail and liveliness. Everything is carefully crafted to maximize the fun to be had. The cast demonstrate utmost skill in realizing their roles, especially Yuri Nikulin as hapless tourist Semyon Semyonovich Gorbunkov, and Andrei Mironov as Gorbunkov's "friend" and primary point of contact with the criminal syndicate, Gennady Kozodoev. They most of all - but certainly every actor present - embody their parts with great spirit and personality, doing their part to make this as funny and generally captivating as it is.

Subtitles in one's own language are important to understand some key aspects of the plot, and of the comedy. Yet 'The diamond arm' relies much less on dialogue than on its visual presentation and the ecstatic energy it carries, and thus is ever easier to enjoy no matter one's native tongue or point of reference. This is a magnificently entertaining movie, unexpectedly appropriate for all ages and easily enjoyed by a general audience. 'The diamond arm' is well worth seeking out, and I can't recommend it highly enough!

Gaidai's role model was Charlie Chaplin, and therefore most of his humor is built upon silent scenes accompanied by music. This makes his movies being beloved by many generations, as the silent scenes were not done for a special group of people. However, in his later movies there is verbal humor as well, which requires you to be aware of the soviet society. Although many people considered this movie as the best of Gadai's comedies, in my opinion it is not a good introduction to Gaidai's style as it involves many scenes which require you being aware of the soviet society.

For those people who do not speak Russian, or do not aware of the life and the difficulties in the soviet society, I recommend the "Operation Y" movie to start with.

Whether you consider "Brilliantovaya ruka" a Soviet version of "Get Smart" or something else, it's still a hilarious movie. Portraying a man on vacation in Istanbul getting confused for a spy, they pull just about every gag imaginable. The line "Our people don't ride in taxis" implies that only people in western countries do that (it was also a reference to the people employed as secret police in the Soviet Union). Probably the best scene is when the guy sings "A nam vsyo ravno", which in Russian means "Everything is equal to us"; that scene is comparable to the toga party in "Animal House".

Anyway, a really funny movie. They must have had fun filming it. The Jesus scene would no doubt incur the wrath of the Russian Orthodox Church nowadays.

That is the words of that song:

http://www.miditext.ru/lyrics/ru/02/rabits.html Sings Nikulin itself

Also it is not usual to foreigners that curse: Live by the one salary!

Usually salaries in USSR was not very large that time. Many people had 2 or 3 salaries on 2-3 workplaces to have tolerable income.

Also house-managers had function of paparazzi, informers and Party organization mans. And the distribution of State Lottery tickets was not mandatory but strongly recommended. State possessed credits from people that way.

And in 1961 currency reform was realized. Money had been denominated by 10:1. So 500 rubles by old and new (money) were totally different sums.

I know I did.

Although I do have a slight idea of the old socialist/communist way of thinking (slight is the key word here) because I was raised in the Romanian country side, where you could find traces of that in the older generations, I really enjoyed it.

It's the kind of exaggerated comedy, I would say Tom & Jerry kind of exaggeration that can totally cheer you up on a bad day when you don't expect much "brain work" or subtle humor (although for Russian people, it seems to have a lot).

My favorite scene is probably the nightmare, which is so random and ridiculous that it could probably become a meme in seconds today.

Anyway, this is a very personal & subjective review, the bottom line is that you CAN enjoy it even if you're not Russian.

Simply the BEST Russian comedy.

a comedy with many virtues - the director, the script, the performance of Yuri Nikulin, the dialog and the wise manner to critic the Soviet regime. part from a long and precious Russian comedies, it seduce first for Gayday courage. because the fake crime story is a precise fresco of society. and the dialogs reflects in great measure that "sin". than, it is a deep human comedy, the small incorrect details , the use of innocence and, maybe, the end, does it a form of parable , more than satire. a film for each age, beautiful and fresh, full of emotion and laughter. an old fashion Russian film. who can reminds, in a crazy period, the importance of small real important ingredients of life.

This film is worshipped by anyone from the Soviet era and its vast orbit, and I couldn't catch up with the subtitles with my Lithuanian partner giving excited blow-by-blow commentary. To be honest I chime to a high degree with the minority of IMDb reviewers who were a little underwhelmed, unconvinced of its much lauded comedic power. It seemed sort of mildly amusing mostly slapstick farce to me, and far from original in concept. The protagonist is played by a celebrated circus clown apparently. There clearly is a lot of poetic elements the subtitles didn't fully expound on - in the songs especially, and clearly without a degree in Russian studies I can't be expected to appreciate the Soviet cultural tropes and ethic references that the verbal humour draws on... My feeling is it seemed quite naive for a late 1960s product, certainly from a western perspective, but maybe like everything in those days, unlike us degenerates, over there people were just happier with less, content with winks and pratfalls... I imagine they were bound to snigger at the sideward pokes at the authorities that abound. I wouldn't call the movie especially artful or intelligent, just well-made entertainment. Now I never understood half of the dialogue in Tarkovsy's Solaris, but its concept and cinematography mark that out as a true masterpiece. Here, the fast pace of The Diamond Arm, the economic length and manic surreal diversions do well for it, but it's less Andrei Rubkev and more Monty Python really. So it's alright and certainly an informative and engaging watch. It seems to be is a true communist movie in the sense of it being popcorn for the masses - crowd-pleasing. There are plenty of seasoned & determined comedic actors, it's full of music, even dance, lots of drunken revelry, it's honest to goodness escapism. No more than that.

Do people really laugh at custard pie scenes and "comedians" slipping on banana peels in the 90's? I certainly didn't. Try telling us some jokes, Vanya... Or was this just too Russian for me?