Movie Review : Brilliantovaya Ruka/The Diamond Arm (1968)

The Diamond Arm is a mega-hit, cult Russian movie. This classic 1968 comedy was directed by Leonid Gaidai - a very famous Russian director who made a series of classic, popular comedies in the 1960s-70s. The humor is a heady mix of slapstick, witty banter and satire - most of it only understandable by Russian language speakers. This is likely the reason a lot of these movies were not popular outside the erstwhile Soviet Union.

Semyon Semyonovich is on an international holiday cruise by himself. On the ship he meets Gesha a foppish male model. The two men hit it off, however, Semyon is unaware that Gesha works as a courier for a gang of smugglers. He is on his way to Istanbul to pick up a cache of diamonds and smuggle them back. Through a series of blunders, the well meaning Semyon Semyonovich is mistaken for the courier and a bunch of diamonds is sewed up into a cast on his, apparently injured, arm.

Ordinary citizen Semyon is unnerved to find the smuggled jewels, however, he dutifully cooperates with the police as they try to catch the smugglers, who will no doubt want to retrieve the contraband. They set up a series of increasingly risky (for Semyon) meetings, but the bad guys always slip through their fingers. Gesha, on instructions by 'The Boss' to retrieve the diamonds, steps up his efforts to strengthen his friendship with Semyon and make away with the jewels without having to resort to violence. 'The Boss' - the brain behind the smuggling operation - is increasingly frustrated with his inept henchmen and finally, events culminate in a showdown between the gang and the police.

There is a comedy sidetrack with Nonna Mordyukova playing Varvara Pliushch, an officious, nosy apartment block official who is forever interfering with Semyon's life. She is impervious to people's dislike of her, exceedingly bureaucratic and aggressive. While fairly irrelevant to the main story, the character and her performance standout.

Yuri Nikulin, was a well respected comedic actor in his native Russia. He breezes through the role of Semyon Semyonovich with ease.

However, I couldn't take my eyes off Andrei Mironov who plays Gesha. He plays the role of the clumsy dandy to perfection, with his floppy hair and turtlenecks. Most of the slapstick is in his share - his energy and comedic timing are particularly noteworthy. And he makes a fairly convincing babushka towards the end. Sadly, the actor passed away aged only 46. Although well known for his comedic efforts, I am certain that he was excellent in dramatic roles as well.

At only 100 minutes, it is not overlong and rarely drags.

Highly recommended.