Beware of the Car

Beware of the Car (, , US titles Uncommon Thief, or Watch out for the Automobile) 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.

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 childishness). 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.

Cast

• Innokenty Smoktunovsky as Yury Detochkin, former taxi driver, now an insurance agent
• Oleg Yefremov as Maxim Podberezovikov, detective, working on Detochkin's Case
• Lyubov Dobrzhanskaya as Detochkin's Mother
• Olga Aroseva as Lyuba, a trolley-bus driver, Detochkin's fiance
• Andrei Mironov as Dima Semitsvetov
• Anatoli Papanov......
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