Film Description:
In this 1966 American comedy directed by Norman Jewison a Soviet submarine crew accidentally runs aground on an island off the coast of Massachusetts. When the crew ventures ashore searching for assistance from the locals, fears of a Communist invasion are caused. The Soviets attempt to avert these fears by claiming they are Norwegian. This film not only mocks the intense anti-Soviet paranoia of American society, but also helps to “humanize” the U.S.S.R. The locals and the Soviet crew eventually work together to save a young boy from falling from a church steeple. Ultimately, the Soviets, the “other,” are shown as not so different from “us.”The selection of clips on the left reveal different moments from the film and include: its trailer, initial distrust between the islanders and the Soviet crew members, and the growing trust between the Americans and the Soviets.