''Old Robbers'' (, lit. "elderly bandits") is a 1972 Soviet crime

comedy-drama Comedy drama (also known by the portmanteau dramedy) is a hybrid genre of works that combine elements of comedy and Drama (film and television), drama. In film, as well as scripted television series, serious dramatic subjects (such as death, il ...

Eldar Ryazanov Eldar Aleksandrovich Ryazanov (; 18 November 1927 – 30 November 2015) was a Soviet and Russian film director, screenwriter, poet, actor and pedagogue whose popular comedies, satirizing the daily life of the Soviet Union and Russia, are celebrat ...

, filmed on

Mosfilm Mosfilm (, ''Mosfil’m'' , initialism and portmanteau of Moscow Films) is a film studio in Moscow which is among the largest and oldest in the Russian Federation and in Europe. Founded in 1924 in the USSR as a production unit of that nation's fi ...

. The movie title resembles the name of a Russian children's traditional yard game ''Cossacks-Robbers'' ().

Plot

In the twilight of his career, investigator Nikolai Sergeyevich Myachikov faces forced retirement to make way for the politically favored Yuri Proskudin. Unwilling to step aside, he is given one final month by his boss, Prosecutor Fedor Fedyaev, to prove his worth. Around the same time, Myachikov’s close friend, engineer Valentin Petrovich Vorobyov, also prepares to retire but decides to stay after a heartfelt farewell from his colleagues. Understanding Myachikov’s struggle, Vorobyov suggests they commit a “crime of the century” for Myachikov to heroically solve, securing his position by showing his boss that he can still effectively investigate complex crimes. Their first plot, the theft of a

Rembrandt Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn (; ; 15 July 1606 – 4 October 1669), mononymously known as Rembrandt was a Dutch Golden Age painter, printmaker, and Drawing, draughtsman. He is generally considered one of the greatest visual artists in ...

painting from a museum, goes awry when no one notices the painting’s absence. Disheartened but undeterred, Vorobyov then proposes they fake a robbery involving his neighbor, Anna Pavlovna, a bank courier. However, when Vorobyov falls ill, Myachikov attempts the heist solo, only to encounter a real thief and lose the stolen money. In an effort to recover the lost cash and avoid suspicion, Myachikov sells off his belongings but remains short of the total amount. Anna Pavlovna, growing suspicious, accuses him of embezzlement, though only Vorobyov understands his friend's intentions and offers him his life savings with the plea, "Let’s live and die honestly." As Myachikov’s world unravels, Fedyaev begins to sense his genuine struggle but still doubts the full truth. In a final act of integrity, Myachikov “arrests” himself, retreating into a dream of a court where justice prevails. The film concludes with him leaving the police station one snowy evening, where Anna and Vorobyov are waiting for him. Together, they walk into the snowy night, reflecting a quiet acceptance of friendship, honesty, and an imperfect resolution.

Cast

Yuri Nikulin Yuri Vladimirovich Nikulin (; 18 December 1921 – 21 August 1997) was a Soviet and Russian actor and clown who starred in many popular films. He is best known for his roles in Leonid Gaidai's comedies, such as ''The Diamond Arm'' and ''Kid ...

— ''Nikolay Sergeevitch Myachikov'' *

Yevgeny Yevstigneyev Yevgeny Aleksandrovich Yevstigneyev (; 9 October 1926 — 4 March 1992) was a prominent Soviet and Russian stage and film actor, theatre pedagogue, one of the founders of the Moscow Sovremennik Theatre. He was named People's Artist of the USSR in ...

— ''Valentin Petrovich Vorobyov'' * Olga Aroseva — ''Anna Pavlovna Suzdaleva'' * Georgi Burkov — ''Fyodor Fyodorovitch Fedyaev'' * Andrei Mironov — ''Yury Yevgenyevitch Proskudin'' *

Valentina Vladimirova Valentina Kharlampiyevna Vladimirova (; 22 November 1927, in Vasylivka – 23 March 1994, in Moscow Moscow is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Russia by population, largest city of Russia, standing on the Moskva (r ...

— ''Masha, Vorobyov's wife'' * Yuri Belov — ''Petya, militsiaman'' *

Roman Filippov Roman Sergeyevich Filippov (; 24 January 1936 — 18 February 1992) was a Soviet theater and film actor. People's Artist of the RSFSR (1987). Selected filmography * ''World Champion'' (1954) as fighter * '' Green Van'' (1959) as Fedka Byk * ...

— ''robber'' * Nina Agapova — ''museum keeper'' *

Irina Murzaeva Irina Vsevolodovna Murzaeva (; May 15, 1906 — January 3, 1988) was a Soviet actress of theater and cinema. Biography She graduated from the Lunacharsky Theater College (1927). In 1927-1928 and 1930-1931 an actress Sverdlovsk Youth Theater, ...

— ''old museum keeper'' *

Lev Durov Lev Konstantinovich Durov (23 December 1931 – 20 August 2015) was a Soviet and Russian theatre and film actor who appeared in more than 200 films and numerous stage productions between 1955 and 2008. He was named a People's Artist of the USS ...

— ''driver of the collector car '' * Boris Runge — ''shoes shop director'' * Gotlib Roninson — ''doctor'' * Yuri Smirnov — ''locksmith'' * Georgi Kulikov — ''Vorobyov's colleague'' *

Viktor Bajkov The name Victor or Viktor may refer to: * Victor (name), including a list of people with the given name, mononym, or surname Arts and entertainment Film * ''Victor'' (1951 film), a French drama film * ''Victor'' (1993 film), a French shor ...

— ''Vorobyov's colleague'' * Yevgeni Perov — ''Vorobyov's colleague'' * Natalya Sajko — ''Vorobyov's colleague'' * — ''Vorobyov's colleague'' *

Aleksandr Shirvindt Aleksandr Anatolyevich Shirvindt (, 19 July 1934 – 15 March 2024) was a Soviet and Russian stage and film actor, educator, screenwriter and voice actor, People's Artist of the RSFSR (1989). In 2000, he became a theatre director of Moscow Sat ...

— ''spokesman of the minister'' *

— ''Myachikov's colleague'' * Yuri Yakovlev — ''narrator (voice)''

External links

* 1972 films 1970s crime comedy-drama films 1972 comedy-drama films 1970s heist films Mosfilm films 1970s Russian-language films Films set in art museums and galleries Films shot in Lviv Films shot in Moscow Films directed by Eldar Ryazanov Films scored by Andrey Petrov Soviet crime comedy-drama films Russian-language crime comedy-drama films 1970s Soviet films {{1970s-comedy-drama-film-stub