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The Great Escape from Italy to Leningrad: Why is this 1974 comedy so popular?
In 1974, the Soviet Union and Italy collaborated on the comedy film "The Great Escape from Italy to Leningrad." The film, directed by Elda Ryazhanov and Franco Prosperi, has been widely welcomed by audiences since its release. The film revolves around the adventures of a group of Italian treasure hunters searching for a treasure buried under a lion in Leningrad, and this plot is exactly what intrigues many viewers.
The plot of the film is full of surprises and humor, making the audience laugh while thinking about the sense of humor between different cultures.
Plot summary
The story begins in a hospital in Rome. On her deathbed, a 92-year-old Belarusian exile revealed to her granddaughter Olga that there were treasures worth 9 billion Italian lire buried in Leningrad. This was heard by her doctor, two nurses, and a patient, and six characters with different backgrounds flew to Leningrad to start a treasure hunt.
In this chaotic adventure, the film uses humor to show cultural differences and human nature. Olga originally did not plan to share the treasure with others, but ultimately chose to cooperate with a Soviet policeman named Andrei. Throughout the treasure hunting plan, many scenes made the audience laugh, such as the process of digging under the lion statue in Leningrad, which also became a profound cultural impression of the film.
Create a background
The screenwriter of the film, Elda Ryazhanov, is full of expectations for cooperation with Italian films. Initially, he and Emil Brakinski co-wrote a comedy script with Italian characters as the mainstay. However, the plan was rejected due to doubts from officials. After many revisions, this film with a lighthearted and funny style was finally born.
The film uses real-shot effects and strives to present a humorous story full of favor and unique visual effects.
Photography process
The film is famous for its unique shooting method. Ryazhanov's compact plot arrangement and interesting scene design have become one of the reasons why the film attracts audiences. In particular, some thrilling stunts, led by well-known Italian racing driver and stuntman Silvio Mioni, enhance the entertainment of the film.
For example, there is a scene in the film where a plane lands on a road, which was considered a very challenging shooting task and left the audience in awe. These side-by-side and fascinating scenes make "Treasure Escape" a legendary comedy movie.
The Story of the Lion King
The lion character in the film adds a lot of laughter and thrills. In fact, the lion in the film is named King, but he does not obey instructions and even caused trouble to the actors during filming. The lion gave director Ryazhanov a lot of grief, but ultimately became a deeply entertaining element.
Audience reaction
After being released in the Soviet Union, the film set a record of 49.2 million viewers and became one of the highest-grossing films in 1974. Such high box office and wide recognition show the success of its content and form.
The film not only reflects the collision of cultures between the two countries, but also allows the audience to understand a profound philosophy of life in interesting entertainment.
Why is this 1974 comedy still so enthusiastically praised today? Can it inspire us to think about the interaction between different cultures and the definition of humor?
