Watch Volga-Volga

Volga-Volga is a classic Soviet musical comedy film released in 1938 directed by Grigori Aleksandrov and starring the popular actress and singer Lyubov Orlova. The movie follows the story of Ivan Petrovich Orlov, played by Igor Ilyinsky, a musical director who wants to participate in a contest in Moscow along with his country bumpkin orchestra. Their journey to the capital of the Soviet Union will not be easy, as they will have to face various challenges along the way.

The movie starts in a small village located on the banks of the Volga river, where Ivan Petrovich Orlov works as a musical director. His dream is to perform on the stage of the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow, but he doesn't have the financial means to achieve his goal. One day he hears about a music contest offering a prize of 100,000 rubles, which would be enough to finance his trip to Moscow. He decides to participate in the contest, but for that, he needs to gather a good orchestra.

Ivan Petrovich Orlov goes to Moscow to meet his friend, a famous music composer, who agrees to help him assemble a group of talented musicians. However, the task proves to be more difficult than expected, as most of the musicians are already booked for other performances. With some luck, Ivan manages to gather a group of musicians, but they are not the best in the world. They are a bunch of country bumpkins, which no one expects to win the contest.

The journey from the village to Moscow is full of comic events, which include a stop in a small town, where they perform at a local fair. They also have to face a corrupt stationmaster, who tries to swindle them on the way to Moscow. However, the most memorable moment of the film is the performance of the orchestra on the banks of the Volga river during a sandstorm. Lyubov Orlova sings the famous song, "The Song of the Volga Boatmen," while the orchestra plays its instruments covered in sand. The scene is an iconic moment in the history of Soviet cinema.

Once they arrive in Moscow, Ivan and his orchestra face many obstacles. They are not taken seriously by the organizers of the contest or the tabloid reporters, who make fun of them. However, Ivan's persistence and talent, coupled with Lyubov Orlova's charm and voice, slowly win over the audience, and the judges. The final scene of the film shows the orchestra performing on the stage of the Bolshoi Theater in front of a packed house. The performance is a great success, and Ivan Petrovich Orlov is finally able to achieve his dream.

Volga-Volga is a masterpiece of Soviet cinema, a lighthearted musical comedy that captures the spirit of the Soviet people in the years leading up to the Second World War. It is a film that combines humor, music, and romance, and it is still very popular in Russia and other former Soviet countries. Lyubov Orlova's performance, both as an actress and a singer, is outstanding, and she became an iconic figure of Soviet cinema. The music of the film, composed by Isaak Dunayevsky, is also memorable, and the song "The Song of the Volga Boatmen" became one of the most recognizable Russian melodies.

In conclusion, Volga-Volga is a must-see film for those who enjoy classic musical comedies or are interested in Soviet cinema. It is a film that captures the optimistic and romantic spirit of the Soviet people in the years before the Second World War, and it is a testament to the talent and creativity of the Soviet filmmakers of that time.

Volga-Volga is a 1938 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 44 minutes.