Ivan Vasilyevich Changes His Profession

1973 1h 28m RU

🙌

7.9

BANGER

★7.9TMDB · 426

ComedyScience Fiction

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

A scientist builds a time machine and accidentally sends his apartment complex manager and a petty burglar to 16th century Moscow, while Tsar Ivan the Terrible travels to 1973.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Aleksandr Demyanenko
Aleksandr 'Shurik' Timofeyev, inventor
Yuriy Yakovlev
Ivan the Terrible / Ivan Vasilievich Bunsha
Leonid Kuravlyov
Zhorzh Miloslavsky / knyaz Miloslavsky
Savely Kramarov
Feofan the diak
Natalya Seleznyova
Zinaida, Shurik's wife
Natalya Krachkovskaya
Uliana Andreevna Bunsha, superintendent's wife
Natalya Kustinskaya
Yakin's mistress
Vladimir Etush
Anton Semyonovich Shpak, dentist

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Leonid Gaidai
Writers: Vladlen Bakhnov, Leonid Gaidai
Languages: Russian
Countries: Soviet Union

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 7

RUNTIME

Did you know

88 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 7

ERA

Did you know

53 years old — a genuine piece of film history.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Leonid Gaidai, shot by Vitaly Abramov. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Aleksandr Zatsepin. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Klavdia Aleeva shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 7

CAST

Did you know

Aleksandr Demyanenko and Yuriy Yakovlev and Leonid Kuravlyov carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 7

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0070233 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Leonid Gaidai directs. Vitaly Abramov behind the camera. Aleksandr Zatsepin scores. Klavdia Aleeva cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in Soviet Union. Dialogue in Russian.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

188 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.
253 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
3Directed by Leonid Gaidai, shot by Vitaly Abramov. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Original score by Aleksandr Zatsepin. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
5Editor Klavdia Aleeva shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Aleksandr Demyanenko and Yuriy Yakovlev and Leonid Kuravlyov carry the top of the cast.
7IMDB entry: tt0070233 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

The technical file

Cinematography: Vitaly Abramov
Original score: Aleksandr Zatsepin
Editing: Klavdia Aleeva
Production design: Yevgeniy Kumankov
Costume design: Nadezhda Buzina
Makeup / hair: Aleksey Tetyurkin
Runtime: 88 min · 1h 28m
Status: Released
Original language: RU
IMDB: Ivan Vasilyevich Changes His Profession (1973)

Also by

Leonid Gaidai

Trailers & featurettes

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Community reviews

What people are saying

deepkino2025-09-15
★ 7/10
The film is praised for its manic and fast-paced energy, as well as its unique blend of slapstick and clever humor. It is considered an example of how comedy can thrive and even contain subtle social commentary under a repressive regime. The use of physical comedy, sped-up chase scenes, and goofy music, a trademark of director Gaidai, contributes to the film's comedic appeal. While some of the cultural references and in-jokes may be lost on Western audiences, the film's artistic richness and entertainment value have made it a widely loved comedy. The film features strong performances, particularly from Yuri Yakovlev, who masterfully plays both the timid apartment manager and the demanding Tsar. The elaborate castle settings and colorful cinematography also add to the film's charm.

Production companies