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General Information
Poster for Moscow on the Hudson
Directed by
Paul Mazursky

Screenplay by
Paul Mazursky and Leon Capetanos

Music Composed by
David McHugh

Theatrical Release Date
April 6, 1984

DVD Release Date
November 27, 2001

Production Companies
Columbia Pictures, Delphi Premier Productions

Distribution Company
Columbia Pictures

Summary

A Russian circus visits the United States. A clown wants to defect, but doesn't have the nerve; his saxophone-playing friend, however, comes to the decision to defect in the middle of Bloomingdale's. He is befriended by the black security guard and falls in love with the Italian immigrant from behind the perfume counter. We follow his life as he works his way through the American dream and tries to find work as a musician.

Trailer
Quotes

Vladimir
Excuse me.
Lucia
You must be Russian.
Vladimir
Yes, yes. I--I'm with the circus.
Lucia
Yeah, I know. We heard you guys were coming today. Let me tell you something. I wish for peace among all nations.
Vladimir
I--I'm looking for blue jeans.
Lucia
We had a nuclear demonstration this year, and I marched. "Make love, not war," we say.
Vladimir
Make love, for sure. I--uh--I look for blue jeans.
Lucia
Blue jeans, right? Designer jeans? Uhm--uh, Jordache, Calvin Klein--
Vladimir
Calvin Klein.
Lucia
Calvin Klein, OK. You go straight back to menswear, like where that pole is.
Vladimir
I'm Russian, no Pole.
Lucia
Yeah, I know. Well, anyway, you go straight, OK? And then you take a left. You can't miss the Denin Den.
Vladimir
Thank you.
Lucia
You're welcome. I hope you have a nice stay in New York.
Vladimir
Go--I go back to Moscow today.
Lucia
Ah, well. Goodbye.
Vladimir
Goodbye.
Lucia
Ciao.
Vladimir
Ciao.

Vladimir
I say goodbye to my saxophone.

Vladimir
F-B-I?
man
F-B-I?
Vladimir
K-G-B?
man
K-G-B? No. Oooh, no. G-A-Y.
Vladimir
Gay? Oh, no, no.
man
Sorry, you have a nice face and I thought we had a moment back there. I hope I didn't upset you.
Vladimir
No, it's ok, Mister. Thank you. Good luck.

Vladimir
You smell very good.
Lucia
Yeah?
Vladimir
Yeah.
Lucia
No, it's Charlie.
Vladimir
No.
Lucia
Yes, it is.
Vladimir
No, it's no perfume. It's you.
Lucia
I really like you.
Vladimir
Likewise.
Lucia
But I am--uh... I am--
Vladimir
You have boyfriend?
Lucia
No, no, no, I'm a free woman. I don't like to get involved.
Vladimir
Me too.
Lucia
What I mean is that if I stay here with you tonight I don't want you to think anything special about it. To exaggerate what it is. You understand?
Vladimir
Yes. I assure you as a former Soviet Socialist Republic I make no more thought about sex. I respect your new life.
Lucia
Thanks.
Vladimir
But I do desire you in a big way.
Lucia
Likewise.

Vladimir
Coffee?
Supermarket manager
Aisle 2.
Vladimir
Coffee line, please?
Supermarket manager
Aisle 2. No line, though.
Vladimir
Taster's Choice... decaffeinated... Maxwell House... El Pico... Chock Full of Nuts.. espresso, cappucino... Café Français... Sanka... Folgers... Cafe Caribe... coffee, coffee, coffee, coffee, coffee! Coffee!! COFFEE!!!

Photo Gallery
Main Cast

Robin Williams
Vladimir Ivanoff

Maria Conchita Alonso
Lucia Lombardo

Cleavant Derricks
Lionel Witherspoon

Elya Baskin
Anatoly

Alejandro Rey
Orlando Ramirez

Saveli Kramarov
Boris

Tagline

Vladimir Ivanoff walks into a department store to buy blue jeans, walks out with a girl friend, an immigration lawyer and a buddy. His life and theirs will never be the same again.

Filming Info

Locations
Barlett Place, NY
Gerritsen Beach, NY
Bloomingdale's, New York City, NY
Brooklyn, NY
Miami Beach, FL
Munich, Bavaria, Germany

International Release Dates

Sweden
September 14, 1984

Australia
October 11, 1984

Finland
October 26, 1984

West Germany
November 2, 1984

France
November 21, 1984

Philippines
January 5, 1985 (Davao)

International Titles

Greece
Apo ti Mosha sto supermarket

Denmark
En russer i New York

Sweden
En ryss i New York

Chile
Moscú en Nueva York

Italy
Mosca a New York

France
Moscou à New York

Brazil
Moscou em Nova York

West
Germany Moskau in New York

Poland
Moskwa nad rzeka Hudson

Finland
Neukku New Yorkissa

Portugal
Um Russo em Nova Iorque

Spain
Un ruso en Nueva York

Media Availability

This title is available on:

DVD
Video

DVD Extra Features
Audio commentary by director Paul Mazursky
Fun fact

Robin learned to speak Russian for the film within a month. He studied 5 hours a day with a man named David, who was also a Russian actor.

Box Office Details

Gross
$25,068,724 (USA)
N/A (international)
$25,068,724 (total)

Opening Weekend
$3,536,687 (618 theaters)

Widest Release
721 theaters

Awards

Golden Globes
Nom - 1985 - Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy/Musical (Robin)