Old Men: Robbers

Two elderly museum employees, unwilling to settle into retirement, hatch a wild plan to stage a robbery themselves and then “heroically” solve it to prove they’re still valuable. But when a real criminal snatches the stolen money first, their harmless scheme turns into a genuine investigation, dragging the old men into a cascade of comic twists where their loyalty, wit, and stubbornness are put to the ultimate test.

The story reflects the social tension of the time: older workers being forced into retirement despite their experience, which struck a chord with Soviet audiences who feared becoming “useless” in their later years.

Yury Nikulin, a legendary clown and comic actor, played the lead role, bringing his trademark mix of humor and melancholy — a balance that made the character both funny and deeply sympathetic. Andrei Mironov, another Soviet screen icon, was originally considered for a role, but Ryazanov decided the chemistry between Nikulin and veteran actor Evgeny Evstigneev would create a stronger duo.

Much of the film was shot on location in Moscow, with real museum interiors used to add authenticity to the “heist” setting.