Simple and well acted, it has tension enough to knot the stomach.

Blending excellent reporting and strong storytelling, this is a disturbing film truly stranger than fiction

There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

Excellent and certainly provocative... If nothing else, the film is a real conversation starter.

Very funny and kind movie. Creates great atmosphere, makes one smile along with the actors. Leaves very warm overall impression. I have seen it many times and have been spellbound by it again and again. A great combination of cheeky and kind humor, music, songs that have become everlasting hits, touching naivety and sincerity. Undeniable and ageless masterpiece. Should be properly and carefully restored. A small comment to IMDb the movie was shot in CRIMEA and not in Odessa. Please correct!

music, acting, humor, message, image. it is more than a comedy. or music hall. it is a travel in time. not for its venerable age but for its time. because, in dark period of Stalinism, this demonstration of pure joy, this manifesto of profound freedom is unique. sure, not extraordinary script and the waves of songs are essential virtue. but it remains special. for the gorgeous naivety with flavor of childhood adventure. for memorable scenes. for the impressive demonstration of animal tights. for drops of love and, sure, for extraordinary voices. and, at first sigh, it is enough. but, after each new view, it is different. out of charming atmosphere it is strange tension. and testimony of a form, subtle, delicate, special of courage. because it is one of films - letter for future.

Leonide Outessov (Kostia, a prosperous shepherd), Lioubov Orlova (Aniouta, a fair-haired servant girl), Mariya Strelkova (Elena, a statuesque but extremely well-proportioned rich girl), Elena Tepkina (Elena's beautiful step-mother and Aniouta's employer), Fedor Kourikin (owner-driver of the catafalque), G. Arnold (the real conductor), Robert Erdman (music teacher).Director: GRIGORI ALEXANDROV. Screenplay: Vladimir Mass, Nikolai Erdman, Grigori Alexandrov. Photography: Vladimir Nilsen. Film editor: E.V. Tobak. Art director: A.A. Utkin. Music: Isaac Douanaevski. Producer: Grigori Alexandrov.A Kinocombinat Production, not copyright 1935 by Amkino. New York opening as Moscow Laughs at the Cameo, 24 March 1935. French release title: Joyeux Compagnons. DVD title: Joyeux Garçons. DVD running time: 96 minutes. (The 1978 "restored" version is available on a Bach Films DVD with excellent sound. Some of the visuals are still below standard but the quality improves considerably as the film progresses. The movie is also available with English sub-titles on a 1996 POLart VHS).SYNOPSIS: Difficult to write up as the picture went through a considerable number of transformations as the Party Line changed. Finally, when the wealthy peasants (as depicted by Outessov) were rounded up and sent to Siberia, Stalin decided to suppress the film altogether, despite his admiration for Lioubov Orlova, easily his favorite movie star. Briefly, the plot concerns a prosperous, singing shepherd, who regards animals more highly than human beings, until he falls in love with a servant girl. But hardly has this romance subsided, when he is mistaken for -- and takes the place of -- a famous conductor, and thus ends up with a bitchy orchestra called "Amity" which is anything but.COMMENT: "Hooray for Life! Hooray for Happiness, and Hooray for Love!" our hero sings as soon as the amusing trick credits are out of the way. Best seven minutes I've ever spent in the cinema, directed with a pace and style that is simply out of this world. It's a mighty catchy song too! Unfortunately, it's not possible to keep this pace and inventiveness going indefinitely. And thus, alas, after another grandly inventive long take along a beach front, the movie quickly becomes more Mack Sennett than Julien Duvivier. Mind you, it's slapstick with a budget beyond Sennett's wildest dreams, but slapstick it is. And by the way, Joe, you can keep your Lioubov Orlova. If I had my druthers, I'd take Mariya Strelkova any day. What a dish! The director, photographer and costumer are obviously in love with her too. And what a shame she made so few movies! IMDb has her down for only five.

It is a highly musical film completely devoid of any depression and political propaganda. Such films help us to get a close look at ourselves and to understand how lazy we all are nowadays ("we are a lazy generation" - remember "Burnout 3: Takedown"?). Look at today's musical films - they cannot keep the pace with this old comedy. The film was restored in 1978 (if I remember it correctly) and the version I've watched is pretty good. During singing the movement of the actors' lips and the sound of the voice are not always matching each other but that's not important. The quality of the sound is very satisfactory and lets the viewer hear wonderful voices of our best 20th century actors in their full glory.Among the numerous funny scenes I would like to point out the following "signature moves" which really attracted my attention:1) the camera's glide along the bodies of sunbathing holidaymakers (feet, backs, buttocks, feet, feet, backs, etc.) - that's something I've never seen in a movie; 2) the "beat-'em-all" sequence: the ultimate "disassembly" of the whole band (instruments included) - that's something even Mr Jacky Chan has to watch closely and admire; 3) "the raining race": the guys from the band "Merry Fellows" are riding a catafalque to get to the theatre and this race looks simply insane.Together with "Volga - Volga" (1938) it is a brilliant example of our best musical comedies. If you should call some classics of this genre "cult", then don't forget "Vesyolye rebyata" (1934). It is one of those examples when you can easily skip the imperfections and enjoy the whole piece.Mr Leonid Utyosov gives, quite possibly, his best performance and Mrs Lyubov Orlova shines again. When I have more time and inclination, I shall add more details to my comment. Meanwhile, 10 out of 10. Thank you for attention.