The Watermelon Trip

Forwarder Gaidamovich was assigned to deliver a ton of watermelons through the impassable taiga to a distant drilling site. Gaidamovich nursed his valuable cargo like a small child: he covered it with tarpaulin, laid straw, but he brought only a mountain of broken watermelons to the rig. But the oilmen were not upset.

Directed by Leonid Maryagin, The Watermelon Trip leans on a strong ensemble — Aleksandr Beniaminov, Vladimir Yemelyanov, Nikolay Pogodin — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about comedy titles of 1965.