Beware of the Car

A 1966 Soviet crime comedy directed by Eldar Ryazanov. The main character, Yuri Detochkin (Innokenty Smoktunovsky), is a humble insurance agent and theater enthusiast who leads a double life: by day, he is an honest citizen, but by night, he steals cars from corrupt owners who profited through fraud. He donates all the stolen money to orphanages, considering himself a vigilante for justice. His friend, investigator Maxim Podberyozovikov (Oleg Yefremov), starts tracking down the mysterious car thief, unaware of his true identity. The film masterfully blends elements of detective fiction, satire, and comedy while exploring themes of morality, justice, and human conscience, making it one of the most iconic films in Soviet cinema.