Petrovka Street, Number 38 (1980)
A gripping Soviet crime thriller in which Moscow's finest detectives race to unmask a ruthless gang of dark-glasses-wearing robbers terrorizing the city.
Petrovka Street, Number 38 - Movie Information
- Original Title: Петровка, 38
- Release Year: 1980
- Directed by: Boris Grigorev
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Crime, Mystery
- Runtime: 1h 23m
- Original Language: Russian
- Spoken Languages: Russian
- Release Date (Theatrical): July 28, 1980 (SU)
- Alternative Titles: Petrovka, 38 (RU)
- Production Companies: Gorky Film Studios
- Production Countries: Soviet Union
Petrovka Street, Number 38 - Plot
According to the story of the same name by Yulian Semyonov. Employees of the Moscow Criminal Investigation Department - Colonel Alexei Pavlovich Sadchikov, Major Vladislav Nikolaevich Kostenko and Senior Lieutenant Valentin Roslyakov are investigating the impudent robberies carried out by a group wearing dark glasses criminals. The City Savings Bank was robbed. The investigation of the crime indicated the involvement of a teenager, who soon came to the criminal investigation himself. With his help, the robbers who were preparing the next raid were caught. But the most dangerous criminal — “Prokhor” — is still free...
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Petrovka Street, Number 38 - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Boris Grigorev
Main Cast
- Georgiy Yumatov
- Vasili Lanovoy
- Yevgeni Gerasimov
- Nikolai Kryukov
- Mikhail Zhigalov
- Aleksandr Nikiforov
- Nikolay Eryomenko
- Grigoriy Lyampe
- Lyudmila Nilskaya
- Aleksandr Egorov
Writers
- Yulian Semyonov
Petrovka Street, Number 38 - FAQs
Is Petrovka Street, Number 38 based on a true story?
Not exactly a true story, but it's grounded in reality. The film is based on Yulian Semyonov's novel of the same name, and Semyonov was known for drawing on authentic Soviet law enforcement procedures and real criminal investigation methods to give his stories a convincing, documentary-like feel.
Who are the main actors in Petrovka Street, Number 38?
The film stars Georgiy Yumatov as Colonel Sadchikov and Vasili Lanovoy as Major Kostenko, two of Soviet cinema's most respected leading men. Yevgeni Gerasimov, Nikolai Kryukov, Mikhail Zhigalov, and Aleksandr Nikiforov round out a strong ensemble cast.
What is Petrovka Street, Number 38 about?
Three Moscow criminal investigators — Colonel Sadchikov, Major Kostenko, and Senior Lieutenant Roslyakov — are on the trail of a brazen gang of robbers who hide behind dark glasses. After a bank heist leads them to a young accomplice, the net tightens, but the gang's most dangerous member, “Prokhor,” remains at large.
Who is the villain “Prokhor” in the film?
“Prokhor,” whose full name is Averyán Prokhorovich, is the most dangerous and elusive member of the criminal gang at the heart of the story. Played by Nikolai Kryukov, he serves as the film's primary antagonist — the one loose end the Moscow detectives are desperate to tie up even after the rest of the gang is caught.
What role does the teenager play in the investigation?
The teenager, Lyonka Samsonov, is a pivotal turning point in the case. After the City Savings Bank robbery, the investigation points to his involvement, and he eventually walks into the criminal investigation department himself. His cooperation helps the detectives intercept the gang before their next planned raid.
Who directed Petrovka Street, Number 38?
Boris Grigorev directed the film, working from Yulian Semyonov's source novel. The production was handled by Gorky Film Studios, one of the Soviet Union's most prolific and respected film production houses, known for a wide range of genre and literary adaptations.
What genre is Petrovka Street, Number 38?
It's a Crime and Mystery film — a classic Soviet police procedural that follows detectives through a methodical investigation. The film blends tense investigative drama with the gritty atmosphere of 1970s Moscow, making it a compelling example of the Soviet militsiya thriller genre.
What are some similar films to Petrovka Street, Number 38?
If you enjoy this kind of procedural crime drama, you might also like The Big Sleep (1946), M (1931), GoodFellas (1990), The Anderson Tapes (1971), Max and the Junkmen (1971), or Heat (1995). For something closer in tone and era, Contact (1997) and Murder Most Foul (1964) are worth exploring.
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