Romance Of A Horsethief (1971)

Set in Polish Russia in 1904, a Cossack (Yul Brynner) in exile has control over a Jewish village. The villagers live by stealing horses under the leadership of a wily horse thief (Eli Wallach). The villagers tolerate the Cossack regime until he confiscates their horses for the Russian army. Based on the novel by Joseph Opatoshu and adapted for the screen by his son, the actor David Opatoshu and directed by Abraham Polonsky (BODY AND SOUL). The film attempts to be a rollicking comedy adventure but I found it tedious. To be fair, the transfer I saw left much to be desired (the film is in the public domain) but I doubt even a pristine print could resuscitate it. There's an air of desperation about it as if the director and actors realized the ship was sinking and play it louder and broader in an attempt to punch it up to no avail. With Jane Birkin, Lainie Kazan, Serge Gainsbourg, Oliver Tobias, Henri Serre, Marilu Tolo and David Opatoshu.