Question 1

What real-life preparation did Robin Williams undertake for his role as a Russian defector?

Accepted Answer

Robin Williams studied Soviet customs and learned Russian for about a year, spending five hours daily and reaching conversational proficiency within a month under teacher David, a Russian actor.

Question 2

Which real-life defector from the USSR ironically played a KGB agent in this film?

Accepted Answer

Russian actor Saveliy Kramarov, who was a real-life defector from the USSR, played a KGB agent in his first American movie after emigrating for religious freedom.

Question 3

What unusual shopping behavior in Soviet stores is depicted in an early scene?

Accepted Answer

Vladimir buys three pairs of shoes not his size because Soviet stores often had scarce merchandise; people would buy anything available to trade, sell on the black market, or bribe officials.

Question 4

How did director Paul Mazursky prepare for making this film about Russian immigrants?

Accepted Answer

Paul Mazursky spent a year speaking with Russians living in the U.S. and those still in the Soviet Union in cities like Kiev, Moscow, and Leningrad.

Question 5

What musical skill did Robin Williams master for his role as a saxophone-playing defector?

Accepted Answer

Robin Williams spent months learning to play the saxophone, achieving a proficiency level that his tutor said normally takes two years.

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Moscow on the Hudson

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