''Vertical Race'' (russian: Гонки по вертикали, Gonki po vertikali) is a 1982 Soviet three-part crime miniseries directed by Aleksander Muratov based on the story of the same name by the

Vayner Brothers The Vayner Brothers (russian: Братья Вайнеры), (1931-2005) and ) (1938-2009), were popular Soviet mystery fiction writers of Russian Jewish descent. Together they authored some 150 books and 22 screenplays. Both have been awarded wit ...

Plot

The action takes place in the USSR in the 1980s. The plot is based on the confrontation between

Moscow Criminal Investigations Department Moscow Criminal Investigations Department or just MUR (Russian: Московский уголовный розыск, МУР) — is a detective branch within Moscow City Police which established as Moscow Criminal Detective Department (Моск� ...

inspector Stanislav Tikhonov (

Andrey Myagkov Andrey Vasilyevich Myagkov (russian: link=no, Андрей Васильевич Мягков; 8 July 1938 – 18 February 2021) was a Soviet and Russian stage and film actor, theater director and writer. He is best known for his roles in famous ...

) and the thief-recidivist Alexei Dedushkin, nicknamed "Baton" (

Valentin Gaft Valentin Iosifovich Gaft (russian: Валенти́н Ио́сифович Гафт; 2 September 1935 – 12 December 2020) was a Soviet and Russian actor. He was People's Artist of the RSFSR (1984). Biography Early life and education Gaft was ...

). Officers of the investigations department detain a criminal with an imported suitcase packed with foreign things among which they find the Order of St. Andrew, but due to insufficient evidence (no report of theft), they have to let "Baton" go. He is at large and continues to pursue criminal activities. He begins to feel threatened, starts to steal fur hats and coats from a store, commits a theft in the apartment of a retired general, where, in addition to the savings book, "Baton" also takes the revolver and cartridges. Taking the thief into custody becomes a matter of principle to Tikhonov, he carefully collects the evidence, and Dedushkin has nowhere to go. The cornered criminal is ready to use weapons against a police officer.

Cast

- Stanislav Tikhonov, investigator *

- Lyokha Dedushkin, thief-recidivist named "Baton" *Vladimir Salnikov - Alexander Saveliev, Tikhonov's assistant (voiced by Aleksandr Ryzhkov) *Nikolai Zasukhin - Vladimir Ivanovich Sharapov, the head of Tikhonov *

Galina Polskikh Galina Polskikh (Гали́на Алекса́ндровна По́льских, born 27 November 1939) is a Soviet film actress. She has appeared in more than 100 films since 1962. In 1979 she was awarded the title of People's Artist of Russia, ...

- Zosia, a friend of the "Baton" * Irina Brazgovka - Lyudmila Mihailovna Roznina, an employee of the archive *Elena Kapitsa - Lena, Tikhonov's former beloved * Stanislav Chekan - captain of militsiya, the duty officer of the bullpen *Vyacheslav Zholobov - Igor Ivanov, administrator of "Racing in the vertical" *Valery Durov - phalerist *Iraida Stroumova - director of the archive (voiced by

Yevgeniya Khanayeva Yevgeniya Nikandrovna Khanayeva (russian: Евге́ния Ника́ндровна Хана́ева; January 2, 1921 – November 8, 1987) was a Soviet and Russian film and stage actress. People's Artist of the USSR (1987). Biography She was ...

) *Alexander Valkovich - Alexander Mikhailovich, archivist *Zinaida Dekhtyaryova - Tikhonov's mother (voiced by Yevgeniya Uralova) *Kapitolina Ilenko - Elizaveta Henrichovna von Dietz (Boyko) *Vasily Korzun - Oleg Nikolayevich Lebedev, chief of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (voiced by Nikolai Grabbe) *Boris Bityukov - "The Shaman" *

Vladimir Druzhnikov Vladimir Vasilievich Druzhnikov (russian: Влади́мир Васи́льевич Дру́жников; 30 May 1922 – 20 February 1994) was a Soviet actor. He appeared in more than 40 films between 1945 and 1992. He was a People's Artist ...

- Alexey Y. Uvnarskiy, Surgeon *Ninel Myshkova - Valentina, wife of Obnorsky *Vladimir Koval - Signor Costelli *

Valery Nosik Valery Benediktovich Nosik (Валерий Бенедиктович Носик, 9 October 1940, Moscow, USSR, — 4 January 1995, Moscow, Russian Federation) was a Soviet Russian film and stage actor, the People's Artist of Russia (1994) who appe ...

- airport employee, former accomplice of "Baton" *Viktor Miroshnichenko - Bakum, taxi driver

References

External links

1982 crime drama films 1982 television films 1982 films 1980s crime films Dovzhenko Film Studios films Soviet crime films Soviet crime television series Soviet television films Soviet television miniseries Russian crime television series {{1980s-USSR-film-stub