The Cranes Are Flying (1957): cast, story & where to watch
1957 · Film · ★ 8
Released in 1957, The Cranes Are Flying is a drama, war and romance film directed by Mikhail Kalatozov, running about 97 minutes. “The compelling story of a girl's impassioned search for happiness.” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. Veronika and Boris come together in Moscow shortly before World War II. Walking along the river, they watch cranes fly overhead, and promise to rendezvous before Boris leaves to fight. Boris misses the meeting and is off to the front lines, while Veronika waits patiently, sending letters faithfully. After her house is bombed, Veronika moves in with Boris' family, into the company of a cousin with his own intentions.
Who’s in it. The Cranes Are Flying stars Tatyana Samoylova as Veronika, Aleksey Batalov as Boris Fyodorovich Borozdin, Vasili Merkuryev as Fyodor Ivanovich Borozdin and Aleksandr Shvorin as Mark Aleksandrovich Borozdin, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 8.0/10, The Cranes Are Flying sits among the best-reviewed titles in the catalogue.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on Criterion Channel and rent or buy it from Fandango At Home. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Cranes Are Flying page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Cranes Are Flying tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Cranes Are Flying (1957)?
- In US, The Cranes Are Flying is available to stream on Criterion Channel, and rent or buy from Fandango At Home. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is The Cranes Are Flying worth watching?
- The Cranes Are Flying holds an audience score of 8.0 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama, war and romance. Most viewers rate it highly.
- Who stars in The Cranes Are Flying?
- The Cranes Are Flying stars Tatyana Samoylova, Aleksey Batalov, Vasili Merkuryev, Aleksandr Shvorin and Svetlana Kharitonova.
- When was The Cranes Are Flying released?
- The Cranes Are Flying was released in 1957, with a runtime of about 97 minutes.