Gaidai remains most famous for the outstanding string of comedies he directed between 1961 and 1975 , when nine of the ten films he made became Russian classics , selling between 20 and 76 million film tickets each , and becoming box office champions for several years in a row . He is less known outside of the former Soviet Union , due to the specific nature of his comedies , intrinsically tied to Soviet culture and lifestyle – unlike the motives of the characters of Kramer 's " Mad World " being easily understood by the Russian public , living in the highly materialistic world of late Soviet Union . Gaidai 's only international recognition was a nomination for best short film at the 1961 Cannes Film Festival for '' Dog Barbos and Unusual Cross ''
1961 Cannes Film Festival
1961 Cannes Film Festival
Leonid Gaidai