Everyone in the country knew the popular expression.
The comedy “The Diamond Arm” immediately after the release in cinemas became a real hit. Millions of viewers were delighted with the film by Leonid Gaidai, and some phrases instantly became catchphrases.
So, all the inhabitants of the USSR repeated the quote of the hero Andrei Mironov, Gesha Kozodoev, when he tried to dissuade Semyon Gorbunkov from having a relationship with a girl of easy virtue. A charming swindler utters an expression, trying to pass for a foreigner.
“Russo turisto — a form of morality”, – says Mironov in the frame.
At first, the audience was sure that the beloved hero spoke Italian, but the phrase had nothing to do with him. The scriptwriters only parodied the Mediterranean language, but the expression was very fond of Soviet citizens. For years, they repeated the catchphrase that was usually used to turn down unsolicited offers.
