Gentlemen of Fortune

During the autumn of 1970, three criminals steal Alexander the Great's golden helmet from an archaeological excavation site in a Central Asian Soviet Republic. The thieves are quickly identified as Docent and his two henchmen, Crosseyes and Sad Sack. The missing helmet sets off the pursuit and the plan to use a lookalike to recover it.

In Moscow, Professor Maltsev encounters a man who looks exactly like Docent and begins following him. The police decide to use this resemblance to their advantage and recruit Troshkin as a decoy. The man is revealed to be Yevgeny Troshkin, a kindhearted kindergarten principal and WWII veteran.

The police convince Troshkin to impersonate Docent and return to the criminals to learn where the helmet is hidden. He is sent to a Central Asian prison to mingle with Docent's accomplices while the real boss is kept near Moscow. To maintain the disguise, Troshkin must learn criminal slang and manners.

A mock escape is arranged to bring the trio back toward Moscow. Troshkin, posing as Docent, is to ride with the three criminals in an empty cement truck. By accident they end up in the wrong vehicle and flee the local town in their underwear, with a petty crook named Alibabaevich tagging along.

The trio's hotel fight is stopped by Troshkin, who orders them to drop criminal slang and act like ordinary people. He takes a hauling job at a local kindergarten to earn money for clothes and a hotel stay, while trying to fake a robbery to keep his partners from suspecting his ruse. The delicate balancing act tests his disguise and conscience.

Alibabaevich feels remorse after the escape and considers surrendering to the police, but fears a harsh punishment. The others are hesitant as well, wary of the potential consequences of confessing. The group remains on edge as they navigate Troshkin’s deception.

Back in Moscow the gang moves into an old house slated for demolition while Troshkin and the others search for clues. Alibabaevich stays behind to guard the house. Later Sad Sack steals Troshkin’s money, forcing him to retrieve more from his own apartment to cover losses and keep up the ruse.

Alibabaevich accidentally sets fire to the gang’s house, prompting a move to Professor Maltsev’s country house. Professor Maltsev’s daughter Lyudmila visits, thinking they are archaeologists, which adds a domestic complication to the illusion.

Troshkin outlines the chain of Docent’s connections as police tighten the net. A former accomplice quits crime and pushes Troshkin down the stairs. Prokhorov and his ally Mityai arrange a meeting near the Bolshoi Theatre, but both become convinced Troshkin is not Docent and may be a cop, leading to a standoff.

Police inform Troshkin that the real Docent has broken out and could target the henchmen, so the operation is halted. Troshkin asks to stay with the gang to celebrate New Year and delivers a speech about awakening the criminals’ conscience, which the gang dismisses as a cover for more crime.

The real Docent reaches Mityai’s place and clashes with Troshkin’s crew on a roof. Mityai tries to stab Docent, but Docent kills him; Prokhorov’s gun turns out to be in Docent’s possession, giving Docent the upper hand in the fight.

Back at the country house, Troshkin gives gifts and receives a letter from relatives. Sad Sack contemplates conscience and fails at suicide. The police take both Docents away and Maltsev gets the helmet back, while the criminals are left stunned as Troshkin appears without his disguise and prepares to say goodbye before they flee.