AllMovie

In this comedy, based on a Gogol play, a Russian village frantically begins preparing for the visit of one of the Czar's inspector generals. The news puts the corrupt town fathers, already self-important, arrogant fools, into ego overdrive as they begin cleaning up their town. A con man, knowing nothing of the impending visit, wanders into the village. The overly excited officials mistake the grifter for the Inspector General and begin to shower him with gifts and rubles. The opportunistic grifter, knowing a good scam when he sees one, plays along and takes them for all he can. Just as he leaves, the real Inspector General arrives.