The Return of Saint Luke (Russian: Возвращение «Святого Луки») is a 1970 Soviet crime film directed by Anatoliy Bobrovsky.

The key player in the theft is a recently escaped thief and repeat offender, Mikhail Karabanov, known as "The Count."

Unwilling to simply carry out the theft for Loskutov’s benefit, Karabanov decides to claim the entire reward.

He hires an artist named Kulikov to create a replica of the painting, artificially ages it, and plans to hand over the fake to Loskutov while he himself contacts the foreign buyer.

After questioning Kulikov and other witnesses, Colonel Zorin identifies the thief and, over the course of the investigation, uncovers all the parties involved in the crime.