These subtitles worked fine for me:
https://subscene.com/subtitles/the-white-sun-of-the-desert/english/438389
and
https://subyab.com/tags/%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%84%D9%88%D8%AF+%D8%B2%DB%8C%D8%B1%D9%86%D9%88%DB%8C%D8%B3+%D9%81%DB%8C%D9%84%D9%85/
With VLC just start playback, select 'Subtitle'/'Add Subtitle File ...' and enjoy, needs to be unzipped first, expands to about 44 kb filesize.
The women who were rescued or liberated from Abdulla's harem are allowed to keep their Burqas, those even seem to be quite useful in the desert-heat.

These subtitles worked fine for me:
https://subscene.com/subtitles/the-white-sun-of-the-desert/english/438389
With VLC just start playback, select 'Subtitle'/'Add Subtitle File ...' and enjoy, needs to be unzipped first, expands to about 44 kb filesize.
The women who were rescued or liberated from Abdulla's harem are allowed to keep their Burqas, those even seem to be quite useful in the desert-heat.

This is a worthy film indeed but how come it's here? Any legal information(the movie can hardly be in public domain in Russia unless it's some special case)? It was released on DVD

Go to the site otisfiend mentions above. This movie is really good. Really, really good. I thought at first that the makers must have seen 'The Outlaw Josey Wales' but then I realized that it was made several years before that movie. Really, really good. Must now check out other Russian movies. Would give it six stars if possible.

I don't speak Russian and this version is not subtitled. I watched a few minutes of this version and was hooked. I found a site called, "Russian Video From Russia." That site offers a subtitled version on a feature called, "Movie For The Weekend." There are a handful of movies that I watch over and over. I have added this one to that list.
The movie is the story of a discharged Russian soldier, Sukhov who is trying to get home to his wife after being away for many years fighting in the Russian Revolution. He runs into a number of delays. One of the delays is his finding and rescuing Sayid buried up to his neck in the desert. Remember this film was released 16 years before Scott Glen rescued Kevin Kline the same way in Silverado. This film reminded me a lot of Clint Eastwood's, 1976 "The Outlaw Josie Wales." I would bet that Clint saw this movie.
I am not going to spoil the movie by revealing anymore details. Great musical score. Excellent tough guys. Snappy dialog. It is simply one of the best movies that I have seen. I wonder how many more Soviet gems are out there???

Another great find on the archive. If you like quality "western" style films, & not sentimental Hollywood drivel, then you've found a good one.

Only problem, for some, is that there are no subtitles included & it's in Russian. If you speak Russian you're set, it not you can easily find a subtitle track free online.

http://www.allsubs.org/search-subtitle/White+Sun+Of+The+Desert+english+subtitles+++/

You can copy and paste that address, or do a Google search for the name of the movie (or any movie for that matter) & include .srt in the search (the subtitle file format).

Now to get it to work you should download the .avi (cinepack) file 687.4MB, find an appropriate .srt file from the posted link (downloaded in .zip format). After extracting the .srt file from the .zip file put the two files in a new folder. Now rename both files so they both have exactly the same names, like Whitesunofthedesert.avi & Whitesunofthedesert.srt

Now open VLC player, drag the new folder containing both files, the .avi & .srt, (& only those two files) onto the open VLC player & it will play the movie with subtitles.

If for some reason it doesn't work you can choose in VLC, media/advanced open file/ select the .avi, then check the "use subtitle track" box & select your .srt file, and play.

Finally, if the subtitles are slightly off time with the film you can go to tools/track synchronization/advance of subtitles over video. You can use a positive or negative value depending on if the subtitles come in early or late.

That's it, your crash course in using subtitle tracks. I over explained everything so you shouldn't have any surprises. I'm assuming you already have VLC installed & a program for extracting .zip files (WinRAR is a good one & free online).

Enjoy!