Fatal love of Mark Bernes, because of which the people's favorite and ladies' man fell into disgrace

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

O Marche Bernese even during his lifetime, there were incredible legends, various kinds of rumors and gossips, as about a successful businessman with an exceptional nose, and not very groundless. By nature, being a business man to the marrow of his bones, he contrived to turn such scams that no one could even think of such a thing. And if you take into account that this happened in Stalin's times, then it was completely equated to the realm of fantasy. It was not for nothing that even the artist's best friends called him "Mark himself Naumovich" behind his back. But once a fatal love happened in his life, which for several years closed his way to the stage and the cinema, and also closed his business shop.

Let's start with the fact that Bernes had no musical education, no natural vocal abilities, and besides, he perfectly knew the notes. But his incredible charm and ability to choose a repertoire made him a famous Russian singer. And his natural artistry more than compensated for the high octaves, which the artist did not even have a trace. Nevertheless, as soon as Bernes sang a new song he liked, it immediately became a hit, he had a special nose for the selection of his repertoire. In the middle of the 20th century, Mark Bernes was the brightest and most memorable face and voice of the era in which he lived.

I must say that Mark Bernes knew how to live beautifully, he never spared money for a decent life, adoring comfort, beautiful women, expensive restaurants, fashionable clothes and cars. But this needed money, and not small ones.

Therefore, in addition to roles in cinema, theater and stage performances, Mark Naumovich had a very lucrative hobby - entrepreneurship (now they would call it that). Returning home from overseas tours, he brought suitcases of scarce clothing - a "firm", which was very profitable to sell in Moscow. The artist himself dressed with a needle, because it was not for nothing that the reputation of a great fashionist was entrenched in him. In addition, the foreigners who came to Moscow were well aware of whom it was possible to exchange currency for Soviet rubles, not at the official predatory rate.

It even got to the point that Bernes traveled to Yugoslavia twice a year and, buying up things from half a car, brought them to the USSR. Then he sold at a speculative price. The authorities turned a blind eye to the entrepreneurial inclinations of the honored artist. However, the delivery of goods from Yugoslavia was soon closed, everything was too big, by the way, Bernes's colleagues Nikolai Slichenko and Muslim Magomayev later adopted this experience.

The honored artist had one more expensive hobby that was not available to anyone at that time - cars. By the way, he was the first in the Union to have a Volga with an automatic glass washer. The entertainer Pavel Leonidov, quite famous in the country at that time, wrote in his memoirs:

With boundless charm, Mark had an equally obnoxious character. The most grandiose scandal could arrange out of the blue, and even more so if even the slightest reason appeared. Indiscriminately and, despite regalia and even friendship, he could publicly besiege anyone, and then, as if nothing had happened, continue to communicate with him.

In particular, the artist became obnoxious before going on stage. Everyone knew that at such moments it was better to stay away from him. However, as soon as Bernes went out to the public, he was instantly transformed: a famous smile, incredible charm, bewitching and insinuating - as they would say today, a sexy voice. This whole set of artistic techniques magically and flawlessly acted on the public.

… And especially on women who fell in love with his inimitable timbre of voice. Every Soviet girl had a postcard with a photo of the artist. And from direct admirers, Bernes did not have a release at all. Endless romances and intrigues pretty much ruined the life of his first wife, Polina Linetskaya, a theater artist, with whom he lived for twenty-five years under the same roof. Read about the sad story of their love in the review: Why did Mark Bernes' first wife die alone after 25 years of marriage?

Fatal love

After the death of Paola, the artist had many love affairs, none of which lasted longer than one or two months. But one day he fell in love with the rising star of Soviet cinema Isolde Izvitskaya, an incredibly beautiful actress with a special charm. And I must say that at that time she was married, but, as you know, this never stopped Bernes. He was not embarrassed by the age difference with his beloved: he was 47, she was 26. However, this relationship became fatal for the artist and brought not only a lot of trouble, but also put an end to his career. True, for three years, but they were more than enough for Mark to feel the pressure of the ruling regime on his own skin.

Izolda Izvitskaya had many influential admirers, among whom was Aleksey Adzhubei, editor-in-chief of the newspaper Komsomolskaya Pravda, son-in-law of Nikita Khrushchev. He was somewhat younger than Bernes, and could not forgive the fact that Isolde gave preference to an aging, but not losing its gloss and charm, famous artist. And it should be noted that his popularity, both on stage and among the gorgeous women of the capital, did not allow many to sleep peacefully. Even Nikita Khrushchev himself was jealous of the Soviet people, who immensely adored and loved Bernes.

Once, at a big concert in the Kremlin, Mark Naumovich performed two songs according to the regulations, from which, without the permission of those responsible for the event, it was not allowed to retreat. But the audience began to demand an encore with applause. The artist, going backstage, was confused, not knowing what to do, since there was no one nearby who could give permission to go on stage for the third time. And all would be fine if the government boxes were not sat high-ranking officials of the state, headed by Khrushchev. Such a misconduct by the artist was immediately regarded as disrespect for the Soviet people.

And Alexey Adzhubey, quickly assessing the situation, began a real hunt for the public's favorite. Several metropolitan and union newspapers immediately published devastating articles about Bernes, and then an unpleasant story was added that supposedly the artist, along with his mistress, driving around Moscow and violating traffic rules, reacted harshly to the inspector's remarks.

Of course, after the mud poured on the singer and actor, the road to the cinema and to the stage was closed for him for three long years. And with Isolde, they almost immediately parted.

Read about the tragic fate of the actress: The fading star of Isolde Izvitskaya: from triumph in Cannes to death alone.

Late love

The second wife and last love of Mark Bernes was Lilia Bodrova, with whom he lived for about ten years. By the way, he took this woman away from the family too. Her husband was a French photojournalist for the Paris Match magazine and the owner of the only Chevrolet in Moscow. At the time, men agreed on the love of luxurious cars. And later, Lilia's husband introduced her to Bernes.

He is already 49, she is 18 years younger. Less than a year later, Lilia left her husband for Bernes. They lived together for over nine years, and these were the quietest years in the life of Bernes. Overwhelming popularity returned to him again, he had everything he once dreamed of: the love of a young beautiful woman, cars, a luxurious life, fame and money. In 1960, at a stadium in Moscow, he performed Enemies Burned Their Home, his most poignant and one of the most important songs of his repertoire. After this concert, Bernes became a pop star of the first magnitude in the Soviet Union. There was no other such thing.

“After 40, Life Is Just Beginning”: the swan song of the popular favorite of Mark Bernes.

However, in 1969, fate unexpectedly put the famous actor on the bandwagon - doctors diagnosed him with the last stage of cancer. And just as Bernes did not refuse to believe it, the fact remained the fact. A few days before his death, Mark Naumovich asked his wife to record his four songs at the funeral: “I love you, life,” “I dreamed of you for three years,” “Roshchin's Romance” and “Cranes”. And he asked to bury himself at the Novodevichy cemetery next to the grave of his first wife, Polina Linetskaya. The last will of Mark Naumovich, of course, was carried out.

It seemed that the whole capital had gathered for the funeral of the beloved artist. There was an incredible crowd around the House of Cinema, and people crowded at the cemetery from early morning to say goodbye to their favorite singer. The authorities were not present at the burial ceremony.

Ironically, Bernes did not have time to find out that a few days before his death, a decree was being prepared in the government of the country on conferring the title of national to the artist.

Another amazing story about the Russian emigrant artist, who is known as a notable swindler and the son of the famous painter Grigory Myasoedov, read our article: As the son of the artist Myasoedov, he repaid his father for his mutilated childhood.