What the Polish Stirlitz could not forgive himself from the film "Bet Greater Than Life": The Tragedy of Stanislav Mikulsky

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

In the 70s in the USSR Stanislav Mikulsky was called the Polish Stirlitz, and viewers of all ages enjoyed watching all the films with his participation. Particular attention and love was enjoyed by the 18-episode series about the Polish intelligence officer - "The Stake Is Greater Than Life", where the actor played the main role. Literally with the release of the first episodes on the screens of this film, he became the idol of a multimillion-dollar audience. Due to his charming appearance, the actor was considered by many to be a hero-lover and womanizer. He was credited with having affairs with many women. And he, giving an interview, said that he had no idea where the speculation came from, that he had a "harem of mistresses and eight legitimate wives." After all, for many years only one single person lived in his heart and the memory of her …

By the way, the series "Bet More Than Life" is still quite popular in Poland, from time to time it is shown on various TV channels of the country, and in early 2009 even the private Museum of Hans Kloss, the main character of the film, was opened in Katowice.

Moreover, in March 2012, almost 44 years after the first screening of the film "Bet More Than Life", its sequel was released under the title - "Hans Kloss. The Stake Is More Than Death”directed by Patrick Vega, with Mikulsky as Major Stanislav Kolitsky. The action of the movie takes place in two time periods: the end of the war and the 1970s-1980s.

By the way, with the premiere of this picture in the spring of 2013, 84-year-old Stanislav Mikulsky also came to Moscow to the Polish Film Festival.

About a creative career

Stanislaw Mikulski was born on May 1, 1929 in the city of Lodz (Poland), where at that time almost a third of the local residents were Jews. And during the war, the Lodz Ghetto was created in the city, where the Germans drove Jews and prisoners of Polish communists from everywhere. And, being already of a conscious age, Stanislav personally saw fascism in all its manifestations, and in the future he will be a convinced anti-fascist all his life.

Mikulsky got into the cinema as a very young guy. His debut was the cameo role of a pilot in the film "First Start" (1951). The young man was carried away by the creative process and did not see his future outside the acting profession. At first he was taken to a theater troupe in Lublin. Fortunately, his appearance allowed him to play significant roles. And when the question arose about the confirmation of qualifications, he passed exams as an external student at the Higher Theater School in Krakow. The first film, where the actor played the main role, was the drama "Hours of Hope". Also worth noting is Mikulsky's play in the surreal war film "Polar Bear" and the film "Channel".

After a while, the already famous actor Mikulsky moved to the capital, where he continued to act in films and successfully play in theaters in Warsaw. When Stanislav was invited to play the lead role in the TV series "Headquarters …" directed by Andrzej Koniec and Janusz Morgenstern, few believed in the success of this work.

Nevertheless, in 1968 the premiere of the series took place, in which Mikulsky played the main role - Hans Kloss, or rather the Pole Stanislav Kolitsky, who obtained valuable information during the war under the guise of a German officer and passed it on to Soviet intelligence. In total, 18 episodes were filmed, each of which was an independent plot. This series has become very popular in socialist countries, including the USSR.

Curiously, this multi-part film had a backstory that began long before its release. According to the recollections of the artist himself, he initially received an offer to play in six stage productions of "Bet Greater Than Life" back in 1964. - the actor recalled, years later. It was on the wave of the success of the TV show in 1967-1968 that the eponymous 18-episode TV movie was released, which conquered not only the Polish public.

And when in 1972 "Stavka …" was first shown on television, it immediately gained enormous universal popularity. The role of Kloss provided the artist with great recognition not only in Poland, he became the most famous and beloved actor in all countries of the socialist camp. Mikulsky's popularity in those years was overwhelming, he could not go out without being immediately recognized. And, of course, millions of girls were in love with the handsome actor.

After the film "Bet More Than Life", the actor Mikulsky played in many more films: in the television series "Pan Self-Propelled and the Templars" (1971) in "Obsession" (1972), in the series "Polish Roads" (1976), "Baptized by Fire" … The actor was filmed not only in Poland, he also starred with foreign directors, in particular with Yuri Ozerov in the epics "Liberation" and "Soldiers of Freedom", as well as in the political detective story "European History" by Igor Gostev.

However, it is worth noting that the incredible success of "Bet …" became for the actor both his triumph and his calling card, and his punishment at the same time. Having become a hostage to this role, the public saw in him only a scout, courageous and unsinkable. And as soon as Stanislav did not try to "get out" of this heroic image, he failed. The image of a warrior hero was forever entrenched in him. Therefore, the theater became a real outlet for the actor Mikulsky, where he enthusiastically played a variety of roles, including comedy ones. By the way, the actor in the 70s twice came on tour to the Union with theatrical performances that took place in overcrowded halls.

Over time, Stanislav gradually moved away from cinema, devoting himself to theater, television and social work. For many years he was the organizer of the soldier's song festival in Kolobrzeg, he also performed songs on it. Mikulsky was a member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party, and then in the 80s was elected to the National Council of the Association of Polish-Soviet Friendship.

In 1988-90, he served as director of the Polish Cultural Center at the Polish Embassy in Moscow. In 1995-98 he hosted the game show "Wheel of Fortune" on Polish television, then - the weekly television program "Supergliny" (super police), in which he talked about the latest criminal events in the country.

For services to the fatherland, the actor has repeatedly received high awards, and in 2006 Stanislav Mikulski's palm joined the ranks of the Alley of Polish Stars in Miedzyzdroje. But the most important reward for the actor, in his words, is a huge audience love and gratitude, both at home and in neighboring countries.

Personal life, first love

In the early fifties, a young actress named Wanda came to the theater where Mikulsky served. At that time, the actor was already the star of the Lublin stage, so it was not difficult for him to fall in love with the young beauty. A love affair began between the actors, and a month later they got married. Stanislav and Wanda then thought that their love, which the birth of their first child should have thoroughly strengthened, would last forever. However, life is an unpredictable thing …

Scandals and strife in the young family began after each of the iayeters took up their own creative career. Mutual reproaches drove the once happy couple to divorce. The little son stayed with Wanda, but the actor took an active part in his life and upbringing.

Short happiness measured by fate

It must be said that the picture "The rate is greater than life" played a huge role in the life of Stanislav Mikulsky, both in terms of creativity and in his personal life. He met her during the filming of this particular series. A diminutive girl named Yadviga was a costume designer, and in the process of filming she completely took possession of the actor's heart. Soon Stanislav made her a marriage proposal, but the girl did not say "yes" to him. The rejected actor did not give her a pass, not understanding why his beloved refused him. But once, under the onslaught of Stanislav Yadviga, she confessed:. Then Mikulsky tightly hugged the girl and said that together they would fight for her life.

A little time passed, and they signed. Stanislav guarded his beloved as much as he could, discarding all thoughts about the bad and forcing her to believe in the best. But one day Yadviga, dared to break the prohibition of doctors, deciding to give birth to a child in order to make her husband happy. Late enough, upon learning that his wife was pregnant, Stanislav was very upset and began to seriously worry about her. He clearly remembered the doctor's words:. But nothing could be done. It remains only to wait for the appearance of the child …

When Jadwiga's childbirth began, Mikulsky was filming in Yugoslavia. He received a call from the clinic and told the good news, but a few hours later the phone rang again. This time, the actor was told that the baby had died, and his wife's health had deteriorated sharply.

After this tragedy, Stanislav and Jadwiga were destined to live together for a little over a year. She followed the newborn baby. And Mikulsky, who lost his beloved wife and just born son, closed his heart, and for more than 10 years did not let anyone go there. It was torn from pain and powerlessness, from the fact that he could not save her …, his love. Over time, having somehow muffled his mental suffering, he plunged headlong into work, and did not even want to hear about women.

Late love

At the end of the eighties, the fate of the actor again brought it to the USSR. Mikulski served for some time as director of the Polish Cultural Center at the Polish Embassy in the capital. It was in Moscow that fate presented the actor with another gift - a meeting and acquaintance with Margarita, who soon became his wife and lived with him for the last 25 years of his life.

Despite the fact that the young woman was almost 30 years younger than her chosen one, they were able to build their relationship on mutual understanding and sincere love. They did not have common children, and Stanislav treated his adopted daughter Katerina (from Margarita's first marriage) like his own.

In recent years, Stanislav Mikulsky has been struggling with cancer. On November 24, 2014, he was admitted to a hospital in Warsaw. The actor died at the age of 86 - on November 27. According to some reports, the cause of death was a stroke.

The fate of another Polish actor, Pavel Delong, is interesting, who, despite his role as a hero-lover on the screen and in life, by the age of 50 had never been in an official relationship. What the idol of millions so carefully hides from fans and the press - in our publication.