What censors cut out of popularly beloved Soviet comedies

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

The Soviet censorship, famous for its intransigence, “protected” Soviet audiences from scenes that could embarrass them, or seduce, or, worst of all, evoke unhealthy associations. Before her “knife”, everyone was equal - it was the same for both novice directors and venerable ones. Surprisingly, even in the old comedies we love today "Prisoner of the Caucasus", "Ivan Vasilyevich changes profession", "Operation" Y "and other adventures of Shurik", "The Diamond Hand" and "Love and Doves" vigilant censors found potentially dangerous shots.

Ivan Vasilievich is changing his profession

The censors in this tape were most excited by the image of Tsar Ivan the Terrible. For some reason, the comedic presentation of this historical image seemed to them too free and even mocking. As a result, a rather large episode was cut out in which the tsar fries cutlets in Timofeev's kitchen.

But, in principle, in comparison with other films, this one was accepted practically without problems. They removed only the close-up of a naked woman on the handle, which Miloslavsky gives to the ambassador (taking care of the "moral image" of the Soviet viewer) and re-voiced several phrases. To be honest, only one of them understands the "double bottom": in response to Georges, in the original he answered:. Well, really, boldly for those times. Replaced with neutral.

Replacing Bunshi's phrase addressed to the ambassador with even added humor to the film. But the cut address of the tsar (in the approved version, he says) again related to issues of power. As you know, it is better not to joke with them. However, it is not at all clear why the censors did not like Zina's remark. Now this phrase is very clearly read on the lips, but sounds. Perhaps there was a hidden sexual connotation or a call to violence in it?

Prisoner of the Caucasus

With this film, censorship spoiled Leonid Gaidai's nerves much more. The problems began even during the script approval. I had to change the surname for the hero Vladimir Etush. In the original version, he was named Okhokhov. However, it turned out that in the Ministry of Culture there is an employee of a sufficiently high rank with the same surname, and the similarity with the chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Kabardino-Balkarian Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic Aslanbi Akhokhov was clearly traced. As a result, they were replaced by Saakhov, but a certain Saakov from the Mosfilm party organization was immediately found. True, he had to endure this shame for the rest of his life, since Elena Furtseva herself (Minister of Culture) intervened. She uttered a famous phrase about this:

In addition, the bears got a little from the song. The original version sounded like this:

The artistic council did not accept these lines with a mark.

And, of course, they removed a whole verse promoting drunkenness, with which, as you know, there was an irreconcilable battle in the Secular Union. And here is:.

The Diamond Arm

Here, of course, the censorship sword had a place to turn around. A full set of "forbidden joys": an alcoholic theme, some ambiguous songs, not quite a positive house manager, and he is a representative of the authorities, prostitutes (though foreign, but still!), Mini-bikinis, sex, even one scene where the heroine is practically topless. As a result - more than 40 censorship comments.

However, Leonid Gaidai had a cunning plan, which, fortunately, worked. At the end of the film, the director added footage … of a nuclear explosion at sea and told the commission that he would remove anything from the film except him. In response to puzzled questions, Leonid Iovich said: As a result of complicated negotiations, the commission agreed to leave the film uncut, only if there was no explosion. Thanks to this incredible tactical move, Soviet viewers saw the comedy "uncastrated." As a result, "The Diamond Arm" became the leader of the Soviet film distribution in 1969 and is one of the five best films in the history of Soviet cinema.

However, one word was still not accepted by the artistic council. Initially, the heroine of Nonna Mordyukova pronounced her famous phrase like this:. Even a nuclear explosion was not enough here. “Synagogue” had to be replaced by “mistress”. Although in the further course of the plot it seems quite logical.

"Operation" Y "and other adventures of Shurik"

Strange as it may seem, this film was not overtaken by censorship until 5 years after its release. This was due to a change in the international situation, but, fortunately, later the tape was restored to its original version. The scene where Alexei Smirnov turns into a savage at a construction site was recognized as incorrect in relation to the fraternal African countries. And, in addition, they saw a double meaning in the sacramental phrase. The fact is that at that time in party circles, and then among the people, they began to affectionately call the Cuban leader Fidel Castro "Fedya". Therefore, the flogging scene also acquired a somewhat free connotation.

Love and pigeons

The famous comedy by Vladimir Menshov has suffered greatly mainly due to the ongoing struggle against drunkenness. Many episodes were cut from the film, which made the people's love for beer a cross-cutting theme of the entire film. The classic of Soviet cinema, Alexander Zarkhi, spoke at the artistic council as follows:

As a result, the role of Sergei Yursky suffered the most, and according to Alexander Mikhailov,.