Video: "Slave of Love" in and behind the scenes: Why Elena Solovey sobbed when she saw herself on the screen
2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55
On February 24, the famous actress, People's Artist of the RSFSR Elena Solovey celebrates her 73rd birthday. Her acting talent was revealed largely thanks to the director Nikita Mikhalkov, who shot her in his most famous films. Their collaboration and creative love began with the film "Slave of Love", which became a breakthrough in the world of big cinema for both the director and the actress. True, at the beginning of filming, no one could have imagined that everything would end successfully: Nikita Mikhalkov "carried on" this film after another director, and Elena Solovey sobbed in despair when she learned what he did to her heroine …
It all started with the fact that one day the poet and screenwriter Gennady Shpalikov suddenly noticed: his wife, the beautiful actress Inna Gulaya, is somewhat similar in appearance to the silent film star Vera Kholodnaya. And he got the idea to make a film about her and began work on the script. However, at that time, Shpalikov fell out of favor with the authorities and was left practically without work. Due to creative unfulfillment, he began to drink, relations in the family went wrong, and soon he and his wife divorced. After that, Shpalikov lost interest in everything that was happening and decided to voluntarily leave this life. The unfinished script fell into the hands of Andrei Konchalovsky, and he completed it together with Friedrich Gorenstein.
The director Rustam Khamdamov was entrusted to shoot a film based on this scenario with the working title "Unexpected Joys", on the recommendation of his teacher and mentor Grigory Chukhrai. Shpalikov planned that his wife, Inna Gulaya, would play Vera Kholodnaya, but Khamdamov had a different vision of this image. In his opinion, this role could only be played by Elena Solovey, who, both externally and in demeanor, seemed to herself to be from another era - the era of the Silver Age.
In addition to Elena Solovey, a powerful cast was involved in the film: Oleg Yankovsky, Emmanuil Vitorgan, Tatiana Samoilova. Khamdamov started filming, but in the process of work he completely forgot about the script, redoing it on the go. His creative quest threw him from melodrama to detective with a touch of mysticism, from detective to comedy. When the censors looked at the footage, they demanded that the film be redone according to the approved script. In his hearts, the director gave up filming and went to his native Tashkent. He was officially suspended from work and decided to find a replacement for him - after all, most of the funds allocated for the shooting had already been spent, and they had to be completed.
It was considered bad form among filmmakers to "finish up" a film after another director - of course, each of them wanted to shoot their own movie, and not finish someone else's unfinished work. The directors refused one after another, and then Andrei Konchalovsky suggested that his brother, Nikita Mikhalkov, take on this difficult task. At that time, he managed to release his first full-length film, "At home among strangers, a stranger among friends", which enjoyed great success with the audience. The idea to finish shooting someone else's film did not delight him, but he nevertheless decided to take up the work. Firstly, in memory of Gennady Shpalikov, who wrote the script for the film “I walk around Moscow”. It was with his filing that Danelia approved Nikita Mikhalkov for the main role, from which his acting career began. Secondly, his brother worked on the script for Unexpected Joys, who advised him not to abandon this project.
Agreeing to work in conditions of a limited budget and tight filming deadlines, Mikhalkov put forward his own conditions: "".
Out of solidarity with Khamdamov, all the actors left the project, except for Elena Solovey. She agreed to play the main role in the film under the direction of Mikhalkov, but here the most difficult part began. Although the actress resigned herself to the change of director and gave her consent to the shooting, on the set she constantly clashed with Mikhalkov, comparing him with the previous master not in favor of the new director. It seemed to her that Khamdamov's heroine looked much more organic, natural and interesting than Mikhalkov's.
Later, the actress said: "N".
However, the experiences and claims of the actress were in vain: this film brought her popularity both in the USSR and abroad, becoming her hallmark, and elevated Nikita Mikhalkov to the rank of a world-class director: this was his first film noted at international festivals. And the very process of filming was remembered by Elena Solovey for its lightness, speed and very warm atmosphere. After that, she continued to collaborate with Mikhalkov, starring in his films "An unfinished piece for a mechanical piano" and "A few days in the life of II Oblomov."
Only years later, Elena Solovey admitted: "".
The role in this film became not only significant and decisive for the entire creative fate of the actress, but also, to some extent, prophetic for herself. In the final episode, her heroine leaves on a tram "to nowhere", and in this scene Elena Solovey saw parallels with her own life: she soon decided to emigrate from the USSR. "" - said the actress.
She disappeared from the screens at the peak of popularity, and then her decision surprised many. But not Nikita Mikhalkov - he was already accustomed to the fact that Elena Solovey was not like other actresses and could sacrifice any role without hesitation if it went against the interests of her family. Career has always remained in the background for her, and this time the "slave of love" again listened to her heart, leaving for the USA after her husband.
After that, there were many sharp turns in her life: American everyday life of Elena Solovey.
Recommended:
How was the fate of Vlad Listyev's daughter from her first marriage, and why she considered herself unworthy of him
As a child, Valeria Listyeva did not tell anyone that the famous presenter, whose programs are watched by millions of viewers, is her dad. She, at a conscious age, was never able to meet with him, because just a month before the appointed date, Vladislav Listyev was gone. She is periodically trying to prick either by doubting her relationship with the TV presenter, or by reproaches that she has chosen the “wrong” profession
Behind the scenes of the film "Love and Doves": What episodes were cut by censorship, and why Menshov was accused of lack of taste
March 16 marks 83 years of the remarkable actor, director, screenwriter Sergei Yursky. In his filmography there are more than 80 film roles, but one of the most striking works was the role of Uncle Mitya in the film "Love and Doves". The episodes with the participation of this actor in fact should have been much more, and the film itself could have become a two-part film, however, director Vladimir Menshov had to cut out many frames criticized by the censorship for immorality and "humiliation of the dignity of ordinary collective farmers."
Why the creator Mary Poppins was loved much less than her heroine, and she herself hated Disney
The authors of popular children's books seem to be special people. Thin, sympathetic, child-loving and wonderful, impeccable parents. This is not always the case. Mary Poppins' creator Pamela Travers was more … complex
Behind the scenes of the film "Sweet Woman": Why Natalia Gundareva thought she was not suitable for the main roles
15 years ago, on May 15, 2005, at the 57th year, the life of a wonderful theater and film actress, People's Artist of Russia Natalia Gundareva, who was so popular that she was often called the most popular of all folk, was cut short. She played many striking roles, but her first leading role was Anna Dobrokhotova in the film Sweet Woman, thanks to which her film career took off. But this might not have happened - at first, the actress refused to shoot, not considering herself a “sweet woman
Ekaterina Gradova: Why the actress blames herself for the death of Andrei Mironov, and in what she found her consolation
After the release of "Seventeen Moments of Spring", Ekaterina Gradova, who played the radio operator Kat, was known to the whole country. Fans were waiting for her at the theater and kept watch outside the house. Men sent flowers and offered hand and heart. But Ekaterina Gradova at that time was happily married to Andrei Mironov, not yet realizing that their family would break up in 5 years. True, fate will give her another chance to become happy