"I met him too late": Why Marlene Dietrich knelt in front of Konstantin Paustovsky
"I met him too late": Why Marlene Dietrich knelt in front of Konstantin Paustovsky

Video: "I met him too late": Why Marlene Dietrich knelt in front of Konstantin Paustovsky

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Marlene Dietrich and Konstantin Paustovsky
Marlene Dietrich and Konstantin Paustovsky

Name Konstantin Paustovsky the modern reading public is not in honor, whereas in the second half of the twentieth century. every student knew his stories. His works were admired not only in the USSR, but also abroad. In 1964, a Hollywood star came on tour to Moscow Marlene Dietrich … On the stage of the Central House of Writers, then an unprecedented incident occurred: the world famous actress knelt in front of the Soviet writer Konstantin Paustovsky and kissed his hand. Everyone in the hall froze …

Famous Hollywood star Marlene Dietrich
Famous Hollywood star Marlene Dietrich

The Hollywood star announced her desire to meet with Konstantin Paustovsky, barely descending from the plane. She was asked what she would like to see first of all - the Kremlin, the Bolshoi Theater, the Mausoleum? She answered: "". The actress explained to the surprised audience that Paustovsky is her favorite writer, and that she considers his story "Telegram" to be the greatest literary event of her life. And since the very first time she read this work, she has dreamed of meeting the author.

Writer Konstantin Paustovsky
Writer Konstantin Paustovsky

In 1963, Marlene Dietrich gave a concert in Moscow and Leningrad. At that time she was already 62 years old, but she looked great. It was impossible to get tickets for her performance at the Moscow Variety Theater. She appeared on stage in a chic, tight-fitting dress and amazed the audience with the perfect outlines of her figure. No one knew that the main secret of her flawless silhouette was the original corset with rubber pads, which was created especially for her by an emigrant from Georgia, her close friend, ballerina Tamara Gamsakhurdia. It was thanks to this corset that the sequined bodycon dress looked stunning. And in Leningrad, the performance of the actress made an even greater sensation.

An emigrant from Georgia, ballerina Tamara Gamsakhurdia and her friend, actress Marlene Dietrich in a corset of her work
An emigrant from Georgia, ballerina Tamara Gamsakhurdia and her friend, actress Marlene Dietrich in a corset of her work

On the eve of Marlene Dietrich's visit to the USSR, Konstantin Paustovsky, who at that time was already 72 years old, suffered a heart attack. Despite feeling unwell, he attended the Hollywood star's concert at the Central House of Writers. Upon learning that her idol was in the hall, Marlene asked him to go on stage. In front of the amazed audience, she knelt in her chic dress and kissed the hand of the dumbfounded writer. The narrow dress cracked at the seams, crystals scattered across the stage. But the actress did not pay attention to it. She explained that she had read a lot of books, but not a single writer made such an impression on her, and that she had a Russian soul. The audience gave a standing ovation.

All newspapers and magazines wrote about this act of a Hollywood star
All newspapers and magazines wrote about this act of a Hollywood star

Later, in her autobiographical book Reflections, the actress devoted a whole chapter to the Russian writer, in which she shared her impressions of meeting him: “”.

Writer Konstantin Paustovsky
Writer Konstantin Paustovsky

For many both in the USSR and abroad, the act of the actress caused surprise, and she herself explained: "".

Still from the film Telegram, 1957
Still from the film Telegram, 1957
Still from the film Telegram, 1957
Still from the film Telegram, 1957

Even a small fragment from Paustovsky's story "Telegram" gives an idea of why he made such a strong impression on the Hollywood actress: "".

Marlene Dietrich and Konstantin Paustovsky
Marlene Dietrich and Konstantin Paustovsky

The famous actress had a tender relationship with another famous writer. Marlene Dietrich and Ernest Heminway: more than friendship, less than love.

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