The story of this girl is similar to the tale of Cinderella, who met her prince at the ball. True, by her 34 years old Basya Pyasetska had never been to the ball, and she could only watch the ladies dressed in furs and jewelry through the open door of the front hall. However, it was enough for a shy maid to just say the right phrase in the right place just once, in order to later change the uniform of a servant to a business suit, and then become the owner of a huge fortune
At the end of the 19th century, an electric tram was launched in St. Petersburg, but it did not travel on ordinary land, but on ice, on which rails were installed. Thus, the organizers of the route managed to bypass the monopolists who owned horse trams in the city, because formally these companies owned transportation on the city land, and "ice trams" carried passengers along the Neva. Now it is difficult to imagine, but the winters in the city were so long and harsh that this type of transport provided
Artists are personalities, as a rule, overwhelmed by passions. They, like other people of art, need the intensity of emotions in order to create truly ingenious creations. But it often happens that, in search of impressions, painters cross the line of what is permitted by moral norms
In pre-war Leningrad, the trolleybus was considered a high-comfort transport - it was expensive, but the townspeople were ready to pay for it. Even despite the fact that once a trip in a trolleybus turned into a disaster for passengers, claiming 13 lives. Comfortable and roomy cars that do not require gasoline worked in the city even during the blockade. They even wanted to let them in Ladoga and it was quite feasible
Veronica Lake was a movie sensation in the 1940s, but today her name is hardly a household name. Her career was rapidly going up and also rapidly sliding down. She shone on TV screens and, sparkling with happiness, radiantly smiled at the audience, but outside of the roles she was a deeply unhappy woman. Four divorces, the loss of a child, schizophrenia and much more played a fatal role in her life, recalling how fleeting universal adoration can be, weak
That lady from Marshak's poem, who checked in numerous valuables dear to her heart, traveled a long time ago, but the romance and charm of the railways have probably remained unchanged since then. As for the story about the practical aspects of the trip, the ladies of the 19th century had something to share with the current ones - and no wonder, because in the time that has passed since the launch of the railway service in Russia, a lot has changed
Hollywood is a place that gives us not only movie stars, but also many other famous personalities that often become cult. And it's not only about their modern generation, but also about those that came before it. What are the current stars as similar as possible to their predecessors and why are they constantly being compared?
In 1996, the song "Oh, what a woman" became one of the most popular and beloved in the entire post-Soviet space. Together with the soloist of the Freestyle group, Sergei Dubrovin, the whole country sang it, and the performer himself literally bathed in the rays of glory. But after only five years, he suddenly disappeared from the scene. How was the fate of the talented singer, what is he doing now and why does he think that the song, which became a hit, ruined his life?
Sometimes their weirdness makes them cute, but often it borders on extravagance. A certain brand of flowers and alcohol in a hotel room is "baby talk" compared to what some celebrities include in their rider. Based on these ambiguous lists, we can conclude about who suffers from what phobias. Some are shiveringly afraid of any germs and bacteria, while others have a persecution mania
These songs have long lived their own lives and have become so popular that they are rightfully considered legends of Soviet culture. However, few people will remember that for the first time they sounded in films that, for one reason or another, could not repeat the success of the soundtracks. Perhaps the reason for this was that in the era of the USSR, the best poets and composers were involved in writing compositions for the paintings, well, or history, as they say, simply "did not go"
Films and series for women have long ceased to be associated only with melodramas and tearful romantic stories. Much more attention is attracted by the creations of filmmakers, in which we are talking about the fair sex with a strong character, capable of taking responsibility. Especially in demand are projects that open up new facets of female characters and are distinguished by an interesting plot
Almost everyone has some kind of occupation called a capacious word - a hobby. Someone collects coins with stamps, someone glues sailboat models, and someone has a passion for computer games or gramophone records. And, of course, celebrities who prefer to stand out among those around them even in their hobbies “take their heart” for their favorite hobby. After all, having great opportunities, why not collect typewriters like Tom Hanks, forged products like Brad Pitt, cars like Bru
Most often, a sign of the demand for an actor is an extensive filmography, however, Daniel Day-Lewis always chose the latter between quantity and quality, therefore, for almost half a century of his career, he starred in only twenty films. Repeatedly he was going to leave this difficult profession, once he even left for Italy and lived for several years in complete obscurity, working as a shoemaker, until he returned. However, this particular person is often called "the greatest actor of our day", and record
These Soviet actresses were beautiful, talented, in demand, had crowds of fans and fame. However, everything collapsed in an instant due to the fact that they could not defeat the destructive addiction. It's not for nothing that they say that female alcoholism is not cured. We will not say whether this is so or not, but the fate of these stars of Soviet cinema is a vivid example of the fact that the green serpent does not spare anyone
If a Western man in past centuries ended up on the Yap Islands, which are part of the Federated States of Micronesia, his gold or silver coins would be worth absolutely nothing. Until the 19th century, the inhabitants of Yap practiced a strange method of calculation
For more than 70 years, the Cannes Film Festival has become a place where films with deep meaning are shown. If the picture receives the Palme d'Or, then for real moviegoers this means only one thing: this tape must certainly be watched. Unfortunately, in our today's selection it is simply impossible to include all the masterpieces shown at the time at the Cannes Film Festival, but the films presented in it deserve special attention of the audience
There is a special charm in Asian films that distinguishes these films from European or American cinema. They seem to contain some kind of oriental wisdom, an understanding of the secrets of the human soul and the movements of thought. Asian directors always boldly go for experiments, are not afraid of mixing genres and styles, fill each frame with a peculiar atmosphere. And every film from our today's review deserves the attention of the audience
Even those who have never heard of "African Hollywood" will recognize these landscapes - simply because many classic films and modern blockbusters are filmed in Ouarzazate. "Gladiator", "Alexander", "The Last Temptation of Christ", films about Asterix and Obelix and Bondian, "Game of Thrones" - the list goes on for a long time. If a film is conceived on an "oriental" theme, if chases are supposed against the background of sand dunes, if the plot touches on antiquity, with a high probability this film will be
76 years ago, on March 22, 1943, the Belarusian village of Khatyn was destroyed by a squad of punishers. 149 villagers were burned to death or were shot. After the Great Patriotic War, Khatyn became a symbol of the mass destruction of civilians on the territory of the USSR occupied by Germany. And everyone who heard about this tragedy wondered: who and for what destroyed the Belarusian village?
Yuri Andropov headed the KGB for 15 years, and then for a year and a half was the General Secretary of the CPSU Central Committee. These are well-known facts. Much less known is that the secretary general wrote poetry, and quite good, played the piano, was well versed in literature, read a lot. Apparently, for this he received the nickname "romantic from the Lubyanka". His poems became known only after his death, they were never published
The works of the classics of world literature always attract the attention of directors. Some films become real masterpieces of cinema, but there are often cases when a film based on a book disappoints the viewer. Along with successful films, there are too often film adaptations, where the director's vision spoils the whole impression of reading the work itself
More than 60 thousand dogs served during the Great Patriotic War, fought with the enemy on a par with soldiers and saved thousands of human lives. Communication dogs transmitted several hundred thousand messages, stretched almost 8000 kilometers of wires. Sapper dogs have cleared 30 Soviet and European cities. Tailed orderlies transported almost half a million injured soldiers from the battlefields. Demolition dogs destroyed 300 units of enemy armored vehicles, sacrificing their lives and dying under tanks
In June 2010, on the eve of the Day of Partisans and Underground Fighters, a monument to a brave Soviet girl, affectionately called "our Anya" by local residents, was solemnly opened at the cemetery of the Polish village of Radzanovo. During the Great Patriotic War, Anna Afanasevna Morozova headed an international underground organization, fought against the Nazis as part of the united Soviet-Polish partisan detachment on the territory of occupied Poland. Her feat was reflected in the Soviet cinema
She managed to star in only two films, after which she seemed to dissolve. Evgenia Garkusha, a bright, talented and happy actress, disappeared from the screens, was fired from the Mossovet theater and from the lives of her two most dear people, her husband Peter Shirshov and one and a half year old daughter Marina. Her name was consigned to oblivion, and only years later the matured Marina Petrovna Shirshova managed to restore the circumstances of her mother's death from the records of her father's diary
There is an amazing monument in Tashkent. In the center of the sculptural composition, an elderly Uzbek rises, a woman sits nearby, and numerous children surround them. The man looks at them with tenderness and great seriousness - arms outstretched and as if embracing the entire large family. This is Shaakhmed Shamakhmudov, who is revered by the whole of Uzbekistan. During the Great Patriotic War, he and his wife adopted and raised 15 (!) Soviet children of various nationalities, becoming for them a truly native mother and
Among the huge number of military films, films about tankers occupy a special place. Perhaps because it was these gallant guys who were the first to rush into the cities, freeing them, and it was the infantry who were waiting for the tankers when they needed support in battle. In this review, films about tanks and about tankers, filmed during the Soviet era. Then there were no stunning special effects that today so attract viewers, but there was something different in these films, much more important, shrillness and historical truth
Oddly enough, but the weaker sex in the old days could, it turns out, stand up for themselves with arms in hand. In case of disagreement, noble ladies and maidens often resolved the issue with the help of a duel. At the same time, the rules and attributes were the same as for men, but there is much more piquancy, because sometimes the ladies fought topless. One of the most famous duels took place between Princess Pauline Metternich and Countess Kilmansegg in 1892
Nadezhda Krupskaya is still one of the most mysterious and controversial figures in Russian history. It is widely known that she was Lenin's wife and comrade-in-arms, and that she actively participated in the preparation of the revolution. This is what most of our contemporaries have about her. However, she was in herself an extraordinary personality, an organizer of public education, a fighter against the total illiteracy of the population. For which thousands of mothers were grateful to her, and what she did for
Flamenco is a musical and dance style that Spain considers to be its national treasure. It is also a visiting card of the country. Even those who do not know the name of the dance, seeing the baylaor - flamenco performers - instantly associate it with Spain. But flamenco almost died as a style and for a long time received only contempt from the Spaniards. It was almost a miracle that he was saved
Musicians and singers sometimes struggle for years to achieve success. They stoically endure everyday problems and an unsettled personal life in order to reach the top of the musical Olympus. However, there are cases that are completely incredible: thanks to just one song, the singer suddenly becomes not only famous, but also very rich. True, the performers no longer manage to repeat their success. They remain the heroes of one, but truly golden hit
It is believed that love at first sight does not last long. It flared up, burned out and went out. But the love story of the prima donna Galina Vishnevskaya and the brilliant cellist Mstislav Rostropovich convinces that true love at first sight still exists and, consecrated by marriage, can last a lifetime
When in the summer of 2020 it became known that Mikhail Efremov was the culprit in an accident in which a person died, many doubted that he would be brought to justice. It was suggested that the actor would be able, if not to avoid punishment, then to serve it in privileged conditions, far from real places of confinement. But shortly before the onset of 2021, the people's artist arrived at an ordinary colony in the Belgorod region, where he will spend the next few years
She enjoyed immense popularity in the Soviet Union, her records were instantly sold out, and her voice was mesmerizing. She received letters from all over the vast country, men confessed their love to her and made proposals. But the heart of a Polish beauty with an unearthly voice was busy. All her life Anna German loved her Zbigniew Tucholski
All words about him are superlative. Best baritone, Siberian nugget, brilliant opera singer. Only now all this is in the past tense. Dmitry Hvorostovsky sang until the last day of his life. When he could not perform on stage, he sang at home. He enjoyed every moment that fate gave him. He played fair with life and remained the winner
It is believed that children are abandoned by those parents who are unable to support them or who lead an immoral lifestyle. But it turns out that even among the celebrities who have fame and wealth, there are those who did not want to raise their own sons and daughters. This also applies to the stars of Soviet cinema, for the sake of a career, they abandoned loved ones. We will neither condemn nor justify anyone, we will just tell the stories of actresses who preferred work to their children
The man, whom no one knew about until December 8, 1980, as a child, was desperately afraid of his own father. During his school years, he was constantly bullied by his peers, tried drugs early, and then began to play the guitar in churches and Christian nightclubs. On that fateful day, Mark David Chapman waited for John Lennon in the archway of his Dakota, Manhattan home to shoot him five times. The court sentenced him to life imprisonment with the right to apply for early development
Vera Novikova became the heroine of the secular chronicle not at all of her own free will. For the first time, the media began to write about the actress in connection with the romance of her husband Sergei Zhigunov with Anastasia Zavorotnyuk. And in the second - after the actor not only returned to her, but again made a marriage proposal. But this was far from the end of the confused relationship between the spouses. In October 2020, they broke up again, and Zhigunov even posted a photo of the divorce certificate on his page on the social network
How do you feel about "railway romances"? Can two people who meet in a train carriage and meet under the measured clatter of wheels find happiness? Such a couple, who met on the train, were the famous singer Klavdia Shulzhenko and Odessa coupletist Vladimir Coralli
Igor Bochkin became famous after playing the role of the first secretary of the district committee in the film "State of emergency of the regional scale", where he had a chance to act in very spicy scenes. After that, there were still many works in the cinema and endless attempts to find his personal happiness, which he stopped taking only after meeting his fourth wife, Anna Legchilova. For almost 20 years, the couple have been happy together, but what could have made them hide their own son for three whole years?
In 1959, the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences held a grand opening ceremony for the Music Award. Every year, the Grammy is presented to authors and performers for achievements in the world of music, and this award is the most significant and coveted for many musicians around the world. Our today's review contains the most interesting facts from the history of the award