In 1968, the USSR screened the premiere of the feature film "Dead Season", dedicated to the activities of Soviet intelligence during the Cold War. Millions of viewers empathized with the protagonist and wondered if there was a real person behind him or a fictional, collective image. Many years passed before the veils of secrecy were removed and the truth was revealed: the prototype of Ladeinikov's screen intelligence officer was Konon Trofimovich Molody, a Soviet agent known by his pseudonym
Mechanical devices to decapitate prisoners on death row have been used in Europe for centuries. However, the most widely used guillotine was in France during the French Revolution. Below are 10 specific guillotine facts dating back to the Age of Terror
Tin is a ductile, lightweight, silvery-white metal that has had a huge impact on the history of mankind, because its alloy with copper is called bronze. However, when in the Middle Ages people were able to separate from impurities and began to use pure tin, unexpected troubles began to overtake them. There is a legend that it was thanks to the "tin plague" that the Napoleonic army was defeated
We often hear that the dresses in which the actors appear in films are then sold at auctions for huge sums of money. Some intricate costumes cost a fortune at the time of creation, but their fate can be sad. Until recently, unique rarities sometimes ended their days in landfills
Going to the dentist becomes a real stress for many. This is despite the fact that modern clinics are equipped with high-tech equipment, and most of the manipulations are performed under anesthesia. And how did people cope with dental problems in old Russia? After all, for the first time dentists began to work only in 1883, when a special school was opened in St. Petersburg. Read how the deer antlers helped with pain, who the teeth were and why it was necessary to go to the steam room with a bad tooth
Each era was characterized by its own fashion for clothing, hairstyle, communication style, and even names. In the Soviet Union, after the 1917 revolution and until its collapse, children were very often given names derived from the symbols of that time. Take, for example, the well-known Dazdraperma - a name created from the slogan "Long live May 1!" This review presents the funniest names derived from geographical names, sciences, revolutionary symbols
The name of Wilhelm II is associated with the decline of the German Empire. The last Kaiser fought all his life not only with ill-wishers, but also with himself. Along with selfishness and arrogance, William II had many oddities and complexes. Some of them are discussed further in the review
To create the image of a movie hero, you need to take into account many components, and one of the most important is his outfit. History contains many examples of true masterpieces created by costume designers. Some of these dresses have become even more popular than the films in which they shone. After all, today hardly anyone remembers the movie "The Seven Year Itch", but Marilyn's "flying" dress still breaks popularity records
For anyone with a history of the Soviet past, the GULAG is the personification of something sinister and frightening. The camp system of the USSR, which became the end point of the flywheel of repression and exile, is reflected not only in documentaries and books, but also occupies a certain place in art. How did the system work, what was included in it, for what it was possible to get there and thanks to what was released?
When British forces liberated the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in the spring of 1945, they were unprepared for the horrors they would see. These shocking photographs were taken by LIFE photographer George Rodger in April of that year. The photographer accompanied the 11th British Division and was one of the first to enter the territory of the concentration camp after the German fascists left it
At any time, people wanted to know what awaited them in the future. Some predicted the end of the world, others an incredible advance in technology. In 1900, the leading chocolate factory Hildebrands, along with sweets, released a series of postcards depicting people's ideas of what the world would look like in 100 years. Some predictions are quite funny, while others are really reflected in our time
Who would have thought that one day what once flashed on TV screens will soon become a part of our life. And no matter how funny it sounds, but the one who invented science fiction is a real genius, who gave the world a myriad of interesting, and most importantly, very useful inventions and things
Remember how every time with a sinking heart and admiring glances we watched fantastic films about various technologies and inventions, dreaming that at least a small part of the useful gizmos of them would become a reality? And what was on the verge of fiction a couple of decades ago is now almost an integral part of the modern world. It turns out that not only Nostradamus could predict the future, but also films
Many argue that beauty is a subjective concept that cannot be measured, because it is in the eyes of the beholder. Others say that this concept is eternal, which can be discerned in absolutely every person. However, despite this, many magazines put up their ratings and assessments of the appearance of certain people, assign their awards for the most beautiful and charming face. Therefore, today we will tell you about the top ten most incredible and attractive women that surprise with their unusual
Sometimes it is difficult for an ordinary person, far from standards and boring stereotypes, to understand exactly what criteria are used to select certain girls, who are then included in the rating of the best. But be that as it may, it is worth remembering that everything in this world is relative, including the concept of beauty. And if you think so, then on the one hand everything is too simple, but on the other - oh, how difficult
Alexander the Great is one of the most romantic heroes in Western history, where he is described as a beautiful young man with fluttering curls, galloping on his faithful horse Bucephalus to meet new battles and adventures. There are many legends about him. The most famous is how he dealt with the Gordian knot. In love affairs, he also succeeded. He had three wives, many concubines and two young lovers
In 1998, Ottawa signed the Convention on the Banning of Antipersonnel Mines and Booby Traps. This document imposed an absolute taboo on the production and resale of this type of weapon to other countries. Over the entire period of active use of anti-personnel explosive devices, millions of people have been seriously affected by this insidious weapon. Mines are considered an inhumane method of warfare, but the overwhelming majority of states continue to actively use them. Fear of invisible danger is
He called himself a gypsy, was friends with Jean Cocteau and Michael Jackson, was the lover of Marlene Dietrich, worked as a lifeguard on the beach and became famous all over the world. The fate of Hollywood star Yul Brynner is so rich in extraordinary twists that sometimes the fictional facts that he told for the fun of reporters are not as amazing as his real biography
Not all adults and mature personalities can cope with the burden of their own fame. Actors who started their creative careers in childhood or adolescence have a hundred times harder time. Growing up and not understanding what is really happening to them, small stars go all out in search of new sensations. Then, fame and popularity are replaced by prohibited substances and alcoholic beverages
She was one of the main blondes in Hollywood, and fans never ceased to be amazed at how different Jane Mansfield can be. She had a weakness for everything pink, was fond of the occult sciences, and at the same time her IQ level was 149 points. She knew five languages, and she herself created a cute image of a frivolous blonde who is only interested in men. Jane Mansfield simply had to take the place of Marilyn Monroe after the death of the latter
The history and mythology of the Emerald Isle hides many secrets. One of them is female shamans, under whose domineering influence Ancient Ireland was at one time. What is known about their existence? The answer to this question is incredibly complex and at the same time quite exciting. To do this, you need to immerse yourself in the study of aspects of the spiritual world, far beyond the realm of mortals
Power and fame can literally drive a person crazy. Throughout history, there have been many influential people who have had very strange quirks. And it is not at all surprising that some of them have these eccentric habits manifested in dangerous manias and not only
As you know, many Hollywood couples cannot boast of long-term relationships. Those who manage to maintain their feelings over the years invariably attract attention. Sam Elliott and Katharine Ross have been walking hand in hand through life for almost 50 years, and yet their feelings not only seem to have not lost their fervor, but are much stronger than when they first met on set
Julia Butters began her artistic career early, but she made herself talk about herself after filming the ninth Quentin Tarantino film "Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood." The young actress is now only 10 years old, but Julia is so talented that she was able to outshine even Leonardo DiCaprio. What is known about the rising Hollywood star and why did Tarantino choose her for the role of Trudy?
It is known that the creators of the beloved series "Well, wait!" they tried very hard to make the bunny a purely positive hero, and they gave the wolf many outrageous features. But, despite this, at the very first views, it turned out that the children's audience considers a poorly educated bully with a bunch of shortcomings to be a much more interesting character. Similar situations sometimes arise in the literature. There are several famous heroes that the authors were going to make negative, but the sympathy of the audience
Usually Gogol's personal life is remembered either in the light of friendship with famous people of his time, or in the light of the strangeness of his character. But there was another side of his life outside of creativity: communication with children. Nikolai Vasilievich Gogol was, first of all, a teacher during his lifetime and left a memory of himself in his students, including his own sisters
“All happy families are alike, each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way,” - with this phrase begins the famous work of Leo Nikolaevich Tolstoy “Anna Karenina”. Today this novel occupies a prominent place in the gold fund of world literature, and its creation was not at all easy for the author. He planned to write the book in just two weeks, which ended up taking four years. In his hearts, the writer exclaimed: "My Anna has bothered me like a bitter radish!"
Stanley Kubrick's films are sorted into visual quotes, called cinematic classics, and revisited dozens, if not hundreds of times. After all, the master was a brilliant director and changed the whole course of the history of cinema. His unrivaled technique has inspired generations of young filmmakers and has defined today's filming technology. Kubrick possessed incredible courage in everything related to cinema, it was this property that made him one of the most prominent directors of the 20th century. But the master himself is far away
Some representatives of the younger generation learned about dudes from the famous film of the same name. Today it is difficult to imagine that there were times when the society strongly condemned any manifestation of interest in Western or American culture. Unusually dressed and strangely speaking young people aroused interest and at the same time censure. Read how the dandy movement arose, what clothes were fashionable among them and why representatives of this subculture were called spies
He was one of the most famous writers and playwrights of the Soviet era, played the piano perfectly and taught at VGIK for many years. Films based on his scripts were shot, including "Inception" and "Strange Woman", "Two Soldiers" and "There is no ford in the fire." In everyday life, Yevgeny Iosifovich Gabrilovich was an amazingly modest and quiet person. His only love was his wife Nina Yakovlevna, with whom he lived all his life, but at the same time, in his declining years, Yevgeny Iosifovich admitted: he is not inclined to believe in ogro
Almost 45 years have passed since the tragic departure of Gennady Shpalikov, but his poems still sound relevant, the viewer is happy to watch films based on his scripts. “And I am walking, walking around Moscow” is one of the most famous songs to the verses of Shpalikov, which he wrote literally on the go. He was talented, freedom-loving and sincere, and also deeply unhappy. Gennady Shpalikov and Natalya Ryazantseva honestly tried to save their marriage, but they could not
Soviet education was of high quality, affordable and free. But there was a period in the educational history of the USSR when education in senior school classes cost money. The corresponding decree was adopted at the end of October 1940. And the next spring, the government, prioritizing order in society, went even further. In 1941, a decree on criminal liability for violating school discipline came into force. Malicious violators were expelled from the educational institution and could be exposed to
School years are not repeated. Someone remembers them with fondness, someone with irritation, someone just doesn't care. Time flies quickly, and just recently you listened to the last bell ringing, and today you are already taking your granddaughter to first grade. There are no more familiar exams, now they are taking the exam, and schoolchildren have become more relaxed and freedom-loving. And in the days of the USSR, everything was much stricter. Perhaps today such rules may seem too harsh, but Soviet schoolchildren perceived them without special
Not all people feel this way of finding maternal happiness causes affection, and in many countries it is still prohibited. In Russia, despite the support of the legislation, the debate about the ethical side of these peculiar relations does not subside. In the meantime, the church, feminists and ordinary people argue about the admissibility of surrogacy, show business stars are actively using it
A nugget from the provinces, the largest figure in Soviet and world science - Igor Vasilievich Kurchatov. His scientific genius and incredible organizational skills served the country at the most dramatic moment in world history. Like Peter I, he was a man of breakthrough, a giant leap that solved key problems. Possessing a powerful intellect and remarkable health, Kurchatov, like a giant, pushed science forward in several directions at once. Stately, handsome, incredibly charming, he was
According to the rules of so-called patriarchal marriages, the husband must be older than his wife. But the world is changing, stereotypes are crumbling, and marriages in which a woman is older than her husband successfully prove their right to exist. In this review, happy couples for whom there is no age limit and who have been happy for more than a year
"Hits means loves" is a fairly common but contradictory expression. After all, the topic of domestic violence is still a high-profile topic of discussion. Recall only the recent story with Regina Todorenko, when her inadvertently thrown words turned into a real boycott for the presenter. After all, as it turned out, even in the families of public people, not everything is as perfect and smooth as it seems at first glance. As it turned out, some famous women are forced to smile in public, and tremble at home with
The Finno-Ugric peoples are closely inscribed in the history of not only Russia, but also the formation of Russian principalities from their very foundation. In the annals we can find many tribes: some of the first Rurikovichs collaborated with the Finno-Ugric people, others conquered them with fire and sword or drove them away. Chud, merya, em, cheremis, muroma - who is hiding behind these bizarre names and how was the fate of these peoples?
Doctors around the world have warned that the new virus hits the weakest spots, causing unexpected and dire consequences. Who would have guessed that for some families the weak point will be the marriage bond, which suffered the first during self-isolation and quarantine. On the Internet, jokes are already being actively spread on the topic "choosing a life partner, I never thought that I would have to spend a whole month with him," and China, the first to defeat the pandemic, is already citing divorce statistics, which
Despite the fact that the British royal family is considered almost an ideal and a subject to follow, like any other family, there are also pitfalls here. Especially when it comes to getting married. Take, for example, King Henry VIII and his six wives, around whom passions raged throughout history. However, the modern heirs of the British crown and pretenders to the throne are in no way inferior to the polygamist king. After all, scandals based on amorous affairs have long worried