Favorite movie of millions.
The famous Comedy directed by Leonid Gaidai “Ivan Vasilyevich changes his profession” I think the audience is absolutely harmless. And in the early 1970s, when the Director started filming, many feared that the film will go on the shelf though due to the fact that the script was written based on the play by Mikhail Bulgakov. And although officials finally released a picture of the screens had to be redone, and some episodes cut.
Frame from the movie *Ivan Vasilyevich changes occupation*, 1973
About the film adaptation of Bulgakov and Leonid Gaidai thought back in the 1960s, but then his plans were not fulfilled. At the beginning of the 1970s he again returned to this idea after saw a production of Bulgakov’s play “Ivan Vasilievich” on a scene of Theatre of a film actor. Doubts about the chosen works were large: at the time Bulgakov was forbidden to put this play in the Theater of satire, and the story of how adventurer Miloslavsky and klutz Bunsha easily run the country in the past, could raise questions for the movie bosses how does the Director of Parallels with the present.
Yuri Yakovlev and Leonid Kuravlev in the film *Ivan Vasilyevich changes occupation*, 1973
The script written by the Director of the house – writer Vladlen Bakhnov was a neighbor Gaidai. All the episodes that censorship might seem dubious, initially tried to clean up. But the main idea remains unchanged: the country is ruled by imposters and charlatans. On the sidelines, whispering: I told him I removed the anti-Soviet movie! Even Yuri Nikulin refused an offer the lead role of Ivan, said Gaidai: “No, Leon, come on! This picture always puts on the shelf! I advise you not to.”
Fotoproba Lebedev, Yuri Yakovlev and Yevgeny Evstigneeva on the role of Ivan
Fotoproba Andrei Mironov, Vyacheslav Innocent and Leonid Kuravlev the role Miloslavsky
Fotoproba Natalya Gundareva, Svetlana Svetlichnaya, Natalia Selezneva on the role of the Queen
In the role of Ivan the terrible and the Manager Bunshi the audience could see and Evgeny Evstigneev, who gave his consent, and successfully passed trials, but his candidacy was not approved by the Council. In this role claimed and Vladimir Etush, but his comrade Caax was so convincing that after that, it of king that haven’t been seen. So he played the doctor Shpak, robbed Miloslavskis.
Leonid Gaidai on the set of the Comedy
Director at work
The role of the engineer and inventor of the time machine Nikolay Timofeev claimed Oleg vidov, but Gaidai gave preference to Alexander Demyanenko, which have long together. To Shurik, the audience is so used that the engineer had to rename from Nicholas to Alexandra. The role of Georges Miloslavsky auditioned Andrei Mironov, Vyacheslav Nevinny, Georgy Burkov and Georgi Yumatov, but preference is given to Leonid Kuravlev – paired with Yakovlev, he looked more organic. Tsarina Marfa Vasilievna could be Natalya Gundareva, and wife Bunshi – Nonna Mordjukova.
Leonid Gaidai on the set of the Comedy
Many of the episodes were born during the filming and was improvisation the Director or actors. Gaidai invented the episode, when the king sat down on the tape recorder, pressed the button and heard Vysotsky, wept, and when the heroine Natalia Kostinski kissed Yakin, the Director yelled, “Spit!”. A phrase was born at the site – etus came up with: “Eat it!”, Kuravlev and continued the phrase: “Citizens, keep your money in a savings Bank” as its ending: “of course, If you have them”.
Director at work
When finished shooting, after final Assembly, the Director showed a rough version of the painting of the Directorate “Mosfilm”. And happened what he feared: a episodes highly recommended cut, especially those where the ambiguous phrase. So, in the draft on the question of the self-proclaimed Tsar Bunshi “For whose account this Banquet? Who will pay?” scenario followed by the answer: “the people, the priest, the people”. This phrase was considered seditious and eventually came out: “anyway, don’t we!”. Seemed dubious and replica Bunshi: “What kind of repertoire do you have? Collect tomorrow creative intelligentsia”. The second part of the sentence had to be removed. When the policeman asked the king in the interrogation of his address, he answered, “Moscow. The Kremlin”. Over the Kremlin to laugh it was worthless, just left of the “house”. The image of a simpleton-pretender the censors considered it a mockery of Ivan the Terrible, but there is hardly anything you can change.
Vladimir Etush in the film *Ivan Vasilyevich changes occupation*, 1973
A month later the film was again shown in a shortened and “combed” option, and this time the officials gave the go-ahead. In 1973 “Ivan Vasilyevich…” became the leader of Soviet film distribution, it was viewed more than 60 million viewers. In our days, the ingenious Comedy has not lost its popularity and the actual playing.
Frame from the movie *Ivan Vasilyevich changes occupation*, 1973
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