He burst into our lives on April 12, 1994 with some new, fresh breath of spring breeze, but at the same time with some very familiar and dear to all feeling of beauty. The series “Petersburg Secrets”, whose actors came to visit every evening through a television screen, presented all the audience with a beautiful story of love and unprincipled betrayal, low treachery and honest and noble self-sacrifice.
Point of no return
The adventurous melodrama, based on the 19th-century bestseller Petersburg Slums by V. Krestovsky, tells the story of what happened in the northern capital.
So, the 1830th year. In the very first series, the viewer gets acquainted with two famous and noble princely families who live quietly, not suspecting that such a measured and calm period in their life will very soon end forever, and the path to the past will be closed without the slightest opportunity to change anything. Actors of the series "Petersburg Secrets" They tried to convey the whole atmosphere of that time so truthfully that it was interesting for viewers of different ages to watch it.
It is the princes Shadursky and Chechevinsky who are present, although sometimes invisibly, throughout the series. Representatives of these families, it seems, an endless series of events and sophisticated intrigues throws into unpredictable life situations. A lot of human qualities are intertwined here. On the one hand - lost heirs, wasted multi-million dollar fortunes, deceit, betrayal, constant lies. On the other hand - many years of fidelity, strong and touching love, the nobility of men and women of different sectors of the population and material security. And all this is so closely intertwined in the storyline that until the very end of this story, the viewer, tormented by the question: “What will happen next?”, Is in constant tension. Will the triumph of justice, the reunion of loving hearts, whether all the thieves, villains and bastards of the series will be punished, you can find out only by watching it, plunging into the atmosphere of those old years.
Storyline
The summer of 1830. Between the young princess Anna Chechevinsky and the experienced conqueror of female hearts Dmitry Platonovich Shadursky, a novel breaks out. From Anna’s side, this is a big love. But what does the prince feel for a girl? Most likely, he turned his eyes to her only because this summer he lives in the village alone, without a wife and son, away from the bustle of the big city. And he's just bored. The princess is too trusting and completely inexperienced in matters of communication with the opposite sex. She lives in a village with an old father who is too abusing alcohol. Her mother is far away in the city. But they are not as friendly as Anna would have liked. The old princess is strict and angry. She is too preoccupied with the opinions of others, and for her daughter there are only nit-picking and reproaches. This becomes especially noticeable after the death of Anna's father.
Next to the princess is only her maid Natasha, who grew up in the Chechevinsky's house. But after some events, a plan to destroy their entire family was born in her head, which she gradually and successfully brings to life. The princess trusts her too much, for which she subsequently had to pay too much, because it was Natasha who stole Anna’s newborn daughter and brought her to the Shadursky’s house. But the baby's father does not want to engage in her upbringing, so he pays generals von Spilze to put the girl in a childless family. Anna will see her daughter only after 16 years.
Chechevinsky
Anna and Nikolai Chechevinsky are brother and sister who love each other. It is the brother who always supports her sister and tries to be her support. Unfortunately, by the type of service he is not always located in the family nest. And in the tragedy that happened in the family, he blames himself for not being there and he could not help Anna.
In the series “Petersburg Secrets”, the actors who embodied these characters are Elena Yakovleva and Victor Rakov. The first was well known before this picture. The second was not so popular. Typically, most of the actors who played in the series woke up simply mega-popular. Elena Yakovleva introduced the princess as a very vulnerable, reverent, sincerely loving girl. She is especially fond of a drinking father, she is afraid of her mother, gives herself completely to the first strong feeling. But having survived the betrayal of her beloved, the disappearance of her child and the loss of her father’s home, she did not immediately, but became a strong and wise woman.
The character of Nikolai Chechevinsky in the series "Petersburg Secrets" is also interesting. Actors who wanted to get this role, diligently tested, but eventually approved Victor Rakov. It was he who managed to show the young prince an intelligent, intelligent man who loves his sister very much and has been trying to find her and her daughter for many years. Subsequently, in order for justice to prevail, he even had to take a new name for himself.
Shadur
Despite some alienation from each other, the Shadursky spouses - Dmitry Platonovich and Tatyana Lvovna, instantly come forward as a united front, if there is even the slightest chance that any person or event could destroy their opinion about them or undermine their reputation. Recall that in the field of our attention is the series “Petersburg Secrets”. The actors who performed the roles of the Shadursky in the film are also very well known to the audience. This is the inimitable Natalya Gundareva and Dmitry Brusnikin, who in recent years has been involved in directing. Their son (already an adult) was played by the young and at that time not very popular actor Sergei Chonishvili. Now almost everyone knows his face. And his bewitching voice can be heard not only in films, but also in various programs. This is the so-called voice-over.
Cast
This series has gathered under its shadow a huge galaxy of magnificent actors of modern cinema. For example, Mikhail Filippov (husband of Natalia Gundareva), who embodied Osip Zakharovich Mordenko on the screen. At the beginning of the film, he is the manager of the princes of Shadursky, who allowed himself the courage and boldness that was unthinkable for those times to love the princess. After the prince kicked him out of the house, he becomes a money-lender, quite intolerant and tough towards both clients and his own son.
For the role of retired lieutenant Sergei Antonovich Kovrov, we have confirmed our beloved Nikolai Karachentsev. The character turned out to be very lively and interesting. According to the book, he is an ordinary killer. But in the film, thanks to some changes in the script, he is a real man, the embodiment of honesty, decency and nobility, a faithful friend of Nicolas Chechevinsky and a defender of all who need his help.
Yes, a great team gathered so that at the end of the shootings, viewers could endlessly revise the series “Petersburg Secrets”. The actors and the roles they performed in the film are not just interesting and impressive. The script writer completely rewrote the plot, removed the social background, changed the characters of all characters without exception. The result of all these literary actions was a very warm and kind adventure series, which is considered one of the best in the last decade.
We looked, we look and we will watch many more times ...
Oddly enough, but already 20 years have passed since the very moment we first got acquainted with this story. The actors of the film “Petersburg Secrets” so accurately conveyed the atmosphere of that era that, sitting on the TV on a modern sofa, you feel that each character is very familiar, and it’s as if you’ve been to the streets on which the heroes walk more than once. Already beloved by many, the film, like an outfit that made a very good couturier, causes both admiration and delight. I want to review it again and again, as if you did not see something, missed, did not notice. And perhaps, for the fifth time, Princess Anna will not make this big mistake in her life, Prince Shadursky will not be such a bastard, Princess Tatyana Lvovna will never throw offensive and undeserved last words into Anna Chechevinsky’s face, Nikolai will not go to war and will meet with his sister not 16 years later, but a few minutes after returning home. And unlike the book by Krestovsky, which, after its last page is turned over, leaves a too heavy and sad precipitate in the soul, the series “Petersburg Secrets”, the actors and their roles in this 60-episode film do not provide an opportunity to bore the audience for a minute give hope that evil will always be punished, justice will prevail, and love and devotion will be that ray of light and good that will give hope to all living.