"The White Sun of the Desert" is a film that is part of the golden collection of Soviet and Russian cinema. Although the picture was shot over forty years ago, it is still enjoyed by ordinary viewers and professional actors. “The White Sun of the Desert” is the topic of our article today. How was the masterpiece created and the cast selected?
History of the tape
The idea of ​​filming "The White Sun of the Desert" appeared on the wave of success of the "Elusive Avengers", which appeared on the screen in 1966. The private company Experimental Creative Studio, which did not have to coordinate the details of the project with the Goskino of the USSR, took up the implementation of the picture. That is why the film stands apart from the rest of Soviet films of that period: the idea was very original, new faces flashed in the film crew, the main roles were also played by little-known actors.
“The White Sun of the Desert” was originally to be shot by Andrei Tarkovsky, and the script was written by Andrei Mikhalkov-Konchalovsky. But everything changed dramatically, and the scenario group was headed by Valentin Yezhov (known for the film “Tsar Ivan the Terrible”), and the director's chair was taken by Vladimir Motyl (who shot the “Star of captivating happiness”).
Anatoly Kuznetsov (Fedor Sukhov), actor. "White Sun of the Desert"
The plot of the film takes place in Central Asia amid the revelry of the Basmachi gangs. The central character of the film is the Red Army Sukhov. The actor (“The White Sun of the Desert” made him popular), who performed this main role, Anatoly Kuznetsov. He has actively starred in films since 1954. But it was the role of the legendary Fedor Sukhov that made him a real star of Soviet cinema. Although Kuznetsov might not have got it. Initially, the positive in all senses of the Red Army was to play George Yumatov. Filming was started, but an emergency happened a week later: Yumatov drank at the bar and got into a fight. The actor's face was severely mutilated, so there was no question of continuing filming. Then the director of the film had to ask Kuznetsov to replace Yumatov on the set.
The character of Anatoly is a principled person who is ready to fight for justice to the last, even if the forces are not equal. Fedor Ivanovich Sukhov always acts consistently, keeps his word and does not refuse the planned plan. As an unconditional leader, the Red Army manages to persuade the categorical Vereshchagin, the freedom-loving Said, and the young Petrukh to fight against the Basmachis. And although most of his comrades died, Sukhov brings the work he has begun to the end.
"The White Sun of the Desert": Vereshchagin (actor Pavel Luspekaev)
One of the most colorful characters in the picture is the former head of the imperial customs Vereshchagin. The actors of the film “The White Sun of the Desert” created a number of unforgettable images, but
Pavel Luspekaev, who played the role of Vereshchagin, made a real feat by agreeing to shoot in the picture.
The fact is that even during World War II, participating in the partisan movement, Luspekaev was seriously injured. They even planned to amputate his arm, but the young man insisted that the limb be left. However, his problems did not end there. In one of the intelligence raids, the actor severely frostbite his legs. For fifteen years, vascular atherosclerosis progressed, and in the 1960s Pavel was offered to amputate his legs, he again took a chance and agreed only to amputate all fingers.
During the filming of “The White Sun of the Desert,” Luspekaev was so hard to move around that every few minutes the actor had to sit down on a special chair. Each time, Paul conquered his pain and went on the set. But the character that Luspekaev created is almost the brightest of his entire career.
Performer of the role of Said
Said, who was dug in the sand by a bandit Javdet and then freed by Sukhov, was played by Spartak Mishulin. Many actors auditioned for this role. The “White Sun of the Desert" could have appeared on screens with completely different faces, but many applicants were rejected. The role of Said went to Mishulin, an actor of the Satire Theater. Prior to participating in the film, he became famous for the role of Director Pan in “Zucchini" of 13 chairs. After the "White Sun of the Desert" Spartak Mishulin began to act actively in films and practically did not take breaks until his death in 2005.
Black Abdullah
In the film “White Sun in the Desert,” the actors were divided into two camps: performers who play sharply negative roles, and vice versa. The head of all the villains is Black Abdullah performed by
Kakha Kavsadze, a guest Georgian actor. His grandfather studied with Stalin himself in Tiflis. Kavsadze's repertoire includes about 100 movie roles played. Until now, he is so popular that in Tbilisi his guards meet his car "under the hood." It was the role of Abdullah at the time that brought the actor all-Union fame.
According to the plot of the film, he and his gang are forced to flee from the Red Army. But his harem is a burden to get rid of. Abdullah not only decides to flee abroad, but considers it absolutely necessary to kill all his wives. As a result, the cruel Abdullah dies in a decisive skirmish with the Red Army Sukhov.
Other actors
Other equally talented actors starred in the film. “The White Sun of the Desert” was an important stage in the career of
Raisa Kurkina, Nikolai Godovikov, Tatyana Fedotova, Musa Dudaev, Nikolai Badiev, Vladimir Kadochnikov.