Who in childhood did not dream of being a handsome tanker Janek? Who did not admire the strength of the hero Guslik Pechki? And finally, who has not heard of such characters as the dog Sharik and the tank nicknamed "Red"? Yes, yes, we are talking about the famous Polish series “Four Tankers and a Dog” (the actors here are so bright that they have already become people's favorites).
Successful adaptation of a successful book
Back in 1967, the book of the Four Polish Tankers by the famous Polish writer, poet and publicist Janusz Psimianowski was published (three years later the book was published and it was already published under the usual name for us - Four Tankers and a Dog), which began to enjoy such success. that she shot a television series of the same name. Looking ahead, we note that the writer played in the film of the photographer (episodic role in the last fragment). The series, although it is about the war, turned out to be very kind and bright in the naive way, from which it blows with something domestic ...
The plot focuses on the fate of the tank crew, which was nicknamed "Red": Olgerd Yarosh, Yan Kos, Gustav Elen, Grigory Saakashvili, Tomash Chereshnyak and beloved dog Sharik (his breed is a German shepherd). Together, they sometimes fall into difficult and sometimes comical situations and successfully cope with any difficulties and hardships.
Prototype
Despite the fact that the heroes of our favorite series are collective images, one of the characters has a prototype. The prototype of Olgerd Yarosh was Viktor Tyufyakov, a native of Altai. He graduated from the tank school of the city of Poltava. As part of the brigade, he was first a commander of a tank company, and having distinguished himself in the battle for Studzianki, he was already a battalion commander. However, despite his merits, Victor for his love of justice and straightforward nature was deprived of all awards and titles.
But the "nationality" has done its job. After watching the television series "Four Tankers and a Dog" (the actors played their roles so well that many saw themselves or their acquaintances in these images), meetings of tank veterans began to be held in Poland. With the help of archives, Polish fellow soldiers found their battalion commander. Poland met him as a hero, and when it turned out at home that the brave commander Olgerd was Viktor Tyufyakov, he was given back his awards and titles.
Olgerd Yarosh
However, it is time to return to the crew of the tank "Red". And we will start, perhaps, with the first commander of the cheerful five (the German shepherd named Sharik is also a full member of the tank crew). The role of the brave officer Olgerd Yarosh was played by Roman Wilhelmi (a graduate of the Warsaw Academy of Theater, worked on the theater stage for almost 30 years; he also successfully played in such films as “The Night Butterfly” and “Nicodemus Dizma's Career”).
Algerd by nationality is a Pole, in the pre-war period he was a meteorologist. The tank brigade was accepted into the service as an instructor, but was soon appointed commander of the "Red" crew. He died in 1945 near Gdansk.
Jan Kos
The handsome Pole Janek has not seen his father since 1939, since the defense of Wasterplatte. Drawn by the search for his father, he finds himself in Siberia. There lived with the hunter Efim Semenovich. When he found out about recruiting for the Polish military, he decided to run away with his dog Sharik to the front. Having been refused due to his youth, he did not despair. Demonstrating his accuracy in shooting, and then finding along with Sharik among hundreds of foreign shells of his own, he was still enrolled.
The young, cheerful, matured in the war and in love with the Russian nurse Marusya (for her bright hair color was given the affectionate nickname Spark), the guy was played by the Polish theater and film actor Janusz Gayos. He is actively acting in films and plays in the theater to this day. Also, the actor was awarded numerous awards. But once, after success in the role of one brave tanker, Janusz Gayos did not act in film for 10 whole years.
Gustav Elen
And here is another, never-discouraging Pole of the brave four of tankers - Gustav Elen, and for friends, just Gustlik. Before the war he worked as a factory blacksmith. The Wehrmacht was drafted into tank troops and sent to the Eastern Front, however, capturing the tank, he switched to the side of the Red Army. Having become a member of the Polish crew, he was first loader, and then a gunner. Due to the fact that after the death of Olgerd, he became the oldest crew member by age, Gustlik is perhaps the most judicious of the whole company. Sometimes he even restrained his friends so that they would not inflict reprisals against the captured Germans - after all, they should not be likened to the enemy. As a result, his new acquaintance Corporal Kugel, under the patronage of Gustav himself, becomes deputy commandant of the city of Ritzen and is taken for his restoration. In the course of action, Gustav Elen falls in love with his countrywoman (by the way, Gustlik has Germans relatives), which our crew rescues from fascist captivity.
He played the role of a very bright character from the television series "Four Tankers and a Dog" Frantisek Pechka, who graduated from the Higher Theater School in Warsaw. Behind his shoulders - numerous productions in the theater and more than a hundred films. He was even lucky to play the movie of the Apostle Peter himself. Frantisek Pechka was awarded honorary awards in different years.
Grigory Saakashvili
The comrades call the only non-Pole in the crew Grzhesem (in the Polish manner, diminutive of Grzegosz). He is Georgian by nationality, and his profession is a driver-mechanic. He says to Polish residents that he was born in Sandomierz - he’s just tired of explaining to everyone where Georgia is. Like all Caucasians, he is distinguished by his temperamental character. And he knows how to drive a tank, like very few, and although all the members of the combat crew were related to their steel machine, he doesn’t like the soul in the Redhead more than anyone else. By the end of the film, fate brings him to the radio operator Lidka.
But the Polish film and theater actor, Wlodzimierz Press, played this hot and charming Georgian. Currently resides in Warsaw. Actively works in enterprises, is engaged in dubbing films. And also Wlodzimierz Press works on the radio.
Tomas Chereshnyak
Over time, when Yanek became the crew commander, his place was replaced by the working and economic son of a peasant, Tomas Chereshnyak, or, as his comrades called him, Tomek. Despite the apparent simplicity, he will prove himself in the best way.
The character from the movie “Four Tankers and a Dog” that plays wonderfully in harmony (the actors personifying the main characters added to their list in the course of the action) was also shown on the screen by the Polish theater, cinema, radio and television artist Weslaw Golas. Having played in an impressive number of paintings, he is noted with many awards.
"Red" and our dog ...
And, of course, the Ball! Very smart German shepherd and a full member of the crew of the tank "Red". Yanek brought him from Siberia, where Sharik became a real friend to him. The dog has repeatedly saved the crew, delivering reports on time. The four-armed actor was so fond of the audience that fans at meetings with artists constantly asked him to leave paw prints on the photograph and even made a special ink pillow for these purposes. However, obediently reincarnating on the set, the dog after fifty such “autographs” began to glance at his coach with concern and some discontent, so that it was impossible to do more than fifty “paws” a day.
“Three Poles, Georgians and a Dog”
Despite the friendship in the series “Four Tankers and a Dog,” the actors rarely met after filming, each went his own way. But this will not prevent us from returning to their heroes again and again, because more than one generation has grown up on this bright (despite the surroundings of the war) story about four Polish tankmen and their faithful friend Dog Sharik. This picture confidently took a secluded place in the hearts of many moviegoers. And nothing will hinder tomorrow, or maybe even today, to sit down and watch this slightly naive and simple film about friendship, mutual assistance and love.