Shirley-Myrli is a 1995 comedy shot at the Genre studio by the Mosfilm film concern directed by Vladimir Menshov. The picture was created in the farce genre and is an exciting narrative about the adventures of various characters drawn into an extremely complicated story. The script, written by Vladimir Menshov together with Andrei Samsonov and Vitaliy Moskalenko, tells how amazing diamonds were found in Yakutia and what came of it. Actors of the film "Shirley-Myrli" played perfectly, the film turned out to be interesting and exciting.
The plot and summary
It all started with the fact that while drilling a kimberlite pipe, called "Unpromising", they unexpectedly found the largest diamond, which was given the name "Savior of Russia". Selling it promised an instant payment of the country's external debt , and it would still have remained on vacation for three years for the entire population of Russia in the Canary Islands.
It is not surprising that the “Savior of Russia” immediately began a hunt, which was attended by representatives of the mafia under the guise of the KGB, large swindlers under the guise of gypsies and step dancers, greedy jewelry lovers without any cover, and, finally, police under their own cover.
Crook Rabbits
Diamond flew to Moscow, but soon ended up in the hands of Kafiulsky's mafia, disguised as the head of the State Security Committee (Armen Dzhigarkhanyan brilliantly played this character).
Then the “Savior of Russia" is abducted by the imposing swindler Krolikov Vasily (Valery Garkalin), and police captain Jean-Paul Piskunov (Igor Ugolnikov) and, naturally, Kozyulsky, who was left without a diamond with all his assistants, follow him. Together, they ambush the apartment of Vasya Krolikov’s mother, Praskovya Alekseevna.
They almost managed to catch the swindler Krolikov, but instead of giving away the diamond, he swallowed it. And the pursuers, instead of cutting the thief in place and taking out the jewel, took him to the hospital, from where Krolikov successfully escaped.
National issue
And all would be fine, but the events taking place are suddenly complicated by the appearance of the conductor Shniperson Innokenty, the twin brother Vasily Krolikov, who looks like him like two drops of water. Schniperson grabbed instead of a swindler. On the one hand, this circumstance helps the original Krolikov, but, on the other, he loses his peace of thought that he was a Jew.
Schniperson will soon be released, but another twin brother appears, the third in a row, Roman Almazov, who, despite his name, has nothing to do with the abduction of “Savior of Russia”. Nevertheless, he is also seized.
Find
After an action-packed ups and downs, all three twins meet and begin to discuss the national question. At this time, the missing diamond is found in a bucket with sauerkraut, the situation seems to be normalizing, the police captain, who put his hand into the cabbage without any thought, just to have a bite, gets the title of Marshal.
In the final, the characters still fly to the Canaries. Another twin of Vasily Krolikov appears on the plane, this time a black Patrick Krolikou. Slightly embarrassed, Praskovya Alekseevna hugs her fourth son and tells the stewardess how she gave birth to him and immediately carried him to the porch of the American embassy.
Shirley Myrli: actors and roles
Director Vladimir Menshov invited many famous Russian actresses and actors to take part in the filming of the film. The main female role was brilliantly performed by Vera Alentova, the wife of Menshov. The character of Praskovya Alekseevna, the mother of four twin brothers, was an excellent success for actress Inna Churikova.
The film "Shirley-Myrli", the actors and roles in which were combined in a special way, turned out to be funny, witty and informative, however, like all the paintings of Vladimir Menshov, which he shot at different times. Viewers remember the wonderful films "Moscow Does Not Believe in Tears", "Love and Pigeons", "Envy of the Gods." Another work - "Shirley-Myrli" (the actors in the film were shot with pleasure and interest) - replenished the filmography of the talented director.
Filming at the Genre Studios
The production of the film took place in the Mosfilm pavilions, the most technically equipped, since special effects were required during the development of the plot. When they were just getting ready to shoot Shirley Myrli, cast only a few actors and actresses were involved - these are Vera Alentova, Valery Garkalin, Igor Ugolnikov and Armen Dzhigarkhanyan. This despite the fact that the plot included 42 characters (excluding episodic roles).
However, any Russian film artist considers it an honor to work with the eminent Menshov. Therefore, the actors went to the set of the film Shirley-Myrli even without an invitation, just to look at the creative process. As a result, in a short time the entire creative team was formed, and work began.
During the filming of Shirley-Myrli, the actors and actresses did not leave the set for days, the creative process of creating an unusual film was so exciting. During the filming, everyone showed initiative, everyone wanted to contribute to the common cause. As a result of overwhelming enthusiasm, we got a magnificent grotesque film under the strange name Shirley-Myrli. Actors, members of the crowd, all the staff felt proud of their involvement in the creative process, which resulted in another masterpiece of cinema art.