Actors, whose fame came in the first half of the twentieth century, unfortunately, are little familiar to the modern generation. But, reviewing the black-and-white films recorded in the pre-war and post-war years, you are convinced that they actually were genius, unique and inimitable. One of these was our compatriot - Vsevolod Aksenov. He starred in a number of films that were released on Soviet screens. But most of all, the actor loved the theater.
early years
Aksenov Vsevolod Nikolaevich was born in Moscow, in 1902, on April 6 (19). All his childhood, he studied at the gymnasium, and after its completion he recovered to serve in the Naval Department and the Commissariat of Internal Affairs. In 1919, he realized that he wanted to become an actor, so he entered drama courses, where he personally recognized E. B Vakhtangov. He continued his studies at the First Studio of the Art Theater. From 1920 to 1946 (however, with interruptions) Vsevolod Aksenov worked at the Maly Theater, not only worked there as an actor, but was actively involved in its development, up to the point that he mounted the scenery and created a props.
Vakhtangov himself longed for Axenov to play a major role in his new production of Romeo and Juliet. But, unfortunately, the plan did not materialize, and the actor showed himself in other scenic roles.
Theater work
The debut role in the Comedy and Melodrama Theater, which was performed by Vsevolod Aksenov, was Dorian Gray in the production of "Portrait of Dorian Gray", it happened in 1921. After that, he performed in many theaters in Moscow and other cities of the Soviet Union. On his account such roles as “Lel” in the play “The Snow Maiden”, the image of Chatsky in the film “Woe from Wit” according to Griboedov, he played Khlestakov in the production of “The Inspector General”, based on the story of Nikolai Gogol. Also, Vsevolod Aksenov played the role of Glumov in the play “There is quite simplicity for every sage” and brilliantly played Myshkin in “The Idiot” according to Fedor Dostoevsky. The actor played all these roles in the 20s of the twentieth century.
Entering the 30s, he did not leave the theater behind, but continued to serve in it. Vsevolod Aksenov - the actor who played Mechik in “The rout” according to Fadeev, in the “Glass of Water” he played the role of Viscount Bolingbroke. In a production by Schiller called “Don Carlos”, the actor performed the role of Marquise Pose, and in the famous ballad of Henrik Ibsen “Per Gunt” played the main role. We will talk more about this below.
Peer Gynt and his tour
For those who are familiar with the field of literature and music, this name says a lot. The Norwegian science fiction writer Henryk Ibsen wrote the story of the same name . And some time later, the Norwegian - composer Edward Grieg - created the music for that play. The work is classified as chamber-symphonic and consists of five parts, like the story itself. This story, written by Ibsen, as well as music created by Grieg, won the heart of Aksenov. In 1954, he creates his own theater concert. Actors perform the roles described in the play, to the music of Grieg. Vsevolod Aksenov plays Per Gynta, and the Soviet actress Alice Koonen plays the role of Oze, the widow of a peasant woman. After a series of successful performances in Moscow (in particular, in the Tchaikovsky Concert Hall), a stable troupe of actors and musicians was formed. Soon they all went on a long tour of the Soviet Union and won great fame.
Popular Soviet reader
Since 1935, a new pop figure, Aksenov, appeared in the Soviet Union. The biography of the actor at that time already included numerous works both in the theater and in the cinema, so he decided to prove himself by reading plays and poems by famous Russian authors - Pushkin, Yesenin, Blok. He read on the stage Aksenov and his contemporary writers - M. A. Svetlov, A. T. Tvardovsky, K. M. Smirnov and others. The actor was not indifferent to foreign classics. In his repertoire was Dante, Gauthier, Heine. He was also well acquainted with the works of contemporary authors of Italy, France and England and read them with pleasure before the Russian audience. After reading a whole host of literary works on the stages of Moscow, Aksyonov founded the so-called circle of musical and dramatic compositions. Through him, he instilled in Soviet people a love of Western European literary classics.
Movie work
Vsevolod got into Soviet cinema in 1929, when he played his first role as Sergeant Henry in the film Merchants of Glory. In 1930, the actor played Alexander Levitsky in the production of "Tomorrow Night", and two years later - Weddinga in the film "Brilliant Career". Then, for 8 years, Aksenov did not appear in the cinema. As it turned out, he and the directors worked on a landmark film called Suvorov. In this movie masterpiece, he played the role of Meshchersky, due to which he became famous throughout the Union.
In the postwar years, Vsevolod continued his career in the field of cinema. He starred in such films as The Russian Question, The Conspiracy of the Doomed, Zhukovsky, My Daughter, Our Correspondent. Unfortunately, in 1960, the great Soviet actor Aksyonov died. But during his last year of his life, he managed to play the role of Kravtsov in The Tale of a Girl and performed Willy Bertgold in the production of Away from the Homeland.
"Suvorov" - a film of many generations
The name of the film speaks for itself - it refers to the great Russian commander, a competent military leader Alexander Vasilievich Suvorov. This biographical drama tells us about the period of life from 1794 to 1799 and begins with the Polish campaign. As the directors thought, this will be very relevant after the defeat of Poland in 1939. Then the picture describes the confrontation with Paul the First, the Swiss campaign, the discovery of the spy in the regiment and its exposure, and much more. The end of the film is connected with the events of the assault on the Devil's Bridge.