In 1937, the famous British novelist Somerset Maugham published one of his most witty novels, The Theater. This book soon gained popularity and was translated into many languages. The readers' love for her was so high that after 41 years a movie of the same name was shot in the Latvian SSR. He today continues to be considered the most accurate and successful film adaptation of the novel. Let's find out more about the plot and film crew of the movie "Theater" (1978). And also consider the most tangible differences between the film and the original book.
Soviet two-part film-drama "Theater"
Not everyone knows that this picture was shot in Latvia at the legendary Riga film studio. At the same time, 2 versions were immediately created - in Latvian and Russian.
Despite the specific nature of the subject, âTheaterâ was well received both in its own country and in other republics of the USSR.
In 2004, a movie based on Maughamâs book was also shot in the UK. However, its creators quite freely treated the original plot.
The resulting tape, although it was very interesting, however, it looked like a completely different story from another person. Even the name of the tape was changed - "Be Julia." That is why "our" "Theater" (1978), despite more than modest scenery, remains the best of its kind.
Picture content
At the center of all events is the great British theater actress Julia Lambert. It seems that she has everything she can only dream of: a loving, loyal, caring and very beautiful husband Michael, a position in society, a successful career on stage and an adult charming son. This despite the fact that Julia achieved all this with her work. There is something to be proud of.
However, the great actress is bored. It seems to her that nothing can surprise her. However, she is mistaken. Acquaintance with poor young accountant Tom Fennel changes everything for her. Sincere admiration for Julia and her talent makes a woman who is already over forty to show interest in him. And soon between them (despite the age difference of 25 years), a romance arises.
Gradually, Julia realizes that she fell in love with this boy without memory. At the same time, being a pretty sober woman, she sees that Tom does not love her - for him she is only a trophy and a pass to the high society.
Later it turns out that her "golden boy" fell in love with another, and rather mediocre actress Evis Crichton. Now he is trying, with the help of Julia's connections, to help make his career a new passion. This becomes the last straw, and the great actress decides to break up with him and also take revenge on Evis.
She helps the girl get a role in the play, and then at the premiere she plays so brilliantly on stage that Miss Crichton against her background looks simply disgusting. Thus, Lambert once and for all puts an end to the career of a girl.
After such a triumph, the whole of London, as well as Tom, is at the feet of the great Julia Lambert. However, she doesnât care. The actress goes to the restaurant to have dinner alone and finally fulfills her old dream - she eats plenty of hearty fatty foods.
Unlike books and features of the picture
Despite the fact that this tape is one of the most accurate adaptations of the novel Theater, it still has some differences from the original.
In the novel, the lion's share of the most amusing phrases and caustic remarks, the heroine does not pronounce, but thinks. To transfer this to the screen, the director of the picture also participated in the plot. He not only read the authorâs text, but also conducted a kind of dialogue with Julia Lambert, which gave the film adaptation a peculiar highlight and made it possible to convey as many interesting moments from the book as possible.
In the film, the biography of the main character was rather poorly presented, while in the book much more time was devoted to her. For example, it tells how, while on tour in America, Julia's husband Michael realized that he was talentless as an artist. And how he kept his wife, because he saw her great talent.
Also, the novel reveals in detail the reasons for this peculiar behavior of Tom in relation to women. Although he sincerely fell in love with Evis Crichton, and before that was no less sincerely fascinated by Julia, Fellon did not lose the opportunity to spend the night with other women. In the book, the actress herself explains this by Tom's dependence on sex, which the hero himself did not really understand.
In addition, the novel describes in more detail the extravagant looks of Julia Lambert's closest friend, Dolly de Vries. This heroine was a lesbian and had no friendly feelings for the great actress. She teased her with gifts and gave all kinds of signs of attention. At the same time, Julia managed to keep her at a distance, just like Lord Charles Tammerli, who was in love with her. An interesting point: both the actress and Dolly have long successfully misled Michael, since the man sincerely believed that de Vries was in love with him.
As for Juliaâs relationship with Lord Charles, in the novel he was more persistent and even divorced his wife.
The film "Theater" (1978): actor and roles
Having figured out the plot of the picture, it is worth paying attention to the main actors. So, let's deal with the actors and roles of the movie âTheaterâ (1978).
The greatest British actress was played by the pride of Latvian cinema - artist Vija Artmane. The film does not specify the age of the heroine, while the book mentions that she was 46 years old. Vieh herself at the time of filming was a little more - 49.
The wife of the main character - âthe most handsome man in Englandâ - was also played by the famous artist in Latvia - Gunar Tsilinsky.
As for the other actors of the film "Theater" (1978), the role of the handsome Fennel went to Ivar Kalnins. And the confused son of Julia Roger was played by Peteris Gaudins.
Maya Eglite (who later starred in âPirates of the Twentieth Centuryâ), and Lord Charles, Valentins Skulme, played the lovebird Evis Crichton.
Ilga Vitola played the wicked but caring maid of Julia Ivi, and Elsa Radzina played Dolly de Vries.
Wii Artmane
Having considered who is who among the actors of the film "Theater" (1978), it is worthwhile to dwell in more detail on the main ones.
Viya Fritsevna Artmane (1939-2008) managed to manifest herself not only in Latvian, but also in Russian Soviet cinema during her life. In her filmography, 52 works. Domestic viewers are aware of such ones as âNative Bloodâ, âAndromeda Nebulaâ, âArrows of Robin Hoodâ, âState Borderâ, âSecret of the Snow Queenâ, âKamenskaya: a game on a foreign fieldâ.
By the way, during her career, the actress twice played Empress Catherine II - in Emelyan Pugachev in 1978 and in the Golden Age of 2003.
In addition to all of the above, Viya played in the unfinished film of Sergei Parajanov âKiev Muralsâ.
Gunar Tsilinsky
Considering the actors of the film "Theater" (1978), it is worth paying attention to Gunar Tsilinsky. The real name of this artist is Gunars Alfredas Tsilinskis (1931-1992). Although his filmography includes more projects than Wii Artmane (65), he almost did not appear in the Russian SSR.
His most famous works are Nocturne, The Wagtail Army are back in battle, Strong in Spirit, Around the Turn is a Turn, Sonata Above the Lake and others.
It is worth noting that, in addition to acting, Tsilinsky proved himself as an excellent director and screenwriter.
Ivars Kalnins and Peteris Gaudins
If the actors of the film âTheaterâ (1978) Artmane and Tsilinsky are still better known in Latvia, then the following two artists made an excellent career outside the homeland.
For Ivars Kalnins, âTheaterâ became a pass to the world of cinema. Although before this role he had already starred in several films, it was this project that brought him real all-Union fame.
After him, Kalninsh often starred in the Russian SSR and the Russian Federation. His most popular works are Silva, Two Under One Umbrella, Winter Cherry, Little Tragedies, Captain Frakass and others.
Today, this actor continues to play in the theater and act in films.
The work of Peteris Gaudins is not as fruitful as that of his colleague Kalnins. However, he managed to light up in several very successful projects. First of all, this is âThe Ballad of the Valiant Knight Aivengo,â in which Peteris played the main role. He also played in The Glass of Water, Mother Mary, The Vagabonds of the North, and The Prisoner of If Castle.
Project director and crew
It is worth paying attention to other participants in the project, after the actors and roles of the film âTheaterâ were considered.
The actors and the crew were very close while working on the movie. One of the reasons for this was that the director of the tape and the author of the adaptation of Somerset Maughamâs book, Janis Streich, starred in the initial and final episodes of both series, and also read the text from the author.
Mentioning the people who worked on this project, one should not forget that the light and catchy music for the film was written by Raymond Pauls. Unfortunately, in the credits his name was spelled - "Raymond Paul".
The director of photography in this project was the famous Latvian Hari Kukels. And the sound engineer is Igor Yakovlev.
Dubbing actors
Having learned about the film crew, director and actors of the Theater, it is worth getting to know those who duplicated the artists for the Russian-language version.
The voice of Julia Lambert was Antonina Konchakova, and her wife Michael was voiced by Yuri Chekulaev.
Tom Fennel was duplicated by Sergey Malishevsky, who subsequently was more than once the voice of Ivars Kalnins. The future Ivanhoe, and now Roger, was voiced by Alexei Zolotnitsky.