The thunderous crime serial detective “Liquidation” thundered across the country immediately took the first positions of ratings not only among viewers, but also among film critics. A magnificent, action-packed story keeps the viewer in suspense from beginning to end. Perhaps the success of the series is due to an extraordinary scenario. Although many critics claim that the actors play the first fiddle in the series “Liquidation,” the plot has become a successful addition to the characters' workshop. Each of them has a right to exist.
Elimination: how did the series come about?
Back in 2004, the book “Bandit Odessa” fell into the hands of the creators of the series. The author of the detective Viktor Feitelberg-Blanck based on documentary sources wrote an exciting detective story about the life of criminals in Odessa during the period of L. Brezhnev and V. Andropov. As it turned out, the world of this port town was teeming with unreliable, criminal elements.
One of the stories of the book described the time when Marshal Zhukov fell into disgrace to the leadership and was sent to lead the Odessa Military District. It was then that the war hero discovered that post-war Odessa was full of thieves, murderers and scammers. The rampant of crime shocked Comrade Zhukov. Then he personally developed an operation code-named "Carnival", the purpose of which was the elimination of these people.
In general, inspired by such a story, Alexey Poyarkov (screenwriter of the film) went to Odessa, breathed the sea air, talked with the inhabitants and wrote a script, which in 2007 was called “Liquidation”. The actors of the series, despite the fictitious names, have real prototypes. In all seriousness, we can say that the script is based on a real story.
Plot of the film
The action takes place in 1946 in Odessa. The Odessa gang’s anti-bandit department discovers a warehouse with uniforms for the military received directly from the warehouses of the military district of Odessa. During the investigation and the help of a childhood friend of the pickpocket Fima, David Markovich learns that a person named Academician appears in the case.
As soon as the main characters come closer to unraveling this mystery, Fimu is killed. Now the capture of the Academician is not only a duty, but also a personal matter for the Gotzman. Despite the ingenuity and efficiency of department employees, criminals are always one step ahead. This turn of events makes the experienced opera look for a traitor among his colleagues. This case coincides with the plan of senior management to restore order in Odessa. With a hard hand, Zhukov is trying to restore order in thieves' Odessa, but this only exacerbates the situation.
Significant events also take place on the personal front of the department head - Hotzman adopts a homeless bear Mishka and marries Nora, the companion of his friend Fima.
Prototypes of the main characters
As many fans of the film “Liquidation” suggest, the actors play real historical characters. In fact, many images, according to the director and screenwriter of the film, are collective, created on the basis of eyewitness accounts and documents. So, for example, the press has long discussed the topic that David Markovich Gotzman is David Mikhailovich Kurlyanda, one of the legendary “operas” of that time. Although many inhabitants of Odessa call Viktor Pavlov the chief who knows how to disclose criminal cases of any complexity.
Vladimir Menshov plays a real historical figure - George Zhukov. All other characters are fictional. Nevertheless, at that time a criminal group called the Steppe Wolves functioned in Odessa.
Casting: Unknown Facts
An interesting fact: in the process of writing the script, Alexey Poyarkov already represented the main characters. The film "Liquidation", the actors of which were supposed to be as believable and colorful as possible, completely captured its creators. The screenwriter, director and producers immediately began to search for leading characters.
For the role of David Gotzman, which Vladimir Mashkov simply brilliantly dealt with, was initially looking for a swollen, shaved bindyuzhnik - both the scriptwriter and the director imagined it. Almost all roles were agreed upon, but somehow did not work out with the main character. The producers of the film several times suggested Ursulyak to consider the candidacy of Vladimir Mashkov, but the director still did not dare, because the character of the celebrity was contrary to the invented image.
Nevertheless, Sergey Ursulyak began to prepare the ground and consult. Still, in the film "Liquidation", many actors have already been approved. The first person to whom he spoke about Mashkov’s candidacy was Ursulyak’s wife. On the screen, she was supposed to embody the role of Nora, the beloved of the protagonist. The entire acting team was delighted with the opportunity to work with Volodya. But no one has yet directly offered Mashkov to participate in the film. Despite the tight schedule, after reading the script, Vladimir flew to Odessa and started the filming process.
Mikhail Porechenkov was one of the first to be chosen as the Academician. He really wanted to play this character, that he even abandoned one no less interesting project.
Elimination: actors and roles
Gotsman David Markovich - the head of the department for combating banditry in the city of Odessa - Vladimir Mashkov.
Krechetov Vitaliy - deputy military prosecutor of the city of Odessa, Academician - Mikhail Porechenkov.
Fima Poluzhid - Sergey Makovetsky. The film “Liquidation”, the actors for which were selected with particular care, was overtaken by tragedy on the set. Andrei Krasko, Fima's initially chosen role, died of a heart attack on one of the shooting days. He was replaced by Makovetsky.
Marshal Zhukov - Vladimir Menshov. Aunt Pesya - Svetlana Kryuchkova, a colorful neighbor of Gotzman. Ksenia Rappoport - Ida, the lover of Cecana. Konstantin Lavrinenko was chosen for the role of Chekan, one of the members of the gang. Yakimenko is an employee of Gotzman, Fedor Dobronravov.
This stellar cast can be continued indefinitely, more than one hundred and seventy heroes were involved in the series “Liquidation”. The actors whose photos are provided in the article are forever in the memory of the audience in the images of their favorite characters!