On June 23, 1987, the film The Man from the Capuchin Boulevard, known throughout the USSR, was released. The script was written by Eduard Akopov, directed by Alla Surikova. The picture became popular: in just a year of rental, more than 60 million viewers watched it. This comedy is the last work of Andrei Mironov in the cinema.
Plot
The events in the film take place in the 20th century in the Wild West. Johnny Fest (Andrey Mironov) moves from Europe to Santa Carolina. In the town, he opens a silent cinema. With the thought that the world under the influence of various paintings will change for the better, the man is trying to instill in the local population a love of art. However, people here live in a simple way: fights, drinking, debauchery. The first screening of a movie significantly changes social behavior. People, having seen enough of the scripted works by the Lumiere brothers, begin to learn etiquette and behavior. Diana Pittl (Alexandra Yakovleva), Billy King (Nikolai Karachentsov) and Harry McQue (Oleg Tabakov) immediately felt love for the main character Johnny. Harry realized what was happening, and for the sake of a big income he willingly agreed to cooperate with him. After some time, the town healed quietly; this silence did not please only one person - Adams (Igor Kvasha). He loved Diana and did not want to give her to Johnny.
Casting
Andrei Mironov died the same year that the film premiered, so it can be said that this was his last work. Perhaps it was this fact that influenced the fame of this picture.
Eduard Akopov (screenwriter) wrote the story 5-6 years before the start of filming. Alla Surikova immediately looked after Mironov for the main role, but he could not afford to withdraw due to workload. Then the director set the condition: either he agrees, or the film will not be at all. She waited more than six months, and the actor agreed.
The actress, who will play the main role, was selected for a long time. Alexandra Yakovleva was chosen for the role by Mironov himself.
The process of selecting a performer for the role of Billy King became a fairly long process. During the filming of the film, the actors changed among themselves, choosing for themselves the most suitable heroes in spirit. Nikolai Karachentsov so excitedly and skillfully embodied the role of Billy, the crew was shocked. Actually, he was originally supposed to play Black Jack. However, this role was ideally suited to Mikhail Boyarsky. Spartak Mishulin was appointed the leader of the Indians, Lev Durov got the role of undertaker-critic, and Galina Polsky became a mother of many children.
Director, actors, script - what else is needed for a great movie? Good composer! They happened to become Gennady Gladkov. He had a busy schedule, but he could not refuse Mironov. Songs were recorded before filming began. Mironov and Boyarsky sang themselves, Karachentsov performed several parts. Instead of Alexandra Yakovleva, Larisa Dolina sang.
Filming
Lev Durov and other actors shared their impressions of the filming process in their interviews. They began in the summer of 1986 in Belogorsk. Initially it was planned that stuntmen would be the drivers, but the captain of the Soviet army decided to put his subordinate under control. The horses were brutalized and nearly turned over a multi-seat carriage. Surikova could not stand it and sent the captain away from the shooting location. He had no other choice but to leave for Moscow with horses and soldiers. Because of this, the film was in jeopardy. But a solution was found quickly enough - the villagers did not spare their horses and kindly provided them for filming.
Other not-so-pleasant memories are associated with animals. A stallion was stolen, and a filly with him. After contacting the police, the Kid (that was the name of the horse) was found on the same day.
Stage view
After working on the film “The Man from the Capuchin Boulevard”, the actors willingly shared their memories. For example, hats for cowboys were sewn on Mosfilm, but eagle feathers were obtained in the Crimea. Have the eagles been plucked?
Mironov before filming expressed a desire to cut his hair short. Surikova objected; when the actor arrived on the set with a haircut, the director realized that the first time Mr. Fest would be sure to wear a hat. All attempts of Andrei to shoot her in the frame were stopped right there.
There was an idea to make the main character look like Charlie Chaplin. However, it was quickly abandoned, citing the fact that this option is commonplace and the copy always turns out worse than the original.
Interesting Facts
- The boulevard in question in the film is actually called Kapucinok Boulevard.
- “The Sistine Madonna” is a picture that the movie poster looks like.
- In the film, the Fort Knox military base is mentioned, or rather its storehouse, which was built half a century after the events in the film (1936).
- In the film "A Man from Kapucin Boulevard" (the actors were selected carefully), the main character, as already mentioned, was chosen by Mironov himself. Alla Surikova could not decide between Irina Rozanova, Olga Kabo and Alexandra Yakovleva. Therefore, she simply mounted a small movie with samples of actresses and showed Mironov. As a result, Alexander was chosen.
- Summer and autumn of 1986 were characterized by the filming of the film, which took place in the Crimea. The beginning and ending of the picture were shot near Belogorsk. The scenery of the city was built near Koktebel.
- Larisa Dolina performed vocal parts for the main character.
- Tabakov decided to put small tubes in his nose so that his face seemed good-natured and insidious, as required by the script. This information was kindly provided by the director of the film “A Man from Kapucin Boulevard”. Actors, giving interviews, confirmed these words.
- From doubles refused Nikolai Karachentsov. Even after the actor broke his finger, still he continued to work without the help of professional stuntmen.
- Alexei Zharkov almost got the role of Billy King, but at the last moment Alla Surikova gave the role to Karachentsov. The director planned that Armen Dzhigarkhanyan and Frunzik Mkrtchyan would definitely play in her film, but they could not agree on the role, as they were already busy in other projects.
- On the set, the moment where Billy King turns on the camera and turns from tears to laughter, it was decided to shoot in one take. Karachentsov, who performed this role, was able to show his professionalism and did everything the first time.
Awards
At the Odessa Film Festival "Golden Duke" the film "The Man from the Capuchin Boulevard", whose actors immediately became quite popular, received the award in 1987. In Los Angeles, the film was awarded the award "Woman in the Cinema." And “Soviet Screen”, based on opinion polls, it was at this time that announced Andrei Mironov the best actor of the year.