Perhaps there is not a person among Soviet viewers who would not know the story of a boy carved from wood. She is rightfully considered a cult children's fairy tale. In the center of our article is the film “Pinocchio”: actors, characters played and many other interesting facts.
Similarities and differences with the book
The transference of the history of Pope Carlo and his planed “brainchild” is based on the book “Golden Key” by Alexei Tolstoy. The idea was to film a popular work, but screenwriter Inna Vetkina nevertheless made her own corrections. They turned out to be insignificant and did not affect the general meaning. Fans of the story may find several inconsistencies. For example, a talking knee hits Papa Carlo on the head, and in the movie “The Adventures of Pinocchio”, due to ethical considerations, the latter received a blow to the leg. But the main character himself is shown more modest - in the book original Pinocchio becomes a mischievous person long before the work on him was completed. So, separate episodes were not shown at all: a scene of penetration into a tavern, payment of a bill for lunch, the arrest of Pinocchio.
Wooden dolls are not alien to human weaknesses
In the production of the picture, the key role was the search for leading actors. For filming, the Belarusian film studio allocated pavilions where military films were previously shot, so we can say that the turning point in its history was the production of the children's “Pinocchio”. Actors were mainly sought from Belarus. Casting took a long time. Director Leonid Nechaev tried several boys with a “cute” appearance, who could fit the main image, but did not dare to choose someone. Until I accidentally met the 9-year-old Dmitry Iosifov at the rink. It was love at first sight. For participation in the film “The Adventures of Pinocchio” the young actor received an “adult” fee of 100 rubles per month.
The performer of the role of Malvina was found by chance in a similar way. The assistant Leonid Nechaev met Tatyana Protsenko in the entrance of the house and invited to try. Protsenko was a Muscovite.
Ambitious representatives of the animal world
Throughout the year, the filming of Pinocchio continued; The film overgrown with many funny facts during this time. The director selected the actress for the image of the tortoise Tortila, who promised to become very bright and spectacular. The proposal was sent to Ranevskaya, but the ambitious Faina Georgievna agreed, provided that the shooting took place in Moscow. Since such an option was not provided, she had to be abandoned.
The next challenger was Rina Zeleny. The actress agreed without hesitation. However, when it came to voicing Tortila’s song, Rina refused to perform the second verse, since age was mentioned there. She probably did not want to draw parallels with herself. As a result, instead of a verse, a musical loss sounds.
Veterans and youths
It would be more correct to say that each character in the picture plays a role. Difficulties in finding secondary images did not pass by the preparatory process of “Pinocchio”. The film's actors include heavy artillery in the face of stars, some of which were famous at the time of filming. So, the role of the old organ grinder was given to the Ukrainian artist Nikolai Grinko. Performing the role of Pope Carlo was a great opportunity for him to reincarnate, play something new, since most of his previous images were related to the war and peasant themes.
Vladimir Etush brilliantly played the main villain, doctor of puppet sciences Karabas-Barabas.
A carpenter by profession and a friend of Pope Carlo, in the book by Giuseppe, nicknamed the Gray Nose, is represented by the episodic character that appears in the first chapters. In the film, he appears on the entire development of the plot. It was played by Yuri Katin-Yartsev, a talented theater and film artist who worked for many years as a teacher. Not having time to get an education at the Shchukin school, he goes to the front, where the war goes on to the very end. Having returned, he becomes a permanent actor in the troupe of the theater on Malaya Bronnaya. Active filming in the cinema takes place when he turns 50 years old. But the real popularity was brought by “Pinocchio”.
Actors include young performers who have not gone into the future in the acting profession. Roman Stolkarts, who played Pierrot, was no longer filming. In the late 80s, he learned to be a pediatrician, and soon moved abroad. The role of Artemon also became the only one in his career for Thomas Augustinas. Subsequently, he left for Canada, where he developed his own business. Grigory Svetlorusov (Harlequin) entered the KGB high school and devoted himself to intelligence activities. This information is difficult to confirm with official sources, because it exists as one of the versions of the future fate of the actor.
Love off screen
The director of the picture invited Rolan Bykov to the image of the cat Basilio. And he happily agreed. Interest in his person was caused by the fact that Rolan Bykov and Elena Sanaeva, a partner on the set (played the fox Alice), were officially married at the time of the production of Pinocchio. This was their first collaboration. Later, the couple played more than once in the common pictures (“Duck Village”, “Scarecrow”, “Wedding Present”), and lived together until the death of Rolan Bykov in 1998.
Image in frame, talent from nature
Another interesting character that cannot be ignored is the trader of medicinal leeches Duremar from “Pinocchio”. The actor, who embodied this comedic and funny image, Vladimir Basov, was already a well-known filmmaker by the time of filming. For participation in the war he received several state awards, and upon returning he entered the VGIK. Vladimir arranges his personal life, becomes the director of many paintings. According to critics, Basov had a huge talent for reincarnation. From childhood, music succumbed to him; it was not in vain that he often sang in his paintings with his hoarse favorite voice of the public. In each role, he used expressive facial expressions, playing mostly negative characters. All of them turned out characteristic and attractive, like Duremar from “Pinocchio”. The actor starred in many films, played on the stage. As a director, he directed over 20 films.
The best fairy tale for children
It is surprising and at the same time justified that this film has been considered a cult for decades. It is especially nice that he was shot in our country. On “Pinocchio” has grown several generations. What is the story of the wooden hero? A lot of funny moments, phrases and expressions that have become winged, a number of funny screen images recreated by wonderful Soviet artists, tricks and scenery, costumes and makeup, and, of course, amazing musical accompaniment - these are the main components of Pinocchio's success. The 1975 film will be a great model for today's small viewers!