There is magic in Soviet comedies that makes you watch them over and over again. In the film āThe Marriage of Balzaminov,ā the actors, roles, and plot are all worthy of the highest praise. How was this masterpiece filmed and which artists performed the main roles? Find out!
The story of the film
One of the main secrets of the success of the picture was the choice of location for filming. The majestic and beautiful Suzdal could impress not only with the abundance of churches, but also with the safety of buildings of the last century. That is exactly what director Konstantin Voinov saw in old Moscow.
For 1965, the film turned out to be incredibly colorful and colorful: the costumes of the main characters were full of all colors and gave richness to the overall picture. The famous Balsaminov house still exists today, there is not only a dovecote, which was built specifically for the filming. Recently, a tablet has appeared on the building that states that it was here that the cult Soviet comedy was filmed.
In the film āThe Marriage of Balzaminovā (1964), one can observe a whole constellation of famous artists. Each of them fulfilled the task set by the director so that even after 50 years, viewers are happy to watch the adaptation of the trilogy of A. N. Ostrovsky.
āMarriage of Balzaminovā: actors and roles
In their recollections of the filming of the film, the artists mention that they had to give up all the amenities for the sake of working in this picture. They lived in a seedy three-story hotel, where they had to huddle three together in one room. Immediately they cooked their meals on simple electric stoves. There was only one toilet on the entire floor. But right from the balcony you could view the entire market square and find out what fresh products the merchants brought today. Which contemporary artist would agree to such conditions?
George Vitsin - Misha Balsaminov
It's hard to believe, but at the time of filming the great actor was already 46 years old. Make-up artists made a real feat: no one suspected that a twenty-year-old Alphonse was played by a man aged. The voice, manners and, of course, the natural charm of George Vitsin in āThe Marriage of Balzaminovā can conquer any female heart.
With what enthusiasm he dreamed of future wealth and imagined himself a wealthy merchant! In fact, the hot weather already exhausted the elderly actor so much that he ran away every free minute to rest in the neighboring garden on a folding bed.
Nonna Mordyukova - Belotelova
The beautiful and stately actress played the role of a rich bored widow. With a huge fortune, but devoid of love, she was ready to give herself all without a trace to the petty official Balzaminov. On the set of āMarriage of Balzaminovā Nonna Mordyukova had a hard time. The director made her replay the same scene dozens of times. The eminent actress pressed Vitsin to the fence over and over with her magnificent body and kissed passionately until Voinov saw the picture that he had painted in his imagination.
Lyudmila Shagalova - Balzaminova
The actress, who was 5 years younger than Vitsin, had the chance to play the mother of the protagonist. A small, chubby beauty with huge blue eyes under the experienced hands of make-up artists turned into an old woman. Nimble as a mouse, she perfectly played the role of mother, who not only knows how to solve dreams, but also gives her son the right advice in time.
Lidia Smirnova - Matchmaker
It was even worse on the set of the scene with a tea party with the widow of Belotelova. Smirnova had to eat a huge variety of pieces of jam cake. She was nauseous, vomited and mercilessly tormented by the already dried dough, but the double after double of Warriors rejected her game. When, finally, he achieved the desired result, the actress was no longer face.
Funny hairstyles for her and Mordyukova came up with a real master. It was not easy to come up with a character for a matchmaker of the nineteenth century. Duck gait, a peculiar manner of speech, addiction to alcohol and a passion for money - all these features came already during the filming. The stunning actress game proves that the actors and roles for āMarriage of Balzaminovā were selected professionally.
Inna Makarova and Nadezhda Rumyantseva - Anfisa and Raisa
Two eminent actresses had the chance to play the role of sisters, who were imprisoned at home by the brothers. Their wild life after the death of my friend forced me to keep them in check. The girls had too much will, and they did not differ in exemplary behavior. Misha was supposed to open to the younger Raisa in the hope of reciprocity.
Zhanna Prokhorenko - Kapochka Nichkina
The modest and in love Capa was ready to lose consciousness when meeting with the groom. Only thanks to the support of her friend Ustinka (Lyudmila Gurchenko) she managed to spill a few phrases with Misha. However, his uncle quickly pointed to the groom and his mother at the door, not wanting to give his niece to marry a lap-walker.
Ekaterina Savinova - Matrena
The actors and roles in The Marriage of Balzaminov were so well distributed that it is simply impossible to imagine another artist as a cook. The uneducated and rude Matrena knew exactly all the sore spots of her employer and periodically made fun of him.
A rude country girl added color to the stunning film āThe Marriage of Balzaminovā (1964).