The play of Eugene Schwartz, “An Ordinary Miracle” in the Soviet Union, was filmed twice. And already in Russia a musical was staged. In this article, we recall general information about the film and the leading actors.
More Miracle, More Magic
The plot of the film is truly filled with magic. His scenic moves would hardly have found a place in the modern world, because the picture should be taken as a Soviet attempt to get closer to fantasy. This genre was just to be known, and we will assume that the film “Ordinary Miracle” coped with this perfectly.
A magical story will always find a place
All his life the Wizard only does that entertains himself with invented fairy tales. Their characters come to life, starting life with their lives. Once he decided to create a “story the other way around.” He turned a forest bear into a man, but warned that when the princess falls in love with him, he will again be a beast. In his house, a young man met a girl who turned out to be a princess. When she wanted to kiss him, he fled.
In the tavern, they meet again. The princess dresses up as a boy, but he reveals a hoax. And asks the innkeeper to lock him in the room. The innkeeper himself in the maid of honor of the princess recognizes the long-standing love of Emilia. Together they decide to help the lovers.
By coincidence, the Princess marries the first person to meet - the court minister. The king gives permission for the wedding. And the former bear asks Hunter to shoot him if he turns out to be an animal again.
A few years later, the Princess receives her fiancée, whom she has not ceased to think about all this time. After the hunter's shot, the bear remains human. To everyone's joy, young people remain happy. And the Wizard calls this an ordinary miracle.
More adaptations, less envy
The second and last film adaptation at the moment was released on January 1, 1979. Compared to its predecessor, it was the production of Mark Zakharov that earned spectator love. It is understandable: a Soviet film-maker, the owner of state awards, combining melodrama, a fairy tale and a parable in a new interpretation, would not have taken up the project if he had not been sure of its success. The fact that influenced the recognition was the participation of beginning and already venerable movie stars.
The actors of the film “Ordinary Miracle” were selected to match the scope of the production. The role of the wizard was played by Oleg Yankovsky, and his wife - Irina Kupchenko. The image of a man transformed from a bear went to Alexander Abdulov. The actor, “Ordinary Miracle” for which was not just a passing film, but the first big work, before that could not boast of successful projects. He made his debut several years earlier in the military film “About Vitya, about Masha and the Marine Corps”. Andrei Mironov reincarnated as a court minister-administrator, whom the princess is planning to marry, performed by Evgenia Simonova. Evgeny Leonov got the role of the King. Together with him, his son played in this film. Andrei Leonov got a small role as a student of the hunter.
The film was warmly received by the audience and critics, showed good ratings, remaining the best adaptation of the famous play. Even at the stages of preparation for him went a lot of gossip and debate. But it remained obvious that this would be a large-scale project. Because who did not dream of getting there, if not every second actor?
“Ordinary Miracle” united many worthy Soviet stars on the site. Secondary characters turned out to be no less vivid. Ekaterina Vasilyeva and Yuri Solomin played innkeeper and Emilia, the vocal parts for them were performed by Leonid Serebryannikov and Larisa Dolina. Mikhail Boyarsky sang for the Hunter, and Vsevolod Larionov played it. Vladimir Dolinsky harmoniously entered the image of the executioner. In addition, a number of artists underwent a casting, but they did not receive roles. Among them were Alexander Zbruev, Igor Kostolevsky, Evgeny Menshov, Marina Yakovleva, Alexander Voevodin, Vera Glagoleva, Larisa Udovichenko and others.
Despite the many memorable images, the main male role was given special attention. The bear personified all the power of love and the willingness to sacrifice oneself. No wonder the Wizard negatively perceived the bear's escape when the Princess was about to kiss him. So, he said, the bear does not love her so much that he is afraid to become an animal again. A whole gamut of emotions tormenting the heart of the bear was conveyed by Alexander Abdulov. And it is not surprising that the actor caused the main interest. “Ordinary miracle”, by the way, in some way influenced his future career. Many film scholars associate his subsequent recognition with this particular film.
Tale of Eternal Wisdom
The princess and the bear made a harmonious screen union, embodying a couple in love, experiencing a lot of difficulties in its path. Evgenia Simonova and Alexander Abdulov did an excellent job with the task, but especially the actor. “Ordinary Miracle” made it possible to demonstrate his dramatic talent along with a comedic component.
For all the themes of fairytale magic, viewers perceived the story quite realistically. Many of the heroes will be reflected in others. A man in love is often defenseless and cruel. And ready, like Emilia, to run away from this love.
The film “Ordinary Miracle”, actors and roles, a combination of fiction and reality made him the most vital and wonderful love story. Years will pass, and they will continue to admire her. Because every time she opens something new. This is a parable in which a truly loving person is ready to sacrifice anything for the happiness of another.