This picture prophesied the future of the first domestic musical. She was filmed according to Hollywood canons, and the terms were amazingly short - only a month and a half. On television, she stood in the broadcast network only once, on New Year's Eve 1979. The musical-film by Leonid Kvinikhidze “June 31”, actors which became instantly popular and loved, did not go to any movie theater. The audience had only one opportunity to see him on TV at one in the morning!
How it all began...
At the end of the seventies, director Leonid Kvinikhidze, the telepapa of the popularly adored "Sky Swallows", decided to film John Priestley's play "June 31." Actors, who were previously supposed to be invited, were to be exclusively known to the mass audience and loved by him. For the Soviet Union, Priestley was an interesting and progressive writer. And only one of his radio plays - "June 31" - was unsuccessful. The whole story took place in the fifties of the twentieth century with a middle-aged artist, who constantly imagined a charming girl from the past.
All would be fine, but Nina Fomina, screenwriter, with great difficulty was able to master the "blind" copy of the interlinear translation. Later, she recalled that she was sure that nothing of this film adaptation would work. But the very next day after her thoughts of despair, she had the idea that it would be better to compose a new fairy tale herself under the name Priestley, because the Arts Council is not familiar with the original. So, she transferred all the action taking place in the first year of the twenty-first century.
Finally, the day came when the film “June 31” came out on the big screen. The actors tried to do everything to recreate an atmosphere of trust, warmth and sincerity.
Love on the milky way
The audience was lucky to see a very gentle, musical, innocent and touching story about the fabulous country of Perador. The beautiful princess Melicenta lived in her, the king, wizards - good and evil, even dragons are found. Lady Ninet, who was a court intriguer in Perador, dreamed about the crown every day. The musician Leminson, in love with her to madness, constantly in the dance gave out the original pas.
It was a fairy tale about the impossible love of the princess from the Middle Ages and the American artist Sam Painty, who lived at a distance of several centuries from her. In one country - Great Britain, but in different eras. Sam is due to draw an advertisement for women's stockings by July 1, but he is unable to find the perfect female image for this. Melicent's dream is to get to know the True Knight. They managed to meet by the will of the not-so-good wizard Malgrim on the Milky Way on a non-existent lunar day - June 31. They fell in love with each other. But the obstacle to their happiness is Malgrim, who wants to oblige the princess to give him the brooch that Great Marilyn gave him for meeting with Sam ...
Celebrity constellation
It was planned to create the story “June 31” as an interesting musical film. The actors who were invited to appear were very famous - Vladimir Zeldin (King Meliot), Lyubov Polishchuk (Miss Queenie), Vladimir Etush (Malgrim). The role of the proud lady Ninet claimed Irina Ponarovskaya and Alla Pugacheva; Princess Milicent - Elena Shanina and Irina Alferova. Andrei Mironov dreamed of playing the musician Lemison ...
But the princess happened to play the young ballerina Natalya Trubnikova - a pretty girl with unearthly sad eyes. Lemison was played by Alexander Godunov - a ballet dancer, and Ninet - his wife, ballerina Lyudmila Vlasova.
Kvinikhidze took a big risk inviting ballet dancers to shoot, because at that time they were considered unreliable due to the emigration of Rudolf Nureyev and Mikhail Baryshnikov. In order for the actors to feel the atmosphere of the film as much as possible, the director brought a tape recorder to the set, which constantly played music written for this fairy tale.
So, many stars were invited to the film "June 31." Actors are only the most beloved and talented. The main male role of Sam Painty went to the sex symbol of the 80s, Nikolai Eremenko. He was worried that he would be forced to sing. And really turned out to be the only actor who does not perform serenade in the film. The only sweet action for him on these shootings was a walk along the Star Bridge with a partner, vaguely reminiscent of a dance. For him, it was too romantic, a sweet story, and after the release of the film, he no longer played such heroes.
Musical arrangement
Alexander Zatsepin wrote melodies to all the songs of the fairy tale to the words of Leonid Derbenev and Yuri Entin. It was thanks to him that the general public met the singer Tatyana Antsiferova, who before that was known only in Ukraine. Tatyana sang for Princess Milicent. The film “June 31” turned out to be a lucky ticket for her. Actors and roles performed by them have become very loved by viewers of different generations. But Tatyana now also became famous throughout the Soviet Union.
Together with her, solo parts were performed by Larisa Dolina, Yaak Yoala, Zhanna Rozhdestvenskaya and Sergey Belikov.
Only a month and a half passed from the beginning to the end of filming - a record speed for such films. Almost all the scenes, except for one - the trip of Sam and Milicent, were filmed at Mosfilm.
Seven years on the shelf
After the stunningly successful premiere on New Year's Eve of 78-79, the film "June 31", whose actors and roles instantly turned into the favorites of the audience, was not shown in cinemas or on television for seven years. The resolution “above” called him too frank because of the dances of one of the heroines in a translucent flesh-colored tight-fitting jumpsuit and a transparent cloak worn over it. In addition, a little later a difficult situation arose with Alexander Godunov, who asked for political asylum in the United States, where he came on tour with the Bolshoi Theater.
Despite the fact that for several years the audience was deprived of such a fairy tale, the songs managed to gain popularity among the audience, reminding them that the film still exists.