When films are released that are dedicated to the facts that took place, or to individuals recognized earlier and now, special requirements are made to them. A reliable storyline that keeps the audience intrigued, the actors' play and musical accompaniment - only such components can make a real hit out of the picture. The film “Legend No. 17” (actors, characters, reviews) is the subject of this article.
To transfer history to the screen is a noble cause
The famous company "TriTe", owned by Nikita Mikhalkov, began preparing the future picture long before its release. Nikolai Kulikov, Mikhail Mestetsky and Nikolai Lebedev were invited to write the script. The latter later sat in the chair of the director. What is the film “Legend No. 17” of 2013? The painting is dedicated to the famous Soviet hockey player Valery Kharlamov. It reflects many events that occurred in reality. A special place is given to the first game of the teams of the Soviet Union and Canada from the legendary super-session (series of eight matches), which started in 1972.
The birth of the film and the search for the main actor
Not many people know that the idea of ​​the film arose after the 2007 documentary program Extra Time, dedicated to Valery Kharlamov. True, she was harshly criticized by his son Alexander. Undoubtedly, this program, as the scriptwriters of “Legends No. 17” noted, is a tribute to the great personality who has achieved high achievements in Soviet sports. But at the same time, this is documentary, including archival footage and materials, and the viewer wanted to present a story in the format of a full-length picture.
The production group faced the first difficulties, an unnamed script was hardly born, which later became known as “Legend No. 17”. Actors of the future film became the main snag for the producers. And if the performers of secondary images were not so difficult to choose, then who could translate the Olympic champion on the screen?
True Legends Must Play In Legend
Such a person was the actor, who is now called the most sought-after star of modern cinema. Behind his shoulders are works in more than forty paintings, most of which are warmly received by critics. A native Muscovite Danila Kozlovsky from childhood was engaged in music and acting. And although he entered the Kronstadt cadet school and seriously thought about the career of a sailor, plans for life were changed by a happy accident. In 1998, Danila starred in the series about simple truths about schoolchildren. The first television experience is so interesting that the young man is finally determined with his future profession. He moves to the Northern capital to enter the theater academy. In the same period, Danila begins to storm television screens.
In 2005, the military drama “Garpastum” was released, for which Kozlovsky received the “White Elephant” award. The 2008 film “We Are From the Future,” also military, gives the actor the role of Bormann, who, together with friends, falls into the midst of the fighting in 1942. Over the next years, several successful projects with the participation of the actor come out, but Danila Kozlovsky gains the greatest fame with the release of the film adaptation of the novel by Sergey Minaev “Duhless”. Further, exclusively leading roles, because in the background, none of the fans and admirers of the truly talented Danilo already represents.
Today, the actor occupies a leading position in the list of stars of domestic show business. In the spring of 2015, the premiere of the musical performance with his participation “Big Dreams of an Ordinary Person” took place, the executive producer of which was Philip Kirkorov.
“Legend No. 17”: actors who embodied secondary images
The picture shows a number of characters who somehow influenced the fate of Valery Kharlamov. Among them:
- Anatoly Tarasov - master of sports, honored coach, colonel. One of the founders and beginners of Soviet hockey. Love for sports was adopted by his daughter - Tatyana Tarasova. She is a figure skating coach. In the film, the role of Anatoly Tarasov was performed by Oleg Menshikov.
- Irina Smirnova - a girl, and after the spouse of Kharlamov. The image was embodied by Svetlana Ivanova.
- The father of the hockey player, Boris Sergeyevich, was played by the national artist of Russia Boris Shcherbakov.
- Phil Esposito and Bobby Clark are the famous Canadian hockey players who participated in the 1972 super series, which is described in the film “Legend No. 17”. The images are embodied by the actors Goetz Otto and Andrei Runzo.
- Alexander Gusev - defender, master of sports. His role was played by Alexander Lobanov.
- Vladislav Tretyak - goalkeeper, coach, defender. The legend of Soviet sports, played in a huge number of matches. The image is embodied by Alexander Pakhomov.
- Oleg Belakovsky is a sports physician. The role was performed by actor Yuri Burkun.
In addition, the picture presents other characters directly related to the sport and Valery Kharlamov, in particular.
“Legend No. 17”: reviews of the film
Perhaps this picture has become one of those from which they expected more than box-office success, but the recognition of critics and sports figures. For the most part, she collected positive reviews from the audience; many publications about the cinema ("Poster", "Empire", "Colta") devoted whole turns to “Legend”. There were also those who condemned the filmmakers for trying to present the facts in exactly the way that was described in the plot. Among these were Alexander Maltsev, a friend of Valery Kharlamov, reporter of “Soviet Sport” Andrei Bodrov and a number of other journalists.
Many viewers noted that “Legend” is a story of a strong personality, which is practically not visible behind endless training and matches. The film has a share of humor that allows you to watch it without much “strain”, as well as intrigue that holds from the first frames to the final. The technical side remains at its best - hockey matches are shown so realistically that it’s hard not to feel the taste of adrenaline, emotions and excitement.
The lack of pretense, determination, a sense of patriotism and our own pride in our country are key components of the success of the biographical film “Legend No. 17”. Actors and characters embodied by them will long remain in the hearts of lovers of domestic cinema and Soviet sports.