Original: Ogre Ellochka. From the novel "The Twelve Chairs" (1928) by Ilya Ilf (1897 1937) and Evgeny Petrov (1903 1942). The 22nd chapter of the novel, entitled "The Ogre Ellochka", begins as follows: "William Shakespeare's Dictionary according to the calculation of researchers ... ...
Ellochka-cannibal- elochka people eater, ellochka people eater ... Russian spelling dictionary
See Ellochka the cannibal encyclopedic Dictionary winged words and expressions. Moscow: Locky Press. Vadim Serov. 2003 ... Dictionary of winged words and expressions
Bronze sculpture of Ellochka the cannibal, Kharkiv. Sculptor: Katib Mammadov Cannibal Ellochka (Ellochka Schukina, Elena Schukina, Elena Schukina) is a character in the humorous novel by I. Ilf and E. Petrov "The Twelve Chairs". Ellochka Cannibal Dictionary ... ... Wikipedia
This term has other meanings, see Twelve chairs (meanings). The Twelve Chairs Zwölf Stühle Genre Comedy Director Ulrike Oettinger ... Wikipedia
This term has other meanings, see Twelve chairs (meanings). 12 chairs ... Wikipedia
This term has other meanings, see Twelve chairs (meanings). Twelve chairs ... Wikipedia
Genre animated comedy Director Georgy Gitis Producer Gevorg Nersisyan Armen Manasaryan Armen Adilkhanyan ... Wikipedia
Other films with the same or similar title: see Twelve Chairs (film). 12 chairs 12 chairs ... Wikipedia
Books
- Twelve chairs, Ilf Ilya Arnoldovich. This novel by Ilf and Petrov is still a huge success, although it was first published in 1927. "Great strategist", "ideological fighter for banknotes", damn ...
- Twelve chairs, Ilf I., Petrov E .. This novel by Ilf and Petrov is still a huge success, although it was first published in 1927. "Great strategist", "ideological fighter for banknotes", damn ...
Let's compare the dictionary of the heroine of the novel by Ilf and Petrov "The Twelve Chairs" (1927) Ellochka-cannibals, whose meager language has become a household name, and her modern followers.
Reading in original
The authors of the satirical novel "The Twelve Chairs" cite the vocabulary of the engineer's wife Elena Shchukina (aka Elena and Ellochka with the nickname Cannibal) in full to emphasize his "wealth". We quote this description in full:
William Shakespeare's dictionary, according to researchers, is 12,000 words.
The dictionary of a negro from the cannibalistic tribe "Mumbo-Yumbo" is 300 words.
Ellochka Shchukina easily and freely managed thirty.
Here are the words, phrases and interjections, meticulously chosen by her from all the great, verbose and powerful Russian language:
- Be rude.
- Ho-ho!(Expresses, depending on the circumstances, irony, surprise, delight, hatred, joy, contempt and satisfaction.)
- Famous.
- Gloomy.(In relation to everything. For example: “Gloomy Petya has come”, “Gloomy weather”, “Gloomy case”, “Gloomy cat”, etc.)
- Darkness.
- Horror.(Terrible. For example, when meeting with a good friend: “creepy meeting”).
- Boy.(In relation to all familiar men, regardless of age and social status).
- Don't teach me how to live.
- Like a child.(“I hit him like a child” - when playing cards. “I cut him off like a child” - apparently in a conversation with a responsible tenant).
- Cr-r-growth!
- Thick and handsome.(Used as a characteristic of inanimate and animate objects).
- Let's take a cab.(Spoken to husband).
- Let's take a taxi.(To male acquaintances).
- Your whole back is white(joke).
- Think!
- Ulya.(Affectionate ending of names. For example: Mishulya, Zinulya).
- Wow!(Irony, surprise, delight, hatred, joy, contempt and satisfaction).
The words remaining in an extremely small amount served as a transmission link between Ellochka and the clerks of department stores.
And now it's time to pay attention to the clichés of the speech of the beauties of our days.
In 2007, researchers from the Center for the Development of the Russian Language at the International Association of Teachers of Russian Language and Literature (MAPRYAL) for the first time chose, by conducting a survey and online voting, the word and anti-word of the year. On the podium were “glamor”, as well as the adjective “glamorous” associated with it, “creativity” received anti-word laurels. All the winning words, scientists note with sadness, testify to a dangerous tilt in favor of base mass culture and the standards of the consumer society. And both are favorites in the vocabulary of girls attacking social networks with their selfies, flooding the streets with fake Louboutins and proudly calling a fake Chanel quilted handbag on a chain a replica. Are you not one of them? Then drive away from your speech glamor and other “beacon” words that can spoil the impression of you
Ahahah! Very funny!
Ahtung! Horror, danger, anxiety.
Accordion. Banality, hackneyed joke.
Wow! Beauty! Marvelous!
To Bobruisk, animal! Accusing the interlocutor of intellectual and other insolvency.
To the point. To the point, to the point.
Into the firebox. Away as unnecessary; something that doesn't deserve attention.
I'm shocked! Unpleasantly surprised.
Drink poison! Relax, nothing will happen to you.
Glamor (glamorous, glamorous, glamorous). Beautiful, like in a glossy magazine; emphasizing the external charm and gloss associated with gossip columns.
Gothic. Grotesque, unusually beautiful.
Tin! Wow!
You are burning! Surprise!
Offset. Okay, right, right.
IMHO. In my humble opinion (literal abbreviated translation of the English expression in my humble opinion).
As if. It seems like it's possible.
Cake(aka pretzel). Boy.
Class! Amazing!
Briefly speaking! In a word, in general.
Cool. Original, excellent, excellent.
He ran very fast, - said the stray, - jumped out of his head.
You will not receive money, - the employer has declared.
Uncle! .. Yes, I'll show you.
Fine. Stay. Let's go together.
The bleating citizen lived, it turns out, on Sadovaya-Spasskaya. Ostap wrote down his exact address in a notebook.
The eighth chair went to the House Peoples. The boy who was chasing that chair turned out to be a sneaky one.
overcoming barriers in the form of a commandant's office and numerous couriers, he penetrated into House and made sure that the chair was bought by the supply manager of the editorial office of "Stank".
There were no two boys yet. They arrived at almost the same time, out of breath and exhausted.
Barracks Lane, near Chistye Prudy.
Nine. And flat nine. Tatars live there. In the courtyard. I gave him a chair. They walked on foot.
The last messenger brought sad news. At first everything was good, but then everything became bad. The buyer entered with a chair into the goods yard of the Oktyabrsky railway station, and it was impossible to climb through after it - at the gate there were arrows from the OVO NKPS.
He probably left, - the homeless child finished his report.
This alarmed Ostap very much. Having rewarded the homeless in a royal way - a ruble per messenger, not counting the messenger from Varsonofevsky Lane, who forgot the house number (he was ordered to arrive the next day early), - the technical director returned home and, without answering the questions of the disgraced chairman of the board, began to combine.
Nothing is lost yet. There are addresses, but in order to get chairs, there are many old tried and true tricks: 1) simple acquaintance, 2) love affair, 3) acquaintance with burglary, 4) exchange, 5) money and 6) money. The last one is the most correct. But money is scarce. Ostap looked ironically at Ippolit Matveyevich. The usual freshness of thought and peace of mind returned to the great strategist. Money, of course, can be obtained. In stock there were still the picture "The Bolsheviks write a letter to Chamberlain", a tea strainer and the full opportunity to continue the career of a polygamist.
Worried only tenth chair. There was a trace, of course, but what a trace! - vague and hazy.
Well! Ostap said loudly. - You can catch such chances. I play nine against one. The meeting continues! Do you hear? You! Juror!
CHAPTER TWELVE
Cannibal Ellochka
William Shakespeare's dictionary, according to researchers, is 12.000 words. The dictionary of a negro from the cannibalistic tribe "Mumbo-Yumbo" is 300 words.
Ellochka Shchukina easily and freely managed thirty.
Here are the words, phrases and interjections, meticulously chosen by her from all the great, verbose and powerful Russian language:
1. Be rude.
2. Ho-ho! (Expresses, depending on the circumstances, irony, surprise, delight, hatred, joy, contempt and satisfaction.)
3. Famous.
4. Gloomy. (In relation to everything. For example: “gloomy Petya came”, “gloomy weather”, “gloomy event”, "gloomy cat", etc.)
6. Horror. (Terrible. For example, when meeting a good friend: "creepy meeting".)
7. Kid. (In relation to all familiar men, regardless of age and social status.)
8. Don't teach me how to live.
9. Like a child. ("I I beat him like a child" - when playing cards. "I cut him like a baby" - apparently in a conversation with a responsible tenant.)
10. C-r-growth!
11. Thick and beautiful. (Used as a characteristic of inanimate and animate objects.)
12. Let's go by cab. (Talking to her husband.)
13. Let's go to the taxi. (Familiar male gender. )
14. Your whole back is white (joke).
15. Think!
16. Ulya. (Affectionate ending of names. For example: Mishulya, Zinulya.)
17. Wow! (Irony, surprise, delight, hatred, joy, contempt and satisfaction.)
The words remaining in an extremely small amount served as a transmission link between Ellochka and the clerks of department stores.
If you look at the photographs of Ellochka Shchukina, hanging over the bed of her husband, engineer Ernest Pavlovich Shchukin (one is full face, the other is in profile), then it is easy to notice a forehead of pleasant height and bulge, large moist eyes, the cutest nose in the Moscow province with slight snub nose and a chin with a small speck drawn in ink.
William Shakespeare Dictionary by Count Researchers
is 12,000 words. Dictionary of a negro from a cannibalistic tribe
"Mumbo Yumbo" is 300 words.
Ellochka Shchukina easily and freely managed thirty.
Here are the words, phrases and interjections meticulously selected by her from
of all the great, verbose and mighty Russian language:
1. Be rude.
2. Xo-xol (Expresses, depending on the circumstances:
irony, surprise, delight, hatred, joy, contempt and
satisfaction.)
3. Famous.
4. Gloomy. (In relation to everything. For example: "gloomy
Petya came", "gloomy weather", "gloomy case", "gloomy cat"
6. Horror. (Terrible. For example, when meeting a good friend:
"terrible meeting")
7. Kid. (In relation to all the familiar men,
regardless of age or social status.)
8. Don't teach me how to live.
9. Like a child. ("I hit him like a child," when playing
cards. "I cut him off like a child," apparently, in a conversation with
responsible renter.)
10. C-r-growth!
11. Thick and beautiful. (Used as a characteristic
inanimate and animate objects).
12. Let's go by cab. (Talking to her husband.)
13. Let's go to the taxi. (To male acquaintances.)
14. Your entire back is white. (Joke.)
15. Think about it.
16. Ulya. (Affectionate ending of names. For example: Mishulya,
17. Wow! (Irony, surprise, delight, hatred. joy,
contempt and satisfaction.)
Remaining in an extremely small number of words
served as a transmission link between Ellochka and clerks
department stores.
If we look at the photographs of Ellochka Shchukina, hanging over
the bed of her husband, engineer Ernest Pavlovich Shchukin
(one is full face, the other is in profile), it is not difficult to notice the forehead
of pleasant height and bulge, large moist eyes, the sweetest in
Moscow province nose and chin with a small, drawn
ink speck.
Ellochka's height flattered men. She was small and even
the most shabby men next to her looked big and
powerful men.
As for special signs, there were none. Ellochka and not
needed them. She was beautiful.
Two hundred rubles, which her husband received monthly at the factory
"Electrochandelier" for Ellochka was an insult. They don't
could help that grandiose struggle that Ellochka had already waged
four years since she took public office
housewife, Shchukin's wife. The fight was with full
tension of forces. She consumed all the resources. Ernest Pavlovich
took home evening work, refused servants, bred
stove, took out the trash and even fried cutlets.
But everything was fruitless. A dangerous enemy has already destroyed the economy
every year more and more. Ella four years ago
noticed that she has a rival across the ocean. Misfortune
visited Ellochka on that joyful evening when she tried on
very nice little crepe de chine blouse. In this dress she
almost looked like a goddess.
Xo-xo! - she exclaimed, reducing to this cannibalistic cry
the astonishingly complex feelings that overwhelmed her.
Simplified, these feelings could be expressed in the following way.
phrase: "Seeing me like this, men will get excited. They will tremble.
They will follow me to the ends of the earth, stuttering with love. But I will
cold. Are they worth me? I am the most beautiful. Such
no one in the world has an elegant blouse."
But there were only thirty words, and Ellochka chose from them
the most expressive is "ho-ho".
At such a great hour, Fimka Sobak came to her. She brought
with a frosty breath of January and a French fashion magazine. On
Ellochka stopped on the first page. Sparkling photography
portrayed the daughter of the American billionaire Vanderbilt and
evening dress. There were furs and feathers, silk and pearls,
extraordinary ease of cut and breathtaking hairstyle.
This solved everything.
Wow! Ella said to herself. It meant: "or I,
or she." The next morning found Ellochka at the hairdresser's.
Here she lost her beautiful black braid and dyed her hair
in red color. Then we managed to climb one more step of that
stairs that brought Ellochka closer to the radiant paradise, where
daughters of billionaires walk around, not fit for a housewife
Shchukina even to the soles. A dog was bought on a work loan
skin depicting a muskrat. It was used for decoration
evening dress.
Mr. Schukin, who has long cherished the dream of buying a new
drawing board, somewhat despondent.
A dress trimmed by a dog inflicted an arrogant
Vanderbildihe first well-aimed blow. Then the proud American was
hit three in a row. Ellochka purchased from home
furrier Fimochka Dogs chinchilla stole (Russian hare,
killed in the Tula province), got herself a pigeon hat
from Argentinean felt and altered her husband's new jacket into a fashionable
ladies jacket. The billionaire swayed, but apparently she was saved
loving dad Vanderbilt.
The next issue of the fashion magazine contained portraits
cursed rival in four forms: 1) in black-brown foxes, 2)
with a diamond star on his forehead, 3) in an aviation suit
(high boots, the thinnest green jacket and gloves, bell
which were encrusted with medium-sized emeralds) and 4) in
ballroom (cascades of jewels and a little bit of silk).
Ellochka mobilized. Papa-Shchukin took out a loan in
mutual aid box. They didn't give him more than thirty rubles. New
powerful effort undercut the economy at the root. Had to fight
in all areas of life. Recently received pictures of Miss in
her new castle in Florida. Ellochka had to get a new one too.
furniture. She bought two upholstered chairs at an auction. (Successful
purchase! It was impossible to miss it!) Without asking her husband,
Ellochka took money from the lunch sums. Until the fifteenth
ten days and four rubles left.
Ellochka brought chairs along Varsonofevsky with style
lane. The husband was not at home. However, he soon appeared, dragging with
a briefcase-chest.
The gloomy husband has come, - Ellochka said distinctly.
All the words were pronounced by her distinctly and jumped out briskly,
like peas.
Hello, Elena, what is this? Where are the chairs from?
No, really?
G-growth!
Yes. The chairs are good.
You know!
Did someone give?
How?! Have you bought? By what means? Really
for business? Because I've told you a thousand times...
Ernestuly! You are rude!
Well, how can you do that?! After all, we have nothing to eat
Think!
But this is outrageous! You are living beyond your means!
Yes Yes. You are living beyond your means...
Don't teach me how to live!
No, let's talk seriously. I get two hundred
I don’t take bribes, I don’t steal money and fake
I can't do them...
Ernest Pavlovich fell silent.
That's what, - he said, - finally, - to live like this
Ho-ho, - said Ellochka, sitting down on a new chair.
We need to disperse.
Think!
We don't get along. I...
You are a fat and handsome boy.
How many times have I asked you not to call me boy!
And where did you get this idiotic jargon!
Don't teach me how to live!
Oh shit! shouted the engineer.
Hamite, Ernestulya.
Let's leave peacefully.
You can't prove anything to me! This controversy...
I will beat you like a child.
No, it's completely unbearable. your reasons
can't stop me from taking the step that I'm forced to
do. I'm on my way to the pickup right now.
We share the furniture equally.
You will receive a hundred rubles a month. Even
one hundred and twenty. The room will be yours. Live like
you want, but I can't...
Famous, - said Ellochka contemptuously.
And I will move to Ivan Alekseevich.
He went to the dacha and left me all for the summer
your apartment. I have the key ... Only there is no furniture.
G-growth!
Ernest Pavlovich returned five minutes later with a janitor.
Well, I won’t take a wardrobe, you need it more, but
a desk, be so kind ... And this one chair
take it, janitor. I will take one of these two chairs. I think,
what do I have a right to?
Ernest Pavlovich tied his things into a large bundle, wrapped
boots into the newspaper and turned to the door.
Your whole back is white, - said Ellochka to the gramophone
Goodbye, Elena.
He expected his wife to at least in this case refrain from
ordinary metal words. Ellochka also felt all
the importance of the minute. She tensed and began to look for suitable
word separation. They quickly found:
Are you going in a taxi? G-growth! The engineer rolled down
stairs. Ellochka spent the evening with Fimka Sobak. They discussed
an unusually important event that threatened to overturn the world
economy.
It seems that they will wear long and wide, - said
Fima, like a chicken, dipping her head into her shoulders.
And Ellochka respectfully looked at Fima Sobak. Mademoiselle
Dogs were known as a cultured girl: in her dictionary there were about a hundred
eighty words. However, she knew one such word,
which Ellochka could not even dream of. It was rich
word: homosexuality. Fima Dogs was undoubtedly cultural
girl.
The lively conversation dragged on long after midnight. At ten
o'clock in the morning, the great strategist entered Varsonofevsky Lane.
A homeless boy ran ahead. He pointed to the house.
Are you lying?
What are you, uncle ... Right here, in the front door. Bender issued
boy an honestly earned ruble.
It is necessary to add, - said the boy in a cab.
Ears from a dead donkey. Get it from Pushkin. Goodbye,
defective.
Ostap knocked on the door, not thinking at all about
what pretext he will enter. For talking to ladies
preferred inspiration.
Wow? - asked from behind the door.
On the case, - answered Ostap.
Door opened. Ostap went into a room that could
be furnished only by a creature with the imagination of a woodpecker. On
film postcards, dolls and Tambov tapestries hung on the walls. On
this motley background, from which ripples in the eyes, it was difficult
notice the little hostess of the room. She was wearing a robe
converted from an Ernest Pavlovich sweatshirt and trimmed
mysterious fur.
Ostap immediately understood how to behave in a secular society. He
closed his eyes and took a step back.
Great fur! he exclaimed.
Joke! Ella said softly. -- It's Mexican
It cannot be. You have been deceived. You have been given much
best fur. These are Shanghai leopards. Well, yes! Leopards! I recognize them by
shade. See how the fur plays in the sun! .. Emerald! Emerald!
Ellochka herself dyed the Mexican jerboa green
watercolor, and therefore the praise of the morning visitor was her
especially pleasant.
Not allowing the hostess to come to her senses, the great strategist threw out
everything I've ever heard about furs. After that, they talked about
silk, and Ostap promised to give the charming hostess several
hundreds of silk cocoons allegedly brought to him by the chairman of the CEC
Uzbekistan.
You are the right guy, - Ellochka noticed as a result
first minutes of dating.
Surely you were surprised by the early visit of an unknown man?
But I'm here with you on a delicate matter.
You were at the auction yesterday and made me
extraordinary impression.
Have mercy! Be rude to such a charming woman
however, in some cases miraculous fruits. But compliments
Ostap from time to time became more and more watery and shorter. He
noticed that there was no second chair in the room. I had to
find a trace. Alternating their inquiries with flowery oriental
flattery, Ostap found out about the events that took place yesterday in Ellochkina
"A new business," he thought, "the chairs are spreading out like
cockroaches".
Dear girl, - unexpectedly said Ostap, sell me
this chair. I really like him. Only you and your feminine
instinct could choose such an artistic thing. sell,
girl, and I'll give you seven rubles.
Be rude, boy, - Ellochka said slyly.
Ho-ho," Ostap explained. "She needs to be dealt with.
otherwise, - he decided, we will offer an exchange.
You know, now in Europe and in the best houses in Philadelphia
renewed the old fashion of pouring tea through a strainer.
Extremely effective and very elegant. Ella was worried.
A familiar diplomat came to me from Vienna and
brought as a gift. Funny thing.
It must be famous, - Ellochka became interested.
Wow! Ho-ho! Let's exchange. You are a chair for me, and I for you
Strainer. Want to?
And Ostap took out of his pocket a small gilded strainer.
The sun rolled in the strainer like an egg. Sigali on the ceiling
bunnies. A dark corner of the room suddenly lit up. To Ellochka
thing made the same irresistible impression as
produces an old canned food can for the cannibal Mumbo Yumbo.
groaned:
Without letting her come to her senses, Ostap put the strainer on the table, took
chair and, having learned from a charming woman the address of her husband, gallantly
On June 21, 1971, the premiere of Leonid Gaidai's comedy "12 Chairs" took place in the cinemas of the Soviet Union. At the end of the year, the film became the leader of the box office: it was watched by 39.3 million viewers. Natalia Vorobyeva's role in the film is not the main one, but it is very bright and memorable! Still would! After all, she got Ellochka herself, a cannibal, a lady with a vocabulary of 30 expressive expressions. Ironically, the actress became a writer, has a double surname. And since 1974 he lives in Zagreb.
Tatyana Ulanova, "AiF": - In the Soviet Union there were many actors whom the viewer knew from one role. They could star in dozens of films, but they were still called Sukhov, Hobotov or Shurik. And they tend to be offended...
Natalya Vorobieva-Khrzhich: - And I like that they still call Ellochka. Maybe it even helps in new creativity. To say that I'm tired of this cannibal means not to be grateful to the audience. Is it decent?
- But before emigrating, you played in a dozen films. And only Ellochka was remembered.
- I started acting as a student of GITIS, the roles rained down as if from a cornucopia, albeit not always the main ones. Somehow I had time ... Although the teachers were sharply against the cinema, they believed that it spoils us. Of course, this is not true. Nevertheless, I passed the tests in secret, I was not sure that they would approve. When, after the winter holidays spent with my mother in Budapest, I returned to the institute, it turned out that my fellow students already knew everything. Either in Izvestia, or in Pravda, a whole page was published with the headline “Gaidai Launches a New Film” and four photographs: Gomiashvili, Pugovkina, Filippova and mine. It was pointless to refuse. It was then that the terrible life at the faculty began. For a long year and a half...
- Many actresses claimed the role of Ellochka?
- What are you, of course! There were eight of us, ten or twelve ... Including a magnificent Zhanna Bolotova. She is charming even now, but at that time she was especially good and I liked her very much.
- The role is bright, characteristic. But the character is something!.. A silly girl, a dummy... One word - a cannibal. Were you really not afraid that the label would stick and you would be associated with her? Or were you ready to play at least a tree with Gaidai?
I didn't even think that Gaidai is a great director. Invited - and good. I could not imagine that the role would turn out, they would remember me ... And then, what's the difference? What if I agree to play Elsa Koch in a film about Nazism, then she should be afraid or refuse the role, so that later they would not call Elsa? Well, what are you talking about?! Negative roles, negative character - that's what's most interesting. In the positive, what to play?
Tango, invented by Mironov, was included in the film, but he himself was not
Sergei Filippov as Kisa Vorobyaninov in the film "12 Chairs" — And how did you first meet Gaidai?
- I was lucky: successful photo tests turned out. She was surprised at how much she didn't look like herself. I remember Gaidai laid out all the pictures on the floor. Eight Ellochek, twelve Ostapov, six Kis, fifteen of someone else... Thoughtfully walked between them, walked. Then he pointed with his finger: this, this and this - to talk to me. That's how we met. I have not been approved yet, but I tried with all the Ostaps, since Gaidai believed that the hero is revealed precisely in the scene with Ellochka. He is charming, and cunning, and dexterous, and a wonderful dancer. Well, it has everything! In general, I already thought that the role of the village, played with everyone confidently.
And suddenly one fine day ... Another Ostap left, and the director said: “Listen, Natasha ... She’s not like that at all! ..” I was dumbfounded: “How not like that? And what is it? Show!" Leonid Iovich leaned back in his chair, shook his head, made an indefinite movement with his hand, which, as it were, went through his hair. He glanced off to the side with a glassy eye. "Understood? - Understood". From that moment on, the role went, and he no longer dealt with me. He let me improvise, do what I want. I don't brag. Now what? I am not an actor. It was and gone. But then I got into character thanks to the great director, great actor and great teacher Gaidai. The combination of all these hypostases in one person is a rarity.
— A beautiful, full of expression tango was invented by the imposing Mironov. Who else have you tried?
- Only Andryusha remained in my memory. Ostapov was an incredible number, even very famous. But Mironov rehearsed the scene brilliantly! Bright! He just approached, extended his hand, pulled me out of the chair and whirled me in a dance ... However, the tango was included in the film, Mironov was not.
- But why?!
- Everything is very simple! The Diamond Hand just came out. It was a hit! Huge box office! It was impossible to forget Mironov with his "Island of Bad Luck". And in principle, he already played Ostap there. Under a different name. But the same brilliant and charming rogue. Everyone understood this. Both Gaidai and Mironov ... The danger was too great that he would repeat himself in "Chairs". A mustache, a scarf, a cap - nothing would have saved! It is important what comes from the actor, what kind of energy. And he had the energy of Ostap in his "Hand". It was pure Bender! Like me: if you offered me a role similar to Ellochka, I wouldn’t find how to change it completely. She entered me, I grew roots in her, we became one whole ... And Mironov also had a big role in "Hand". He played her amazingly. And that's the only reason he didn't pass as Ostap.
- Got upset?
- For sure. Did you get offended? I doubt. He was a smart man, a great actor. Andrew understood everything.
Ostap with a Georgian accent? This is too much!
Archil Gomiashvili as Ostap Bender in the film "12 Chairs" - Finally, Gomiashvili appeared. How did you find it?
- I was already approved when one winter evening the assistant director called. And we made a conspiracy:
- Do you want to shoot?
- What does it mean? I've already been approved.
- Yes, yes ... Approved ... Only the film is in the balance. Tomorrow the “seventy-fifth” Ostap is coming from Tbilisi, so rehearse this damn tango with him in advance. You know better than anyone what Gaidai wants."
So we did. Gomiashvili handed a tape with tango, I grabbed a tape recorder from home, got into a taxi and rushed to his hotel "Russia" to rehearse. After the dance, Archil invited me to dinner, we said goodbye in order to "acquaint ourselves" the next day in Gaidai's office. And he did a good job!
Although he was voiced by a different actor in most scenes...
- And what, would it be better if Ostap babbled with a Georgian accent? That would be too funny.
- They say that, offended, he said to Gaidai: "If I had known that such a shitty film would turn out, I would have refused." To which the director, not at a loss, replied: “If I had known that you were such a shitty artist, I would not have taken pictures.”
- Well answered! But this is the first time I hear about it. However, this is very possible. Nina Pavlovna Grebeshkova She said in an interview that very quickly Gomiashvili forgot the one who gave him the opportunity to become a star. This is true. He had such a star disease that was not characteristic of the actors of that time. I remember Papanov came, who had already played some of his best roles. And yet he was very humble. Then, after all, the rule was the same for everyone: both beginners and already well-known ones must pass tests. Nobody just said that. Who would get the role was a big question mark, and everyone fought very hard for the right to act. Unfortunately, the script slipped out of Papanov's hands. The actors are all superstitious: a middle-aged man, he immediately sank to the floor, sat on the leaves ... But it didn’t help ...
How could I come? Iron curtain. 57th article. Enemy of the people…
- It is clear that you fell in love, got married and did not think about a career, although it could continue to develop successfully ...
- I didn't think so! In principle, I wanted to become a theater critic. But accidentally got into acting. So the boards and scaffolds were separate, and life was separate. This was the option when the profession loves the actor more than the actor loves the profession. I didn't understand why they invited me. What do directors see in me? The actresses who auditioned with me liked me more. It was only when I arrived in Yugoslavia that I realized that I had lost my favorite profession. Life taught me such a lesson. And at first I was very worried. It was hard for me to go to the theatre. Very hard…
- Was there depression?
- No, no ... I have never experienced this! She quickly learned the language, took up translation, including simultaneous translation. Five or six years later she starred in two Yugoslav films. And that's all!.. I remember the first performance I saw in Zagreb was "Agony" based on the play by the Croatian classic Miroslava Krlezhi. And now I'm looking at a Russian emigrant Madeleine Petrovna, the most dangerous secular lady, and I think: “God, what a role! Characteristic! Strong! Mine!..” Nearly twenty years pass. And I'm meeting with Mani Gotovac… If compared, this is a Croatian Galina Volchek... The most talented, smartest woman. After dinner, she came up to me to talk:
- Natasha, do you want to return to your profession?
— What are we talking about?
“Agony,” Krlezh…
— Russian emigrant?
Yes, Madeleine Petrovna...
Your proposal is 20 years late...
She gazed at me intently.
You can do it even now...
Of course, I refused. And a couple of weeks later I was invited to the theater to work with an actress: to spoil her perfect Croatian, giving the language a Russian intonation and accent. The actress was supposed to play ... Madeleine Petrovna.
A few more years later, Mani Gotovac and I met again: I had just published the book Sonata in Four Hands. And she said: “If I put on Agony, I will again offer you a role ...”
- Didn't they call from the USSR, didn't they offer anything?
- From what? They called mom. They asked if Natasha could come. But as? Iron curtain. 57th execution article. Enemy of the people... I could return. But coming and going to shoot? It was completely unrealistic! Even though Yugoslavia was in the socialist camp, they treated it as a country of capitalism ... And then time took its toll. Try not to interview for a few years. How would you do it then? How would you write? It's the same with ballet, opera, sports... You have to be in the profession every day. Now I would already feel the tension, everything would interfere with me. I got out of the loop.
Do you keep in touch with any of your colleagues?
- Unfortunately no. On one transfer met with Natasha Selezneva: we agreed to call next time, see each other ... 42 years apart is a lot. We have developed, matured and aged in different ways. We have become different. Or do you think I recognize the Natasha that I once was? Yes, I am also principled, uncompromising. But I don't have much in common with that girl. So it is with friends. The closeness is gone. Now we are just good friends.
Strange... I don't know what happiness is... Probably a myth
- You didn’t manage to stay in the profession, it didn’t work out with the first short marriage and the second, at the age of fifteen, you didn’t become a mother ... Do you regret anything?
- Do you live a harmonious life, do you feel happy?
- Strange ... I don't know what happiness is ... There are moments of delight, joy. But they are very short. Compared to the black periods, which sometimes last for years. Perhaps happiness is a myth. If you put together all his flashes, it will come up for about five to ten minutes at the most. Am I satisfied with my life? Yes, it seems to be nothing ... Although you certainly can’t call my road straight. It has always been ups and downs. However, they are what make life rich. They say: we will all be there ... You know what I'm thinking about? When I get there, they will show me a film about my earthly journey, I will exclaim: “God! What an interesting life I have had! Like a novel! But being the main character of this novel in life is not easy ...
Are you familiar with nostalgia?
- I think this is a feeling from the century before last. Then people, in order to get from point A to point B, rode horses for days and weeks, stopped in terrible taverns ... Everything was extremely problematic. In our time, I bought a ticket, got on a plane, and after two hours and forty-five minutes I left for Sheremetyevo. What kind of nostalgia?
— Do you often visit Moscow?
- Twice a year. This is usually associated with presentations of my books. They are published both in Russian and, thank God, in Croatian.
- And if suddenly one of the directors suddenly calls? ..
— Never!.. The camera is merciless. I don't like myself at all. At my age, which I am not trying to hide, it is no longer possible to look good without suspenders. That's why I don't like the camera anymore. And she pays me the same. In a word, I would refuse the most tempting offer. At the same second.
- Is the problem now - braces?
- My God! I'm just afraid! It seems that even under deep anesthesia, my fear will be transferred to the surgeon, his hand will tremble ... For my age, I look pretty decent. And with the movie, the issue has long been resolved ...
- Are you dreaming about something?
About great love. Ha-ha-ha!..
- I want you to make it happen.
- From your mouth - yes into God's ears! You will be the first person I tell about this.