LYUBOV ORLOVA

Soviet actress, People's Artist of USSR (1950). In 1926-1933 she worked at the Musical Theater. Nemirovich-Danchenko. Since 1955 in the Theater. Moscow City Council. Starred in the musical comedy directed by GV Alexandrov: "Jolly Fellows", "Circus," "Volga-Volga", etc. Winner of USSR State Prize (1941, 1950).

In the entire history of Soviet cinema it - the only true star. The other has not yet happened. And not because Orlov was the most talented, most beautiful of Russian actresses, but because it is more than the others wanted to become a star, because it happily united all the qualities that make a woman fantastically irresistible, because it only knew - star should shine high and be available for the layman, the star - it's not the title, not a profession, this is life.

Orlov was born and raised in a Russian noble family. However, when you read the memories of Lyubov Petrova see it on screen, it's hard to get rid of the thought that we face the Western type of woman - seemingly open, smiling, accessible, she never let her in real life, do not share the panic doubt, will not betray sadness at people, it is always in a mask of confidence - "I have everything perfect!" Not a grain of sincerity, all the emotions of thought over all actions staged, all the costumes are finished, public appearances rehearsed. Usual Tragedy usual bondage star . . . Belongs not to himself, and his own view of themselves. Here and the Stalinist regime to do with it, so it will be in any era.

The first victim in the legend of the star were brought childhood and youth of our heroine. Seest case, but the beginning of life's journey idol knew practically nothing fans. "I started my artistic life in the theater, Nemirovich-Danchenko," - both opened their meetings with the audience Orlov. Then followed memorized, never practically unchanged (not only for spectators but also for friends) story about how worried Lyubov Petrovna at meetings with "great director" as he spotted her as a commissioned a major role in the operetta "Pericoli" Jacques Offenbach, and presented as a young premershe his portrait with the inscription: "talented actress and lovely person Lyubov Petrovna, with best wishes Vl. Nemirovich-Danchenko. Here Lyubov invariably inserted: "You realize, of course, that this was the very first memorial I have my gift . . . "

Orlova cunning. In her elegant "estate" (in other words it's hard to call it) at Vnukovo modestly preserved relics of the three main childhood: a tiny book publishers "mediator" - "The Caucasian Prisoner" Tolstoy with a dedication to the author, loose-leaf sheet of paper with Chaliapin profile and sensitive romance - the autograph of the great singer, and his own picture with the parting words first-graders: "Kids, get ready for school! cockerel crowed long. Ratuhino. 2009. " What made the actress to hide from people acquainted with is not banned under the Soviet regime the great cultural figures? Why Orlova flatly refused the request of his daughter Chaliapin speak at the anniversary party, held in memory of her father with her memories of him? Explained everything is simple, funny and tragic at the same time.

Photo — «Lyubov Orlova»

Lyubov Petrovna was afraid to destroy their own image, she was afraid her age, she was afraid to show their captives, "a prehistoric relic," knew "patriarchs. " Did not contribute to sculpting legend and his youth, just came on the revolution. Hence, their off from the biography! Admirers and had no idea that Orlov in the seventeenth year sheltered mother's sister, then living in Voskresensk that starlet used to take to Moscow to sell milk that had her bare hands icy winter roll heavy cans that she was trembling with fear, returning one with money from the station. Then there was a brief study in a conservatory, a dull job "illyustratorshi" films in Moscow's "Illusion" and "Cinematographe, first marriage, to which pushed the hopeless life situation, the second marriage, just as unsuccessful as the first.

The only artistic education for the Eagles was a modest choreographic studio Frances Beata, mention of which Lyubov Petrovna, too, avoided, apparently because of the prestige of this institution. However, this is the studio has developed into a plastic Orlova considerable talent, sensitivity to the rhythm, and most importantly, the desire for continuous support in the form of his body. Until the end of life Lyubov Petrovna did not miss a single day training at the bench. From these years, the studio kept the eagles, and a narrow leather belt - the standard waist - that in thirty, forty, seventy, as in twenty - no more than forty-three centimeters.

Fateful meeting with "his" director of the eagles occurred in autumn 1933. Work continues to be in the theater, Lyubov Petrovna already starred in two films, her picture has already once or twice flashed on magazine pages. But how many of them debutantes budding. Especially that one well-known director, when he saw a photo Orlova, jabbing a finger in her nose, where the side lurked a small mole, and pronounced sentence: "On the screen it will increase with the bus. "

Before the concert in the motion picture "Ars, where Lyubov Petrovna had to make in the program, there was an incident - in concert dress lambing cat. The actress burst into tears, but her friends wisely assessed the situation: "You're lucky, Lyuba! Will come to you unparalleled happiness. " As it turned out, good omens, too, sometimes come true. During the intermission backstage came a tall young man in foreign dress, a dazzling smile, and slightly inclining his head, introduced himself: "Alexander" . . .

Forty years of their life together and working together in themselves and triumph and failure. Courageous, hard-working director Alexander, who returned in early 1930 from his travels across America, there had seen enough fun, music tapes and decided to create such a homeland. To perform the plan he needed an actress of the Western type, able to sing, dance, and in general be relaxed. The ideal embodied in the person of Lyubov Orlova.

Truly world fame awaited first film Alexandrov. "Before" Jolly Fellows "Americans knew Russia Dostoevsky. Now they have seen great changes in people's psychology. People are fun and cheerful laugh. This is a great victory. It shakes more than the proof of fire and speeches" - so he wrote about the Soviet Chaplin's masterpiece.

Photo — «Lyubov Orlova»

Do not stay aside and chief judge of art in the country - Stalin: "Very funny picture. I'm like a month went on vacation. " But ordinary people expressed their delight full cinema halls, went to watch their families, teams, pairs and alone on several occasions. Send "Jolly Fellows", phrases learned by heart. Orlov was the face of the era. She, like any star, seemed to "own" family, friends, and yet inaccessible, magic, she was flawless, and it was incarnated an unattainable ideal of beauty, youth, lightness - a miracle in reality.

Stalin quickly realized how prestigious to have such an elegant, talented, perfect woman as the star of the national cinema, a luxury "business card" can become an actress in the world. At one of the Kremlin receptions leader, fatherly glance at the star, murmured compassionately: "What a little! Which skinny! Why skinny Why pale?" Wanting to laugh it off, Lyubov Petrovna nodded at Alexandrov: "Here is the culprit plaguing shooting - neither day nor night . . . " Stalin had his eyebrows raised and your index finger: "Remember, Comrade Alexandrov! Orlova - our national treasure. Orlova, we have one. And if you're torturing her, we will severely punish them. We will hang you, chetvertuem, and then shot from guns. "

Joke of the mouth of a tyrant does not seem as too far-fetched, but Stalin in this evil monologue accurately expressed the historical realities in which the mature talent Orlova. It was a "she" one "for all could testify neveryaschim, doubters of effulgence and luminosity of the Soviet way of life," one "could demonstrate complete happiness and beauty. It is he had a "one" . . .

"Circus" and "Volga-Volga", "Shining Path" and "Spring" - marks a "big way" Orlova. It seemed that she got in this life, all that can reach the woman in the Soviet Union - a huge honor, fabulous wealth, a loving husband, but if fate came to herself, in a generous distribution of gifts of his beloved.

Ending the war is nearing the end of the life of the leader, and his departure falls into oblivion and his era - her era. There will be films, "Meeting on the Elbe", "Mussorgsky, Composer Glinka", "Russian souvenir", but surely the rising maturity, followed by old age and take away the enthusiasm of the former, make everything more thoroughly mask the wrinkles. Especially sum Orlov hand, those same hands that once clung to the chilled cans of milk - a dark, heavy, knotted leather. No money, no home-grown or foreign, did not help.

In 1947 at the International Festival in Venice, Lyubov Petrovna for the film "Spring" share with I. Bergman Prize, awarded to the best actress of the year. But creativity inevitably melted poskuchneli movies, roles have become strained, Orlov lived through the time. She will still fight - a long thirty years. Will play in the Theater. Moscow City Council will meet with his fans, will travel the country, will sparkle in the society of famous people - George Bernard Shaw, Jean-Paul Sartre, Eduardo De Filippo. And the indelicate question: "How old are you, tell me honestly - will respond with a dazzling smile:" How much you give, so much is. "

After the failure of the "Russian souvenir" couple Orlova - Alexander, it seemed, forever left the cinema.

Photo — «Lyubov Orlova»

Lyubov Petrovna suffering his failure, when it was impossible to even mention the name of the ill-fated movie. It seems that she understood that "Russian Souvenir" was not just frustrating and disastrous. Agony of the cinema erupted in front of the old fans. And yet they dared to try again, decided to appeal to a genre. The plan was simple - if you do not really skill, then the usual interest in the viewer to the gripping story will take its toll. Lyubov Petrovna doubted for a long time. She was under seventy, and had to play a role in a time warp, perhaps from twenty girls. Orlov for many years with pain recalled an awkward praise newspaper Ferghana truth "expressed for the work in the film" Russian Souvenir ":" Over the years, not faded, not old Soviet actress of outstanding talent. "

And yet they have decided on this step. Alexandrov has provided a seemingly everything: a win-win for the seventieth theme - the struggle between the two systems, the adventurous twists and turns of the plot, so close to actress Cinderella motif, the motif of the birth star. It seemed as if the film were predestined fate is a good hire and appreciation of the state press. But . . . picture on the screen does not come out. It was completed at an estimated cost was one of the most expensive in the Soviet cinema of those years, and yet the audience never saw it. For many years the "cinematic" circles there is debate, put forward versions, why "Swallow and Lira (the so-called Alexandrov's latest film) was placed on the shelf. Picture editor asserted that the film was closed due to mismatch the political situation, and did it on the date of the picture himself its chief consultant, a high rank of KGB Tsvigun. In this version, remains unclear but one question: why the consultant was so placid during the filming of the movie politically unreliable, why not warned immediately, but waited until the people's money spent? Most likely, a group that worked on the painting, would not explain the real reasons for exemption from the movie rental.

According to one of the officials of the then State Committee for Cinematography, Orlova, she closed her picture to see how ruthlessly screen shows its age. This, of course, seems to be true. Lyubov Petrovna too desperately fought for their way of growing old, self-confident diva. She could not afford to discredit themselves so brazenly and openly, even for the sake of the whim of a loved one.

None of the versions is not proven, but after years and years, in mid-1990, the film "The Starling, and Lear was shown on television. It was painful and scary, unhealthy and almost sinister spectacle. Like a dead insurgent sililis restore long-deceased former world myths and symbols, reminding surreal nightmarish dreams. A world in which the heroine resides Orlova "forever young" in all ages, permeates mortal ice cold as any sense of timelessness and of the abyss.

Well . . . Star can fly only in its orbit, and only an instant, so is it the law of the century. And no one has yet been given after extinction again ignite the star.