"June 31": actors presented a fairy tale to the audience

This picture was predicted the future of the first national musical. It was shot according to the Hollywood canons, and the terms were amazingly short - only a month and a half. On television, she was on the broadcasting grid only once, on New Year's Eve in 1979. Film-musical of Leonid Kvinikhidze "June 31", actors Which became instantly popular and loved, did not go in any cinema. The audience had only one opportunity to see him on TV at one in the morning!

How it all began...

In the late seventies, the director Leonid Kvinikhidze, the telepath of the nation-wide adored "Heavenly Swallows," decided to screen John Priestley's play "June 31". Actors, which 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 quite 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, the scriptwriter, with great difficulty was able to master the "blind" copy of the subscript. Later, she recalled that she was sure that none of this 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 under Priestley's name, because the art council does not know the original. So, she transferred all the action in the first year of the twenty-first century.

Finally came the day when the film "June 31" was released on the big screen. Actors tried to do everything to recreate the atmosphere of trust, warmth and sincerity.

Love on the Milky Way

The spectators were lucky to see a very tender, musical, innocent and touching story about the fairytale country of Perador. It was home to the beautiful princess Melicent, the king, the wizards - good and evil, even dragons are found. Lady Ninet, who was in court at Courtard intriguer, dreamed of a crown every day. Musician Lemineson, in love with her to the point of insanity, constantly gave out original pas in the dance.

It was a fairy tale about the impossible love of the princess from the Middle Ages and the American artist Sam Painti, who lived several centuries away from her. In one country - the UK, but in different epochs. Sam should draw an advertisement of women's stockings by July 1, but he can not find an ideal female image for this. Melisenta's dream is to get to know the Real Knight. They managed to meet at the will of the not-so-good magician Malgrim on the Milky Way to 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, for a meeting with Sam, the brooch that the Great Marilyn gave him ...

Constellation of celebrities

As an interesting musical film it was planned to create the history of "June 31". The actors who were invited to appear were very famous - Vladimir Zeldin (King Meliot), Lyubov Polishchuk (Miss Queenie), Vladimir Etush (Malgrim). For the role of the proud lady Ninet pretended Irina Ponarovskaya and Alla Pugacheva; Princess Milisent - Elena Shanina and Irina Alferova. Andrei Mironov dreamed of playing musician Lehmison ...

But the princess was able to play a young ballerina Natalia Trubnikova - a pretty girl with unearthly sad eyes. Lemisona was played by Alexander Godunov - ballet dancer, and Ninet - his wife, ballerina Lyudmila Vlasova.

Quinikhidze was very risky, inviting to the shooting ballet artists, because they were considered at that time unreliable because of the emigration of Rudolf Nureyev and Mikhail Baryshnikov. To make the actors feel as much as possible with the atmosphere of the film, the director brought to the set a tape recorder that constantly turned the music written for this tale.

So, many stars were invited to the film "June 31". Actors are only the most loved and talented. The main male role of Sam Payinti went to the sex symbol of the 80s to Nikolai Eremenko. He was worried about being forced to sing. And really was the only actor who did not perform serenades in the film. The only thing sweet for him in this shoot is a walk on the "Star Bridge" with a partner, remotely resembling a dance. For him it was too romantic, sweet story, and after the release of the film, he did not play such heroes anymore.

Musical design

Melodies to all songs of a fairy tale on the words of Leonid Derbenev and Yuri Entin, Alexander Zatsepin wrote. It was thanks to him that the general public got acquainted with the singer Tatiana Antsiferova, who before that was known only in Ukraine. Tatyana sang for the princess Milicente. A happy ticket was for her the film "June 31". Actors and roles performed by them, have become very popular among spectators of different generations. But Tatyana is now also famous for the whole of the Soviet Union.

Along with her, solo parts were performed by Larisa Dolina, Jaak Joala, Zhanna Rozhdestvenskaya and Sergey Belikov.

From the beginning to the end of filming was only a month and a half - a record speed for such films. Almost all the scenes, except for one - the trip of Sam and Milissent, filmed on "Mosfilm."

Seven years on the shelf

After a stunningly successful premiere on New Year's Eve 78-79, the film "June 31", whose actors and roles instantly turned into favorites of the audience, were not shown in theaters or on television for seven years. The "above" resolution called it too frank because of the dances of one of the heroines in a translucent flesh-colored tight overall and put a transparent cape 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 listeners, reminding them that the film still exists.