How was created the first Soviet “disaster” film. Photo

One of the most iconic Soviet films.

30 Oct 1979 finished shooting the legendary film A. Mitta “Crew”. He became the leader of hire in 1980 and was seen by over 70 million viewers. This success nobody could have imagined – it was the first Soviet film-catastrophe, and the whole process of filming was also catastrophic: the script had to be rewritten, actors refused roles that censorship is cut too honest for those times frames. Still, the result exceeded all expectations.

The idea to make a disaster film came to Director Alexander Mitte in 1976, Nothing like the then Soviet Union was not removed, and the leadership initially did not approve of this idea: the Soviet plane could not crash, and MITT didn’t want to abandon the idea of the crash. The Director managed to find a compromise solution: the accident happens abroad, because of a natural disaster and not a technical fault of the aircraft. And thanks to the heroic actions of the crew of TU-154 in the final returned to Moscow. In such a scenario “Margin of safety” approved, however, later, the Director changed the name to “Crew”.

However, the problems with the script was not the greatest in the process. The budget was very modest, and MITT wanted to make a film with real special effects. The decommissioned aircraft TU-154 in the USSR then was not – the model was new. In the cemetery of old aircraft found the TU-114. Since the move he could not, the scenery was built right around it. However, in the process of preparation for the filming of the wire gave a spark, and filled with diesel fuel, the plane flared before filming began. To save the situation failed, MITT came out of the ashes. Later these episodes were filmed on parts of the wrecked aircraft.

Disaster stalked the Director and, during the selection of the cast. All the main roles was to accrue not to those who played in the result. The commander of the ship was to be Alexei Petrenko, the second pilot – Nikolai Karachentsov, flight engineer-Lovelace – Oleg Dal, stewardess – Elena Proklova. For various reasons, all the actors refused to shoot. Last one left Oleg Dal, when most of the episodes with him has been lifted – he was sick. The Swede demanded new costs, moreover, urgently needed to find a new hero.

Still from the film *the Crew*, 1979

Place Oleg dal took at the time not widely known, Leonid Filatov. Many were surprised by this choice, as in the role of ladies ‘ man the actor was difficult to imagine. M. Zhvanetsky later said about him: “Bad, evil, sick – but what country, and such a sex symbol”. After filming for Filatov really came incredible popularity, especially among the female population of the USSR. The actor admitted that the role of a playboy was hard on him because in life he is modest and reticent.

Yakovlev in the film *the Crew*

Replace Proklova also looking for quite a long time. The choice fell on the student, Alexander Yakovlev (at the time – Ivanec). MITT worried that it will not let go of school – at the time of the shooting students in the movie were not approved, but it turned out that she was expelled for lateness and missed rehearsals. The rector warned that messing with her is about the difficult nature of Ivanec was already legendary. The Director B. Kristal regretted not followed this advice: “But I had to endure, on the reshoot had no money, and the thought that once again will have to look for the main character, was creepy. Dropout student get up so that even the veterans were amazed movie: staged tantrums, tripped people.” When it was ready the credits, the actress got married and changed my name in advance anyone without prior notice. And then threw a tantrum, demanding to redo the credits.

Yakovlev and Leonid Filatov in the film *the Crew*

The movie “the Crew” in the USSR was revolutionary not only in relation to special effects and a dynamic plot, but also by the number of erotic scenes. However, most of them eventually had to cut. But even what is left (about 20%), struck the imagination of the inexperienced Soviet viewer.

The final film was initially the other – the commander of the crew of stressful experiences was going to die. But the Ministers of aviation and cinema protested this ending and insisted on a happy end. Therefore, in the final added scene, the crew visits the survivors of the commander in the hospital.

Legendary film does not lose its popularity even today: recently in explanation the Director N. Lebedev got a new “Crew”, where MITT has acted as a consultant.