Oleg Basilashvili in the films of Eldar Ryazanov



The acquaintance of Oleg Basilashvili and Eldar Ryazanov took place in 1973. It was in Leningrad. Ryazanov went to the production of "Moliere" by Bulgakov in the BDT. The performance was staged by Jurassic, with whom the director had friendly relations since the time of the work on “The Man from Nowhere. And Oleg Valerianovich played in this production of Louis XIV


Ryazanov liked his game so much that after the performance, going into the dressing room for Jurassic (which he shared with Basilashvili), he told Oleg Valerianovich that he did not understand why he still would not shoot him in his comedies. "Frankly, I do not understand this either," he heard back.

This was the first step to long-term cooperation. The first film in which Ryazanov shot Basilashvili was “Office Romance”. Although their cooperation was supposed to start earlier - I think you all know that Hippolyta in “The Irony of Fate” was supposed to play Basilashvili. But I could not because of the misfortune in the family. In the film, there was only his picture, which Nadia raises from a snowdrift

But who would he call for the role of Samokhvalov in "The Office Romance"; Ryazanov had no doubt - he remembered the talented film test of Basilashvili for "The Irony of Fate." And he gave the role of the charming and elegant scoundrel to Oleg Valerianovich, who, however, really wanted to get the role of Novoseltsev



Ryazanov was so pleased to work with Basilashvili that the role of Merzlyaev in “Say the Word for the Poor Gusar” was already written under Basilashvili. True, the actor, having familiarized himself with the role, said: "Why do you always offer me the role of scoundrels? Is there really something disgusting in me?"



Nevertheless, he liked the role and he played it well. What the director said and the actor at the premiere. "Since you like working with me so much," Ryazanov heard in reply, "write a receipt that you will occupy me in each of your next pictures." And Ryazanov wrote.

The truth almost immediately forgot about it, but Basilashvili recalled when the director was going to shoot "Station for two." When the script of the new film was already ready, Ryazanov told the actor about him, who he happened to meet on Mosfilm, and also said that it would be possible to call him to the role of Plato. “I don’t understand what it means to be“ possible. ”I have a document in my pocket that you pledge to shoot me in every next tape. So call, I’m ready!”



So Basilashvili received the first positive role in Ryazanov. Then there was also a role in the film "Promised Heaven", which Ryazanov first proposed to Yuri Yakovlev. But he refused, thus, as if, having repaid the debt of Basilashvili

Another joint work was the grim (and not at all comedic) picture “Prediction”, which many people call the last successful work of Ryazanov.









The article is based on materials https://dubikvit.livejournal.com/601217.html.

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