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The idea to show issued during the last years
Russian animated cartoons on the subject of tales, written by Hans Christian
Andersen, Charles Perraultt, Alexander Pushkin and Aleksey Tolstoy in the
West, seemed to be fruitful and was realized by our former compatriot Oleg
Vidov and his American wife Joan on a large scale. Indeed, they have managed
to attract the whole confluence of talented actors, who took it as a compliment
to be asked to become a participant of this grandiose project, and very often
- for the completely symbolic payment.
 Among
the "stars", who decided to accept the offer of Oleg, were Shirley
MacLaine and Kathleen Turner, Jessica Lange anf Lolita Davidovich, Jim
Belushi and Martin Sheen, Mel Ferrer and Julio Iglesias. Timothy Dalton
couldn't afford to stand back. The next animated films were newly
post-synchronized in English and Spanish and issued on video: "The
Snow Queen", "The Beauty and The Beast", "The Nutcracker", "Buratino",
… .
It was very pleasant for me to know, that it
was Timothy, who took part in preparation of beloved in our country tale
"The Princess, the Swan and the Czar Saltan" (in Russian it sounds like
this: "The Tale about Csar Saltan"), written by Alexander Pushkin. And
though I couldn't see this movie yet neither in Russian edition, nor in the
American one, I know, the part of Prince Guidon, being not so large,
demanded attention to itself from the actor, because the Timothy's natural
voice is below than the one, which sounds in the movie!
The theme of tale "The Princess, the Swan and
the Czar Saltan" attracts attention of the real artists during almost two
centuries. You have just hear "The Bee's Flight" from the opera, composed by
N.A.Rimsky-Korsakov for the centenary celebration of A.S.Pushkin. On the
right photo we show composition, made from the bead by our past mistress
Masha Zolotova for the 200-years jubilee of our Russian beloved poet.
K.E., December, 1999
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The other day we have found an interesting
material in the one of the issues of Russian magazine "Domovoy" (I can
translate it like "The Lubber Fiend") in 1997. After a turn of work with
snippers and pencil it would be called "Two Guidons". But deference to
author's plot and words didn't allow us to do it, though by implication the
information given below it's so! We are sure, our readers themselves will
establish needed links between described events or statements�
To confirm our words we show this photo, where
you can see "Two Guidons" - the former one, Oleg Vidov (on the right hand),
and the present one (for the year 1997!) - well-known performer of Bond's
part, Timothy Dalton!
********************
Oleg Vidov was one of the most popular and
beloved actors in the Soviet Union. Then as the saying goes he completely
dropped out of his admier's sight in Russia. But some years later he suddenly
appeared as a partner of Mikkey Rurke, but already in American movie "The
Wild Orchid".
Now Oleg and his wife Joan live a short
distance away Beverly Hills in their country seat, which reminded him, by the
words of the author of quoted below article, "of the worth from the epoch,
when the Russian literature still called "the great one"". This country seat
placed in "Studio-City". It's near to the famous film studio "Universal".
Read the fragments of O.Sulkin's article about
Oleg Vidov and his project on instauration and translation into English the
old good Russian animated cartoons, published in "Domovoy" ("The Lubber
Fiend") magazine � 48, 04.08.97.
K.E. 18.04.2000
"
Oleg Vidov Knocked Out the Bottom of a Pipe and
Got His Liberty
"
(Fragments of an article)
Oleg dreamed about the cinema and filming from
very childhood.
When he was sixteen, his dream accidentally
began to become true: he was invited to take part in the filming of a movie
"My friend Nick"as it's main hero. But later he was told, that he is a little
bit old for this role. He has got an episodic part. When the filming was over,
shots with his participation were cutting out. It is of no consequence. The
next movie for him was well-known "I saunter through Moscow" with Nikita
Michalkov. May be you even remember the next moment: that fellow, who in the
end of this movie lights up a cigarette with Nickolay Gubenko and then goes
away� It was Vidov. Almost victory!
But, definitely, his real debut was in "The
Snowstorm", directed by Vladimir Basov. Oleg already studied in All-Union
State Institute of Cinematography and he had a hairbreadth escape to be
excluded from the group for his participation in filming instead being on
lections. Later he has done "The Ordinary Miracle", directed by Erast Garin,
then "The Tale About Csar Saltan", "The Red Mantle"�
Some years passed after his graduating from
the Institute as an actor, and Oleg continued his education there as a
director. After that he began his work in the new field. However� Troubles -
which at the first blush seemed to be completely accident - multiplied, moved
one after another as a gray, turbid torrent.
-- It was a time, when we were ruled by those,
who never has any relation to creation and art. And to the common sense too.
If they would give me contract (with Dino de Laurentis - K.E.), I would never
go abroad. They simply put me on my ear.
In 1985 Vidov went to Yugoslavia. Then he
escaped to Austria, later he moved to Italy and after all - to USA.
Being in Italy, Oleg has met Joan Borsten,
staff writer of Los Angeles Times and Hollywood Reporter, who became his
wife very soon.
It is generally assumed that Vidov's career in
Hollywood went wrong. Anyway he didn't become a leading man, it's the fact.
He only was busy in filming from time to time. However he doesn't consider
himself as failed actor.
-- such is life: there is forcibly expressed
borders of character in America. If they will do a film with Russian goodie,
they will choose an American. As to co-starring roles, it is very difficult
to me because of my face - very often I looked much better than their leading
man did. It's funny, but if my face would be like the bandit's one or like
the a pitiful face of a politician, I would be in filming more often. And,
certainly, my English language� Well, you understand�
-- Actor's work is hard work in Russia and in
America. You are a public animal, you are always in the limelight. Yes, you
have broken off with idiotic system, but now you live in the country, where
you are alone, no one appreciates you endeavours. And it's wonderful! You and
only you are responsible for every your step. Nobody disturbes you to do
these steps, only don't murder and pilfer� I take part in filming, whenever I
want. If I don't do it, this is only my decision. After "The Wild Orchid" I
played only five bit parts.
During the last five years (the article was
written in 1997! - K.E.) Oleg and Joan are trying to promote Russian animated
cartoons in the West. They have got the rights of movies' catalog from the
studio "Soyuzmultfilm". They restore films and dupe them with the help of
Hollywood stars.
However, making a contract with "Soyuzmultfilm",
the firm of Oleg and Joan "Films by Jove" (in this name they used their initials)
has got not only good stories about Cinderella, Snow Queen, Buratino and the
other tale's heroes, but greatest headache too - the complicated story with
the international rights of all these animated cartoons. It was a lot of
rights' owners and much more of the documents to confirm their rights. A
great number of problems and inextricable confusion - the situation, when you
will want to run far away from Cinderella, Snow Queen, Magic Pony or even nice
Tcheburashka.
That time we didn't understand, in what a
terrible condition our film copies are, - Joan puts her hands up, like the
real American woman ("WOW"). - We didn't know that time, how will that come
off, rights "clearness". But we understood well, how much we must work hard
to fascinate the Americans with Russian cartoons.
There's the snag! The Soviet animation is usually
a piece of workmanship. But it's very slow. American children know another
rithm, another aesthetics, twinkling of pictures in the shot. They also know,
that animated film consists of the scenes with the excessive dramatization of
events and the evident violence. Remember: nice Tom and Jerry beat each other
in such a way, that the zealotry of our rabbit from "Just you wait!" is looking
like the babyish innocent amusements. Certainly, this is convention. But it
lashes the adrenalin.
In addition, American children don't know
Russian tales. So the narration is to be redone. You must add the all needed
details to make the author's plot clear to everyone in America.
The proper producer's step was found by Oleg
and Joan: they contacted with a man, who is well-known in America to everyone
- with Michael Barishnikov. They based the whole series of animated cartoons
under the name "Michael Barishnikov presents: Stories from my Childhood".
They began with "Cinderella". It was the only
well-known name - "Cinderella" - for Warner Brothers studio, who has bought
the international rights for this animation from "Films by Jove". Selectors
said, that Russian animation was charming. Selector from PBS Channel saw
"Cinderella" with her daughter, who told, that this film is "better, than
Disney's ones".
It's seems to be improbable, but there are the
Americans, who remember Russian animated cartoons from the times of World War
Two ending. One woman called Vidov on a phone and said, that she dreams to
see "The Gold Antelope" and to show it to all her friends. A man-producer
remembers "The Magic Pony" from the age, he was at 7. The reviewer of TV
Guide has done advertising of "The Red Flower" (Russian version of famous
tale "The Beauty and The Beast") free of cost, because he adores this film
from very childhood.
The first, 12 hours antology "The Classic of
Animation" firm "Films by Jove" has done in collaboration with "Film Roman".
It's well-known company due to the TV-serial "Simpsons". The second one,
13 hours long and consisting of 26 renewed, restored and with the new sound
track animated cartoons - with Michael Barishnikov.
-- Barishnikov is remarkably talented,
big-hearted and aware person. Without him the second antology couldn't be
issued. The unique films would die - like "The Gray Neck" and "The Snow Girl",
what will never be restored.
Joan and Oleg have dropped more than 3 million
dollars to restore Soviet animated cartoons. Vidov puts the videotape with
"The Red Flower" into VCR and shows shot by shot, how the restores "drew out"
the image, how they rewrite the music, the dialogues and the narrations with
great carefulness. He calls the names of narrators, and I can't believe to
my ears: Kathleen Turner, Bill Murray, Jim Belushi, Timothy Dalton, Shirley
MacLaine, Gregory Hines, Jessica Lange, Sarah Jessica Parker, Amanda Plummer,
Hector Elizondo...
We called them on the phone and ask them to
work on scale - the minimal trade-union salary (from $500 to $1000). Only
every third of those, who was invited by us, agreed to work. It was a great
success. The actors understood, that it's not the commerce, the problem is to
save our cultural values for our children, for the Future. Bill Murrey was
going to leave for summer journey with his children in the travel trailer. He
called us on the phone and agreed the adjusted shedule of his work, being in
Alabama, Luisiana, New York.
At the end of April of 1997, in the cinema
center "Sony" of New York took place the presention of the Serial "Michael
Barishnikov. Stories from my Childhood". All the box office pull was given
to Odrie Hapbern Fund for the help to children all over the world.
Vidov burst with joy. Probably, it was his
main role.
******************
For those, who is now interested in the
destiny of Russian actor Oleg Vidov, we give the URL-address, where you can
read the quoted higher article, written by O.Sulkin.
"http://www.kommersant.com/domovoy/1997/048/07027154.HTM"
And this is a link to the Internet Site of
Films by Jove. Here you will find the information about "production" of the firm.
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