We are used to seeing this actor in comedies, we associate him with a circus, but in fact, Yuri Nikulin also starred in serious films, for example, about the war.
A special place in the work of Nikulin is occupied by the film "20 days without war". The script for the film was written by the author of the story of the same name, Konstantin Simonov, the film was directed by Alexander German.
During the Second World War, everyone had respect for the soldiers, they had some kind of freedom. She was, according to Herman, and in Yuri Nikulin.
The director recalled how difficult it was for him to find other actors in the shot with Nikulin. They looked somehow fake, faked, were somehow fake. And Nikulin was real, alive!
At first, Nikulin could not accept the role of Lopatin. And the age did not fit, and the temperament. In general, the actor wanted to star in comedies, but thanks to Simonov and Herman, it turned out to create an amazing character.
During the filming, the artistic council of "Lenfilm" began to show its dissatisfaction with the actor. They demanded to replace him, claiming that Nikulin looks like a drunk. Specialists from the State Committee for Cinematography insisted that Yuri Nikulin was comical and disgraced the Soviet foundations. There were even threats against the director that if he did not replace Nikulin with another actor, his career would come to an end, and he would never work in art again.
Simonov was completely shocked by such threats. He expressed his displeasure. After all, it was he who invented the image of Lopatin, and he represented him exactly like Yuri Nikulin, and not otherwise. It is good that Simonov was a member of the Central Committee, they listened to him, they lagged behind German and Nikulin, the threats were forgotten. Since a writer sees his hero this way, let him be that way.
Before "20 days without war" Yuri Nikulin had many other gorgeous roles. But in this picture he played an intellectual who was not himself. Nikulin communicated with the front-line soldiers in a language only they could understand. He did not have an actor's "fat", by which one could recognize an experienced actor among millions. He was real, both in movies and in life.
Part of the filming took place in Tashkent. Then the first secretary of the Central Committee of the CPSU of the Uzbek SSR was Sharaf Rashidov, and it was with him that we had to negotiate some of the nuances in the filming. An event was organized, which was attended by Simonov, German, Nikulin. Everyone needed to agree on some material issues. German recalled that Rashidov knew his father and promised to help. And Yuri Nikulin met some circus performer in Tashkent who had nowhere to live. And while Herman was negotiating the placement of the group, the trains, the closure of the tram ring, the actor asked for the clown.
When the entire film crew left Rashidov, German began to express his dissatisfaction with Nikulin. But he replied that he knew that Herman would be able to agree on everything, they would certainly help him, but no one would help the clown, and he needed an apartment.
The painting "20 Days Without War" was released in 1976. The main actors in it were Yuri Nikulin and Lyudmila Gurchenko. They often played in films together, but it was more often still comedies. In "20 Days Without War" they got stunning dramatic roles that can be considered one of the most successful in their careers! Of course, the role of Lopatin performed by Nikulin is amazing and it really is the best of the great actor!
The original article is posted here: https://kabluk.me/zhizn/istinnyj-soldat-samaya-luchshaya-rol-juriya-nikulina.html
