Vsevolod Aksenov: biography and films

Actors, whose fame fell in the first half of the twentieth century, unfortunately, little is known to the modern generation. But, reviewing black-and-white films, recorded in the pre-war and post-war years, you are convinced that they really were genius, unique and inimitable. One of these was our compatriot - Vsevolod Aksenov. He starred in a number of films that appeared on Soviet screens. But most of all the actor loved the theater.

early years

Aksenov Vsevolod Nikolayevich was born in Moscow, in 1902 on April 6 (19). All his childhood he studied in the gymnasium, and after his graduation he recovered to serve in the Maritime Department and the Commissariat of Internal Affairs. In 1919, he realized that he wanted to become an actor, so he enrolled in drama courses, where he personally recognized E. Vakhtangov. He continued his studies at the First Studio of the Art Theater. From 1920 to 1946 (however, with interruptions) Vsevolod Aksenov worked in the Maly Theater, not only worked there as an actor, but also actively engaged in its development, up to the fact that he mounted the scenery and created a prop.

Vakhtangov himself wanted passionately that in his new production of "Romeo and Juliet" Aksenov played the main role. But, unfortunately, the idea did not come true, and the actor showed himself in other scenic roles.

Works in the theater

The debut role in the Theater of Comedy and Melodrama, which was performed by Vsevolod Aksenov, was Dorian Gray in the production of "The Picture of Dorian Gray", it happened in 1921. After that, he performed in many theaters in Moscow and other cities of the Soviet Union. On his account, such roles as "Lel" in the play "The Snow Maiden", the image of Chatsky in the film "Woe from Wit" by Griboyedov, he played Khlestakov in the production "The Inspector General", based on the story of Nikolai Gogol. Also Vsevolod Aksenov played the role of Glumov in the play "Every Wise Man is quite simple" and brilliantly played Myshkin in "The Idiot" by Fyodor Dostoyevsky. All these roles the actor performed in the 20s of the twentieth century.

Entering the 30s, he did not leave the theater behind, but continued to serve in it. Vsevolod Aksyonov - the actor who played Mechik in the "Defeat" by Fadeev, in the "Glass of Water" he performed the role of Viscount Bolingbroke. In the production of Schiller called "Don Carlos", the actor played the role of Marquise Pose, and in the famous ballad of Henrik Ibsen, "Per Gyunt" played the main role. More details on this will be discussed below.

Per Gyunt and his tours

For those who are intimately familiar with the field of literature and music, this name speaks volumes. Wrote the story of the same name, the Norwegian author-fiction writer Henrik Ibsen. And some time later also the Norwegian - composer Edward Grieg - created music for that play. The work is classified as chamber-symphonic and consists of five parts, like the narrative itself. This story, written by Ibsen, as well as the music created by Grieg, conquered Aksenov's heart. In 1954 he created his own theatrical concert. Actors perform the roles described in the play, to the music of Grieg. Vsevolod Aksenov plays Per Gynt, and Soviet actress Alice Koonen plays the role of Oze, the widow of a peasant woman. After a number of successful performances in Moscow (in particular - in the Concert Hall named after P. Tchaikovsky), a stable troupe of actors and musicians was formed. Soon they all went on a long tour of the Soviet Union and won great fame.

A popular Soviet reader

Since 1935 in the Soviet Union there is a new entertainer - Aksenov. The biography of the actor already counted at that time numerous works both in the theater and in the cinema, so he decided to prove himself by reading the plays and poems of famous Russian authors - Pushkin, Yesenin, Blok. I read on the stage Aksenov and his contemporary writers - MA Svetlov, AT Tvardovsky, KM Smirnov and others. Nor was the actor indifferent to the foreign classics. In his repertoire was Dante, Gaultier, Heine. He was also well acquainted with the works of contemporary authors of Italy, France and England at that time and read them with pleasure to the Russian audience. Having read a whole mass of literary works on the scenes of Moscow, Aksenov founded the so-called circle of musical and dramatic compositions. Through him, he instilled in Soviet people a love of Western European literary classics.

Working in a movie

In Soviet cinema, Vsevolod was in 1929, when he performed his first role as Sergeant Henry in the movie "Traders glory." In 1930, the actor played Alexander Levitsky in the production of "Tomorrow at Night", and two years later - Wedinger in the film "A Brilliant Career." Then for 8 years Aksyonov did not appear in the cinema. As it turned out, he worked with the filmmakers on the epoch-making picture called "Suvorov". In this movie masterpiece he played the role of Meshchersky, due to which he became famous for the whole Union.

In the post-war years, Vsevolod continued his career in the field of cinematography. He starred in such films as The Russian Question, The Conspiracy of the Doomed, Zhukovsky, My Daughter, Our Correspondent. Unfortunately, in 1960 the great Soviet actor Aksenov passed away. But during his last year of life he managed to play the role of Kravtsov in "The Tale of a Girl" and performed Willy Berthold in the production "Far from the Motherland".

Suvorov is a film of many generations

The title of the film speaks for itself - it is about a great national commander, literate military commander Alexander Vasilievich Suvorov. This biographical drama tells us about the period of life from 1794 to 1799 and begins with the Polish campaign. As the directors thought, it will be very important after the defeat of Poland in 1939. Then the picture describes the confrontation with Paul the First, the Swiss campaign, the detection of a spy in the regiment and its exposure and much more. The end of the film is connected with the storming of the Devil's Bridge.