The film "The Elusive Avengers" (1966) has long become a classic of Russian cinema. Director Edmond Keosayan has created an adventure film in which there are chases, shooting, adventures. The heroes of the picture are four brave teenagers who bravely defend the young country during the Civil War. The audience liked the film, they certainly wanted to continue and always with the same artists. Two years later, the heroes told from the screens about their adventures in the film "New Adventures of the Elusive" (1968). This was followed by "The Crown of the Russian Empire" (1970).
The performers of the main roles gained popularity one day, immediately after the release of the first part of the film. In just one year of distribution, the tape was watched by more than 50 million viewers. But the fame of novice actors was fleeting. Their biographies developed differently.
Victor Kosykh
By the time the filming of "The Elusive" began, Viktor Kosykh was considered the most experienced in acting. He got his first role as a thirteen-year-old schoolboy, when he won over with his artistry and spontaneity the assistant director of the children's comedy "Welcome, or No Unauthorized Entry". The fidget Kostya Inochkin became his hero. Then came the paintings "Father of a Soldier" and "They Call, Open the Door." Actor Ivan Kosykh, who replaced his father, played a great role in the boy's life. The warm relationship that developed between them led to several joint film works. Wanting to get closer, Vitya, who bore the surname Volkov from birth, changed it to his stepfather's surname. The choice of profession was not accidental; after some doubts, the young man entered VGIK. The role of the Red Army soldier Danka Shchus turned out to be the most stellar in the artist's career.
Kosykh's filmography has about forty episodes, but there are no main roles in this list. The artist was more fortunate in his personal life. He was married twice, with each wife he experienced the joy of fatherhood. The youngest daughter, who was born when the actor was fifty, filled his life with new colors. The artist's life was overshadowed by the constant trials that fate presented to him, he repeatedly became a participant in road accidents. Viktor Ivanovich died not driving, but of a heart attack in his capital apartment in 2011.
Mikhail Metelkin
Mikhail Metelkin, who played an intelligent schoolboy, was invited to the cinema by his friend and classmate Vitya Kosykh. When Misha first appeared on the set, the director doubted him very much, the reason was the small growth of the candidate for the role. The purposeful young man began to lean on carrots with sour cream and by the beginning of filming grew by seven centimeters, which dispelled all doubts about him. Metelkin also received his education at VGIK, but at the Faculty of Economics. I had to combine my studies with the filming of the third part of "The Elusive" and other films.
Work in the cinema so dragged Mikhail that he received a director's diploma and shot several documentaries and short films. The debut of the full-length film took place in the film "Frosts Take Place". In the 80s, he worked a lot in advertising, gave master classes, and in the 90s he went into business, far from the world of cinema. Now he travels a lot around the world and is fond of equestrian sports.
Vasily Vasiliev
Yashka-gypsy in "The Elusive" was played by the bright and talented Vasya Vasiliev. He grew up in a large family in the Vladimir region and did not dream of fame, although he enjoyed studying in the school theater group and played the trumpet. After graduating from school, he decided to devote himself to agriculture and entered the technical school. But it was not possible to start his studies, the assistant director of the future trilogy invited him to screen tests in Moscow. A wonderful voice, plasticity and ability to stay in the saddle made him stand out among thousands of applicants. After the triumphant release of the picture, Vasily received many offers from eminent directors, but he always refused, believing that there would be no better role. Vasiliev worked for several years at the Romen Theater and graduated from the film actor's studio. The performer of gypsy songs and romances with a guitar traveled all over the country with concerts. Today he lives in Tver and heads the Gypsy cultural center. He is married for the second time and has grandchildren.
Valentina Kurdyukova
The only girl in the four "elusive" was Valentina Kurdyukova. Since childhood, the girl has been engaged in gymnastics, received the category of a candidate for master of sports. The image of Ksanka Shchus became her only breakout in the world of cinema. After finishing work on the trilogy, Valya entered the circus school. Secretly in love with Vasya Vasiliev, she chose a husband like him, also a gypsy and a singer. The family and the birth of children forced the girl to quit her studies and sports; she was no longer invited to the cinema either. Little is known about how the actress lives today. She spends most of her time in her apartment in Moscow and avoids talking to journalists.
In addition to the beloved four actors, performers of the main roles, many celebrities participated in the film. The incomparable Bubu Kastorsky was played by the incomparable Boris Sichkin, Yefim Kopelyan showed the charisma of the ataman Burmash, and Armen Dzhigarkhanyan embodied the captain of Ovechkin on the screen.
Despite its half-century anniversary, the picture is loved by several generations of viewers. Some watched it dozens of times, others first got acquainted with a Soviet western and remembered it for the rest of their lives.
