Throughout his literary career, the writer Yulian Semenov has repeatedly collaborated with the cinema. He authored over 20 scripts based on his own works. In 1967, director Yevgeny Tashkov filmed the novel "Major Whirlwind", in 1973 Tatyana Lioznova finished work on the series "Seventeen Moments of Spring", 1980 was marked by the appearance of Boris Grigoriev's "Petrovka 38". Semenov's next work for cinema was the script for the serial film "TASS is authorized to declare", which was released in July 1984.
The plot of the picture
At the center of the events of the political detective is the struggle between two intelligence services - Soviet and American. The film is set in Moscow and the country of Triziland, which does not exist on the real map of Africa. It borders on Nagonia, another fictional state.
CIA residents are preparing a military coup in Nagonia. Their headquarters are located in the city of Louisburg, the capital of Triziland. In parallel, Soviet intelligence, led by General Konstantinov, learns that an American agent Trianon is operating in the capital. To clarify the circumstances, Slavin's ladle is sent to Africa under the guise of a journalist. The search for the spy leads the special services to the economist Olga Winter. Other suspects were a trade representative, ex-husband Winter Zotov and her current love Dubov.
Slavin meets with American businessman Glabb and reveals him as an intelligence agent. He prepares a trap for the Soviet officer, and Slavin ends up in prison. He could get out of it only after the appeal of journalist Paul Dick to the press. At this time, Dubov, close to failure, because it is he who turns out to be the very Trianon, takes poison. A disguised KGB officer goes to the meeting with the resident. As a result, the agent is detained and the plan for a military coup in the African country is a failure.
Images and roles
It is worth saying that the film is based on real events. On the account of Soviet intelligence officers there were many successful operations. A similar case happened in 1977, the author even kept the codename of the agent Trianon. Other characters also had prototypes.
Yulian Semyonov had many friends in the KGB, so he painted the images of his heroes "from nature." Vyacheslav Tikhonov, who played in the film General Konstantinov, fell in love with the audience on the tape "Seventeen Moments of Spring". Working with Stirlitz himself from the cult series was an honor for many actors.
The general's colleagues - the leaders of the operation were played by actors Mikhail Gluzsky and Nikolai Zasukhin. The role of Vitaly Slavin went to Yuri Solomin. The fearless officer from the painting "Adjutant of His Excellency" continued the theme of patriotism and sacrifice for a just cause. Today the image of the scout Slavin is considered a textbook.
Unexpected was the hero John Glabb performed by the singer and comedian Vakhtang Kikabidze. He coped with the task brilliantly, the image of a bright villain, capable of anything, turned out. Alexei Petrenko got the role of journalist Paul Dick. The image was different from all the previously played heroes, and by that time there were a lot of them - a dozen and a half. The role of Dubov-Trianon became the brightest in the picture, it went to Boris Klyuev.
Among the abundance of men, there are female images in the ribbon. The charming Irina Alferova portrayed Olga Winter, who became an intelligent and worthy enemy for the special services. The modeling past helped Eleanor Zubkova to organically portray Glabb's mistress. Actress Olga Volkova got the role of his wife - the daughter of a Nazi, who inherited millions.
Filming and premiere
Director Vladimir Fokin managed to assemble a truly stellar cast of actors. For him, this tape was the most successful, subsequent work did not enjoy the same success. The filming was challenging but interesting."African scenes" were filmed in Abkhazia and Cuba. At that time, there was a military coup in neighboring Grenada and the "island of freedom" was seething, rallies were held in Havana. All this reflected in the mood of the film crew.
The day of the premiere was not chosen by chance. It coincided with the opening of the Los Angeles Olympics, which the USSR boycotted. The picture not only fulfilled its political task - to distract the population from watching overseas sports, but also fell in love with the audience, became part of the country's golden film fund.
