The Soviet film Cinderella is based on a story about a hardworking girl, her evil stepmother and lazy half-sisters. True, the playwright Yevgeny Schwartz reworked the plot, adding humor and satirical motives to it. Now the picture continues to be popular with both kids and adult viewers.
Immediately after the Victory in 1945, the idea of creating a film history about Cinderella appeared at Lenfilm, although post-war Leningrad did not in any way dispose to shooting balls. There are several versions of the origin of the idea.
Idea
The first idea was put forward by the production designer Nikolai Akimov. He offered to involve the director Nadezhda Kosheverova, his ex-wife. Another version gives the authorship of the notion to Kosheverova herself.
She was so impressed by the touching and defenseless Yanina Zheimo at their chance meeting that Nadezhda immediately predicted the role of Cinderella in her picture to cheer up her.
The adaptation of the fairy tale for a modern comedy script was entrusted to Evgeny Schwartz. The playwright wrote the script for Zeimo. Faina Ranevskaya was constantly involved in the work, who received the role of a stepmother.
Roles and actors
At first, the Arts Council approved the ballerina Maria Mazun for the main role. Zeimo, now 38, seemed unsuitable. She was defended by Kosheverova. The miniature actress had to make her own shoes: for size 31, not a single piece of crystal shoe was found. They made fabulous plastic shoes.
And the prince was chosen suitable in age: Alexei Konsovsky turned 35. Vasily Merkuryev, who became the Forester, turned out to be only 5 years older than his screen daughter.
Nadezhda Nurm, one of the best theatrical comedy actresses in Leningrad, was originally planned to be filmed in the form of a stepmother. However, the role was given to Ranevskaya. She was convinced by her interesting remarks and sparkling improvisations. The performer stuffed cotton wool on her cheeks, and tightened her nose with glue, achieving a greater length.
Costumes
They filmed the age-old Cinderella only in the evening, when her face took on the best shape. Before taking a close-up, the heroine was reapplied with makeup.
Participants brought materials for decorations and costumes from home. Furniture, curtains, trophy items from Berlin, which were stored in the Mariinsky Theater without the need for props, were used.
The most difficult thing turned out to be the creation of the main character's ballroom outfit. Ranevskaya helped out. She brought some leftover fabric from home and also suggested using her wall sconce. The lamp "played the role" of the Fairy's headdress, and the fabric was perfect for Cinderella's dress.
Scenery
Most of the filming was combined. The luxurious palace in the picture is not real, the layout. It could not be saved. The nature was filmed in Riga in the summer.
Nikolay Akimov was responsible for the decorations and costumes. He did the job with complete confidence, which makes it for a color painting.
In the spring, the Lenfilm pavilion was very cold. The actors had to wrap themselves in shawls and sheepskin coats between scenes. Everything superfluous was quickly discarded when the command: "Motor!"
The film was made in black and white. All its creators greatly regretted this during the last run in 1947: the color was too much asking for it! As a result, a year later, the tale nevertheless acquired its colors. When coloring, it was not possible to find out what color Zheimo's eyes were, so they made them blue.
