Why actor Georgy Zhzhenov was in prison. Cruel universities of Zhzhonov

Graduated from the Leningrad Variety and Circus College, in 1935 - the film department of the Leningrad Institute of Performing Arts (now St. Petersburg state academy theatrical art), teacher Sergei Gerasimov.

In the second year circus school Georgy Zhzhenov, while performing an acrobatic act at the Shapito circus, was noticed by director Eduard Ioganson and invited him to star in the silent film The Hero's Mistake (1932). In 1935, Zhzhenov became an actor at the Lenfilm and Belgoskino studios. By this time he had starred in the films " Crown Prince Republic" (1934), "Golden Lights" (1934), "Chapaev" (1935).

In July 1938, Georgy Zhzhenov was arrested on charges of espionage and sentenced to five years in prison. The reason was meeting an American on a train en route to Komsomolsk-on-Amur, where the actor was traveling as part of the film crew of the film “Komsomolsk” (1938). Until 1943, he worked at the Dalstroy gold mines. Then another 21 months of camps were added to the sentence.

In March 1945, Zhzhenov was released early from the camp and until December 1946 he worked at the Magadan Polar Drama Theater.

In the spring of 1947 he returned to Moscow. At the request of director Sergei Gerasimov, the actor was sent to work at the Sverdlovsk film studio feature films, where he began filming the film “Alithet Goes to the Mountains” (1949). In 1948, the studio closed and production of the film was transferred to Moscow, where Zhzhenov was prohibited from living, and he took a job at the drama theater in Pavlovsk-on-Oka.

In June 1949, he was arrested again, after which he spent six months in prison in Gorky, and was sent into exile in Norilsk, where he worked in the drama theater until 1953.

On December 2, 1955, Georgy Zhzhenov was twice rehabilitated by the military tribunal of the Leningrad Military District.

After rehabilitation, he returned to Leningrad. In 1954-1962 he worked as an actor at the Leningrad Regional Drama Theater, and since 1960 he played at the Leningrad Lensovet Theater. Among his roles are Neil in Maxim Gorky's "The Bourgeois", Astrov in Anton Chekhov's "Uncle Vanya", Nikita in Leo Tolstoy's "The Power of Darkness", Teodoro in Lope de Vega's "Dog in the Manger".

In 1968-2005, Zhzhenov was an actor at the Moscow Mossovet Theater, where he played Zabrodin in Leningradsky Prospekt by Isidor Stock, the Host in the play Funeral in California by Rustam Ibragimbekov, Inspector Gul in the play He Came by John Priestley, and Norman Thayer in the production "On Golden Lake" by Ernst Thompson and others.

In just a few years creative activity Zhzhenov played more than 100 roles in the theater.
He returned to cinema in the 1950s, starring in supporting roles. The actor’s most notable works of those years were his roles in the films “The Night Guest” (1958) and “The Corrected One to Believe” (1959).

One of the first notable works in cinema after returning from the camps for Georgy Zhzhenov was his role in the film “Planet of Storms” (1961). The actor became famous after a small role as a traffic inspector in Eldar Ryazanov’s comedy “Beware of the Car” (1966).

Zhzhenov's finest hour in cinema came after the release of Veniamin Dorman's adventure film "Resident's Mistake" (1968), where the actor played the son of the Russian emigrant Count Tulyev, a scout named Nadezhda. The film was such a success that it was decided to make a sequel; in 1970, the second film, “The Fate of the Resident,” was released, in 1982, the third film, “Return of the Resident,” and in 1986, the fourth film in the tetralogy, “The End of Operation Resident.”

Georgy Zhzhenov starred in the films "The End of Saturn" and "The Path to Saturn" (1967), "Crane" (1968), "All the King's Men" (1971), "Hot Snow" (1972), "Seeking My Destiny" (1974), “Personal Happiness” (1977), “Medicine against Fear” (1978), “Crew” (1979), “Gateway to Heaven” (1983), etc.

Georgy Zhzhenov played about 70 roles in films.

Georgy Zhzhenov wrote more than 10 books of memoirs, including about camp life in Kolyma and polar Norilsk: “From the Wood Grouse to the Firebird”, “Omchag Valley”, “Lived”, etc.

Georgy Zhzhenov died at the age of 91 in Moscow. He was buried at the Novodevichy cemetery.

The artist’s work has been recognized by many government and professional awards. He was People's Artist of the USSR (1980), laureate of the State Prize of the RSFSR named after the Vasilyev brothers (1975). Awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Labor (1985), the Order of Lenin (1991), the Order of Merit for the Fatherland IV (1995), III (1998) and II degrees (2000).

He was a laureate of the Crystal Turandot (1995), Nika (1997), and Golden Eagle (2002) awards.

In 2000, in the city of Chelyabinsk on Pionerskaya Street, a monument to Georgy Zhzhenov by sculptor Vladimir Polyansky was unveiled.

The artist was married four times. Zhzhenov is survived by his widow, actress Lydia Malyukova. His first wife was actress Lidia Vorontsova, his second wife, and Irina Makaeva’s third. Zhzhenov is survived by three daughters - Elena, Marina and Yulia.

The material was prepared based on information from RIA Novosti and open sources

Georgy Zhzhenov is great Soviet actor, whose contribution to Russian cinema is very difficult to overestimate. At one time he was a real symbol of cinematic art in the USSR. He was considered a classic during his lifetime. Therefore, when talking about the actor’s biography, you need to be extremely careful. After all, his life and the fate of this wonderful actor is real story movie.

Childhood and family of Georgy Zhzhenov

Our today's hero was born in Petrograd (St. Petersburg) on ​​March 22, 1915. His parents were from simple peasants, and therefore early childhood Georgy Zhzhenov could not even think about a career in cinema and international recognition. IN early age he was the most ordinary guy. He loved to play with friends and kick the ball in the yard. The school where the future actor studied was distinguished by its physics and mathematics, but humanitarian subjects The Zhores have always been closer and dearer.

After receiving a diploma of secondary education, our today's hero went to enroll in a variety and circus technical school, but in admissions committee he was told he was too young to enroll. Not wanting to waste time and put everything off until later, Georgy Zhzhenov borrowed documents from his older brother and entered the technical school under the name Boris. Several years later, our hero admitted the fact of deception, but he was forgiven for such a small trick.

Having received the necessary education, the future actor got a job in a circus, but worked there for only a short time. During one of his performances, he was noticed by representatives of Lenfilm, who, in fact, invited him to work in cinema. From that moment on, the course of the great actor’s life entered a completely new direction.

The first films and roles of Georgy Zhzhenov

The first film with the participation of Georgy Zhzhenov was the film “The Hero’s Mistake,” which was released in 1932. Having played the role of a simple tractor driver Pashka Vetrov, the actor instantly earned the respect of his colleagues and the recognition of the audience. This role changed a lot in the fate of the actor himself. In the same year, 1932, he left his career in the circus and entered the cinematography department of the Leningrad College of Performing Arts. During his studies, he successfully starred in new Soviet films. In the period from 1932 to 1935, such films as “Chapaev”, “Golden Lights”, “Crown Prince of the Republic”, and some others were released on the screens.

Georgy Zhzhenov “I love life in all its manifestations”

At the early stage of his career, our today's hero played exclusively small roles. However, over time, the format of his roles constantly increased. It seemed that a real career breakthrough was just around the corner. But totalitarian Soviet Union was still not the best best place for creativity.

Repressions, Georgy Zhzhenov in exile

After the murder of Sergei Kirov, Georgiy's older brother Boris did not go to the farewell demonstration. This fact served as the basis for his exile to Kazakhstan. Subsequently, the entire Zhzhenov family was sent there. Only Georgy managed to stay in Moscow. For disobedience to the central government, he was captured and arrested, but was soon released thanks to a petition from the Lenfilm directorate.

But this was far from the last chord of this symphony. In 1938, during the filming of the film “Komsomolsk,” Zhzhenov met an American diplomat who was traveling with him on the same train to Vladivostok. This circumstance became the basis for accusing the actor of espionage, which in turn led to exile to Kolyma, where he subsequently served his sentence in a labor camp. Initially, Georgy was supposed to serve a five-year sentence, but after this period, without explanation, he was assigned another 21 months of correctional labor.

Actor Georgy Zhzhenov

In cold and gray Kolyma, the only outlet for the actor was the Magadan Musical and Drama Theater. He has performed here since 1944. During this time, he played many different roles, which earned him the respect of the prisoners and the camp administration.

It is quite remarkable that the actor did not interrupt his performances in this theater even after the expiration of his prison term. Until the end of 1946, he worked in the Magadan theater under a contract of employment, but was subsequently arrested again and sent to Norilsk. While serving his next sentence, Georgy Zhzhenov performed at the Norilsk Polar Drama Theater, where for a long time worked together with Innokenty Smoktunovsky.

New roles of Georgy Zhzhenov

Only in 1955 was Georgy Stepanovich completely rehabilitated and finally released from prison. Soviet camps. In the second half of the fifties, he began performing at the Leningrad Regional Drama Theater, and some time later began acting in films again. From that moment on, the actor's career began to slowly improve. He performed many wonderful roles in films, as well as at the Lensovet and Mossovet Theaters. In addition, for some time our today's hero also worked on the radio and worked as a writer. From the pen of the actor came many wonderful essays, stories and stories.

However, cinema has always occupied the main place in Georgy Stepanovich’s career. Bright screen roles in numerous films earned the actor the title of Honored Artist of the RSFSR in 1969. After this, in the career of our today's hero there were also many other awards - the Order of Lenin, the Order of Merit for the Fatherland. In 1979 and 1980, Georgy Zhzhenov was awarded the title People's Artist RSFSR and Soviet Union. In independent Russia, Georgy Zhzhenov continued to work in cinema and theater. During this period he main theme human rights became a part of creativity. This topic can be seen in many of his films.

Death of Georgy Zhzhenov, cause of death

Georgy Stepanovich died on December 8, 2005. The cause of death was lung cancer. The actor's funeral service took place in one of the Moscow churches. The grave of the talented figure of Soviet and Russian cinema is located at the Novodevichy cemetery.

Personal life of Georgy Zhzhenov

Georgy's first wife was the Belarusian actress Evgenia Golynchik. They met while studying, but after that their paths diverged. Therefore, relatively little is known about Evgeniy.

Another thing is the actor’s second wife, Lida. Zhzhenov met with her at the Magadan Theater. Their fates were similar in many ways. She, like him, was a “foreign spy.” And therefore find common language It was not difficult for the lovers. Soon they had a baby common daughter. However, after this the woman’s fate was tragic. She spent many years in the camps, and after her release she committed suicide.

After that, Georgy Zhzhenov was married twice more - to a woman from the Norilsk camp - Irina. And also on a native of Leningrad - Lydia Petrovna. The actor lived with her until the end of his days. Each wife of Georgy Stepanovich gave him a daughter.

In December 1934, Kirov was killed in Leningrad. Boris Zhzhenov, like other Leningrad State University students, was supposed to take part in the funeral procession. But he refused, since he did not have proper shoes to spend several hours in the cold... This was regarded as a hostile attitude towards Soviet power. Soon Boris was expelled from the university. He was later reinstated, but in December 1936 he was again summoned to the NKVD. He never returned from there, receiving seven years for “anti-Soviet activities.”

The Zhzhenov family was evicted from Leningrad. In addition to Georgy, his fellow filmmakers and Gerasimov himself stood up for him.

In the summer of 1938, Zhzhenov, together with a group of film actors, went to film in Komsomolsk-on-Amur. On the train they met an American diplomat who was traveling to Vladivostok as part of a delegation. Of course, fellow travelers were talking to each other. After the trip, the NKVD received a report about “contacts with a foreigner.” This plus the reputation of a relative of the “enemy of the people” was quite enough to accuse Zhzhonov of espionage. When Georgy returned to Leningrad, they came for him.

In the famous Leningrad prison "Crosses" Zhzhenov had to go through all the circles of hell. He was interrogated with passion - tortured, beaten, deprived of sleep... Others could not stand the bullying and confessed to the most absurd things. But the athletic, trained artist flatly refused to admit the charge of espionage. As a result, he was not shot, but given five years in the camps.

This is how Zhzhenov ended up in Kolyma, where he had to endure hunger, cold, exhausting labor, and the daily struggle for survival... During the war, almost no food was delivered to the Kolyma camps, and prisoners died in the hundreds.

In 1943, the head of a traveling acting propaganda team, Nikanorov, accidentally recognized a former film actor in a scab-covered goner from a penal camp at the Glukhar mine, and first achieved his transfer to his propaganda team, and then to the Magadan Musical Drama Theater, the troupe of which was almost entirely composed of prisoners.

In 1944, the actor’s prison term was coming to an end. However, he was summoned to the camp authorities and asked to sign a resolution for an additional term - another 21 months in the camps.

He was reserved, at times he even seemed withdrawn. He was simply cautious, with strangers, with colleagues, and sometimes with loved ones. That's what life taught me. Life has taught Georgy Zhzhenov a difficult and very cruel lesson.

In his youth, Georgy believed in a bright future, in the victory of communism, and even condemned the so-called “enemies of the people.” In his old age, Georgy Stepanovich greatly regretted this. I couldn’t forgive myself for having once considered my older brother an enemy of the people...

Boris Zhzhenov was an example and assistant in everything for the younger George. Boris also helped Georgiy when the boy fell in love with the circus. The older brother, without doubting the younger brother, gave him his documents so that he, still a seventh grader, could enroll in the acrobatic department of the Leningrad Variety and Circus College. On entrance exams no one noticed the substitution, and Georgy-Boris was accepted into the circus, and from the circus - into the cinema, for his first and main role Pashki Vetrov in the movie "The Hero's Mistake." Zhzhonov was quickly noticed, young, athletic, stately - the directors offered the circus performer many roles. The career was going up, but misfortune came to the family.

Photo: www.russianlook.com / Anvar Galeev

In 1934, after the murder of Kirov, a big case was unfolding in Leningrad, and mass arrests began. Boris Zhzhenov was then studying at the Faculty of Mechanics and Mathematics. When was the day of the funeral announced? Kirov, the students were ordered by order to appear for farewell to the communist leader. Boris then, out of his naivety, decided to take time off. He approached the Komsomol organizer and explained: “Comrade, I only have shoes with holes, I have no other shoes. It’s terribly cold outside, if I stand on the icy asphalt for several hours, I’ll end up in the hospital, and Kirov won’t get any better from it, so can I skip this event?” An hour later, the denunciation against Boris Zhzhenov was already in the dean’s office. The young man was expelled from the university in disgrace and deprived of his Leningrad registration.

But Boris Zhzhonov, like his brother, still believed in bright ideals, he wrote letters, petitions, and eventually returned to Leningrad, but not for long. In 1936, Boris Zhzhenov was arrested, and in 1937 he was sentenced to hard labor for anti-Soviet activity. He was allowed one single meeting with his family before being sent along the convoy. Georgy Zhzhenov had a hard time remembering these minutes. After all, then he told his brother to try to atone for his guilt and work better in the camp. Last words which the older brother said to the younger: “Get out...”

Stills from the film "Hot Snow". Directed by Gavriil Egiazarov. 1972 Photo: www.russianlook.com

Boris gave his mother several pieces of paper on which he was able to describe what happened to him in the dungeons of the NKVD, how they mocked him, how they tortured him to extract a confession. The mother handed the leaves to George. And he, having read it, burned page after page in the oven, despite the words of his mother: “It’s in vain, maybe this would be useful to you in life.” Then, many years later, Georgy Stepanovich called this the most shameful act in his life, he really regretted that he could not ask for forgiveness from his brother, whom he never saw again - Boris Zhzhonov died in the camp from dystrophy. But then, in 1937, Georgy could not even imagine that he would soon partly repeat the fate of his brother.

In 1938, Georgy Zhzhenov starred in the film “Komsomolsk” and, together with the entire film crew, went on a train to a film expedition to the city of Komsomolsk. Unfortunately, the actor met a naval attaché from America on the train. He doesn't think about possible consequences, easily communicated with a foreign guest. After some time, the NKVD already had denunciations against Georgy Zhzhenov, signed by the hand of one of his colleagues. In the summer of 1938, the actor was arrested and accused of espionage against the USSR. He was interrogated for days. He stood in front of the investigator for several hours. When he fell from fatigue, they lifted him up by his hair and stood him at attention again. Sentence: 5 years in Kolyma. How did you manage to survive? It's hard to say. But, as the artist recalled, he never tried to get into trouble, but he also never allowed himself to be humiliated. No one. Even to the prison authorities. Perhaps this is why he was respected. Perhaps that is why he did not die of hunger, although he could have.

Still from the film "Crew". Directed by Alexander Mitta. Mosfilm. 1979 Photo: www.russianlook.com

In his autobiographical story “Sanochki,” Georgy Stepanovich recalled that he was already close to starvation. But one day he received a notification about a parcel - his mother collected what she could and sent it to her son. I had to walk several kilometers to get the parcel. Emaciated and barely able to stand, Zhzhonov understood that he would not be able to overcome this path. But then, by a lucky coincidence, one of the operas went there to pick up parcels. Zhzhonov went with him. True, “went” is a strong word. He trudged along, barely moving his legs. In the end, his legs stopped working and he fell. And then a miracle happened. The operative put the prisoner on a sled and drove him to the parcel point. There Georgy Stepanovich warmed up, came to his senses, and received his parcel. As it turned out later, the parcel took almost three years. Sausage, chocolate - all edible supplies turned into one big frozen lump. He really wanted to eat this ice lump right away, but, realizing that he was unlikely to survive after this, Georgy Zhzhenov took this frozen stone with him, already in the camp he broke off a small piece from it and ate it.

Still from the film “Fixed to Believe.” Directed by Viktor Zhilin. Odessa terminal 1959 Photo: www.russianlook.com

Georgy Zhzhenov was released from prison only on March 26, 1945. With the “wolf ticket” there was no way back to Leningrad, much less to Moscow. He worked in provincial theaters for several years, and on June 2, 1949, he again went into exile, where he spent 4 long years. Only on December 2, 1955, the artist Georgy Zhzhenov was rehabilitated. He was given back the right to be called not a prisoner, but a person, and was allowed to move freely around the country.

He was not afraid to start life from scratch. He first got a job in Leningrad, then moved to Moscow, where he again got into cinema. Cheerful, cheerful, hopeful colleagues were not at all like him, who survived the pain and oblivion of an artist. But they loved him again, accepted him, even the authorities were favorably disposed towards Georgy Stepanovich. But he never forgot what the bureaucratic communist machine did to him.

One day, Georgy Stepanovich was invited to Georgia for a reception with high-ranking officials. He sat at the table and listened in amazement as the guests praised Joseph Stalin. In the end, someone suggested raising a glass and drinking to the leader of the peoples. Zhzhonov could not stand it. He asked those present if they were real Georgians. They nodded. Then he asked whether real Georgians forgive blood grievances. The guests shook their heads. To this, Georgy Zhzhonov told them that since they are real Georgians and do not forgive blood grievances, they will understand his reluctance to drink for Stalin, who destroyed his family, killed his brother and took away his youth. Georgy Zhzhenov was no longer afraid to tell the truth and did not believe in the bright future of communism.

Photo: www.russianlook.com / Viktor Chernov

Despite his difficult character, even during the life of Georgy Stepanovich, the authorities of Chelyabinsk approved the installation of a monument to him. Colleagues were then happy for their comrade, they said that this was recognition; he had already become a legend during his lifetime. And Georgy Stepanovich just waved his hand in response and said: “This is all awkward...”