Why was Zhzhenov in prison? Why actor Georgy Zhzhenov was imprisoned

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, “The 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

“Father literally pushed Smoktunovsky out of the Arctic. He said: “I am an exiled face, I have to sit here. What are you doing? Times have changed, go to the mainland!” With Innokenty Smoktunovsky in the film “Beware of the Car.” 1966 Photo: RIA NOVOSTI

It took more than two months to get to the place by stage, half of the people died on the road during this time. And here is the timber industry enterprise. The prisoners there worked in logging, but Zhzhenov began to ask to work as a driver in an auto mechanic shop. He had no experience. He simply sat in a cell with the director of the road transport technical school, and he “taught” them, young guys, auto business. So dad became a driver. And the camp authorities respected him. The film “Fighters” was brought to a neighboring village, Georgy heard about it. I went to the head of the camp: “Allow me to meet with my wife.” - “With which wife?” He explained that Zhenya Golynchik, who starred in this film, is his wife and he himself is a former artist. “Let me go to a film screening so I can see my wife at least on the screen...” They let him go, the boss was even happy: “Look who’s sitting with me!” Artist!"

In 1943, Zhzhenov’s term ended, but until the end of the war, none of the repressed were released. They just extended the deadline. On top of that, George was transferred to a gold mine, where he had to work with pick and shovel in knee-deep ice water 16 hours a day. My father recalled that he began to “get there”... And then the head of the concert crew, Konstantin Nikanorov, arrived at the mine. He was advised to watch the “artist Zhzhenov”. Konstantin Aleksandrovich remembered this show all his life. Before him appeared a typical prisoner with rough hands and a weather-beaten face, on which huge blue eyes burned with anguish and pain. Gorky Vaska Ashes! Dad began to read Chekhov’s “The Joke,” the finest psychological prose. Nikanorov was so amazed that he vowed to get this guy out of the camp. And he kept his oath. So Georgy first ended up in the concert brigade, and then in the Magadan Drama Theater, whose troupe consisted half of prisoners. Here people began to follow Zhzhenov, and he had fans, including among the camp authorities. And one day the wife of the head of the camp administration told him: “Congratulations on your liberation! The husband signed the order..."

After serving his sentence for two years, my father was released in March 1945. In Magadan, he married for the second time, to the “Japanese spy” Lydia Vorontsova. A Leningrader, she went through the same trials as him - and also survived. They had a daughter, Alena. On this day, the father decided to arrange a celebration, among others, he invited famous singer Vadim Kozin. He also served time in Magadan. There weren't enough dishes. Georgy Stepanovich went to a hardware store, bought all the chamber pots there, knocked off their handles - they set the table with them! This is how they lived... It seemed that the trials were over. Zhzhenov even took advantage of the help of Gerasimov, who remembered him and gave a recommendation to the Sverdlovsk film studio. Dad starred there in the film “Alitet Goes to the Mountains.” But then the Sverdlovsk film studio was reorganized, Zhzhenov had to look for work in other places. Meanwhile, people began to be re-imprisoned. Georgy Stepanovich recalled: “You ask the question: “How much?” - they answer: “Forever!” You ask the investigator: “For what?” - he says: “If I knew...”

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 was very sorry 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 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.

A 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...”

Georgy ZHZHENOV

G. Zhzhenov was born on March 22, 1915 in a simple family. As family legend says, one of the artist’s great-grandfathers steamed in a Russian stove (the poor then used stoves instead of bathhouses) and burned himself in it. Hence the surname - Zhzhenov.

Zhzhenov’s parents were from the peasants of the Tver province - at the beginning of the century they moved to St. Petersburg, where the head of the family, Stepan Filippovich, opened his own bakery. There were three children in the family, all boys (George was the youngest). Since both of his brothers were fond of sports, and the eldest, Boris, was even a professional circus performer, Georgy knew where to direct himself from childhood - in 1930 he entered the Leningrad Variety and Circus College. As Zhzhenov himself later admitted, love also played a significant role in his choice. He was then in love with his classmate Lyusya Lycheva, for whose sake he even jumped from the embankment parapet in ice water Neva, and dreamed of appearing to her under the circus dome. And his dream came true.

After graduating from college, the aspiring artist joined a circus troupe, where he practiced tempo ground acrobatics. In 1933, film director Ioganson came to one of these performances and suddenly saw a movie actor in the young acrobat. So Zhzhenov got the role of tractor driver Pashka Vetrov and the silent film “The Hero’s Mistake” (in the same film the debut of another actor who would later become famous, Efim Kopelyan, took place). G. Zhzhenov recalls: “What’s funny is that for the screen test they chose a scene of declaration of love with kisses. I haven't turned seventeen yet; a chaste and shy boy, I was embarrassed and blushed, my hands trembled, my mouse faces twitched. And seven young actresses auditioned for the main female role!”

Thus, our hero made his film debut, and from that moment he began another life - a cinematic one.

Literally for short time Zhzhenov managed to star in several films at once: “A Strict Young Man”, “Crown Prince of the Republic”, “Golden Lights”. Soon he finally asked for a circus and went to study as an actor - he entered the Leningrad Theater School (he immediately entered the 2nd year, which was first taught by A. Zarkhi and I. Kheifits, and then by S. Gerasimov). Pyotr Aleinikov also studied in the same course.

It is worth noting that already in those years Georgy tried his hand at literature - he wrote short stories, essays. S. Gerasimov, having familiarized himself with some of his works, remarked: “You, Zhora, can make a good screenwriter.”

Another “side” hobby of Zhzhenov in those years was football. He played as a right insider in the Leningrad trade union team and, according to experts, played well. And the same Gerasimov put a dilemma before him: “Choose: either football or cinema.” Zhzhenov chose the latter.

After graduating from college in 1935, the actor continued to actively act in films. A. Dovzhenko invites him to play Father Bozhenko’s orderly in the film “Shchors”, and the Vasilyev brothers take on a cameo role in the then famous film Chapaev” (however, during editing, for some reason, all the episodes with the participation of our hero will be cut out). In 1937, S. Gerasimov remembered him and approved him for the role of Komsomol member Mavrin in the film “Komsomolsk”. The picture was released on the screens of the country the following year, but George did not see its premiere - in those days he was already under arrest. What happened?

This statement was quite enough to accuse Boris Zhzhenov of anti-Soviet activities and arrest him. And then it was his turn younger brother- George. Moreover, he was also arrested based on a denunciation. A certain young actor wrote that during the filming of “Komsomolsk” he met the American military attache and, being in the same train compartment with him, sang songs, joked, etc. This was enough to decide Zhzhenov’s fate. True, he was arrested only on the second visit. The security officers came for him on the last day of filming, and the management of the Lenfilm film studio appealed to the NKVD with an urgent request to postpone the arrest for one day in order to complete filming. And such permission was received. The actor successfully filmed the film and was arrested the next day. He and his brother were given Article 58, given 8 years each, and sent to different places: Boris ended up in Norilsk, and Georgy in Magadan. And the Zhzhenov family was evicted from Leningrad.

For the first two years, Zhzhenov felled wood in the taiga plots of the Dukchansky timber industry enterprise (his partner with a two-handed saw was the Soviet intelligence officer Sergei Chaplin). And when the war began, they were transported to the taiga to the gold mines. Chaplin died there. George could have died a thousand times, but fate was merciful to him, each time taking the bony one away from him at the very last moment. For example, in 1943, being sick with scurvy, he walked 10 kilometers through the taiga to get to the “17” mine, where two parcels were waiting for him, which his mother had sent him from outside in 1940. And he arrived. And although all the contents of the parcels had deteriorated over the course of three years, this transition had the most profound effect on the prisoner. beneficial influence. After it, he suddenly realized that he would survive in this hell.

But for his brothers, the fate turned out to be much sadder: in 1943, Boris died in a Vorkuta camp from dystrophy, and the other was shot by the Nazis in Mariupol in front of his mother.

Meanwhile, in 1944, Zhzhenov was lucky again - he was accepted into the troupe of the Magadan Theater. The theater was multi-genre: opera, operetta, drama, variety show, and circus. The troupe consisted of 180 people, 120 of them were prisoners. Many have passed through this theater famous actors and directors: Leonid Varpakhovsky, Yuri Rozenshtraukh, Alexander Demich, Konstantin Nikanorov, Vadim Kozin and others.

It was in this theater that Zhzhenov met his first wife, also an actress from Leningrad named Lida. She was arrested as an “enemy of the people” in 1937, first sentenced to death, but then commuted to ten years in the camps. In 1946, they had a daughter, who was named Alena. At the end of that year they were finally freed and returned to the mainland. For about a year, Zhzhenov worked at the Sverdlovsk film studio - in fact, under public supervision. Then he was kicked out due to lack of registration, and he got a job in the troupe of a small theater in the town of Pavlovo-on-Oka. But life there did not last long. Already in June 1949 (when the second wave of Stalin’s purges began in the country), he was arrested again and thrown into Gorky prison. Six months later, the verdict in absentia of the Special Meeting was announced: link in Krasnoyarsk region. Stage across all Russia to Krasnoyarsk. Another two months in prison. And finally, Norilsk - the Norilsk Polar Drama Theater, where he worked as an exiled actor until his rehabilitation in 1954 (I. Smoktunovsky also played in the same theater at that time).

That year, Zhzhenov finally returned to Leningrad and was accepted into the troupe of the Lensovet Theater. And in 1956 he returned to cinema. Director Mikhail Dobson (they met in a cell of the Leningrad NKVD) began filming the film “Storm” and invited the actor to play one of the roles - soldier Gavrilov.

Regarding Zhzhenov’s personal life, I note that his first wife died in the early 50s. He married again, and in this marriage he had a daughter, Marina. But this marriage did not last long. In 1957, he married again - this time to actress Lydia Malyukova. This marriage brought another child and again a girl - she was named Yulia.

Between 1957 and 1966, Zhzhenov starred in 18 films, but most of them were episodic roles, which few people remember today. Although there were some successes among them. For example, in the films “Silence”, “The Third Rocket” (both 1963) and July Rain (1967). However, the roles played by the actor in two latest films, the viewer never saw it.

“The Third Rocket” was directed by Richard Viktorov - it was the first film adaptation of V. Bykov’s military prose. After seeing this film, Italian director Filippo De Santis said: “It should win all the awards that exist in world cinema.” However, none of this happened. GlavPUR Soviet Army stood in the way of this truthful film, and his boss, General Epishev, said: “If I see an advertisement for this film anywhere, I will order tanks to cordon off the cinema!” So the mass audience never saw the film.

Something similar happened with the film “July Rain”. Director M. Khutsiev says: “A very serious episode was cut out of the film - in fact, the entire role of Georgy Zhzhenov. He played such a half-crazy KGB officer. Uralova’s heroine, when she visited voters, ended up in his apartment. Word for word - and she already found herself, as it were, under interrogation. At the end, he said out of habit: “Give me your pass, I’ll sign” and picked up the phone: “Ivanov, let me in...” We wrote this episode out of mischief, almost certainly knowing that it would not be allowed. And when they filmed it and saw how great Zhzhenov played, we realized that the scene was becoming one of the most important in the film.”

The first fame of the actor Zhzhenov, when the viewer truly noticed and remembered him, came in 1966 - with the role of a traffic police inspector in the film “Beware of the Car!” Although there was an episode here, the actor played it brilliantly.

Then there were roles in the films: “Now Judge ...” (1967), “The Path to Saturn”, “The End of Saturn”, “Spring on the Oder”, “Doctor Vera” (all - 1968).

In 1968, Zhzhenov left the Lensovet Theater due to a conflict with the main director I. Vladimirov. This conflict especially worsened after the actor was elected chairman of the local committee of the theater. In the end, Zhzhenov was faced with a choice: either lose the respect of his theater comrades, or take the side of the administration. And he submitted his resignation. And here’s what’s surprising: after that, in his native Leningrad, only one theater offered him work - comedy, and in Moscow - seven. Faced with such a choice, Zhzhenov began to think painfully: where to go? And it is unknown whose offer he would have accepted then, if not for chance. The chief director of the Mossovet Theater, Yuri Zavadsky, called him and offered him the role that the artist had dreamed of all his life - Leo Tolstoy in the play based on S. Ermolinsky's play "Flight into Life". That's what decided future fate our hero. He moved to Moscow and lived only in this role. However, the play never saw the light of day. Minister of Culture E. Furtseva, having attended his rehearsal, stated that she would not allow the dirty linen of the great Russian genius to be exposed to public display. And she didn’t allow it.

In 1969, Veniamin Dorman’s film “Resident’s Mistake” was released on the country’s screens, in which Zhzhenov played the main role - a foreign intelligence officer of Russian origin, Tulyev. This picture brought him all-Union fame. It took 9th place at the box office, attracting 35.4 million viewers.

G. Zhzhenov recalls: “Several episodes of the film were filmed in the famous “Matrosskaya Tishina.” This was the most painful filming for me - I remembered the past. I cannot convey that painful feeling to film set, waiting for when the shift will finally end..."

In 1970, the sequel to “The Resident’s Mistake”, the film “The Fate of the Resident,” was released on the country’s screens. This time the film took 13th place at the box office, attracting 28.7 million viewers.

In 1969, Zhzhenov had an excellent opportunity for the first time to his creative biography to play a hardened criminal: director Anatoly Bobrovsky offered him the role of the Count in the film “The Return of St. Luke.” However, Mosfilm director N. Sizov opposed this choice, explaining his decision simply: “If Zhzhenov plays this role, then all the sympathy of the audience will be on his side. It’s better to play a policeman, but not a bandit.” But the actor flatly refused to play another character and, as a result, the film was released without him. The role of the Count was played by Vladislav Dvorzhetsky.

Meanwhile, having lost this role, Zhzhenov received another one a year later, which would become one of the best in his career. It's about about the role of Willie Stark in the TV movie "All the King's Men."

Initially, the wonderful actor Pavel Luspekayev was approved for this role. However, at the very beginning of filming (in April 1970), he died. And the role was given to Zhzhenov. He later admits: “My favorite role is Willie Stark.”

But another role - General Bessonov - in the film “Hot Snow” (1972) the artist for a long time rejected. He was then very busy in the theater, filming other films, so he didn’t want to act in it. But the same director of Mosfilm, N. Sizov, literally begged him to agree to filming. As it turned out, not in vain. This role also became one of the best in the actor’s career. It was for this that in 1975 he was awarded the State Prize of the RSFSR and the Silver Medal named after A. Dovzhenko.

A new wave of audience love for Zhzhenov came in 1980, when Alexander Mitta’s film “Crew” was released on the country’s screens. In it he played one of the main roles - the commander of the liner Timchenko. The film took 3rd place at the box office, attracting 71.1 million viewers.

In 1980, G. Zhzhenov was awarded the title of People's Artist of the USSR.

In the next decade, the actor acted less actively than in the previous two decades, preferring to devote more time to the theater. On the stage of the Mossovet Theater he played about the performances: “The Trial of the Judges”, “Uncle Vanya”, “The Kingdom of the Earth”, etc.

In 1981, he accepted V. Dorman’s offer to star in the third film about the resident, “Return of the Resident.” However, this picture turned out to be much weaker than the previous two. The film took 15th place at the box office, attracting 23.9 million viewers.

In the early 90s, a new play appeared at the Mossovet Theater - “On the Golden Lake” based on the play by E. Thompson. At one time it was staged on Broadway, then a film appeared, in which the main roles were played by Henry and Jane Fonda (father and daughter). In the Moscow production, these roles were also played by father and daughter, only the Zhzhenovs - Georgy and Yulia. As Georgy Zhzhenov admitted after the premiere: “For me, this is not just another role, acting work to my liking: this is a civic act, a socially significant action. In our time, when there is so much mutual malice and all sorts of lawlessness around, to contrast this with a soul shining with purity; not the pessimism to which a person comes at the end of his life, but the continuation of faith and life! The role in this play quenched my longing for the unplayed.”

Nowadays, Zhzhenov’s life consists of theater and home. One of his houses is two hundred meters from the apartment youngest daughter Yuli, he built another one near Moscow, on Iksha. There he spends his weekends alone or with his wife Lydia Petrovna.

G. Zhzhenov says: “In general, I like women who are soft, weak, and tender. And my wife does not have an easy-going character. That's why we fight often. We have more quarrels than peace in the family. I’m mentally stronger, or something, but Lydia Petrovna is hysterical, like most women, her nerves are frayed, like any actress with a not very happy fate. After all, Lydia Petrovna - wonderful actress was a huge success in St. Petersburg... But it’s too late for me to rock the boat...

Modern politicians disgust me. When on the TV screen the fathers of the nation talk about their incomes, when I see the three-story stone mansions of the generals, I read and hear that workers are going on hunger strikes because they are not paid wages, then I understand that I live in a sick state. Even in his native theater I, a Russian actor, play more and more foreigners. I never panicked and never blasphemed my own fate; I was always offended by the “power.” You have played more than 100 roles in the theater, more than 80 in films, so what is there to regret? I don’t have time to sit on the shore with a fishing rod, because I’m sitting here writing stories based on my memories, and I still have a lot to do. (G. Zhzhenov has already published a collection of memoirs “Omchag Valley” and a book “From Capercaillie to the Firebird.” - F.R.). I read the scripts that they send me, trying to find an interesting, deep role for myself, but there is nothing yet, and I feel sorry for this lost time...

Most of my friends are not actors. You can have friendly relations, but real friends can be anywhere you want, but not in the acting environment. I don’t know if this is good or bad, but in my life this is so...”

In the spring of 1997, during the solemn ceremony of presenting the highest cinematic award of Russia “Nika”, G. Zhzhenov became the owner of an honorary prize for honor and dignity.

P.S. Eldest daughter G. Zhzhenova - Alena - lives in Riga, works as an artist-designer and heads one of the private companies. Her daughter Dasha is already 17 years old.

The middle daughter, Marina, lives in St. Petersburg and runs an etiquette school. She has a son, Peter.

The youngest daughter, Yulia, works with her father in the same theater and lives next to her parents. Her daughter Polina is 6 years old.

This text is an introductory fragment.

December 8 – Georgy ZHZHENOV This man suffered inhuman trials. His film career began with the famous film “Chapaev”. And although the role was episodic, it opened up excellent prospects for the 19-year-old actor. But then they were not destined

One Hundred Circles of Hell Georgy Zhzhenov Georgy Zhzhenov’s film career began quite early: he was 18 years old when in 1933 he starred in the film “The Hero’s Mistake.” Then there were several more films, the most famous of which was “Komsomolsk” (1937) by Sergei Gerasimov. However, the premieres

BURKOV Georgy BURKOV Georgy (theater and film actor: “Zosya” (1967; Semenov), “Zigzag of Fortune” (1969; photographer Petya), “Old Robbers” (1971; prosecutor’s office investigator Fedor Fedorovich Fedyaev), “Stoves and Benches” (1973; thief on the train Viktor Alexandrovich), “Kalina Krasnaya” (1974; thief Guboshlep),

ZHZHENOV Georgy ZHZHENOV Georgy (theater and film actor: “The Hero’s Mistake” (1932; main role– tractor driver Pashka Vetrov), “Chapaev” (1934; Teresha), “Alien Relatives” (1956; wedding guest), “Storm” (1957; Gavrila), “Night Guest” (1959; main role – artist Sergei Petrovich) , "Baltic sky"

Georgy Rublev In Selvinsky's seminar, the yellow-faced, black-haired, old-looking, tall, stocky, sickly Zhora Rublev occasionally appeared. He was four to five years older than me, but it seemed twenty. Having met us, Rublev invited us to visit, and in his house on

Father George For me to be born on March 30, 1904, it was naturally necessary for my mother to meet my father. This in itself is a major event. historical significance did not have, but it so happened that this couple was married by Father Georgy Gapon, an acquaintance of his father - a person

Chapter 24. Unburnt Zhzhenov Georgy Zhzhenov was born on March 22, 1915 in Petrograd. His parents are from peasants in the Tver province. At the beginning of the century, they moved to the Northern capital, where the head of the family, Stepan Filippovich, opened his own bakery. In 1930, G. Zhzhenov entered, by the way,

GEORGE GARANYAN...Nothing foreshadowed trouble: he flew to Krasnodar to participate with the city Big Band in a joint performance with Michel Legrand. The night before he felt ill. He was hospitalized in the city emergency hospital medical care with suspicion

GEORGE Engulfed in a hot and bright fire Will I forget about the past, about the dark, about the old? About the ringing silver rings chain mail, About the prince, about the brave one, I’ll forget, friends! I am always in proud and tender delight your name I repeat - George! Against the backdrop of the Russian red glow - My brave

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 he worked for a long time 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.