Category Archive: Cinema

One Touch of Venus. 1948 film. Famous sculptures starring in the movies

Famous sculptures starring in the movies

There was a Spanish Bonifacius
Who wrote of mortals loving statues;
But an Italian changed the plan,
And made a statue love a man.
Charles Godfrey Leland
The story of beautiful woman captured in stone has been observed in many cultures, as myth, legend, or folklore. In some creation myths, the first people were images of clay, brought to life by the gods. The theme of the animation of a female statue haunts Western culture, in particular, Pygmalion and Galatea.
Once Pygmalion managed to cut out of precious ivory a statue of a young woman of amazing beauty. The more Pygmalion admired his creation, the more he found beauty in it. It began to seem to him that none of the mortal women exceeds his statue with beauty and nobility. Being jealous of everyone who could see her, Pygmalion did not let anyone into the workshop. In solitude – in the daytime in the rays of Helios, at night by the light of a lamp – the young king admired the statue, whispered tender words to her, bestowed on flowers and jewels, as lovers do. He called her Galatea, dressed her in purple, and put her on the throne next to him.
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Naro-Fominsk of Moscow region. The sculpture of Yemelya in front of a bank. Fairy-tale character Yemelya monuments

Fairy-tale character Yemelya monuments
A simple and kind guy Emelya, sitting on the stove – the main character of the Russian folk tale “On the Pike’s Wish”. The ride on the stove, on which the lazy Emelya lies, not wanting to get up from it – one of the brightest episodes of a fairy tale. Meanwhile, village guy Emelya on the stove is the embodiment of many people’s dreams. So, doing nothing, getting everything from life, isn’t it a dream? And not surprising that the lazy Emelya, lying on the stove, became an inspiration for the film makers, artists and sculptors. As a result, monuments dedicated to Emelya on the stove appear one after another in different cities of Russia.
Tale of a guy who was lying on the stove, and then married the daughter of the king – the fruit of folk art. The author of the ancient Russian legend is for certain unknown. By the time of the first publication, there were 3 different versions of the story.
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Sculptural composition in Donetsk. Behind the symbolic Bear monuments

Behind the symbolic Bear monuments
Chosen as the animal symbol of Russia, the bear is truly the king of the forest. Although brown bear appears to be capable only of roaring, in fact, this is an intelligent beast. Having no equal in strength in the northern latitudes, the bear was worshiped by ancient Rusichs. They made multiple totems in the form of a bear and believed that such a guard would necessarily protect them from enemies, and would give strength in battle. In Russia and there was a cult of the bear.
Meanwhile, the cutest image of bear quite recently has become a famous character of the cartoon “Masha and Bear”.
Sculptures of Masha and the Bear are available in several regions of Russia and other countries. In particular, Sterlitamak (Bashkortostan), Kemerovo and Tashtagol (Kemerovo Region), Volgograd, Elani and Surovikin (Volgograd Region), Kuznetsk (Penza Region), Emanzhelinsk (Chelyabinsk Region), Vileyka (Minsk region, Byelorussia), and Bryansk (Bryansk region). Besides, in other cities featured here – Blagoveshchensk, Donetsk, Perm, Yevpatoria, and Sochi.
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Symbolic for Vakhtangov Theater, Capricious Princess Turandot fountain sculpture. Author – Alexander Nikolaevich Burganov (born March 20, 1935)

Capricious Princess Turandot fountain sculpture

Who is Princess Turandot? According to legend, Turandot is the proud and self-willed daughter of the Chinese Emperor Altoom. In general, she is famous for her refuses to marry. And the reason is that she is sure that all men are “insidious, deceitful in heart, and they can not love.” So, to avoid a hated marriage and not upset her father, who because of her led many wars, Turandot comes up with a cunning plan. In particular, she asks to inform everyone that any prince may have a chance to marry her. But provided that she will offer the applicant three riddles, and a prince who can solve the riddles will become her husband. However, who won’t be able to solve them – will lose his head.
Meanwhile, the golden sculpture of the princess is part of the fountain, known as the “Princess Turandot” Fountain. Located on Arbat Street in Moscow, the fountain appeared in 1997 in front of the entrance of the E.Vakhtangov Theater. In addition, it commemorates the 850th anniversary of Moscow and the 75th anniversary of the production of “The Princess Turandot” by Carlo Gozzi’s fairy tale.
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Ulyanovsk, Russia. Soviet TV star Valentina Leontieva monument, opened August 1, 2008. Bronze. Work by sculptor Nikolai Antsiferov

Adored by millions, Soviet TV star Valentina Leontieva was among those celebrities whom the whole country worshiped. The monument to the famous TV presenter appeared just on her birthday – August 1 (2008). A bronze two-meter sculpture on a pedestal made of granite from the Irininsky deposit (Moscow region) depicts Valentina Leontieva, who left the theater and sat down in the park to relax and admire the view of the river. The author of the monument – sculptor from St. Petersburg Nikolai Antsiferov.
Born on August 1, 1923 in Leningrad, Valentina Leontieva had to survive the siege of Leningrad. At the age of 18 she helped the wounded and sick in the besieged city. When the “Road of Life” opened, her mother and two sisters left the blockaded city. Subsequently, Valentina recalled how her sister’s son died on the road and she could not even bury him humanly: the body of the child had to be buried in a roadside drift.
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Memorial plate to film and theater actress Lyubov Polishchuk (May 21, 1949 –
November 28, 2006. Behind Russian actresses monuments

Behind Russian actresses monuments
Called the Soviet Sophia Loren, Lyubov Polishchuk was one of the most beautiful and extravagant women of Soviet cinema and could drive men crazy with one glance only. The film triumph of the actress took place in 1976, in M. Zakharov’s film “Twelve Chairs”. This role became for her both the landmark and fatal: it was after this film that the all-Union popularity came to her, but during the filming she got a serious spinal injury. The news of the deadly disease of the actress shocked everyone. Buried 28 November 2006 in Moscow at the Troekurovsky cemetery, however, the monument to the great actress appeared November 28, 2009. It is a column crowned with a crystal bust of the actress, reminiscent of a hardened scrap of fog.
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The idol of millions, Russian actor Nikolai Rybnikov as Sasha Savchenko (film ‘Spring on Zarechnaya Street’) in Zaporozhie, Ukraine. November 15, 2013. Sculptor Tigran Akobyan. Monuments to Russian actors and their roles

Monuments to Russian actors and their roles

November 15, 2013, on the Metallurgist avenue appeared a monument to the hero of the film “Spring on Zarechnaya Street” – steelmaker Sasha Savchenko. A smiling fellow in a jacket thrown on his shoulder sits on the edge of a bench. And anyone can sit next to him – take pictures, dream, remember youth … In addition, the lamp is with a surprise: if a passer-by sits down on the bench, a melody of the song “When spring comes – I do not know …” sounds from the loudspeaker stylized in the middle of the last century.
In fact, the filming of “Spring on Zarechnaya Street” took place in Zaporozhye – at a metallurgical plant. Since then, the song from the film has become an unofficial anthem of the city. The sculptural and decorative composition was created and installed on the initiative and for the funds of Zaporizhstal, which celebrated its 80th anniversary in 2013. The author of the composition – artist and restorer Tigran Hakobyan.
Unfortunately, nationalist-minded extremists with shouts “Glory to Ukraine”, smashed a metal sculpture. The monument to the “steelmaker Sasha”, opened on November 15, 2013 lived only 1 year.
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