Aleksei Dikiy
Encyclopedia
Aleksei DikiyAleksei Dikiy ' onMouseout='HidePop("21567")' href="/topics/Moscow_Art_Theatre">Moscow Art Theatre
and later worked with Habima Jewish theatre in Tel-Aviv. He was arrest
ed and imprisoned in Gulag
under the dictatorship of Joseph Stalin
but later played the role of Joseph Stalin in several films.
Ekaterinoslav, Russian Empire, now Dnepropetrivsk, Ukraine
. At young
age he moved to Kharkov, where his sister, named Maria Sukhodolska - Dikova, was a popular actress, and she helped
him to become an actor. Young Dikiy made his acting debut at the early age of 6, on stage of the
Kharkov Drama under the directorship of Oleksi Sukhodolskiy.
with the assistance of
I. Uralov, actor of Moscow Art Theatre
. There Dikij studied acting under S. Khalyutina and K. Mardzhanov. Then Dikiy studied under Konstantin Stanislavski
and Vladimir Nemirovich-Danchenko
, and was hired as an actor at the Moscow Art Theater in 1910. He admired the stage works of Michael Chekhov
and was his partner on stage. In 1922 Dikiy followed Michael Chekhov
in the
formation of the second Moscow Art Theater, MKhAT-2. There his artistic
rivalry with Michael Chekhov turned into a bitter dispute, and Dikiy left
Moscow Art Theatre in 1928. At that time he also worked as director
with the Jewish Chamber Theatre in Moscow
.
worked as director with "Habima", the legendary Jewish theatre troupe,
which emigrated from Russia. Dikiy directed two successful plays for
"Habima" in Tel-Aviv. On December 29, 1928, he premiered 'Der Oytser'
(The Treasure), a play by Sholom Aleichem
, which became a great artistic and
financial success. On May 23, 1929, he premiered 'The Crown', a play by
David Calderon. With the success of Dikij's directorship "Habima"
became established as a national Jewish theatre, and Dikiy gained
international reputation as an innovative director.
started his own theater-studio in Moscow and also taught an acting
class. In 1934 Dikiy collaborated with Dmitri Shostakovich
on production of the legendary opera
Katerina Izmailova
(aka.. Lady Makbeth of Mtsensk District). Dikiy's
production of 'Katerina Izmailova' had over 100 performances in
Leningrad
and Moscow
, and was considered as a highlight in his
directing career. However, in 1936, Joseph Stalin
saw the opera and severely
criticized the work of both Dmitri Shostakovich
and Dikiy. After Stalin's
negative criticism both Dmitri Shostakovich
and Dikiy suffered from serious
troubles in their lives and careers.
, then he was appointed the director
of the Bolshoi Drama Theater (BDT) in Leningrad
. There he began his
life-long collaboration and friendship with actor Boris Babochkin
. At that time
many Russian intellectuals were terrorized by purges and repressions,
known as the "Great Terror
" under the dictatorship of Joseph Stalin
. In 1937
Aleksei Dikiy was arrested on false accusations of anti-Soviet
activity. In reality he was a victim of behind-the-scenes manipulations
against him by other jealous actors. Dikiy was sentenced and exiled to
Gulag
prison-camp in Siberia
, where he spent 4 years until his release
in 1941.
or in Moscow
,
instead he lived and worked in the Siberian city of Omsk
for several
years during the Second World War. In 1944 Dikiy was cast in the title
role as Prince Kutuzov
in a Soviet propaganda film Kutuzov
(1944), which was
also known outside of Russia
as 1812. For that role Dikiy was awarded
the Stalin Prize and was allowed to work in Moscow as a theater
director. His most important works as director were "Blokha" by Nikolai Leskov
and "Teni" (aka.. Shadows) by Mikhail Saltykov-Shchedrin
, starring Boris Babochkin
.
Aleksei Dikiy was cast to portray Joseph Stalin in several propaganda
films.
Stalin himself approved Dikiy for the role. Stalin became interested in
the brilliant actor, after he saw the film Kutuzov (1944). Then Stalin saw
Dikiy's performance in the role as Stalin, and sent his security
officers to get Dikiy delivered to Kremlin
for a brief meeting. Stalin
had a drink and told Dikiy that his imprisonment was a must, and that
everyone in the country must undergo such experience in exile and
prison-camps. Later Dikiy told his students that he played the role of
Joseph Stalin as a dangerous, scary, power-hungry dictator
. Stalin liked the
image of himself made by Dikiy in films.
Stalin Prize 5 times, in 1946, 1947, 1949 twice, and 1950. "I am playing not a human, but a granite monument" said Dikiy, alluding to Stalin http://www.hrono.ru/biograf/diki.html.
Dikiy was designated People's Artist of the USSR
(1949). He was
nominated for 'Best Actor' and received a special mention at the 1947
Venice Film Festival
for the title role in Admiral Nakhimov
.
Shadows), a play by Saltykov-Shchedrin. Under Dikiy's direction his
friend and partner, Boris Babochkin
, played one of his best roles ever -
Klaverov, a corrupt career politician, alluding to a typical Soviet
bureaucrat. For that work Boris Babochkin
was viciously attacked in the
official Soviet newspaper Pravda
by none other than Ekaterina Furtseva
, who was then a Mayor of Moscow
and later was made
Minister of Culture of the Soviet Union. Furtseva became enraged with
Dikiy's and Babochkin's satirical portrayal of the Soviet bureaucracy
with allusions to the Soviet leadership. She banned the play, and
censored both Babochkin and Dikiy from public performances and kept
them virtually unemployed for three years until Babochkin was finally
forced to repent to the Communist Party.
powerless witness of censorship and public humiliation of his friend, Boris Babochkin. Official attacks by the Soviet Communist Party caused Dikiy
a severe emotional trauma, which led to alcoholism, depression and other health problems.
Aleksei Dikiy died of a heart failure on October 1, 1955, in Moscow
,
and was laid to rest in Novodevichy Monastery Cemetery in Moscow
,
Russia
.
Moscow Art Theatre
The Moscow Art Theatre is a theatre company in Moscow that the seminal Russian theatre practitioner Constantin Stanislavski, together with the playwright and director Vladimir Nemirovich-Danchenko, founded in 1898. It was conceived as a venue for naturalistic theatre, in contrast to the melodramas...
and later worked with Habima Jewish theatre in Tel-Aviv. He was arrest
Arrest
An arrest is the act of depriving a person of his or her liberty usually in relation to the purported investigation and prevention of crime and presenting into the criminal justice system or harm to oneself or others...
ed and imprisoned in Gulag
Gulag
The Gulag was the government agency that administered the main Soviet forced labor camp systems. While the camps housed a wide range of convicts, from petty criminals to political prisoners, large numbers were convicted by simplified procedures, such as NKVD troikas and other instruments of...
under the dictatorship of Joseph Stalin
Joseph Stalin
Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin was the Premier of the Soviet Union from 6 May 1941 to 5 March 1953. He was among the Bolshevik revolutionaries who brought about the October Revolution and had held the position of first General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union's Central Committee...
but later played the role of Joseph Stalin in several films.
Ukraine
He was born Aleksei Denisovich Dikiy on February 24, 1889, inEkaterinoslav, Russian Empire, now Dnepropetrivsk, Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
. At young
age he moved to Kharkov, where his sister, named Maria Sukhodolska - Dikova, was a popular actress, and she helped
him to become an actor. Young Dikiy made his acting debut at the early age of 6, on stage of the
Kharkov Drama under the directorship of Oleksi Sukhodolskiy.
Moscow
In 1909 he moved to MoscowMoscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
with the assistance of
I. Uralov, actor of Moscow Art Theatre
Moscow Art Theatre
The Moscow Art Theatre is a theatre company in Moscow that the seminal Russian theatre practitioner Constantin Stanislavski, together with the playwright and director Vladimir Nemirovich-Danchenko, founded in 1898. It was conceived as a venue for naturalistic theatre, in contrast to the melodramas...
. There Dikij studied acting under S. Khalyutina and K. Mardzhanov. Then Dikiy studied under Konstantin Stanislavski
Konstantin Stanislavski
Constantin Sergeyevich Stanislavski , was a Russian actor and theatre director. Building on the directorially-unified aesthetic and ensemble playing of the Meiningen company and the naturalistic staging of Antoine and the independent theatre movement, Stanislavski organized his realistic...
and Vladimir Nemirovich-Danchenko
Vladimir Nemirovich-Danchenko
Vladimir Ivanovich Nemirovich-Danchenko was a Georgian-born Russian theatre director, writer, pedagogue, playwright, producer and theatre organizer, who founded the Moscow Art Theatre with his colleague, Konstantin Stanislavsky, in 1898.-Biography:Vladimir Ivanovich Nemirovich-Danchenko was born...
, and was hired as an actor at the Moscow Art Theater in 1910. He admired the stage works of Michael Chekhov
Michael Chekhov
Michael Chekhov was a Russian-American actor, director, author, and theatre practitioner. His acting technique has been used by actors such as Clint Eastwood, Marilyn Monroe, Yul Brynner, and Robert Stack. Constantin Stanislavski referred to him as his most brilliant student...
and was his partner on stage. In 1922 Dikiy followed Michael Chekhov
Michael Chekhov
Michael Chekhov was a Russian-American actor, director, author, and theatre practitioner. His acting technique has been used by actors such as Clint Eastwood, Marilyn Monroe, Yul Brynner, and Robert Stack. Constantin Stanislavski referred to him as his most brilliant student...
in the
formation of the second Moscow Art Theater, MKhAT-2. There his artistic
rivalry with Michael Chekhov turned into a bitter dispute, and Dikiy left
Moscow Art Theatre in 1928. At that time he also worked as director
with the Jewish Chamber Theatre in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
.
Israel
In 1928 Aleksei Dikiy received invitation to work in Tel-Aviv. There heworked as director with "Habima", the legendary Jewish theatre troupe,
which emigrated from Russia. Dikiy directed two successful plays for
"Habima" in Tel-Aviv. On December 29, 1928, he premiered 'Der Oytser'
(The Treasure), a play by Sholom Aleichem
Sholom Aleichem
Sholem Aleichem was the pen name of Solomon Naumovich Rabinovich, a leading Yiddish author and playwright...
, which became a great artistic and
financial success. On May 23, 1929, he premiered 'The Crown', a play by
David Calderon. With the success of Dikij's directorship "Habima"
became established as a national Jewish theatre, and Dikiy gained
international reputation as an innovative director.
Repressions
In 1931, back in Moscow, Dikiystarted his own theater-studio in Moscow and also taught an acting
class. In 1934 Dikiy collaborated with Dmitri Shostakovich
Dmitri Shostakovich
Dmitri Dmitriyevich Shostakovich was a Soviet Russian composer and one of the most celebrated composers of the 20th century....
on production of the legendary opera
Katerina Izmailova
Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District (opera)
Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District is an opera in four acts by Dmitri Shostakovich, his Op.29. The libretto was written by Alexander Preis and the composer, and is based on the story Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk District by Nikolai Leskov. The opera is sometimes referred to informally as Lady Macbeth...
(aka.. Lady Makbeth of Mtsensk District). Dikiy's
production of 'Katerina Izmailova' had over 100 performances in
Leningrad
Leningrad
Leningrad is the former name of Saint Petersburg, Russia.Leningrad may also refer to:- Places :* Leningrad Oblast, a federal subject of Russia, around Saint Petersburg* Leningrad, Tajikistan, capital of Muminobod district in Khatlon Province...
and Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
, and was considered as a highlight in his
directing career. However, in 1936, Joseph Stalin
Joseph Stalin
Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin was the Premier of the Soviet Union from 6 May 1941 to 5 March 1953. He was among the Bolshevik revolutionaries who brought about the October Revolution and had held the position of first General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union's Central Committee...
saw the opera and severely
criticized the work of both Dmitri Shostakovich
Dmitri Shostakovich
Dmitri Dmitriyevich Shostakovich was a Soviet Russian composer and one of the most celebrated composers of the 20th century....
and Dikiy. After Stalin's
negative criticism both Dmitri Shostakovich
Dmitri Shostakovich
Dmitri Dmitriyevich Shostakovich was a Soviet Russian composer and one of the most celebrated composers of the 20th century....
and Dikiy suffered from serious
troubles in their lives and careers.
Leningrad
In 1936, Dikiy was ordered out of MoscowMoscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
, then he was appointed the director
of the Bolshoi Drama Theater (BDT) in Leningrad
Leningrad
Leningrad is the former name of Saint Petersburg, Russia.Leningrad may also refer to:- Places :* Leningrad Oblast, a federal subject of Russia, around Saint Petersburg* Leningrad, Tajikistan, capital of Muminobod district in Khatlon Province...
. There he began his
life-long collaboration and friendship with actor Boris Babochkin
Boris Babochkin
Boris Andreyevich Babochkin was a well-known Soviet film and theatre actor and director. Boris Babochkin was one of the first internationally recognized stars of the Soviet-Russian cinema...
. At that time
many Russian intellectuals were terrorized by purges and repressions,
known as the "Great Terror
Great Purge
The Great Purge was a series of campaigns of political repression and persecution in the Soviet Union orchestrated by Joseph Stalin from 1936 to 1938...
" under the dictatorship of Joseph Stalin
Joseph Stalin
Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin was the Premier of the Soviet Union from 6 May 1941 to 5 March 1953. He was among the Bolshevik revolutionaries who brought about the October Revolution and had held the position of first General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union's Central Committee...
. In 1937
Aleksei Dikiy was arrested on false accusations of anti-Soviet
activity. In reality he was a victim of behind-the-scenes manipulations
against him by other jealous actors. Dikiy was sentenced and exiled to
Gulag
Gulag
The Gulag was the government agency that administered the main Soviet forced labor camp systems. While the camps housed a wide range of convicts, from petty criminals to political prisoners, large numbers were convicted by simplified procedures, such as NKVD troikas and other instruments of...
prison-camp in Siberia
Siberia
Siberia is an extensive region constituting almost all of Northern Asia. Comprising the central and eastern portion of the Russian Federation, it was part of the Soviet Union from its beginning, as its predecessor states, the Tsardom of Russia and the Russian Empire, conquered it during the 16th...
, where he spent 4 years until his release
in 1941.
Comeback
Dikiy was not allowed to return to work either in LeningradLeningrad
Leningrad is the former name of Saint Petersburg, Russia.Leningrad may also refer to:- Places :* Leningrad Oblast, a federal subject of Russia, around Saint Petersburg* Leningrad, Tajikistan, capital of Muminobod district in Khatlon Province...
or in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
,
instead he lived and worked in the Siberian city of Omsk
Omsk
-History:The wooden fort of Omsk was erected in 1716 to protect the expanding Russian frontier along the Ishim and the Irtysh rivers against the Kyrgyz nomads of the Steppes...
for several
years during the Second World War. In 1944 Dikiy was cast in the title
role as Prince Kutuzov
Mikhail Illarionovich Kutuzov
Mikhail Illarionovich Golenishchev-Kutuzov was a Field Marshal of the Russian Empire. He served as one of the finest military officers and diplomats of Russia under the reign of three Romanov Tsars: Catherine II, Paul I and Alexander I...
in a Soviet propaganda film Kutuzov
Kutuzov
Kutuzov may refer to:* Mikhail Kutuzov, Russian field marshal during Napoleonic era* Named after Mikhail Kutuzov** Order of Kutuzov, military award** Kutuzov Embankment, embankment and street** Operation Kutuzov, military operation in WWII...
(1944), which was
also known outside of Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
as 1812. For that role Dikiy was awarded
the Stalin Prize and was allowed to work in Moscow as a theater
director. His most important works as director were "Blokha" by Nikolai Leskov
Nikolai Leskov
Nikolai Semyonovich Leskov was a Russian journalist, novelist and short story writer, who also wrote under the pseudonym M. Stebnitsky. Praised for his unique writing style and innovative experiments in form, held in high esteem by Leo Tolstoy, Anton Chekhov and Maxim Gorky among others, Leskov is...
and "Teni" (aka.. Shadows) by Mikhail Saltykov-Shchedrin
Mikhail Saltykov-Shchedrin
Mikhail Yevgrafovich Saltykov-Shchedrin , better known by his pseudonym Shchedrin , was a major Russian satirist of the 19th century. At one time, after the death of the poet Nikolai Nekrasov, he acted as editor of the well-known Russian magazine, the Otechestvenniye Zapiski, until it was banned by...
, starring Boris Babochkin
Boris Babochkin
Boris Andreyevich Babochkin was a well-known Soviet film and theatre actor and director. Boris Babochkin was one of the first internationally recognized stars of the Soviet-Russian cinema...
.
Stalin
Ironically, after serving time in the Stalin's Gulag prison-camp,Aleksei Dikiy was cast to portray Joseph Stalin in several propaganda
Propaganda
Propaganda is a form of communication that is aimed at influencing the attitude of a community toward some cause or position so as to benefit oneself or one's group....
films.
Stalin himself approved Dikiy for the role. Stalin became interested in
the brilliant actor, after he saw the film Kutuzov (1944). Then Stalin saw
Dikiy's performance in the role as Stalin, and sent his security
officers to get Dikiy delivered to Kremlin
Moscow Kremlin
The Moscow Kremlin , sometimes referred to as simply The Kremlin, is a historic fortified complex at the heart of Moscow, overlooking the Moskva River , Saint Basil's Cathedral and Red Square and the Alexander Garden...
for a brief meeting. Stalin
had a drink and told Dikiy that his imprisonment was a must, and that
everyone in the country must undergo such experience in exile and
prison-camps. Later Dikiy told his students that he played the role of
Joseph Stalin as a dangerous, scary, power-hungry dictator
Dictator
A dictator is a ruler who assumes sole and absolute power but without hereditary ascension such as an absolute monarch. When other states call the head of state of a particular state a dictator, that state is called a dictatorship...
. Stalin liked the
image of himself made by Dikiy in films.
Recognition
Stalin himself was moved by Dikiy's talent and awarded the actor with theStalin Prize 5 times, in 1946, 1947, 1949 twice, and 1950. "I am playing not a human, but a granite monument" said Dikiy, alluding to Stalin http://www.hrono.ru/biograf/diki.html.
Dikiy was designated People's Artist of the USSR
People's Artist of the USSR
People's Artist of the USSR, also sometimes translated as National Artist of the USSR, was an honorary title granted to citizens of the Soviet Union.- Nomenclature and significance :...
(1949). He was
nominated for 'Best Actor' and received a special mention at the 1947
Venice Film Festival
Venice Film Festival
The Venice International Film Festival is the oldest international film festival in the world. Founded by Count Giuseppe Volpi in 1932 as the "Esposizione Internazionale d'Arte Cinematografica", the festival has since taken place every year in late August or early September on the island of the...
for the title role in Admiral Nakhimov
Admiral Nakhimov (film)
Admiral Nakhimov is a 1947 Soviet film directed by Vsevolod Pudovkin, based on the life of Russian Admiral Pavel Nakhimov . In 1946 Pudovkin, Golovnya, Lukovsky, Kryukov, Dikiy, Simonov, and Knyazev received the Stalin Prize.-Cast:...
.
More Repressions
In 1952 Dikiy directed his last stage production titled "Teni" (aka..Shadows), a play by Saltykov-Shchedrin. Under Dikiy's direction his
friend and partner, Boris Babochkin
Boris Babochkin
Boris Andreyevich Babochkin was a well-known Soviet film and theatre actor and director. Boris Babochkin was one of the first internationally recognized stars of the Soviet-Russian cinema...
, played one of his best roles ever -
Klaverov, a corrupt career politician, alluding to a typical Soviet
bureaucrat. For that work Boris Babochkin
Boris Babochkin
Boris Andreyevich Babochkin was a well-known Soviet film and theatre actor and director. Boris Babochkin was one of the first internationally recognized stars of the Soviet-Russian cinema...
was viciously attacked in the
official Soviet newspaper Pravda
Pravda
Pravda was a leading newspaper of the Soviet Union and an official organ of the Central Committee of the Communist Party between 1912 and 1991....
by none other than Ekaterina Furtseva
Ekaterina Furtseva
Yekaterina Alexeyevna Furtseva was probably the most influential woman in Soviet politics and the first woman to be admitted into Politburo of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union...
, who was then a Mayor of Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
and later was made
Minister of Culture of the Soviet Union. Furtseva became enraged with
Dikiy's and Babochkin's satirical portrayal of the Soviet bureaucracy
with allusions to the Soviet leadership. She banned the play, and
censored both Babochkin and Dikiy from public performances and kept
them virtually unemployed for three years until Babochkin was finally
forced to repent to the Communist Party.
Death
Dikiy suffered from many traumatic experiences in his life. The last blow was being apowerless witness of censorship and public humiliation of his friend, Boris Babochkin. Official attacks by the Soviet Communist Party caused Dikiy
a severe emotional trauma, which led to alcoholism, depression and other health problems.
Aleksei Dikiy died of a heart failure on October 1, 1955, in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
,
and was laid to rest in Novodevichy Monastery Cemetery in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
,
Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
.
Selected filmography
actor- Admiral NakhimovAdmiral Nakhimov (film)Admiral Nakhimov is a 1947 Soviet film directed by Vsevolod Pudovkin, based on the life of Russian Admiral Pavel Nakhimov . In 1946 Pudovkin, Golovnya, Lukovsky, Kryukov, Dikiy, Simonov, and Knyazev received the Stalin Prize.-Cast:...
(1947) - PirogovPirogov (film)Pirogov is a 1947 Soviet film directed by Grigori Kozintsev, based on the life of Russian scientist and doctor Nikolay Ivanovich Pirogov .-Cast:* Konstantin Skorobogatov - Pirogov* Vladimir Chestnokov - Ipatov* Sergei Yarov - Skulachenko...
(1947) - The Third BlowThe Third Blow-Plot:On April 1944, Joseph Stalin orders the Red Army to liberate the Crimea from the German occupiers. The Wehrmacht's local commanders beg Hitler to allow them to retreat from the vulnerable position, but he refuses...
(1948)
External links
- Aleksey Dikiy article on peoples.ru encyclopedia