I Step through Moscow
Encyclopedia
Walking the Streets of Moscow is a 1963 Soviet movie directed by Georgi Daneliya
and produced by Mosfilm studios. It stars Nikita Mikhalkov
, Alexei Loktev, Evgeniy Steblov and Galina Polskikh
. The film also features cameos by four People's Artists of the USSR
: Rolan Bykov
, Vladimir Basov
, Lev Durov
, and Inna Churikova
. The famous movie theme, performed by Mikhalkov, was written by the composer Andrei Petrov
. The film, regarded as one of the most characteristic of the Khrushchev Thaw
, premiered at the 1964 Cannes Film Festival
and one a prize for the work of cameraman, Vadim Yusov
, best known for his subsequent collaboration with Andrei Tarkovsky
.
Volodya is an aspiring writer from Siberia
. His first short story has just been published in the magazine Yunost ("Youth"), and a famous author, Voronin, has invited him to Moscow to discuss his work. In the Moscow Metro
Volodya unexpectedly makes a friend, Kolya (Nikita Mikhalkov), who is returning home after a hard night shift. Volodya wants to stay at his old friends' home, but he doesn't know where the necessary street is so Kolya decided to help him to find it.
Unfortunately, a dog
bites Volodya near Clean Ponds. Then Kolya decided to help his new friend again - they both came to Kolya's home where Kolya sews Volodya's trousers and introduces him to Kolya's large family. Volodya recognised that his old Moscow friends aren't in Moscow (they left for south) and Volodya stays at Kolya's. Then Volodya goes for a walk.
At last alone, Kolya decided to sleep, but then came his old friend Sasha (Evgeny Steblov). Sasha is in trouble - he was planning on marrying his fiancée Sveta today, but he has been called up for military service. He begs Kolya to help him. Kolya helps. Then two young men go to the Main Department Store to buy a suit for a bridegroom and they meet Volodya there (Volody has recently bought a new suit for himself). Then friends decided to buy a present for a bride and they go to the music shop, because the saleswoman, Alyona (Galina Polskikh) is an old friend of Kolya...
The popularity of this film was low in the 1970s but rose again in the 1980s in contrast to contemporaneous "chernukha" ("black") films, gloomy satirical and social dramas with philosophical motifs. Nowadays it is still very famous.
There are new versions of the song by some 1990s Russian rock groups (for example, Nogu Svelo!) and also attempts at film remakes The Heat, which were unsuccessful.
Georgi Daneliya
Georgi Daneliya is a Soviet/Georgian/Russian film director, who became known throughout the Soviet Union for his "sad comedies" .Daneliya graduated from the Moscow Architecture Institute and worked as an architect...
and produced by Mosfilm studios. It stars Nikita Mikhalkov
Nikita Mikhalkov
Nikita Sergeyevich Mikhalkov is a Soviet and Russian filmmaker, actor, and head of the Russian Cinematographers' Union.Mikhalkov was born in Moscow into the distinguished, artistic Mikhalkov family. His great grandfather was the imperial governor of Yaroslavl, whose mother was a Galitzine princess...
, Alexei Loktev, Evgeniy Steblov and Galina Polskikh
Galina Polskikh
Galina Polskikh is a Soviet film actress. She has appeared in more than 100 films since 1962. In 1979 she was awarded the title of People's Artist of Russia, and in 1999 - Order of Honour...
. The film also features cameos by four People's Artists 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 :...
: Rolan Bykov
Rolan Bykov
Rolan Antonovich Bykov was a Soviet and Russian actor, film director, script writer, poet, song writer. He was awarded People's Artist of the RSFSR in 1973 and the USSR State Prize in 1986.Rolan Bykov was born to a Jewish family in Kiev....
, Vladimir Basov
Vladimir Basov
Vladimir Pavlovich Basov was a Soviet actor, film director, and screenwriter. Vladimir Basov was named People's Artist of the USSR in 1983.-Biography:...
, Lev Durov
Lev Durov
Lev Konstantinovich Durov is a Soviet/Russian theatre and films actor since 1955, People's Artist of USSR.-Filmography:actor* I Step Through Moscow * All The King's Men - Sugar Boy* Stariki-razboyniki - driver...
, and Inna Churikova
Inna Churikova
Inna Mikhailovna Churikova is a Soviet Russian film and theatre actress.-Biography:...
. The famous movie theme, performed by Mikhalkov, was written by the composer Andrei Petrov
Andrei Petrov
Andrey Pavlovich Petrov was a Russian and Soviet composer. Andrey Petrov is known for his music for films such as I Step Through Moscow, Beware of the Car, and Office Romance.-Life:...
. The film, regarded as one of the most characteristic of the Khrushchev Thaw
Khrushchev Thaw
The Khrushchev Thaw refers to the period from the mid 1950s to the early 1960s, when repression and censorship in the Soviet Union were partially reversed and millions of Soviet political prisoners were released from Gulag labor camps, due to Nikita Khrushchev's policies of de-Stalinization and...
, premiered at the 1964 Cannes Film Festival
1964 Cannes Film Festival
The 17th Cannes Film Festival was held from 29 April to 14 May 1964. The Palme d’Or is renamed 'Grand Prix International du Festival', the name that will be used until 1975.-Jury:*Fritz Lang *Charles Boyer...
and one a prize for the work of cameraman, Vadim Yusov
Vadim Yusov
Vadim Ivanovich Yusov is a Soviet and Russian cinematographer and a professor of the Gerasimov Institute of Cinematography, who worked with Andrey Tarkovsky on The Steamroller and the Violin, Ivan's Childhood, Andrei Rublev and Solaris, and with Georgi Daneliya on I Step Through Moscow...
, best known for his subsequent collaboration with Andrei Tarkovsky
Andrei Tarkovsky
Andrei Arsenyevich Tarkovsky was a Soviet and Russian filmmaker, writer, film editor, film theorist, theatre and opera director, widely regarded as one of the finest filmmakers of the 20th century....
.
Plot summary
The film opens at a Moscow airport in summer 1963. A young man, Volodya (Alexei Loktev), calls out to a young woman he sees singing to herself and dancing.- – Arriving or departing?
- – Waiting for arrivals.
- – Who is it?
- – My husband.
- – He's lucky to have someone to meet him.
- – Get married, you'll have someone as well.
- – And you are both happy?
- – Yes, we are.
- – It never happens.
- – Believe me, it happens.
Volodya is an aspiring writer from 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...
. His first short story has just been published in the magazine Yunost ("Youth"), and a famous author, Voronin, has invited him to Moscow to discuss his work. In the Moscow Metro
Moscow Metro
The Moscow Metro is a rapid transit system serving Moscow and the neighbouring town of Krasnogorsk. Opened in 1935 with one line and 13 stations, it was the first underground railway system in the Soviet Union. As of 2011, the Moscow Metro has 182 stations and its route length is . The system is...
Volodya unexpectedly makes a friend, Kolya (Nikita Mikhalkov), who is returning home after a hard night shift. Volodya wants to stay at his old friends' home, but he doesn't know where the necessary street is so Kolya decided to help him to find it.
Unfortunately, a dog
Dog
The domestic dog is a domesticated form of the gray wolf, a member of the Canidae family of the order Carnivora. The term is used for both feral and pet varieties. The dog may have been the first animal to be domesticated, and has been the most widely kept working, hunting, and companion animal in...
bites Volodya near Clean Ponds. Then Kolya decided to help his new friend again - they both came to Kolya's home where Kolya sews Volodya's trousers and introduces him to Kolya's large family. Volodya recognised that his old Moscow friends aren't in Moscow (they left for south) and Volodya stays at Kolya's. Then Volodya goes for a walk.
At last alone, Kolya decided to sleep, but then came his old friend Sasha (Evgeny Steblov). Sasha is in trouble - he was planning on marrying his fiancée Sveta today, but he has been called up for military service. He begs Kolya to help him. Kolya helps. Then two young men go to the Main Department Store to buy a suit for a bridegroom and they meet Volodya there (Volody has recently bought a new suit for himself). Then friends decided to buy a present for a bride and they go to the music shop, because the saleswoman, Alyona (Galina Polskikh) is an old friend of Kolya...
Cast
- Aleksei Loktev as Volodya
- Nikita MikhalkovNikita MikhalkovNikita Sergeyevich Mikhalkov is a Soviet and Russian filmmaker, actor, and head of the Russian Cinematographers' Union.Mikhalkov was born in Moscow into the distinguished, artistic Mikhalkov family. His great grandfather was the imperial governor of Yaroslavl, whose mother was a Galitzine princess...
as Kolka - Galina PolskikhGalina PolskikhGalina Polskikh is a Soviet film actress. She has appeared in more than 100 films since 1962. In 1979 she was awarded the title of People's Artist of Russia, and in 1999 - Order of Honour...
as Alyona - Yevgeni Steblov as Sasha
- Vladimir BasovVladimir BasovVladimir Pavlovich Basov was a Soviet actor, film director, and screenwriter. Vladimir Basov was named People's Artist of the USSR in 1983.-Biography:...
as Floor Polisher - Rolan BykovRolan BykovRolan Antonovich Bykov was a Soviet and Russian actor, film director, script writer, poet, song writer. He was awarded People's Artist of the RSFSR in 1973 and the USSR State Prize in 1986.Rolan Bykov was born to a Jewish family in Kiev....
as Man in Park
Legacy
This film was highly beloved by Soviet youth in the early 1960s. Though its plot is a bit naive and unpretentious, it showed how wonderful life was, gives hope and tries to look at the unpleasant things in an optimistic way. The song by the same name from the film is still popular and became the unofficial hymn of Moscow youth.The popularity of this film was low in the 1970s but rose again in the 1980s in contrast to contemporaneous "chernukha" ("black") films, gloomy satirical and social dramas with philosophical motifs. Nowadays it is still very famous.
There are new versions of the song by some 1990s Russian rock groups (for example, Nogu Svelo!) and also attempts at film remakes The Heat, which were unsuccessful.