Leonid Gaidai is one of the best directors of the last century. In terms of filming comedies, few could argue with him. At the same time, in life, and in the filming process, he knew how to be serious. And sometimes this seriousness led to major changes in filming.
One of the loudest episodes happened on the set of “Prisoner of the Caucasus.” The film was nearing completion. The whole group watched the latest footage. And Morgunov appeared in the hall either with a fan, or with female fans – there are different versions.
One of the girls began to behave defiantly and loudly comment on everything that was happening on the screen. According to one version, alcohol was the reason. Gaidai’s assistant made a remark to the company, saying that this was distracting the director. And asked to leave. To which Morgunov responded: “Just think, director, me too, Fellini!”
After such an answer, Gaidai became furious. He immediately removed Morgunov from the remainder of the filming. Instead, they invited an understudy, who they tried to film from behind.
Although for some scenes where the presence of Experienced was necessary so as not to ruin the legendary trinity with Nikulin and Vitsin, Morgunov was still asked to enter the frame.
This conflict was not the first for Gaidai and Morgunov. Their relationship has been strained since the film Moonshiners. According to eyewitnesses, both of them were straightforward and expressed all their grievances to each other’s faces.
By the way, Morgunov’s fees in each of the films were less than those of his colleagues in the “criminal trinity” Nikulin and Vitsin. For “Operation Y,” Byvaly received 810 rubles (half what his colleagues received). And for “Prisoner of the Caucasus” – 1979 rubles. Nikulin, for comparison, had more than 4 thousand.
After “Prisoner of the Caucasus,” the trio no longer starred with Gaidai. They tried to revive it several times. For example, Ryazanov invited actors to appear in the films “Seven Old Men and One Girl” and “Give me a Book of Complaints.” Plus, the characters Coward, Dunce and Experienced appeared in the cartoon about the Bremen Town Musicians. But it was no longer the same.
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