The controversial film was one of the first for the young actor.
Over the years of his career, Yuri Yakovlev managed to collaborate with most of the most iconic Soviet directors. His filmography includes 119 works, many of which have long been included in the classics of Russian cinema. At the same time, the artist starred not only in recognized masterpieces, but also in films that ended up on the shelf after the premiere.
Thus, in 1961, Eldar Ryazanov’s comedy “The Man from Nowhere” was presented. In the film, the director tells the story of a savage African tribe who finds himself in Soviet Moscow. The director laughs at the life of his compatriots, the morals of that time and the ideology of the country as a whole.
But the authorities did not appreciate the film at all. “The Man” faced devastating criticism, was accused of lack of ideas and was sent to the shelf for 25 years. And the artists who took part in it were rightfully worried about their careers, and especially Yakovlev. For the artist, this was one of the first films in which he agreed to act only after the persuasion of Mosfilm director Ivan Pyryev. The head of the studio begged the artist, kneeling in front of him, and only after that Yakovlev agreed.
But his fears were in vain. The ban on the film did not affect his career in any way, and the following year “The Hussar Ballad” was released, making Yakovlev an all-Union star.
