Leonid Gaidai conceived the film 'The Caucasian Captive, or The New Adventures of Shurik' after the stunning success of his previous film 'Operation Y.' To this day, 'The Caucasian Captive,' which premiered on April 1, 1967, is considered an unmatched classic of Soviet cinema. The story of the film's creation is full of interesting and even unexpected facts that not everyone knows.
* The plot is based on real events
The idea to shoot 'The Caucasian Captive' came to Gaidai by chance. He read a note in a newspaper about a dzhigit who kidnapped his beloved from her home in the Caucasus. This old custom inspired the director so much that he decided to make a film based on it.
* There were supposed to be two series
Initially, Gaidai planned to make the film in 2 series. The first would tell the story of a student named Nina, who was kidnapped by a local chief, and this part would be called 'The Caucasian Captive.' The second part would be dedicated to an expedition in the Caucasus mountains, where the film's heroes try to find the yeti. This part would be called 'The Snowman.' However, the editorial board only liked the first part of the film, and it was the one that remained.
* A problematic surname
Saakhov was originally supposed to have a different surname — Okhokhov. But it turned out that there was an employee with that surname in the Ministry of Culture. So it was changed to Saakhov, but a similarly sounding surname was held by an official at Mosfilm — Saakov. The problem was resolved by the head of the USSR Ministry of Culture, Ekaterina Furtsova, who ordered to keep the surname 'Saakhov.'
* Nadezhda Rumyantseva voiced Nina
Although Natalia Varley did a wonderful job in her role, she had no experience in voice acting. Gaidai decided that it was better to have a professional handle this, and he hired Nadezhda Rumyantseva for the voiceover. However, Natalia did have her 'star moment' in the film. She said only one phrase with her voice: 'Mistakes should not be acknowledged; they should be washed away with blood!'
* Natalia Varley had no acting education
The search for an actress for the role of Nina took the longest. Gaidai conducted about 50 screen tests, but he did not like any of the candidates, even though amazing actresses like Natalia Kustinskaya, Larisa Golubkina, and others came for auditions. Leonid Iovich could not see a charming student in any of them for his film. Then the director's assistant remembered that there was a 19-year-old circus performer named Natalia at the Odessa film studio. At that time, the girl worked as an acrobat. A telegram was sent to her from Mosfilm asking her to come for a screen test. Out of simple curiosity, Natalia went and got the role that would later make her famous.
* The last film where the trio appeared together
Despite the friendly relationships of Trus, Balbes, and Byvaly in the films, the actors did not get along in real life. Morgunov, who played Byvaly, was an explosive and scandalous personality and constantly quarreled with colleagues and the crew. Nikulin did not want to shoot with the old cast again and was going to refuse to work. But Gaidai managed to persuade the actors. Towards the end of the shooting, Morgunov had a falling out with the entire team and categorically refused to continue working. The director had to cut some of his scenes, and in the finale, a stunt double played Byvaly in the group shots. After 'The Caucasian Captive,' Nikulin, Vitsin, and Morgunov did not work together again.
* Dangerous stunts
In the episode where Nina jumps into the river after Shurik, Gaidai wanted to shoot with a stunt double, not wanting to risk the actress. A master of sports in diving was hired for this. As it turned out later, Natalia's stunt double was not an athlete but claimed to be one to get screen time. In the end, the fake athlete began to drown, and Varley had to jump into the icy water to save her stunt double.
During the shooting of the episode where Shurik floats down the river in a sleeping bag, a terrible incident nearly occurred: the bag was not intercepted in time, and it floated away further than intended. After several dozen meters, it was finally caught, and everything turned out fine. The cameras were rolling at that moment, so the very shots where the actor nearly drowned made it into the film.
* Everyone gets champagne!
Gaidai not only loved improvisation — he encouraged the actors when they improvised interestingly and humorously. For each successful 'ad-lib,' Leonid Iovich gifted the actor a bottle of champagne. Nikulin had the most bottles, a total of 24. Vitsin was lagging behind. But at the end of the film, he redeemed himself and became the author of the famous scene where the trio blocks the road, and Trus, standing in the middle, starts wriggling and ultimately falls to his knees.
* This is not editing
Many think that the scene where Balbes lies on the bed and manages to scratch his heel with his hand is edited. In fact, it is the hand of a dwarf hidden under the blanket. The trick was suggested by Yuri Nikulin.
* Censorship did not pass the film's opening scene
It was supposed to be like this: Trus approaches the fence and writes the letter 'X.' Then Balbes comes up and adds 'U.' A policeman notices this and blows his whistle. But Byvaly quickly adds 'Artistic film.'
* The film was saved by... Brezhnev
The chairman of the State Cinema of the USSR, Alexei Romanov, criticized the film: he did not like everything, from the script to the jokes. 'The Caucasian Captive' was destined for oblivion, but the film was saved by chance. Leonid Brezhnev asked to send him some fresh funny film. There was nothing new except 'The Caucasian Captive,' so Leonid Ilyich ended up with this film. He was delighted with what he saw and ordered that the comedy be shown to the general audience immediately.
* Who pumped the syringe?
In one of the audience's favorite episodes, where Byvaly is given an injection with a huge syringe, they injected a pillow. It was lying on a chair without a seat between Morgunov's legs. Next to it lay Nikulin, who was pumping the syringe needle that pierced the pillow.
