Mayakovsky Laughs (Маяковский смеется)

MOSFILM

Above us is the Sun, the Sun and the Sun.

Rejoice, all you who are strong,

Workshop of the workers who create our world.

Warm us, Sun! Play, Sun!

Burn, our Sun!

"RED VEGETALE LOTION" BARBERSHOP

Shine always,

shine everywhere,

till life's own source runs dry -

shine on -

for all your blooming worth,

so say both sun and I!

HEY, CITIZEN, HURRY TO THE PERFORMANCE OF "THE BEDBUG".

THE "TAIL" BEHIND THE TICKET BOOTH IS LONG,

AND THE THEATER IS CROWDED.

BUT DON'T BE ANGERED BY THE INSECT'S JOKES;

THEY'RE NOT ABOUT YOU... BUT ABOUT YOUR FRIEND!

MAYAKOVSKY LAUGHS

EXTRAVAGANZA COMEDY BASED ON "THE BEDBUG"

AND "FORGET ABOUT THE FIREPLACE" BY V. MAYAKOVSKY

Screenplay, director-producers: Sergey Yutkevich, Anatoliy Karanovich

Main camera operator: Yuriy Neyman Director: Arkadiy Kordon

Art directors: N. Vinogradova, S. Gavrilov, N. Koshkin, D. Mendelevich, V. Peskov

Puppet artist: E. Kogan Costume artist: M. Levikova

Composers: V. Dashkevich - "Russian Autoroads" verses,

"Bayan's Wedding Toast", "Gypsy Romance", "Elzevira's Romance",

"Prisypkin's Flight", "Skripkin's Triumph"

A. Kremer - "Prologue", "Photonovel", "Prisypkin's Romance",

"Tango and Bayan's Verses", "The Charleston and the Fire",

"City of the Future", "Prisypkin's Dream", "Bedbug, Darling Bedbug", "Finale"

For "Song About the Sun" (poem: Mayakovsky) and "Diogenes" lyrics, music by A. Gorin

Ensemble: "Pewter Soldiers". Song text: Y. Mihaylov, Sound: M. Leksachenko, Music sound operator: V. Babushkin

Animation for "Prisypkin's Dream" Director: V. Tarasov, Camera: M. Druyan

Animators: O. Bogolyubova, T. Mititello, Y, Meshcherikov, Y. Kuzyurin, A. Bukin, A. Sher, O. Komarov, V. Arsentyev

"Prologue" animation artist: Anatoliy Petrov

Cutout animation for "Market": Director: I. Garanina, Camera: B. Lanin

Animators: E. Avakyan, Y. Batanin, A. Gorlenko, V. Palchikov, T. Fadeyeva, L. Ryabinin

Puppet animation for "Dorm", "Wedding": Camera: T. Bunimovich

Animators: I. Kassil-Sobinova, O. Dumbadze

Editor: N. Treshchyova Animation production director: N. Bitman

Camera: V. Mihaylov, Combined Anim/Live: Camera: V. Rylach, Artist: O. Kazakova

An Experimental Artistic Synthesis with the participation of Soyuzmultfilm studio

SCREENPLAY WRITER ALEXEY KAPLER

Hello, comrades.

First of all, I want to explain to you why I am standing here.

I was invited by my friends,

directors Sergey Yutkevich and Anatoliy Karanovich,

to take part in this film as, well, let's say,

a witness, a contemporary of Mayakovsky.

Today, when monuments are erected in honor of Mayakovsky,

when they study Mayakovsky in schools,

or rather, they "cover" Mayakovsky,

it's very difficult to imagine what the poet

was during his lifetime,

what kind of storms raged around him.

It seems I can still hear this...

this storm at the Polytechnic Museum, this howling and roaring of his enemies,

the shouts of his friends when he performed.

Mayakovsky was fearless, he took the blows

and hit back outright.

We, young people, loved him infinitely.

He was our standard.

When the directors and I were negotiating my participation in this film,

I asked them: "Very well, but what if I don't like something in your film,

do I have the right to say this to the audience

or should I praise everything?"

They answered: "Say whatever you like".

And so, we came to terms.

That's how I found myself in this pavilion of the film studio,

which has everything one needs to create a film's image and sound.

Looking around, here you can see the lighting equipment,

microphones and the shooting equipment.

And at the top you can see something that looks like a captain's cabin,

this is the place for sound engineers.

So if you hear me badly now, it's their fault.

In short, here you are surrounded by film equipment

which in the days of Mayakovsky you couldn't even dream of.

The main character of this film is the embodiment of the petty bourgeoisie -

Prisypkin, or Pierre Skripkin, as he elegantly renamed himself.

Mayakovsky saw in the petty bourgeoisie his mortal enemy.

and he fought against it with the full force of his genius.

Of course, we understand that now there's nothing to fight against

and there's no need for that because the petty bourgeoisie is over forever.

There is none of it left.

Well, maybe just barely noticeable manifestations.

Some car will rush along the street, all decked out in colored ribbons,

and balloons, and with a baby doll atop the radiator,

and in this car sits a pompous Prisypkin with a girl in a white veil.

Doesn't Prisypkin want an elegant life?

Doesn't he want a prestigious car and contacts with celebrities?

To be serious, there are much more dangerous manifestations

of petty bourgeois, of "Prisypkinism".

Because Prisypkin is the same classic character

as Tartuffe, Khlestakov or Rasplyuyev, for example.

I want to tell you, comrades, not to be surprised that in this film

alongside the live actors you will see puppets, animation, all this mixed together.

This is an experimental film.

Mayakovsky once said:

"The main thing depends on the breadth of the director's vision".

Our directors' vision was broad indeed.

Well, we'll see what will come of it.

Now let's get acquainted with the actors.

The actor invited to the role of Prisypkin is completely new to cinema.

He worked for a variety show studio. He was never filmed,

and to find out how suitable he'd be for this role, we made a screen test,

based on Mayakovsky's script "Forget About the Fireplace".

Let's see this screen test.

Hey you, giver of enemas!

Write me a sick leave.

But you're not sick.

Aren't I?

You're absolutely healthy.

Healthy?

It's ticklish.

Tomorrow I'll be sick.

I'm always sick the day after payday.

Comrade doctor, close your health centre, we're all going to the community work day.

And you - pay the "Russian Autoroads" membership fee.

You haven't paid for six months.

Haven't I?

And what is this? International Red Aid - paid!

Russian Red Cross - paid!

"Down With Illiteracy"...

"Down With Illiteracy"...

Here you are!

Not enough for you, huh? The "Russian Autoroads"!

You won't get anything!

You're snakes! You're flayers!

You're pilfering my wage: "Put it all on the table!"

Don't you touch me, Why should I pay these fees?

What did I fight for? What did I fight for?

What did I fight for? Who goddamn knows!

If you're responsible, this and that,

Then you have to pay for everything.

Oh, no, my dear, look for another fool!

I'll say, "Good luck", and then be off.

I'll say, "Good luck", and then be off.

They will pounce on me and begin to embarrass me.

Well, bugger them all, they're nothing to me.

It's not the 19th year, I can indulge myself.

I'll get what I...! I'll get what I...!

I'll get what I fought for!

We march together, shoulder to shoulder.

We build roads, but what have I to do with it?

Oh, no, my dear, look for another fool!

I'll say, "Good luck", and then be off.

I'll say, "Good luck", and then be off.

What do you think? I think this is a suitable candidate.

This actor's name is Yuri Chernov.

Let me introduce him to you.

Gee! And where is Chernov?

Chernov is not there, he's late again.

Again? He's always late!

- I'll find him. - Okay.

You know, comrades, we could re-shoot this scene with Chernov,

but I'd like to show you...

Hello! Sorry, I'm late. But it's not my fault.

Our concert was far away and we had problems with transport.

You should apologize not to me, but to Iya Sergeyevna Savvina.

She always comes on time and you made her wait.

Let's get acquainted.

I'll be your partner in this film.

I'll play the role of Zoya Beryozkina,

and in the course of the plot, I'll have to fall in love with you.

Thank you. Oh, sorry...

I'm Yura.

Attention, get ready for the dubbing of the episode "Dorm"!

It seems I forgot the text at home.

I have a lot of concerts, so I forgot about it.

But I remember the musical parts!

It's okay, I'll help you.

This episode exactly follows the text of the play.

You should remember that play.

We covered Mayakovsky at school, but not "The Bedbug".

But I studied "The Bedbug", Alexey Yakovlevich.

But I have a question.

At the very beginning of the play, Zoya Beryozkina appears only for a moment,

and I, as an actress, don't have time to understand

about the nuances of the relationships between Zoya and Prisypkin.

Where did they meet? How did they spend their time?

Where does Zoya work?

Mayakovsky the journalist will answer these questions better than me.

He wrote "The Bedbug" using newspapers materials.

And he has one saying:

"Together with me, this play was written by the Komsomol and 'Komsomolskaya Pravda'".

I suggest you to take advantage of your actor's imagination

and imagine yourself as Zoya Beryozkina in that distant epoch.

KOMSOMOLSKAYA PRAVDA

GO FORWARD MORE CONFIDENTLY, COMRADES!

Worker Prisypkin calls himself Pierre Skripkin.

He met artists who said he looked like Harry Piel.

After that, he began to go to the movies more often.

He grew side burns.

And, wanting to keep the beau monde , barely washed himself for a month.

LASSALLE PLANT Everybody to the community work day!

SUMMER CLUB

TODAY AT THE CLUB Report on the international situation And after - LIVING NEWSPAPER

of the "BLUE BLOUSE" trade union council.

Harry Piel's "Der Mann ohne Nerven"