TV series "Ekaterina"
Year of release: 2014-2019 Catherine II - Marina Alexandrova Director Dmitry Iosifov.
Unknown artist. Portrait of Catherine II. Late 18th centurySeries "Ekaterina". 2014-2019 Marina Alexandrova – Catherine II
Despite the fact that the creators of the series were scolded by the whole world for their historical ignorance, the whole world watched twenty-four episodes of two seasons. And then, with a test in the head, another sixteen episodes of the third... Without missing anything, they were indignant at every mistake and waited for the next episode, because it’s nice to feel smarter than the authors of the film.
In a still image from the series, Catherine II took out the main symbols of royal power for a walk. And the members of the film crew forgot to Google which hand was supposed to hold what. The crown of Catherine from the series is small compared to the original, only hatched (in the picture the crown is to the left of the Empress). There is a specially brought walking throne, so as not to accidentally sit on an ordinary bench. You can easily find the list of other inconsistencies yourself - it’s long, just like the series.
Filming
The first season of the film, entitled “Ekaterina,” was filmed in 2014 by directors Alexander Baranov and Ramil Sabitov and includes ten episodes[5]. The producers are cinema (founder - Alexander Akopov) and “Production Value”.
The second season was filmed from April 25 to July 27, 2020 under the title “Ekaterina. Takeoff” and tells about the period of Catherine the Great’s reign on the throne of the Russian Empire, starting from the sixth year of her reign (since 1768), when the future of the great country depended on her decisions. The second season consists of twelve episodes. Its director was Dmitry Iosifov. The film was produced by production and cinema with the financial support of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation.
The third season was filmed from September 2020[6] to February 2019[7] under the title “Ekaterina. Imposters." The events of the new story unfold from 1774 to 1776. The plot is dedicated to the most difficult years of the reign of the Russian Empress - the period of the uprising of Emelyan Pugachev, the Russian-Turkish War and the claims to the throne of the impostor Princess Tarakanova. The third season consists of sixteen episodes. Dmitry Iosifov remained in the director's chair. The film was produced by the production company.
TV series “Catherine the Great”, 2020
Year of release: 2020 Ekaterina Alekseevna - Helen Mirren Director Philip Martin
TV series “Catherine the Great”, 2020. Ekaterina Alekseevna – Helen Mirren
A.Roslin. Portrait of Catherine II. 1790s
In parallel with the Russian “Catherine”, the English series “Catherine the Great” started in the UK. Marina Alexandrova did not even hope to compete with Helen Mirren herself, who in her 74 years has played so many titled persons that she herself is called the queen. The creators of the series decided that it was easier for them to understand the Russian queen, because she was German. But they miscalculated. The German turned out to be a tough Russian nut to crack and the British “Great” slid down the rating table to the bottom lines, receiving “ugh” from the audience and “well, well, well” from critics. In this case, not only does Catherine not look like herself, but in general she doesn’t look like anything except the Western stereotypical “balalaika, vodka, matroshka.”
Catherine
The Russian-produced historical series “Ekaterina” was presented for the first time on screen in November 2014 on the Rossiya-1 TV channel. Directors Ramil Sabitov and Alexander Baranov worked on the project.
After the successful start of the first season, it was decided to film a sequel. The second part of “Catherine” was released in February 2017 on the same TV channel. The season was filmed by another director, Dmitry Iosifov, with the financial support of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation. On October 21, 2020, the premiere of the continuation of the drama “Ekaterina. Imposters." To date, the series has been translated into 20 languages, and broadcast rights have been purchased in more than 100 countries.
The series tells the story of the fate of Princess Sophia Augusta Friederike of Anhalt-Zerbst, who became Empress of All Russia Catherine the Great. The events will tell about the reign of Catherine in the Russian Empire.
Catherine becomes a mother, in order to save her life and children from harm, she has to take everything into her own hands. The Empress goes through a lot of strength tests and makes a palace coup. As a result, she takes the throne of the Russian Empire in 1762.
In the second season, the viewer learns about the war with Turkey and Catherine’s actions. She wants to marry her longtime favorite Grigory Orlov, but his behavior soon forces the empress to do otherwise.
Actors of the series Ekaterina
Ivan Dobronravov
Sergey Strelnikov
Konstantin Lavronenko
Vladimir Menshov
Liza Arzamasova
Marina Mitrofanova
Alexander Lazarev Jr.
Alexandra Ursulyak
Sergey Yushkevich
Lyubava Greshnova
Alexey Vorobiev
Polina Lazareva
Nikolay Kozak
Julia Aug
Artem Alekseev
Vladimir Yaglych
Kirill Rubtsov
Anton Denisenko
Rinal Mukhametov
Pavel Tabakov
Marina Alexandrova
Mikhail Gorevoy
Sergey Marin
Igor Sklyar
Alexander Yatsenko
Vitaly Kravchenko
Arthur Ivanov
Sergey Koltakov
Alexander Oleshko
Angelina Strechina
Tatyana Lyalina
Kuzma Saprykin
Alexander Tkachev
Alina Tomnikov
Valery Novikov
Vitaly Gerasimov
Marina Alexandrovna played the role of Frederica - later Catherine. The actress perfectly recreated the process of becoming a great historical figure. From a forcibly married princess, she grew into a powerful empress who changed faith, country and took possession of a huge empire.
The role of Empress Elizabeth was played by the no less brilliant actress Julia Aug. The viewer was able to observe her performance in the films “Demi-God”, “Intimate Parts”, “The Apprentice” by Kirill Serebrennikov, etc.
This role in the project “Ekaterina” became a turning point for the actress. For her skill, the artist was awarded an award from the Association of Cinema Producers and received a TEFI, plus the role became her kind of passport into the souls of the mass audience, because previously the actress played exclusively in original films.
Peter the Third was played by Alexander Yatsenko (dramas Long Happy Life and Arrhythmia, TV series Thaw). He was also the husband of Catherine the Great. The actor managed to captivate the audience with his talent and gracefully transform into a historical figure.
Count Bestuzhev was played by People's Artist and Oscar winner Vladimir Menshov (The Ivanovs, Night Watch, Love and Doves and many other significant roles). Vladimir Menshov brilliantly got used to the image of his character - Chancellor of Empress Elizabeth and Field Marshal General under Catherine.
The cast of the series was replenished by many talented actors from the country: Konstantin Lavronenko (Lestok); Alexander Lazarev Jr. (Razumovsky); Valentina Talyzina (nanny of Ioann Antonovich); Alexey Vorobyov (Ponyatovsky); Rinal Mukhametov (Saltykov).
Also starring in the series were Isabelle Schosnig (Frederica's mother, Johanna); Patrick Rollin (Chetardie); Svetlana Zavgorodneva (Matryona); Ivan Dobronravov (Pimen); Sergei Strelnikov (Orlov) and Nikolai Kozak (Shuvalov) and others.
In the season “Impostors” many young actors appeared, including Artem Alekseev, Kuzma Saprykin, Angelina Strechina and Alina Tomnikov.
Popular History Picture Awards
The multi-part historical project “Catherine” has been awarded honorary prizes more than once:
- “Evening Prime” - TEFI 2020:
- in the category “Television film/series”;
- in the category “Best Actress of a Television Series” (Yu. Aug);
- Professional award from the Association of Television and Film Producers:
- “Best Supporting Actress in a TV Movie/Series” (Yulia Aug);
- “The best work of a costume designer” (V. Kamenev, S. Moskvina);
- “Best TV series actress” (M. Alexandrova);
- “Best supporting actor in a series” (A. Yatsenko);
- “The best work of a production designer” (S. Vorobyov, S. Onipenko);
- “The best work of a makeup artist” (M. Dedova, I. Levitskaya).
- Prize in 2020 from the Golden Eagle:
- "Best television series"
During the broadcast of the series on television, high ratings for the project were recorded. The series took an honorable 9th place among all TV projects for the year. The series managed to maintain a stable high share of 20 percent throughout its entire airtime.
After the successful release of the second season of “Catherine,” the directors began to think about preparing for the filming of the third part. It is known that in the third season we will talk about the rest of Catherine the Great’s life, her death, as well as the events that will unfold after that: Pugachev’s rebellion, the struggle for a place to take the throne of Paul, and many others.
The series "Great". 2020
Year of release: 2020 In the image of Catherine the Second - Yulia Snigir Director Igor Zaitsev
Director Igor Zaitsev. The series "Great". 2020 In the image of Catherine II - Yulia Snigir
F. Rokotov. Coronation portrait of Catherine II, 1763
Despite the fact that the series “Ekaterina” received more prestigious prizes, viewers liked “The Great” more. Either because the leading lady was more regal, or because her difficult fate and persistent character touched souls, and only “Great” people believed. Many argue that both in appearance and in character, Queen Yulia Snigir is most similar to Catherine the Second. History buffs would have cursed both one series and the other for historical lies, if the British had not launched their “Catherine the Great”. Compared to this, ours are masterfully good!
TV series "Catherine's Musketeers"
Year of release: 2007 In the role of Catherine the Second - Alla Oding. Director Sergei Karelin.
TV series "Catherine's Musketeers". Alla Oding
V. Eriksen. 1773
From the title it is clear that the series does not pretend to be historically accurate, and was filmed in the hope of becoming popular for centuries, like the famous film “D'Artagnan and the Three Musketeers.” The same bright pictures, chases and fencing, intrigues and heroic deeds. Only instead of a queen there is a queen, and the gender of the musketeers is different. The series was watched and forgotten, but viewers rated it more good than bad. Despite the fact that the four main characters are beautiful and young, the beauty and acting talent of Alla Oding in the role of Catherine II turned out to be the main advantage of the series.
Writer Semyon Ekshtut about historical inaccuracies in the series “Catherine”
The favorite of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna, Count Alexei Razumovsky, was indeed the empress's married husband, but she never left a will transferring the throne to the count. Further. The count enjoyed the favor of the empress only in the first half of her reign. Then it was replaced by other favorites, the existence of which the filmmakers did not even suspect.
The figure of Ivan Ivanovich Shuvalov, the patron of the great Lomonosov, the actual creator and first curator of Moscow University, is worthy of this character appearing on television. Of course, the series is not a scientific monograph or even a popular science film. Of course, the creators of the series have the right to fiction and the right to their own interpretation of the course of history. However, when Alexey Razumovsky actually turns into a collective image of Elizabeth’s favorite, into a kind of Razumovsky-Shuvalov in one bottle, this is completely unacceptable. Such famous and significant characters in Russian history cannot be erased from history, nor erased with an eraser. Even for the sake of straightforwardness and the easiest digestibility of an artistic concept by an ordinary television viewer, one cannot resort to such forgeries.
It is a pity that the favorite’s brother, Count Kirill Razumovsky, hetman of Little Russia, philanthropist and active participant in the coup that elevated Ekaterina Alekseevna to the throne, never flashed on the screen, even in an episode. This handsome man and heartthrob was secretly in love with the Grand Duchess for many years, but never opened his heart to her. But what a brilliant television intrigue it could have been! And there is no need to fantasize, it was enough to follow the facts of real events. But I won’t nitpick too much. I liked Marina Alexandrova in the role of Ekaterina. A talented actress with unsurpassed artistic tact shows us that Catherine, whose existence we did not even suspect - dependent Catherine, constantly humiliated, deprived of the right, may I be forgiven for this anachronism, to “dare to have your own judgment.” What is there to judge! Just control your own destiny and see your own son.
There is another undoubted acting success in the film. Julia Aug as Elizaveta Petrovna. The actress even looks like the empress, about whom even very educated people only know the poems of Alexei Konstantinovich Tolstoy: “Elisabeth was a cheerful queen: she sings and has fun, but there is no order.” Elizaveta Petrovna ascended the throne as a result of a palace coup, and the weight of the usurpation of power constantly weighed on her consciousness: the empress was afraid to sleep at night, afraid of a repetition of the palace coup. She had more than enough reason for this kind of fear: all the years of the reign of “meek Elizabeth,” the legitimate sovereign, Emperor John Antonovich, the legitimate great-grandson of Tsar Ivan V, the elder brother and nominal co-ruler of Peter the Great, sat in the fortress. But Elizaveta Petrovna was not the legitimate daughter of Tsar Peter, for she was born before her parents’ wedding. Catherine also had to bear this cross of usurpation of power: by the force of things she had to sanction both the murder of Ivan Antonovich and the murder of her husband Peter III.
Alexander Yatsenko in the role of Pyotr Fedorovich is very good and convincing. He is lonely and unhappy. Not without reason, he is afraid of his aunt, who wrote him out of Holstein and named him heir to the Russian throne. And he should have served in the army of King Frederick II, climbed the ranks of the ranks, dreamed of the rank of general, and played music outside of duty time.
I know that writing a TV movie script is 5% of the budget. The money, apparently, is considerable. And the creators of glamorous historical series do not have the slightest desire to involve scientific consultants in the creation of their films. A real specialist knows his worth, so he will have to be involved in writing the script, and this is an additional burden on the film’s budget. There are good books by Evgeny Anisimov, there are conscientious monographs by Alexander Kamensky, there are exceptionally talented and brilliantly written works by Olga Eliseeva. I think that any of these top-class professionals would have helped the filmmakers and would not have allowed such disgrace as we saw in the final episode dedicated to Catherine’s palace coup, the capture and murder of Pyotr Fedorovich.
It seems that although the filmmakers saved on scientific consultants, there was still not enough money for the finale. So we had to get out. What they tried to pass off to us as a palace coup is so inconsistent with anything that I don’t even want to refute this nonsense. Such squalor - not only from a historical, but also from an artistic point of view - cannot be analyzed.
But the joys of the flesh, seen by a spy of the Secret Chancellery through a crack in the wall, are an interesting find. Over the years, the aging spy watches Catherine - a romantically inclined bride, an unhappy abandoned wife, a temperamental mistress... And all these metamorphoses are quite convincing - artistically and historically.
Who tried on the crown of Catherine the Great in the movies?
We have chosen twelve actresses who have appeared in the role of the Russian Empress - in fact, of course, there are many more of them.
1.
Marlene Dietrich, after the film “The Loose Empress” (1934, directed by Joseph von Sternberg), admitted that she had long loved Russians: “They do not have equal feelings, they are either tragic or happy. I think I have a Russian soul.”
2.
Olga Zhizneva in the film “Admiral Ushakov” (1953, directed by Mikhail Romm) shone with luxury and inspired naval battles. Once upon a time, in the early 30s, in the film “A Strict Young Man” she played a naked girl emerging from the sea foam - the film was banned. Her husband, director Abram Room, called her “astral Life,” an actress of mystery.
3.
Zoya Vasilkova (Chekulaeva) in the film “Evenings on a Farm near Dikanka” (1961, directed by Alexander Rowe) gives her royal slippers to the blacksmith Vakula. The former front-line soldier, who volunteered for the front at the age of 17, played the empress in the real dress of Catherine II: “It turned out to be a little short for me: Catherine was small and a very plump woman.”
4.
Jeanne Moreau in Catherine the Great (1968, dir. Gordon Fleming) plays Catherine, who manically pursues visiting British officer Charles Edsteston. Moreau herself preferred to remember that in Paris she lived next to an Orthodox church and every morning, hearing the ringing of bells, she imagined Moscow.
5.
Svetlana Kryuchkova in the film “The Tsar's Hunt” (1990, directed by Vitaly Melnikov) destroys the impostor Princess Tarakanova. After filming, she told how the Olympic coach taught her horse riding, and how she learned to break her tongue: “Ekaterina spoke with a German accent all her life, and for six months, morning and evening, I listened to the text that the German woman wrote down in Russian.”
6.
Julia Ormond in the film “Young Catherine” (1991, directed by Michael Anderson) plays the bride of the heir to the throne, who walks a thorny path to the throne. I studied the heroine’s biography and argued with the director. Ormond also played another woman close to the throne, Nadezhda Alliluyeva, Stalin's wife. And after “The Barber of Siberia” she completely agreed: “in a past life I was Russian.”
7.
Marina Vladi in the film “Dreams of Russia” (1992, directed by Junya Sato) replaced actress Elizabeth Taylor, who suddenly fell ill, playing Catherine, who rescues Japanese sailors. Although she wanted to star in the role of Catherine with director Yevgeny Tatarsky - in another film that never happened. For Tatarsky, Vladi only played a vampire in the film “Blood Drinkers.”
8.
Catherine Zeta-Jones in the film “Catherine the Great” (1995, dir. Marvin Jay Chomsky, John Goldsmith) also suffers from being married to the unloved Pyotr Fedorovich and gains experience in a voice-over: “Of course, it was madness, suicide, but that’s what I mean.” didn't worry. I wanted love." These scenes in the film are considered the most successful.
9.
Olga Antonova in the film “Russian Revolt” (2000, directed by Alexander Proshkin) is preoccupied with the Pugachev uprising. Needless to say, the heroine of the films by Pyotr Fomenko (“Almost a Funny Story”) and Kira Muratova (“Asthenic Syndrome”) successfully suppressed the rebellion.
10.
Maria Kuznetsova managed to play Catherine in “Russian Ark” (2002, directed by Alexander Sokurov), filmed in 1 hour 27 minutes 12 seconds. But she received cinematic awards for her role as Nadezhda Krupskaya, the wife of Vladimir Lenin, starring in “Taurus” with the same Sokurov.
11.
Marina Alexandrova was selected from 200 candidates for the role of the future empress in the 12-episode television film “Ekaterina” (2014, directed by Alexander Baranov, Ramil Sabitov). The actress talked a little about this work. About how carefully I prepared for the role and studied literature. From the diaries, according to the actress, you can understand how Catherine really felt: “In the series, my own vision of this woman, strong, ambitious, but at the same time thirsty for love.” According to Marina, she put on a real crown in the finale: it was heavy.
12.
Yulia Snigir in the 12-episode film “Catherine the Great” (dir. Igor Zaitsev), as promised, will appear in the near future on Channel One. In this series, everything is the same, both the number of episodes and the period of Catherine’s life - “from the moment of her arrival in Russia until her accession to the throne.” And although the film has not yet been released, the actress has already told how the heroine influenced her: she is studying German, learning to play the piano. “I also began to live greedily,” says Yulia, “and try to enjoy life.”
Prepared by Igor Virabov
Series "Bloody Lady"
Year of release: 2020 In the image of Catherine the Second - Severija Janusauskaite Director Egor Anashkin
Severija Janusauskaite in the film “Bloody Lady”
V. Eriesen. "Portrait of Catherine II in front of a mirror"
In this series, the image of Daria Saltykova, the tormenting lady, is so vivid and the narrative is so dramatic that the audience somehow does not remember the image of the queen. Perhaps because not everyone understood that the woman played by Janusauskaite was the same queen, Catherine II. There is no time to figure out who wanted to show whom, and who didn’t succeed - with each episode, the events in the film unfold more and more rapidly, the main character becomes more and more cruel, and the audience complains that they are forced to feel sorry for the sadistic lady. I don’t want to feel sorry for someone like that, but it’s a pity. Because the actress was able to create a complex and contradictory image. And what image Janusauskaite created and how she resembles Catherine the Second is up to you to decide.
The series “Midshipmen, forward!”
Year of release: 1997 Catherine II (Princess Fike) - Kristina Orbakaite Director Svetlana Druzhinina
Kristina Orbakaite. Still from the film “Midshipmen, Forward!”
A. Pan. Portrait of Catherine II in her youth
Kristina Orbakaite in the new “Midshipmen”
Another attempt to film the same musketeers as Dumas, but Russian. This time it was successful. Midshipmen have long been known and loved by viewers. Therefore, a little more, and we will see the third season, in which the midshipmen will again be viva, and Ekaterina will again be Kristina Orbakaite. If in the role of Catherine, when she was still Princess Fike, Orbakaite was somewhat similar to the original - she was also tall, well-built and quite thin, then Catherine became significantly heavier with age, and Orbakaite did not gain weight for the role.
By the way, in 2020 we are promised a new, fourth part of Midshipmen. In the role of the matured Catherine II - the matured Kristina Orbakaite.
