Viy
The Soviet Union’s first horror film!
Country
Budget
$0
Box office
$0
Director
Georgi Kropachyov, Konstantin Ershov
Actors
Leonid Kuravlyov, Natalya Varley, Aleksey Glazyrin, Nikolay Kutuzov, Vadim Zakharchenko, Petro Vesklyarov, Vladimir Salnikov, Dmytro Kapka, Stepan Shkurat, Georgiy Sochevko
All actors and roles (10)
All actors and roles (10)
Scenario
Producer
Vitaly Krivonoshchenko
Camera operator
Viktor Pishchalnikov
Composer
Artist
Nikolay Markin
Audition
Editing
Regina Pesetskaya, Tamara Zubova, Tamara Zubrova
Whole Team (24)
Whole Team (24)
Short description
A seminary student on monastery holiday kills an old witch in a remote village. The hag then transforms into a beautiful young woman whose dying wish is for him to watch over her wake for three nights. With terrors occurring and his faith waning, he reads prayers on the overnight watch and tries to survive the supernatural encounters.
What's left behind the scenes
- The film is based on the novella of the same name by Nikolai Gogol.
- According to Georgy Kropachev's idea, Viy himself was supposed to look more anthropomorphic – as a gigantic, feeble old man supported by all sorts of infernal creatures.
- Alexandra Zavyalova, who was initially cast as Pannochka, fell seriously ill immediately after filming began. Ultimately, the actress's future husband, director Rezo Esadze, demanded that she step down from the role.
- The idea to adapt 'Viy' for the screen belonged to the famous Soviet director and then-director of the Mosfilm studio, Ivan Pyryev. Due to a severe lack of time, he suggested that the film be made by Georgy Kropachev and Konstantin Ershov, two students of the Higher Directing Courses of the USSR Union of Cinematographers.
- Initially, Mikhail Kokshenov was considered for the role of Khoma Brut.
- Viy’s costume was very heavy, and none of the actors could move normally in it, so this role had to be played by a specially invited weightlifter.
- The Witch's flight on Khoma was filmed in a studio. A pole, disguised as a broom with a horizontal plank on which Nikolai Kutuzov sat, was secured at a low height. Leonid Kuravlyov, who played Khoma, also hung on this plank and pedaled his legs in the air, imitating running.
- During the filming of the flight scene, Natalia Varley fell out of the coffin. Only Leonid Kuravlyov's reaction, managing to catch the actress, saved her from injury. Nevertheless, this incident gave rise to rumors of Varley's death.
- During the filming of the flight scene, Natalya Varley fell out of the coffin. Only the quick reaction of Leonid Kuravlyov, who managed to catch the actress, saved her from injury. Nevertheless, this incident sparked rumors of Varley's death.
- The film is based on the eponymous story by Nikolai Gogol.
- The film featured 50 crows (caught in the studio area) and 9 trained black cats.
- When the heroine Natalia Varley shakes with anger during one of the final scenes, the actress stands on a special vibrating platform.
- According to Georgy Kropachev's vision, the Viy himself was meant to look more anthropomorphic—as a giant, frail old man supported by various infernal creatures.
- Three coffins were prepared for Pannochka. One was real, for scenes featuring Natalya Varley lying inside. The other two were for the flying scenes through the church: one small and closed, and another open one equipped with a special stand and a safety harness provided by the crew to prevent the actress from falling, suspended by six metal cables.
- Three coffins were prepared for Pannochka. One real one, for filming scenes of Natalia Varley lying in it. The other two were for the flight scenes through the church: a small, closed one, and an open one, with a special stand equipped with a harness worn by stagehands to prevent the actress from falling, secured in a suspended state by six metal cables.
- The idea of filming "Viy" belonged to the famous Soviet director, at that time the director of the Mosfilm film company, Ivan Pyryev. Due to an acute lack of time, he suggested that two students of the Higher Directing Courses of the Union of Cinematographers of the USSR, Georgy Kropachev and Konstantin Ershov, direct the film.
- The rooster that crows in the film had previously been used by Ptushko during the filming of 'The Tale of Tsar Saltan'.
- The film was shot in the Bohorodchany district of the Ivano-Frankivsk region. However, the location footage disappointed the management of Mosfilm, as it proved to be "too realistic." Consequently, it was decided to bring in the renowned fairy-tale film director Alexander Ptushko. As a result, most of the material filmed by Ershov and Kropachev was cut, and a number of ideas remained unimplemented. The appearance of Viy was also changed.
- The scene of the Witch flying with Khoma was filmed in a studio. A pole, disguised as a broom with a horizontal bar upon which Nikolai Kutuzov sat, was mounted at a low height. Leonid Kuravlyov, who played Khoma, also hung from this bar and kicked his legs in the air to simulate running.
- Alexandra Zavyalova, initially approved for the role of the Maiden, fell seriously ill immediately after the start of filming. As a result, the actress's future husband, director Rezo Esadze, demanded that she refuse the role.
- Filming took place in the Bohorodchany district of the Ivano-Frankivsk region. However, the footage shot on location disappointed the management of Mosfilm, proving to be "too realistic." As a result, the renowned fairytale filmmaker Alexander Ptushko was brought in to work on the project. Consequently, a large portion of the material shot by Yershov and Kropachev was cut, and a number of ideas remained unrealized. The appearance of Viy was also altered.
- Mikhail Kokshenov was originally planned for the role of Khoma Brut.
- In one of the final scenes, when Natalya Varley's character shakes with rage, the actress is standing on a special vibrating platform.
- The rooster crowing in the film had previously been used by Ptushko in the filming of "The Tale of Tsar Saltan."
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Auditions in India
Casting calls in USA
Castingi w Polsce
Кастинги в Україні
