Dvenadtsataya noch

When I stumbled on the title in imdb.com, I was pained to see that the brilliant film was still awaiting 5 (five!) votes. It has dazzling ensemble of actors and actresses in it. To start with, as the film was made in the 50-s, the era of beauties on the screen, it stars Alla Larionova, a ravishing beauty with a cascade of golden hair, Klara Luchko, Vadim Medvedev. But though just to see such beautiful people is a feast for the eye, their participation is not the greatest attraction of the film. Yanshin, Vitsin and Merkuryev - they are the marvellous trio that is absolutely unforgettable. If they had never played another part in all their lives, after playing in this film they would have become immortal as actors. Their performance is witty, boysterous, playful. In one word, I will always see the three characters in my mind's eye the way they were played by the three great actors. The film crew managed to convey that playful irreality of Shakespeare when life is stranger than fiction, when everything is not what it seems. I think that had the film been known to the Western public it could have been given a bunch of Oscars even now. At least as a tribute to great actors.