Cult film by Eldar Ryazanov "Beware of the car" (1966) gave the viewer one of the most memorable characters in Soviet cinema - Yuri Detochkina, an insurance agent and a car thief. Performer Evgeniy Evstigneev masterfully embodied on the screen the image of a simple-minded dreamer who “stole” cars from unscrupulous drivers in order to “teach them wisdom.” But few people know that there is an episode in the film where Detochkin appears in an unexpected role - folk theater actor.
Rehearsal scene "Hamlet" became the hero's calling card, but what else did he play on the stage? The film does not directly show other roles, however, analysis of dialogues, character remarks and historical context allows us to reconstruct Detochkin’s possible repertoire. This article will reveal hidden details, related to the hero’s theatrical activities, and will explain why exactly Shakespeare became a key point in his image.
Interestingly, Evgeny Evstigneev himself in real life was theater actor (worked at the Satire Theater and the Theater on Malaya Bronnaya), and his experience played a role in creating the image of Detochkin. Director Ryazanov specifically introduced a theatrical line to emphasize duality of the hero: on the one hand, an everyday insurance agent, on the other, a creative person striving for high art. But let's figure out what else besides Hamlet, Detochkin could play in his amateur band.
1. “Hamlet” - why this particular role?
Scene where Detochkin rehearses a monologue "To be or not to be" in front of the mirror, became one of the most quoted in the film. But why did the director choose Shakespeare, and not, say, Gogol or Chekhov?
Firstly, "Hamlet" in the USSR in the 1960s it was a symbol intellectual protest. Detochkin, who steals cars from grabbers, is a rebel in himself, albeit a naive one. The monologue about the choice between being and action reflects his internal struggle: he understands that he is doing something that is not entirely legal, but he believes that he is right.
Secondly, Evstigneev knew the role of Hamlet very well — he played it in the theater back in the 1950s. Director Ryazanov used this fact to give the scene documentary reliability. The viewer believes that Detochkin could really play the Danish prince - Evstigneev gets used to the character so organically.
Finally, "Hamlet" was at the peak of popularity in the Soviet theater of the 1960s. Performances took place in Moscow, Leningrad, and republican theaters. For an amateur group, like the Detochkin Theater, it was an ambitious but achievable choice.
⚠️ Attention: In the film, Detochkin quotes a monologue on Russian language translated by Mikhail Lozinsky - it was the most widespread translation of Shakespeare in the USSR. The original text in English was almost never used in Soviet theaters.
2. Possible roles for Detochkin: what else could he play?
Although the film only shows the scene with "Hamlet", it is logical to assume that the repertoire of the folk theater was wider. In the 1960s amateur groups put:
- 🎭 Classics — plays by Ostrovsky (“The Thunderstorm”, “Dowry”), Gogol (“The Inspector General”, “Marriage”), Chekhov (“The Cherry Orchard”, “The Bear”).
- 📜 Modern dramaturgy - plays by Arbuzov (“The Irkutsk Story”), Volodin (“Five Evenings”), Rozov (“Forever Alive”).
- 🎶 Musicals and operettas - “Wedding in Malinovka”, “Silva”, “The Bat”. Detochkin, with his artistry, could handle the musical repertoire.
- 🎭 Satire and comedy - plays by Zoshchenko, Erdman (“Suicide”), even sketches from the “Club of the Cheerful and Resourceful” (KVN), which was just gaining popularity.
From the dialogues of the film we can conclude that the Detochkin Theater was unprofessional but ambitious. For example, when he says: “I play in the theater... well, not the main roles, of course”, - this hints at minor but notable characters. Likely candidates:
- 👴 Mayor (“The Inspector General”) is a role for an actor with good diction and comedic talent.
- 🎩 Lopakhin (“The Cherry Orchard”) - the image of a “pragmatic businessman” could resonate with Detochkin’s profession (insurance agent).
- 🤴 King Lear — if the theater took upon itself the courage to stage Shakespeare, then why not try his other plays?
- 🎭 Khlestakov (“The Inspector General”) is a role that requires mastery of transformation, which was precisely Evstigneev’s strong point.
In addition, the film has indirect reference to the fact that Detochkin played not only dramatic roles. When he says: “I also sang in an operetta”, - this may be a hint of participation in light genres, for example, in "The Bat" or "The Gypsy Baron".
3. Theatrical biography of Detochkin: what does the film say?
There are several in the film key cues, which help restore the hero’s theatrical past:
- “I play in the theater... well, not the main roles, of course” - this suggests that he was not the star of the troupe, but he was not an extra either.
- “I also sang in an operetta” — confirmation that the theater’s repertoire was diverse, included musical performances.
- “Are you, Yuri, rehearsing Hamlet again?” (remark from the neighbor) - a hint that the role was for him special, perhaps he returned to her more than once.
I wonder what no other specific role is named in the film. This could have been done on purpose to emphasize that for Detochkin theater is not a profession, but a hobby, a way of self-realization. He did not chase fame, but simply loved art.
Another important point: Detochkin Theater - folk, amateur. In the USSR, such groups often arose at factories, clubs, and houses of culture. The repertoire was chosen based on the capabilities of the actors and the availability of scenery. For example, Hamlet was staged less frequently than Ostrovsky's comedies because it required serious training and costumes.
Most likely, Detochkin played what was in demand among his team:
- If there weren’t enough actors to play the main roles, I took secondary ones.
- If needed comedic relief - played in farces or operettas.
- If the director wanted to stage something “high”, he auditioned for Shakespeare or Chekhov.
In the 1960s in the USSR there was a movement of “people's theaters”, where not professionals, but enthusiasts worked. Many of them later became actors or directors. For example, Oleg Tabakov started in the student theater of Moscow State University.
4. Why didn’t Detochkin become a professional actor?
The film has key scene, where Detochkin explains his love for the theater: “This is not work, this is relaxation!” For him, art is a way to get away from routine, not a way to make money.
But why didn’t he try himself in the professional theater? There are several versions:
- 🎓 Lack of education. In the 1960s, Soviet theaters recruited mainly graduates of theater universities (GITIS, Shchukin School). Detochkin, judging by the film, did not have an acting education.
- 💼 Stable job. He was an insurance agent - a profession that gave social guarantees (salary, pension). In the theater, especially in the provinces, salaries were low.
- 🎭 Competition. In Moscow and Leningrad, theaters were crowded with talented actors. It was extremely difficult to break through without connections and experience.
- 🚗 Love for cars. His passion for cars took a lot of time - perhaps he simply did not have enough strength for a full-fledged theatrical career.
In addition, the film has one more hint: when Detochkin speaks “I’m not an actor, I just love the theater”, - this may mean that he doesn't consider himself talented enough for the big stage. Perhaps he auditioned, but did not pass the selection, and remained in the amateur team.
I wonder what Evgeniy Evstigneev in real life, too, for a long time I could not decide between theater and cinema. He worked in provincial theaters before becoming a star. Perhaps in the image of Detochkin there is autobiographical features actor.
5. Theatrical traditions of the 1960s: how did this influence the repertoire?
To understand what other roles Detochkin could play, you need to remember what was staged in Soviet theaters in the 1960s. This period was characterized by:
- 📚 Classical repertoire - Ostrovsky, Chekhov, Gorky, Shakespeare. New plays rarely appeared due to censorship.
- 🎭 Political satire - plays about the fight against bureaucracy and bribery (for example, “Krechet” by Surovtsev).
- 🎶 Operetta and musicals - light, entertaining productions for a wide audience.
- 🎬 Film adaptations — many theaters staged plays that were later shown in cinema (“The Irkutsk Story”, “The Marriage of Balzaminov”).
In this context Detochkin National Theater most likely focused on mass audience, and not to the avant-garde. Therefore, his repertoire could include:
| Genre | Possible plays | Possible role of Detochkin |
|---|---|---|
| Drama | "Thunderstorm" (Ostrovsky) | Tikhon or Kudryash |
| Comedy | "The Inspector General" (Gogol) | Khlestakov or Mayor |
| Tragedy | "King Lear" (Shakespeare) | Jester or Edgar |
| Operetta | "Die Fledermaus" (Strauss) | Alfred or Falk |
| Contemporary drama | “Irkutsk History” (Arbuzov) | Sergey or Victor |
Of course, these are just assumptions, but they are based on real trends of the Soviet theater of that time. For example, “The Inspector General” was staged in almost every second theater - it was surefire comedy, which always attracted spectators.
Another interesting point: in the film Detochkin quotes Hamlet from memory, without a book. This suggests that he took roles seriously and rehearsed a lot. Perhaps he was one of the leaders in his amateur team.
Why weren’t Detochkin’s other roles shown in the film?
Director Eldar Ryazanov specifically concentrated on “Hamlet” because this role best conveyed the hero’s internal conflict. Other roles could distract attention from the main line - the story of the “hijackings” and Detochkin’s moral dilemma. In addition, Shakespeare was associated with high art, which emphasized the contrast between the everyday work of an insurance agent and the creative ambitions of the character.
6. How does Detochkin’s theater reflect Soviet reality?
People's theaters in the USSR were not just a hobby - they did social function. The state encouraged amateur art because it:
- fostered collectivism (people rehearsed together, staged performances);
- distracted from everyday problems (in the theater you could forget about queues and shortages);
- promoted Soviet values (many plays were about work, friendship, and the fight against vices).
The Detochkin Theater is a typical example of such a group. Most likely he worked at House of Culture or factory club. In such theaters there was often no professional directors, so the actors themselves chose the repertoire and assigned roles.
I wonder what's in the movie no performance scenes - just a rehearsal. This may mean that the Detochkin Theater did not always bring productions to premiere. They may have been rehearsing Hamlet for years but never showed it to audiences. This was typical for many amateur groups, where the process was more important than the result.
One more detail: Detochkin doesn't talk about tours or competitions. This means that his theater did not strive for fame - it existed for myself, for the inner circle. This was also typical for the USSR: many bands played only for our own - factory workers, area residents.
⚠️ Attention: In the 1960s, the USSR held folk art festivals, where amateur theaters could show their productions. If the Detochkin Theater participated in such events, this would definitely be mentioned in the film. But since there is not a word about this, we can assume that the team was closed.
7. Alternative version: did Detochkin play anything other than Hamlet?
Yes radical theorywhat Detochkin really is didn't play anything, except for Hamlet, and all the talk about the theater is just his fantasy. Several points speak in favor of this version:
- 🎭 In the movie there is not a single scene, where Detochkin is rehearsing something else.
- 🗣 His remarks about the theater foggy: “well, not the main roles, of course”, “sang in an operetta” - it could be exaggeration.
- 🚗 His main passion is cars, and theater may just be a way to impress others.
On the other hand, Evgeniy Evstigneev in an interview he said that his hero really loved the theater. According to the actor, Ryazanov specifically introduced this line to show Detochkin's versatility - not only a car enthusiast, but also a dreamer.
The truth is probably somewhere in the middle: Detochkin actually played in the theater, but not as active as we would like. Perhaps he auditioned for different roles, but only received episodes. And Hamlet became his personal obsession - a role to which he returned again and again, even if the theater did not stage it.
The only direct confirmation of Detochkin’s other role in the film is the phrase “I also sang in the operetta.” This could mean taking part in productions of Die Fledermaus or Silva, which were popular in the 1960s. However, the film does not give specific details.
Detochkin’s theatrical line in the film is not just a detail, but a way to show his inner world. Through Shakespeare, the hero tries to resolve his moral conflict: is stealing cars a crime or justice?
FAQ: Frequently asked questions about Detochkin’s theatrical roles
❓ Why did Detochkin choose the monologue “To be or not to be”?
This monologue is one of the most famous in world drama. It reflects internal struggle hero: Detochkin, like Hamlet, doubts the correctness of his actions. In addition, Evgeny Evstigneev knew this role very well and could play it convincingly.
❓ Were there folk theaters like the Detochkin Theater in the USSR?
Yes, in the 1960s there were thousands of amateur theaters. They staged both classics and modern plays. Many famous actors, for example, Oleg Tabakov or Nikolai Karachentsov, started out in such groups.
❓ Could Detochkin play in a professional theater?
Theoretically yes, but in practice it was unlikely. In the USSR, to work in the theater it was required special education, which Detochkin did not have. In addition, he worked as an insurance agent - a profession that provided stability, which many provincial theaters could not promise.
❓ Why weren’t Detochkin’s other roles shown in the film?
Director Eldar Ryazanov concentrated on Hamlet because this role best conveyed drama and contradiction hero. Other roles could have distracted attention from the main story of the film. In addition, Shakespeare was associated with high art, which emphasized the contrast between Detochkin's everyday work and his creative ambitions.
❓ Are there real prototypes of the Detochkin Theater?
Yes, they could serve as prototypes Moscow and Leningrad folk theaters of the 1950s–1960s. For example, the theater at the Zuev House of Culture or the student theaters of Moscow State University and Leningrad State University. Many of them staged serious plays, including Shakespeare, despite their amateur status.