Interesting stories from the life of Faina Ranevskaya. Interesting facts about Faina Ranevskaya
According to the entry in the birth register, Faina (Fanny Feldman) was born on August 27, 1895. The date of birth in the passport was August 27, 1896. Agree, celebrating the anniversary two years in a row is in the spirit of Ranevskaya.
There are several versions regarding the origin of her pseudonym. “I became Ranevskaya primarily because I dropped everything. Everything was falling out of my hands. It’s always been like this,” admitted Faina Georgievna. According to the second version, her companion compared Faina with the heroine of a Chekhov play, seeing Faina laughing at the fact that the wind had snatched the money from her hands and repeating: “How beautifully they fly!” Or maybe the reason lies in the shock that Faina experienced in 1913, after seeing the production of “The Cherry Orchard” on the stage of the Moscow Art Theater... Faina presumably took this pseudonym in 1916, when she began playing on the stages of provincial theaters in Crimea, and later , in 1917 or 1918 she changed her last and patronymic names in her documents. Faina Girshevna Feldman forever became Faina Grigorievna Ranevskaya.
But despite the fact that her passport said: “Faina Grigorievna Ranevskaya,” in life she was most often called Faina Georgievna Ranevskaya. Both orally and in writing. When asked why this happened, Ranevskaya answered: “I’ve never thought about it! They call it and call it - what difference does it make! Maybe they want to flatter me? After all, Grishka is Otrepyev, and George is the Victorious!”
Faina Feldman's parents, her brother and sister Bella left Russia in 1917. After many years of separation, Faina Ranevskaya saw her mother and brother in 1956 in Romania. My father had already died by that time, and my sister lived in Paris and could not come. True, she will get to see Bella and even live together for several years. A few years later, Bella, left alone in a foreign land (after the death of her husband, she moved from Paris to Turkey), wants to reunite with her sister, and Faina Georgievna will obtain permission for her to enter and live in the Soviet Union. Bella moved to Moscow and settled with her sister. She was sure that her sister was fabulously rich. In everything that concerned socialist reality, Bella was naive, like a child. It was difficult for them together. Two completely different people. Different destinies, different views on life, different characters. Fate gave the Feldman sisters very little time to live together - soon after moving to Moscow, Bella was diagnosed with cancer. Inoperable. Faina Georgievna selflessly took care of her sister, carefully hiding the truth about the terrible diagnosis from her until her last days. In 1964, Bella died and was buried at the Donskoye Cemetery. “Izabella Georgievna Allen. To my dear sister,” was written on her tombstone.
The nickname Fufa, short for Faina, stuck with Ranevskaya since the 1930s, but only close friends called her that. By calling herself Fufa in correspondence with someone, she seemed to emphasize the transition to a new level of relationship.
In the mid-1930s, Ranevskaya, Mikhoels and Veniamin Zuskin ended up in Kyiv. The film “The Last Cabby” was filmed there. He was advised by Grigory Lvovich Roshal, and the director was Khone Shmain. Starring Zuskin and Faina Ranevskaya. From the words of the actor’s daughter Alla Zuskina, I learned something about this failed film: “Of course, I didn’t even see fragments of the film, but I know and remember that Faina Georgievna visited our house before and after the war. I don’t know why this film was closed. The warmth of the relationship between Ranevskaya and Zuskin is unforgettable for me, but I could already observe this in the post-war years.”
The film “The Last Cabby” starred Mark Bernes, who played the “daughter’s husband” Zuskin. His wife was played by Ksenia Tarasova, a wonderful but forgotten actress today. For unknown reasons, this film never appeared on screens. In Gleb Skorokhodov’s book you can read Ranevskaya’s memoirs: “I had the opportunity to play with such a genius as Zuskin, we starred in the film “The Last Cabby Driver”... I have a photograph saved somewhere - I came up with it myself - Zuskin and I were 'young' "newlywed lovebirds with dumb faces, frozen in front of the lens of a local photographer.
Ranevskaya was very friendly with Anna Akhmatova. Once she had the opportunity to look after a poetess when she was sick with typhus and carefully kept a notebook with poems. They both loved to walk around the old Tashkent where they lived during the evacuation, supported each other and, of course, joked.
Among the people for whom Ranevskaya had sincere friendship was Elena Bulgakova, the widow of Mikhail Bulgakov. They met in Moscow, but became friends already in Tashkent, where Elena Sergeevna was also evacuated. Ranevskaya introduced Bulgakova to Akhmatova, with whom she also became friends, and then, upon returning to Leningrad, it was in Bulgakova’s apartment that literary evenings were held, where Akhmatova read her poems. In the same apartment, she and Ranevskaya read the manuscript of “The Master and Margarita,” secretly received from Elena Sergeevna. Faina Georgievna was very indignant when she heard about the obstacles that the authorities were putting in the way of publishing Bulgakov’s works. Even when she had just returned to Moscow from Tashkent, she immediately turned to several famous writers and artists with a request to help Bulgakov’s widow publish his works. And she even managed to involve Svyatoslav Richter, Aram Khachaturian, Galina Ulanova and Roman Karmen in this case. But Akhmatova did not participate in the petition - after the 1946 resolution, she herself ended up on the “black list” and could no longer help anyone.
Ranevskaya loved the nature of central Russia, which captivated Chekhov and Levitan, and kept trying to paint tree trunks, a pond and a rainy cloudy sky in watercolors. Pushkin’s “our northern summer is a caricature of southern winters” was more valuable to her than the sunny canvases of the masters of “victorious socialist realism.” That’s probably why she often took us to Serebryany Bor, to Komarovo, and loved the oak groves and ravine in Vnukovo. There she walked with Pavel Leontyevna along the paths, and together they looked at the green and red church near the village of Izvarino.
The famous Soviet actress Lyubov Petrovna Orlova called Faina Ranevskaya “my dear Fey” or “Beloved Fey”. It was Ranevskaya who persuaded Orlova to act in her first film: “I started acting in films thanks to Ranevskaya. The theater wouldn’t let me go to my first film, and I was about to give up filming, but Faina forbade me to do this, proving that cinema would become my destiny,” said Orlova.
Few people know, but young Vladimir Vysotsky was not very lucky in the theater; he was almost never given roles (at least in the Pushkin Theater). Ranevskaya took care of the young talent as best she could. One day, Vysotsky started drinking heavily and did not appear in the theater for several weeks. Only thanks to the intercession of Faina Georgievna, harsh consequences were avoided.
The travel agency “Golden Domes” (Rostov-on-Don) invites everyone to take the excursion “Taganrog - my first love”, dedicated to the great Russian actress Faina Georgievna Ranevskaya, a native of Taganrog. The excursion lasts for one day. Tourists are invited to visit places associated with the life of Faina Ranevskaya (Feldman) in Taganrog and a museum exhibition, the exhibition of which presents unique memorial items illustrating the life and creative path of the actress. After completing the information part of the route, you can visit the “Freken Bock” cafe (for an additional fee). The atmosphere of this small, cozy establishment takes visitors back to the time “when trees were big.”
Faina Georgievna Ranevskaya(nee Fanny Girshevna Feldman; 1896-1984) - Russian and Soviet theater and film actress. Winner of three Stalin Prizes (1949, 1951, 1951). People's Artist of the USSR (1961). Knight of the Order of Lenin (1976). Rated as one of the greatest Russian and Soviet actresses, the “queen of the supporting plan.”
The viewer remembered Ranevskaya not only as a brilliant artist, but also as a person with a sharp mind and a wonderful sense of humor. She owns many, which often became. Ranevskaya had great charisma and extraordinary artistry.
However, in fact, every day Ranevskaya fell more and more in love with.
One day, when she came home, she told her parents that she was going to become an actress. This news sent my father into a rage. A serious scandal began, but Faina continued to stand her ground.
Ultimately, this led to a break in relations with her parents, and especially with her father, with whom she then did not communicate for many years.
At the age of 19, the future actress left for.
Special signs of Faina Ranevskaya Creative biography
Upon arrival in the capital, Ranevskaya experienced financial difficulties, since her father flatly refused to give his daughter any money.
And although her mother was also against her leaving, she still gave her a small amount secretly from her husband.
In Moscow, Faina began renting a small room on Bolshaya Nikitskaya. This housing was far from being as luxurious as in Taganrog, but she was happy that now no one would finally stop her from becoming an actress.
From that moment on, many significant events occurred in Ranevskaya’s biography. She managed to meet such famous poets as, and (see).
When she saw actor Vasily Kachalov, his performance on stage struck her to the core. Judging by Ranevskaya’s memoirs, she was truly in love with him.
Finally, the time has come to enter drama school. The girl spent days and nights preparing for the exams, not thinking about anything else.
However, when they began to announce the lists of those admitted to the school, her name was not there. And although Ranevskaya was very upset about this, she did not give up.
Soon she got a job at a private school, but there was no money to pay for her work. At this moment, the famous artist Geltser lent a helping hand to Faina, who made sure that Ranevskaya was taken to one of the theaters.
Having started working at the Malakhovsky Summer Theater, she was able to study the performances of many famous actors. At that time, Ranevskaya was not trusted with any roles, so she had to be content with extras.
In 1917, after the Bolsheviks came to power at the head, two important changes occurred in Ranevskaya’s biography.
The sad news was that her parents emigrated, never wanting to meet their daughter.
But there was good news: the girl was accepted into the Moscow Actor's Theater. Finally, her talent was appreciated.
The first performance in Ranevskaya’s biography was “Roman”, in which she played the role of Margarita. Every year her acting became better and brighter, thanks to which she began to be trusted with more significant roles.
In 1931, Ranevskaya was invited to work at the Chamber Theater, where she performed for 4 years. After this, she begins to work in the Red Army Theater.
Faina continues to demonstrate excellent acting and receives the sympathy of the audience.
At that time, she managed to skillfully play the main role in the play “Vassy Zheleznova,” conveying the difficult fate of her heroine.
In the early 50s, when Ranevskaya was already a popular actress, she moved to the Theater. Mossovet. There she often clashed with directors, because she had her own vision for playing out certain scenes.
There is a known case when Faina Georgievna completely rewrote her role in the production of “Storm” and played it in the way that seemed more correct to her.
In addition, Ranevskaya allowed herself to argue with authoritative artists, telling them the truth to their faces.
Due to clashes with colleagues and directors, catchphrases and aphorisms often emerged from her lips. Despite this, it was at the Mossovet Theater that Ranevskaya worked for more than 30 years, playing her most famous roles there.
At the end of her creative career, she worked briefly at Kamerny, where her theatrical biography once began.
Films by Ranevskaya
The first film in which Faina Ranevskaya starred was “Pyshka” (1934). It is fair to say that during her life she did not play many roles in cinema, preferring theatrical activities.
However, her every appearance in films could not go unnoticed.
In the 30s, she starred in 3 films: “The Man in the Case,” “The Cochin Engineer’s Mistake,” and “The Foundling.” The last film brought her stunning popularity throughout the Soviet Union.
Ranevskaya managed to perfectly convey the character of the main character. It was in this tape that she uttered the famous phrase “Mulya, don’t make me nervous.”
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“Here is the artist Zharov. He puts on a mustache and a beard, but I still see that it’s Zharov. But Ranevskaya is always different,” Stalin said in a conversation with the famous writer. “Always, always different,” the writer began to drown Ranevskaya. “Either she, you know, is of poor origin, or her father is a rich manufacturer...” - “So what do you advise us?” - Stalin asked sternly. - “Shoot! Both!” (From the unpublished notes of Gleb Skorokhodov about Faina Ranevskaya.)
Gleb Skorokhodov's famous book about Faina Ranevskaya went through many reprints, but its first release was painful. “Trying to please Faina Georgievna, my brother reworked the manuscript many times,” says the writer’s sister Inga Sidorova (nee Skorokhodova - Ed.). - Sometimes I removed entire chapters. So much remained unpublished. But it was preserved in the archives. Now, when 120 years have passed since the birth of Faina Georgievna, her name belongs to history. And the people who were discussed in her conversations with Gleb are no longer alive. Perhaps the time has come to introduce the readers of “7 Days” to those episodes that, for various reasons, were not included in my brother’s book.”
Ranevskaya was not poor
Faina Georgievna told how the director Mikhail Romm called her and said only one word: “I’m dead!” “I understood instantly what this meant!” - said Ranevskaya. And this meant that Stalin had died... At the same time, she reacted with unexpected sympathy to the leader’s daughter Svetlana Alliluyeva, whom she was introduced to at some official event. A year after her father’s death, Svetlana’s position became unenviable; she was sometimes afraid to appear in public. Apparently, Faina Georgievna’s heart trembled with pity for this woman, whose attention people had previously greedily sought, but now avoided her in every possible way. Maybe it was a kind of challenge. I think that during Stalin’s life, Ranevskaya would hardly have maintained this acquaintance. Now she considered it unworthy to turn away from the “leper.” Faina Georgievna took her new friend to visit. Before the audience appeared a completely ordinary, inconspicuous woman, very modest, at first glance unsure of herself, especially if one of the victims during the reign of her father was nearby. People in Svetlana’s presence, as Faina Georgievna recalled, sometimes felt a painful, dejected state... What kind of table talk is there! But Ranevskaya did not give up. She didn’t bring her except to Akhmatova, whose son was still in custody. In the end, Alliluyeva herself stopped their communication, not wanting to put Faina in an awkward position.
Faina Georgievna was not familiar with Stalin himself. She remembered only one story, retold to her at different times by several colleagues. Allegedly, after the release of the film “Spring,” Joseph Vissarionovich started talking about Ranevskaya with one writer who tried his best to please the leader. “Is this... uh... Ranevskaya a good artist?” - “What are you saying, what an artist she is, she’s an actress...” - “Well, don’t tell me! Here is the artist Zharov. He puts on a mustache and a beard, but I still see that it’s Zharov. But Ranevskaya is always different.” “Always, always different,” the writer began to drown Faina. “Either she, you know, is of poor origin, or her father is a rich manufacturer...” - “So what do you advise us?” - Stalin asked sternly. "Shoot! Both!” - the writer “joked” without blinking an eye.
Of course, no one touched Ranevskaya. Moreover, she was awarded the Stalin Prize three times: twice of the second degree, once of the third. She also had other awards, for example, two Orders of the Red Banner of Labor, the Badge of Honor, and several medals. Faina Georgievna never wore any of this and kept the awards in a box labeled “Funeral supplies.” One day I asked her to show me “Stalin”: that’s what people called the gold medal that was awarded to the laureate along with a cash prize. Ranevskaya brought out a piece of cloth on which all the awards were pinned. “Stalin” there were only two. “But there must be three,” I said. - “One is missing...” - “Stolen?” “No, what are you talking about,” Ranevskaya answered. And she told how, together with her neighbor, Galina Ulanova, she was invited to a strange event, apparently provoked by the 20th Congress of the CPSU, at which Stalin’s personality cult was condemned.
Khrushchev then ridiculed Stalin's numerous prizes, noting that "even tsars did not give out awards named after themselves." As a result, invitations were sent to cultural figures to the “ceremonial delivery of laureate badges.” It was suggested that all those awarded should gather together and solemnly throw their medals into a huge box representing a coffin, and not think about them again. So Ranevskaya took one Stalinist badge there. She recalled about this event: “It was strange to see all this. After all, once upon a time these same people proudly received all this! At your leisure, watch this idiotic film, “The Shining Path,” where Lyubochka Orlova was forced to work on 150 machines at once: how excited she is when her heroine is awarded an order...”
Faina Georgievna Ranevskaya is called one of the greatest actresses of the 20th century and the queen of the episode. But for many, she is the author of quotes and aphorisms that have become a part of our lives and have become truly popular.
August 27 marks the 121st birthday of this amazing actress and woman.
"SPRING", 1947
Fufa the Magnificent
The future star was born into a Jewish family. Her real name is Fanny Girshevna Feldman. Her friends called her both affectionately and respectfully - Fufa the Magnificent. What’s interesting is that she herself was sometimes confused about her middle names. In the documents she was written down as Grigorievna, but she introduced herself as Georgievna. She once joked about this that Grigory is Otrepiev, and Georgy is the Victorious.
After the revolution, Fanny's parents, sister and brothers left Russia. Faya was left alone and tried to earn a living by acting. But she didn't do well. And my mother, secretly from my father, sent her money.
One day, the artist and a friend went to the bank to receive a parental transfer. And when they left the institution, a gust of wind snatched all the money from the girl’s hands. She remarked with a sigh: “How beautiful they fly.” And the companion immediately exclaimed that Fufa’s behavior reminded him of Ranevskaya, the landowner from The Cherry Orchard, who could not hold anything in her hands. When the actress was choosing a pseudonym for herself, she remembered this comparison and took the surname of the Chekhov heroine. 
RANEVSKAYA WAS SHY ABOUT HER APPEARANCE. ALTHOUGH YOU WAS BEAUTIFUL IN YOUR YOUTH.
Poor oil refinery
Faina's father was a respected and famous person in Taganrog. When Faya was born, the family already had four children - three sons and a daughter. My father owned a factory of dry and oil paints, owned several houses, a building materials store, as well as the steamship “St. Nicholas”. In addition, he was the head of the synagogue and the founder of a shelter for elderly Jews.
Already under Soviet rule, when workers were required to write their autobiographies upon hiring, Ranevskaya had difficulty deducing: “My father is a poor oil refinery worker...”.
Holy Art Faina stuttered and was very shy since childhood. How she decided to become an actress is unclear. When she tried to pass exams at several theater schools, stuttering from excitement, she was told that she would never be an actress, this would be professional unsuitability. And then the 19-year-old girl went to study at a private school, and earned money as a circus extra.
It’s interesting that Ranevskaya stuttered all her life, but never on stage. They say that she had an extremely difficult character and found it difficult to get along with people. But they didn’t love her even more for her brilliant talent, poisoning her life in every possible way. Therefore, she changed a dozen theaters during her career. Once the actress was asked why she was moving from theater to theater. To which Faina Georgievna replied: “I was looking for holy art.” When asked if she found it and where, she said: “Yes. In the Tretyakov Gallery." 
“FOUNDLOCK”, 1939
“Mula, don’t make me nervous!”
Ranevskaya began acting in films at the age of 38. Her first work was the film “Pyshka” by Mikhail Romm, released in 1934. But the comedy “Foundling” brought her fame. There is still debate about who exactly came up with the phrase that went down in history: “Mulya, don’t make me nervous” - Agnia Barto, scriptwriter; Rina Zelenaya, co-writer; or Ranevskaya herself. Faina Georgievna hated this phrase, which accompanied her all her life. When we met, people constantly shouted to her about Mulya. There is such a legend: Leonid Ilyich Brezhnev personally awarded the actress in 1976 with the Order of Lenin. And when she approached him on stage, the Secretary General could not resist and joked about Mulya, who was unnerving everyone. Faina Georgievna reprimanded him that either boys or hooligans addressed her this way. They say that Brezhnev was very embarrassed, apologized and admitted that he adored her as an actress. 
"CINDERELLA", 1947
Savior
In the early 60s, the young artist Vladimir Vysotsky came to the Pushkin Theater, where Ranevskaya served at that time. Faina Georgievna adored him and looked after him as best she could. They say that when Vysotsky once went on a drinking binge for several weeks and did not appear at the theater all this time, only Ranevskaya was able to convince her superiors not to fire the young actor.
About love and food
Few people know, but Ranevskaya was a vegetarian. At the same time, she never condemned meat lovers, and certainly did not snort when they ate something meaty in front of her. “I can't eat meat. It walked, loved, looked... Maybe I'm a psychopath? No, I consider myself a normal psychopath. But I can't eat meat. “I keep meat for people,” Ranevskaya liked to say.
Spoiled Boy
Faina Georgievna was a very lonely person. For a long time she lived with her friend, actress Pavla Wulf. She considered her grandson her own and had high hopes for him. But as she got older, it became difficult to live in someone else’s house; her “adopted grandson” was busy with his own life, and at the age of 60 she was left alone, with virtually no work.
On the actress’s tombstone there is a figurine of a dog named Boy - this dog became a real family for Ranevskaya. Faina Georgievna admitted that no one was as happy about her arrival as the Boy. It was a mongrel dog that Ranevskaya picked up on the street, fed, warmed and gave him all her unspent love. In her house he could do whatever he wanted. He had a strange figure: a big belly and a balding tail. The dog adored his owner. When the artist left for the theater, he cried and whined. Sometimes she even brought her dog with her to rehearsals. Because of the Boy, Faina Georgievna refused to go to the hospital for examination or go to a sanatorium. When the actress no longer had the strength to walk with her pet, she hired a woman. The boy outlived his owner by 6 years. His friend Ranevskaya took him in and tried to give him the same love that Faina Georgievna gave him.
Komsomol member with a paddle
I'm a social psychopath. Komsomol member with a paddle.You can touch me in the subway. It’s me standing there, half-bent, in a fallen cap and copper panties, which all the October kids are trying to get into. I work in the subway as a sculpture. I was polished by so many paws that even the great prostitute Nana could envy me.
How is the sale going?
At one time, it was Eisenstein who gave the shy, stuttering debutante, who had just appeared at Mosfilm, advice that had a significant impact on her life.“Faina,” said Eisenstein, “you will die if you do not learn to demand attention to yourself, to force people to obey your will.” You will die, and you will not make an actress!
Soon Ranevskaya demonstrated to her mentor that she had learned something.
Having learned that she was not approved for the role in “Ivan the Terrible,” she became indignant and, in response to someone’s question about the filming of this film, shouted:
-I’d rather sell the skin off my ass than film with Eisenstein!
The author of "Battleship" was immediately informed, and he sent an enthusiastic telegram from Alma-Ata: "How is the sale going?"
Fate is a whore
Faina Georgievna said about her life:- If I, yielding to requests, began to write about myself, it would be a plaintive book - “Fate is a whore.”
I don't have much
In her youth, after the revolution, Ranevskaya was very poor and at a difficult moment turned to one of her father’s friends for help.He told her:
“I can’t give Feldman’s daughter enough.” I don't have much anymore...
Bug on the shirtfront
They pester you and ask you to write, write about yourself. I refuse. Writing about yourself is bad-- I do not want. Okay - indecent. So, we must remain silent. Besides, I'm again
I started making mistakes, and this is shameful. It's like a bug on your shirtfront. I know the most
The main thing is that I know that I need to give, and not grab. So I'm living with this
recoil. Memories are the wealth of old age.
Several cases
A few more jokes from Faina Ranevskaya:1. An annoying fan asks Faina Grigorievna for her phone number. To which she replies with amazement in her eyes: “Honey, are you crazy? How do I know my phone number? I never call myself.”
2. Ranevskaya’s “saying,” generated by her professional friction with Yuri Zavadsky: “Do you know what Zavadsky dreams about?” - and then answers herself: “He dreams that he is already buried in the Kremlin wall.”
3. Ranevskaya decided to sell her fur coat. He opens the closet door for a potential buyer - and suddenly a huge moth flies out. Faina Grigorievna follows her with her gaze and in an impressive tone - with reproach - asks: “Well, you bastard, did you get drunk?”
They deprived me...
One day while filming, her regular make-up artist either got sick or simply didn’t show up - one way or another, he wasn’t there. After a serious scandal, at which, they say, she was no less a master than at everything else, Ranevskaya agreed to a replacement - a timid, modest, young girl just out of college. She was already half-fainting from the knowledge of WHO she had to work WITH, and this scandal completely finished her off. Obviously, wanting to cheer her up, Ranevskaya decided to talk to her about life. "Married?" - she asked. “No...” the girl squeaked timidly. "Fine!" - Faina Georgievna approved. “I remember when they deprived me of my virginity in Odessa, I screamed so loudly that the policemen came running!”Best of the day
What is a fairy tale
Ranevskaya explains to her grandson how a fairy tale differs from a fairy tale:- The fairy tale is when he married a frog, and she turned out to be a princess. But reality is when it’s the other way around.
It would be better not to know
Ranevskaya, when asked how she was feeling today, replied:- Disgusting passport details. I looked at my passport, saw what year I was born, and just gasped...
Just starting to live...
Ranevskaya said:- Old age is just disgusting. I believe that it is ignorance of God when he allows people to live to old age. Lord, everyone has already left, but I still live. Burma died too, and I never expected this from her. It’s scary when you’re eighteen inside, when you admire beautiful music, poetry, painting, but it’s time for you, you haven’t managed to do anything, you’re just starting to live!
Why ask?
Once Ranevskaya was stopped at the Actor’s House by a poet who holds a leading position in the Writers’ Union.- Hello, Faina Georgievna! How are you doing?
- It’s very good that you asked. At least someone is interested in how I live! Let's step aside and I'll be happy to tell you about everything.
- No, no, sorry, but I'm in a hurry. You know, I still have to go to a meeting...
- But you are interested in how I live! Why are you running away right away, listen. Moreover, I will detain you for a long time, about forty minutes, no more.
The leading poet began to flee.
- Why then ask how I live?! - Ranevskaya shouted after him.
Terrible.
- Either I’m getting old and stupid, or the youth of today are like nothing else! - Ranevskaya complained. “Before, I simply didn’t know how to answer their questions, but now I don’t even understand what they’re asking.”In the presence of Ranevskaya, one day there was a conversation about modern youth.
“You’re right,” Faina Georgievna noted, “today’s youth are terrible.” But what is even more terrible is that we do not belong to it.
Do you want to eat, do you want...
Faina Ranevskaya and Varvara Soshalskaya were involved in the play “Truth is good, but happiness is better.” Ranevskaya was already over eighty, and Soshalgka was approaching eighty.Once during a rehearsal, Soshalskaya felt unwell: she didn’t sleep the night before the rehearsal, her blood pressure jumped... In general, everything was terrible. Ranevskaya went to the buffet to buy her a chocolate bar or something sweet to cheer her friend up. The buffet sold huge greenhouse cucumbers, which at that time were the first to appear in Moscow in the middle of winter.
Faina Georgievna immediately bought a cucumber of unimaginable size, put it in her apron pocket - she played a maid - and went on stage. At that moment, when it was necessary to serve something to Lady Soshalskaya, Ranevskaya pulled a cucumber from her pocket:
- Vavochka, look at the cucumber I brought you...
- Thank you, Fufochka! - Soshalskaya was delighted.
Leaving the stage, Ranevskaya winked very slyly and clarified:
- Vavochka, I give you this cucumber. If you want, eat it, if you want, live with it...
The director had to announce a break, because after this phrase those present simply died of laughter and no one could rehearse...
Archimedes' law.
Ranevskaya, like so many women, had absolutely no understanding of physics, and one day she suddenly became interested in why iron ships did not sink.- How is this so? - she asked one of her friends, an engineer by profession. - Iron is heavier than water, then why don’t ships made of iron sink?
“It’s all very simple,” she answered. - You studied physics at school, didn’t you?
- I do not remember.
- Well, okay, in ancient times there was such a scientist named Archimedes. He discovered the law according to which a body immersed in water experiences a buoyant force equal to the weight of the displaced water...
“I don’t understand,” Faina Georgievna threw up her hands.
- Well, for example, you sit down in a bathtub filled to the brim, what happens? The water is forced out and pours onto the floor... Why is it pouring?
- Because I have a big ass...! - Ranevskaya guessed, starting to comprehend Archimedes’ law.
That's it, or...
Ranevskaya, who lived alone all her life, used to say:- Family is very serious, family replaces everything for a person. Therefore, before starting a family, you need to think carefully about what is more important to you: everything or the family.
Sorry for the piano.
Ranevskaya with all her household and huge luggage arrives at the station.“It’s a pity that we didn’t take the piano,” says Faina Georgievna.
“It’s not witty,” notes one of the accompanying people.
“It’s really not witty,” Ranevskaya sighs. “The fact is that I left all the tickets on the piano.”
Rare g...!
Ranevskaya met and became friends with director Lvovich’s aunt, who lived in Riga, but came to Moscow quite often. This aunt’s name was also Faina, which incredibly touched Ranevskaya, who considered her name quite rare. “You and I are two Fenkas,” Ranevskaya loved to repeat when they met. “These are two extremely rare and exotic names.”One day, right after the release of the film "Beware, Grandma!" Faina Ranevskaya called her namesake in Riga and asked if she had seen the film?
- I haven’t seen it yet, but today I’ll go and have a look!
“Well, well,” said Ranevskaya. - Actually, why am I calling... I’m calling to warn you - under no circumstances go, don’t waste money on a ticket, the film is a rare g..!
Funeral supplies
Ranevskaya finally got a new apartment. Friends transported her simple property, helped put everything in its place, and when they were about to leave, Faina Georgievna suddenly became worried:- My God, where are my funeral supplies?! Where did you put my funeral supplies? Don’t go, I’ll never find it on my own, I’m old, they might need you at any moment!
They began to look for these “funeral items”, not quite understanding what Ranevskaya meant. And suddenly Faina Georgievna shouted joyfully:
- Yes, here they are, thank God, I found them! And she solemnly showed everyone the box with her orders and medals.
Well, you have to!
Ranevskaya once said with sadness:- Well, you have to! I lived to see such a terrible time when the housekeepers disappeared. And do you know why? All the housekeepers became actresses.