On October 26, 1977, the film “Office Romance“ was released in the USSR. Over 40 years have passed, and the film is still considered one of the classic comedy movies.
1. To create the image of a ruthless woman, the crew had to search through all the warehouses of the Mosfilm studio. Photographer Vladimir Nakhabtsev brought his grandfather’s old glasses with corner frames (the same ones worn by the heroine in the film).
2. The rooftop where Kalugin waters flowers and cries in his vest to Novoseltsev is the roof of the famous Nirenzee House in Bolshoy Gnezdnikovsky Lane, overlooking Tverskaya Street.
3. Veronika’s husband, with whom she talks on the phone, was played, or rather voiced, by Oleg Basilashvili. Oleg was simultaneously filming in another role and performing in a play.
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4. The clock in Kalugin’s office stopped at 9:30.
5. According to the plot, the role played by Basilashvili was supposed to drive a car, but the actor had never driven before. Despite professional racers coming to teach him, Basilashvili couldn’t handle the steering wheel and crashed into a newspaper kiosk.
6. The characters’ homes in the film were deliberately located in different areas of Moscow to emphasize their social status. The leaders, Kalugin and Samokhvalov, lived in the city center. Novoseltsev and Veronika lived in the “Chertanovo“ metro area. Olga Ryzhova had to commute by train from the Moscow region every day.
7. In the 1970s, knitting was a very practical hobby that allowed people to stand out from the crowd.
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8. Andrey Myagkov, known to viewers for his role as Evgeny Lukashin in the film “The Irony of Fate, or Enjoy Your Bath!“ It is difficult to imagine him as a “small office worker.“ The mustache and large-framed glasses save him from this awkward situation.
9. There was a second-generation Apple computer on Kalugin’s desk, developed in 1977, which was the first in the world to display color graphics.
10. A characteristic feature of Soviet institutions was the creation of a special “green corner“ (a small plot of land for growing plants and small animals within the premises of the institution. Small animals were kept in specially equipped cages, terrariums, or aquariums).
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11. The bronze Pegasus in Novoseltsev’s hands is a real “movie star.“ This sculpture was also installed at the extravagant wedding of the famous conductor Sneyb Paysan. Many scenes from other Soviet films were shot against the backdrop of Pegasus.
12. Kalugin vacuumed the room with a Soviet-made “Cyclone“ vacuum cleaner.
13. The scene of the slap was filmed on the fifth attempt. Although Basilashvili pleaded with him, Myagkov couldn’t hit hard. In the end, he got angry at himself and managed to hit harder than expected. This shot became the final alternative for the film.
14. A play based on this legendary film was staged at the Beijing Theater.