Aleksei Dikiy

Infobox actor
bgcolour = silver
name = Aleksei Dikiy


imagesize =
caption =
birthname = Aleksei Denisovich Dikij
birthdate = birth date|1889|02|24
location = flagicon|Ukraine Ekaterinoslav, Russia
deathdate = death date and age|1955|10|01|1889|09|24
deathplace = flagicon|Russia Moscow, Russia
othername =
yearsactive = 1909 - 1955
spouse =
homepage =
notable role = Nakhimov in "Admiral Nakhimov"
academyawards =
emmyawards =
tonyawards =

Aleksei Dikiy ( _ru. Алексей Денисович Дикий, February 24, 1889 - October 1, 1955 was a notable Soviet actor and director who worked at Moscow Art Theatre and later worked with Habima Jewish theatre in Tel-Aviv. He was arrested and imprisoned in Gulag under the dictatorship of Joseph Stalin but later played the role as Joseph Stalin in several films.

Biography

Ukraine

He was born Aleksei Denisovich Dikiy on February 24, 1889, in
Ekaterinoslav, Russian Empire, now Dnepropetrivsk, Ukraine. At youngage he moved to Kharkov, where his sister, named Maria Sukhodolska - Dikova, was a popular actress, and she helpedhim to become an actor. Young Dikiy made his acting debut at the early age of 6, on stage of theKharkov Drama under the directorship of Oleksi Sukhodolskiy.

Moscow

In 1909 he moved to Moscow with the assistance ofI. Uralov, actor of Moscow Art Theatre. There Dikij studied acting under S. Khalyutina and K. Mardzhanov. Then Dikiy studied under Konstantin Stanislavski and Vladimir Nemirovich-Danchenko, and was hired as an actor at the Moscow Art Theater in 1910. He admired the stage works of Michael Chekhov and was his partner on stage. In 1922 Dikiy followed Michael Chekhov in theformation of the second Moscow Art Theater, MKhAT-2. There his artisticrivalry with Michael Chekhov turned into a bitter dispute, and Dikiy leftMoscow Art Theatre in 1928. At that time he also worked as directorwith the Jewish Chamber Theatre in Moscow.

Israel

In 1928 Aleksei Dikiy received invitation to work in Tel-Aviv. There heworked as director with "Habima", the legendary Jewish theatre troupe,which emigrated from Russia. Dikiy directed two successful plays for"Habima" in Tel-Aviv. On December 29, 1928, he premiered 'Der Oytser'(The Treasure), a play by Sholom Aleichem, which became a great artistic andfinancial success. On May 23, 1929, he premiered 'The Crown', a play by
David Calderon. With the success of Dikij's directorship "Habima"became established as a national Jewish theatre, and Dikiy gainedinternational reputation as an innovative director.

Repressions

In 1931, back in Moscow, Dikiystarted his own theater-studio in Moscow and also taught an actingclass. In 1934 Dikiy collaborated with Dmitri Shostakovich on production of the legendary opera
Katerina Izmailova (aka.. Lady Makbeth of Mtsensk District). Dikiy'sproduction of 'Katerina Izmailova' had over 100 performances in
Leningrad and Moscow, and was considered as a highlight in hisdirecting career. However, in 1936, Joseph Stalin saw the opera and severelycriticized the work of both Dmitri Shostakovich and Dikiy. After Stalin'snegative criticism both Dmitri Shostakovich and Dikiy suffered from serioustroubles in their lives and careers.

Leningrad

In 1936, Dikiy was ordered out of Moscow, then he was appointed the directorof the Bolshoi Drama Theater (BDT) in Leningrad. There he began hislife-long collaboration and friendship with actor Boris Babochkin. At that timemany Russian intellectuals were terrorized by purges and repressions,known as the "Great Terror" under the dictatorship of Joseph Stalin. In 1937Aleksei Dikiy was arrested on false accusations of anti-Sovietactivity. In reality he was a victim of behind-the-scenes manipulationsagainst him by other jealous actors. Dikiy was sentenced and exiled to
Gulag prison-camp in Siberia, where he spent 4 years until his releasein 1941.

Comeback

Dikiy was not allowed to return to work neither in Leningrad nor in Moscow,instead he lived and worked in the Siberian city of Omsk for severalyears during the Second World War. In 1944 Dikiy was cast in the titlerole as Prince Kutuzov in a Soviet propaganda film Kutuzov (1944), which wasalso known outside of Russia as 1812. For that role Dikiy was awardedthe Stalin Prize and was allowed to work in Moscow as a theaterdirector. His most important works as director were "Blokha" by Nikolai Leskovand "Teni" (aka.. Shadows) by Mikhail Saltykov-Shchedrin, starring Boris Babochkin.

talin

Ironically, after serving time in the Stalin's Gulag prison-camp,Aleksei Dikiy was cast to portray Joseph Stalin in several propaganda films.Stalin himself approved Dikiy for the role. Stalin became interested inthe brilliant actor, after he saw the film Kutuzov (1944). Then Stalin sawDikiy's performance in the role as Stalin, and sent his securityofficers to get Dikiy delivered to Kremlin for a brief meeting. Stalinhad a drink and told Dikiy that his imprisonment was a must, and thateveryone in the country must undergo such experience in exile andprison-camps. Later Dikiy told his students that he played the role ofJoseph Stalin as a dangerous, scary, power-hungry dictator. Stalin liked theimage of himself made by Dikiy in films.

Recognition

Stalin himself was moved by Dikiy's talent and awarded the actor with theStalin Prize 5 times, in 1946, 1947, 1949 twice, and 1950. "I am playing not a human, but a granite monument" said Dikiy, alluding to Stalin [http://www.hrono.ru/biograf/diki.html] .Dikiy was designated People's Artist of the USSR (1949). He wasnominated for 'Best Actor' and received a special mention at the 1947
Venice Film Festival for the title role in Admiral Nakhimov.

More Repressions

In 1952 Dikiy directed his last stage production titled "Teni" (aka..Shadows), a play by Saltykov-Shchedrin. Under Dikiy's direction hisfriend and partner, Boris Babochkin, played one of his best roles ever -Klaverov, a corrupt career politician, alluding to a typical Sovietbureaucrat. For that work Boris Babochkin was viciously attacked in theofficial Soviet newspaper Pravda by none other than Ekaterina Furtseva, who was then a Mayor of Moscow and later was made Soviet
Minister of Culture. Furtseva became enraged withDikiy's and Babochkin's satirical portrayal of the Soviet bureaucracywith allusions to the Soviet leadership. She banned the play, andcensored both Babochkin and Dikiy from public performances and keptthem virtually unemployed for three years until Babochkin was finallyforced to repent to the Communist Party.

Death

Dikiy suffered from many traumatic experiences in his life. The last blow was being apowerless witness of censorship and public humiliation of his friend, Boris Babochkin. Official attacks by the Soviet Communist Party caused Dikiya severe emotional trauma, which led to alcoholism, depression and other health problems.

Aleksei Dikiy died of a heart failure on October 1, 1955, in Moscow,and was laid to rest in Novodevichy Monastery Cemtery in Moscow,
Russia.

References

* [http://www.peoples.ru/art/cinema/actor/alexey_dikiy/ Aleksey Dikiy article] on peoples.ru encyclopedia ru iconDikiy suffered from many traumatic experiences in his life. The last blow was being a powerless witness of censorship and public humiliation of his friend, Boris Babochkin. Official attacks by the Soviet Communist Party caused Dikiy a severe emotional trauma, which led to alcoholism, depression and other health problems.

Aleksei Dikiy "died" of a heart failure on October 1, 1955, in Moscow, and was laid to rest in Novodevichy Monastery Cemtery in Moscow, Russia.