Leonid UTIOSOW (1895-1982) was the Soviet actor, violinist and a bandleader. In 1920s he gained reputation in Moscow as a leader of„Jazz Kapella\" and later -- the „Tea Jazz\". In early 1930s he became the leader of his new dance band „Wiesiołyje Riebiata\" (Jolly Fellows\" who became extremely popular after their performance in the 1934 comedy movie by G.W.Aleksandrow: „Jolly Fellows\") (Wiesolyje rebiata). In spite of the official boycott of all Stalinist propaganda movies in the countries neighbouring to the Soviet Russia, that light film comedy -- with the charming roles of Lubow Orlova and Leonid Utiosov, plus the masterpiece music of Isaac Dunayevski -- became very popular also in Poland, Lithuania, Latvia or Romania (the Polish title being „Świat się śmieje\": „The World Is Laughing\").
Lubov ORLOWA was born to a middle class family in Zvenigorod near Moscow and grew up in Yaroslav. When she was seven, Fyodor Shalyapin predicted her future as a famous actor. Orlova graduated from the Moscow Conservatory. Her first husband, a Soviet economist Andrei Berzin, was arrested in 1930, however this did not reflect on her successful career. Orlova's performance in a very popular 1934 comedy Jolly Fellows earned the young star sympathy of Stalin and the title: Honorable actor of RSFSR. Soon she married the movie director, Grigori Alexandrov.
Recording:
Konstantin Sokolskij & Tango-Orkiestr - Sierce (The Heart) from Soviet comedy movie \"Wiesiolyje rebiata\" (The Jolly Fellows), Music: Isaac Dunayewski, Bellacord 1934 (Latvia)
