The Duel
Cast & Crew
Tatyana Berezantseva
Lyudmila Shagalova
Oleg Strizhenov
Vladimir Druzhnikov
Aleksandr Khvylya
L. Kadrov
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
Ivan Andreyevich Layevskiy serves in Yalta, leading an empty, colorless life. With his mistress Nadezhda Fyodorovna, who left her husband to join him, he dreamed of serving solemn ideals, but his idealism is a thing of the past, and love seemingly has disappeared with the passing of time. Layevskiy spends his time in card games and conversation. Nadezhda, in her own boredom, has accepted the solicitations of the vulgar Kirilin and flirts with Achmianov, the son of a wealthy local shopkeeper to whom she is in debt. The news of the death of Nadezhda's husband throws Layevskiy into confusion. With the possibility of marriage thrust upon him, Layevskiy feels repulsed by Nadezhda and their idle, dreary life. Wishing to return to St. Petersburg, he asks for a loan from his friend Dr. Samoylenko, a kind, simple-hearted man who promises to help him. Lacking his own funds, Samoylenko seeks the help of von Koren, a zoologist who boards with him. Von Koren, a socially-conscious man of affairs, holds Layevskiy in contempt, and he refuses the loan when he learns its purpose. During an evening gathering, he sends Layevskiy a derisive message, and Layevskiy becomes hysterical. An argument ensues, and von Koren accepts Layevskiy's challenge to a duel. That same evening, the jealous Achmianov informs Layevskiy of the intimate relations between Nadezhda and Kirilin. The news spreads throughout the town, but von Koren's resolve does not weaken, and he rejects Layevskiy's offer of conciliation. Layevskiy fires into the air, and a chance obstacle causes von Koren to miss his shot. Three months pass, and von Koren is preparing to leave on a trip to the Bering Straits. Samoylenko persuades him to visit Layevskiy and forgive him. Having changed greatly, Layevskiy has committed himself to working, lives frugally, and is repaying his debts. Feeling responsible toward Nadezhda, he watches over her lovingly. Von Koren, embarrassed, realizes that he was wrong in his estimation of Layevskiy.
Cast
Lyudmila Shagalova
Oleg Strizhenov
Vladimir Druzhnikov
Aleksandr Khvylya
L. Kadrov
G. Georgiu
Ye. Kuzmina
L. Pirogov
Yu. Leonidov
V. Burlakova
P. Vinnik
E. Geller
A. Kuznetsov
V. Kulik
S. Svashenko
P. Sobolevskiy
I. Fyodorova
Nina Vilvovskaya
S. Yermilov
Crew
Tatyana Berezantseva
P. Chechyotkina
Mikhail Chikiryov
S. Dzyabura
Antonina Egina
G. Gamburg
B. Gorbachyov
V. Kamskiy
V. Ladygina
G. Lukin
V. Nisskaya
N. Ushakova
V. Yurovskiy
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
Released in the U.S.S.R. in May 1961 as Duel; running time: 88 min.
