Grigory Pluzhnik Actor Date of Birth: 01.05.1914 Country: Ukraine

1. Grigory Pluzhnik - The Famous Actor
2. Shooting on the Dnieper
3. Transition to Odessa Theatre
4. Other Film Roles
5. Legacy and Passing

Grigory Pluzhnik - The Famous Actor

Grigory Pluzhnik, a talented actor, rose to fame after his appearance in the 1936 sports comedy "Goalkeeper" directed by Semyon Timoshenko. In the film, he portrayed the character of Anton Kandidov. Pluzhnik dedicated over a month to prepare for the role, training to become a goalkeeper and learning the art of catching the ball. Initially, he had contemplated refusing the role due to the physical demands of diving for the ball and tackling opponents, but he embraced the challenge wholeheartedly.

Shooting on the Dnieper

The filming of "Goalkeeper" took place near Kherson, Pluzhnik's hometown, even though the plot implied a different location, the Volga river. Thus, the watermelons he skillfully caught in the film were actually from Kherson. The movie achieved tremendous success and remained on the screens of the country for an extended period. The football anthem "Hey, Goalkeeper, Get Ready for Battle!" played in the film became truly immortal. Inspired by his role, Grigory Pluzhnik became proficient in the art of goalkeeping and even played as a real goalkeeper for a Kiev football team for a while.

Transition to Odessa Theatre

Until 1953, Pluzhnik served at the Odessa Soviet Army Theatre. However, due to a government decision commemorating the 300th anniversary of the reunification of Ukraine with Russia, the Odessa Theatre was forcibly relocated to Lviv and renamed the Theatre of the Soviet Army of the Transcarpathian Military District. Conversely, the Lviv Operetta Theatre was transferred to Odessa, now known as the Mikhail Vodiany Musical Comedy Theatre. Pluzhnik decided not to move to Lviv and eventually relocated to Moscow.

Other Film Roles

Aside from his portrayal in "Goalkeeper," Pluzhnik appeared in several other films, including "The Eleventh of July" (1938), "Sailors" (1939), "Fiery Years" (1939), "Two Friends" (1941), "Son of the Regiment" (1946), "Poem about the Sea" (1958), and "At the Beginning of the Century" (1961). However, none of these roles achieved the same level of success as his portrayal of Anton Kandidov.

Legacy and Passing

Grigory Dmitrievich Pluzhnik passed away in Moscow in early 1975 from a heart attack. Throughout his career, he left a lasting impact on the world of cinema with his unforgettable role as Anton Kandidov in "Goalkeeper." His dedication to perfecting the art of goalkeeping and his natural talent as an actor brought him fame and recognition during his time in the spotlight.