Banned in Russia: Doctor Zhivago
The epic historical romance film “Doctor Zhivago” starring Omar Sharif, Julie Christie, Geraldine Chaplin, Rod Steiger and Alec Guinness premiered in New York City Dec. 22, 1965 — 60 years ago Monday. It would go into wide release on Dec. 31.
Both the original novel and the film were banned in the Soviet Union. Despite this, “Doctor Zhivago” was nominated for 10 Oscars, won five and is the ninth highest-grossing movie ever released.
Written and Published Despite Threats From Communist Governments
“Doctor Zhivago” tells the story of a Russian physician and poet who, although married, finds himself attracted to the wife of a political activist and then lives through hardship during World War I and then the October Revolution that brought communism to Russia.
The story is a semiautobiographical account of author, Boris Pasternak’s longtime affair with Olga Ivinskaya, who was a poet, translator and literary editor. They dated for 14 years, even after the Soviet government decided Pasternak was a traitor to the communist cause. Ivinskaya would serve two terms in a gulag for her relationship with Pasternak.
Pasternak began writing “Doctor Zhivago” in 1945 but didn’t complete it until 1956. He had it smuggled out of the Soviet Union to be published in Italy. “You are hereby invited to watch me face the firing squad,” he reportedly said to his publisher.
The book was published despite threats from both the Russian and Italian Communist Parties. The English translation of “Doctor Zhivago” would spend 26 weeks atop the New York Times bestseller list and would be awarded the 1958 Nobel Prize for literature.
Under pressure from the Soviet government, Pasternak declined the prize. Pasternak died in 1960. His son was allowed to collect his medal in 1989.
The Second-Biggest Selling Movie of 1965
Director David Lean wanted Peter O’Toole to play Yuri Zhivago, but O’Toole turned down the role. Also considered were Max von Sydow, Paul Newman and Rod Taylor. Michael Caine read for the part but then strongly suggested Lean hire Omar Sharif for the role. Sharif had wanted the role of Pasha but was talked into playing Zhivago instead.
Producer Carlo Ponti had bought the movie rights to the novel as a vehicle for his wife, Sophia Loren. Lean talked Ponti out of having Loren play Zhivago’s love interest, Lara, explaining that audiences wouldn’t buy Loren, early in the story, as a virgin. Jeanne Moreau, Yvette Mimieux, Sarah Miles and Jane Fonda were considered before Julie Christie got the role.
Marlon Brando and James Mason were offered the role of the villain, Victor Komarovsky. Rod Steiger won the role but then spent a full year filming the movie. Steiger said he was a bit intimidated being nearly the only American among so many great British actors. “All I wanted to do,” he said, “was not embarrass myself.”
Most of the movie was filmed in Spain during what turned out to be the warmest winter in 50 years. Temperatures soared as high as 116°. “We had an army of makeup assistants,” Sharif recalled, “who, every two minutes, came and dabbed us because were sweating profusely.” A few scenes were shot in Finland and in Canada.
The biggest action scene in the movie, a cavalry charge over a frozen Russian lake, was shot in 86° weather. The “frozen” lake was, in fact, a sheet of cast iron placed over a dry river bed and covered with fake snow. Thousands of extras were used in the film including Spanish soldiers and Finnish Sami for the scenes in Siberia.
It took 18 months to build a replica of a Moscow street not far from Madrid. The set included 800 yards of cobblestone with trolley cars, a train viaduct, a replica of the Kremlin and 60 shops and houses — many constructed with complete insides. The original budget for the film had been $5 million, but “Doctor Zhivago” cost $15 million to make.
All-Time Highest Grossing Box Office Movies
Wordwide box office grosses adjusted for inflation, according to the Guinness Book of World Records.
