Seven love stories that hit the world. Perfect Celebrity Couples: True Love Stories

Faina Ranevskaya

Actors have long used one trick to better get into character before a performance. Changing clothes in the dressing room, they completely undress and remain without clothes for several minutes. This helps them take their minds off their worldly image and prepare for the role. Then the actor puts on a suit and goes on stage.

Once Faina Ranevskaya before the performance, practicing this method, stood in the dressing room in front of the mirror completely naked and smoked.

At that moment, the administrator impetuously flew into the dressing room, apparently in order to report something important. But when he saw the "picture", he froze on the threshold in silent amazement. Ranevskaya watched him through the mirror. Finally, after a pause, she asked:

Nothing that I smoke?

Mick Jagger

Once, the Queen of Britain called Mick Jagger and said that she had awarded all the soloists of the Beatles group an order for their contribution to the development of the country's economy.

After that, I don't want to talk to you at all! Mick replied rudely.

In the evening, the following entry appeared in the Queen's diary: “I spoke with Mick Jagger today. I thought he was upset about something."

Mark Twain

Once Mark Twain received a letter in which there was only one word: "Pig".

Without thinking twice, the writer published an answer to this message in his newspaper: “I have to receive letters without a signature quite often. But yesterday, for the first time, they sent me a signature without a letter.”

Once, while at a social event, Mark Twain was talking with one unpleasant person. To smooth over the awkwardness, he decided to compliment her:

You are simply adorable today!

To which the rude lady threw:

Can't say the same about you.

Mark Twain was not taken aback:

But you can do like me! Lie!

Foot

In the 19th century, an actor named Foote was very famous in Britain. Once, while traveling around the country, he stopped for the night in a small town.

Having ordered dinner for himself at the tavern, he ate it with pleasure, and to the courteous question of the owner of the tavern, did he like the dinner, the actor, being in an excellent mood, answered:

Today I had the best dinner in England

Except for our mayor,” the innkeeper politely prompted him.

Nonsense! I definitely had the best meal!

Except the mayor,” the innkeeper said again.

The verbal skirmish turned into a conflict, and the innkeeper dragged the actor to the same mayor. The mayor, after listening to the innkeeper, informed Foot that in their city everyone was ordered to express all respect for the mayor and mention him at every opportunity. And violators of this order are promised either a fine or a day in prison. The actor immediately paid a fine and, outraged by the ridiculous story, said in his hearts:

I have never seen such a fool as this innkeeper!

Except for the mayor, of course.

Alexander II

One landowner, who received the title for his merit, and not from birth, and who did not have a noble birth, really wanted to send his son to study at the University. At that time, it was necessary to ask for special permission to enter the sovereign. And the landowner undertook to compose a message to the tsar. Since he himself was an illiterate person, problems with writing a letter arose from the very beginning - he did not know how to turn to the sovereign. Somewhere he heard that high persons are called "August". But why this was so, the landowner did not know. The case took place in September, and the landowner decided that the best way to address the sovereign at that time would be like this: "September sovereign ...".

The received message of Alexander II was very amused. He decreed:

To accept his son to the University and teach there so that he would not be as illiterate as his father.

Socrates

Walking speed
A passer-by asked the philosopher Socrates:
- How many hours drive to the city?
Socrates replied:
- Go...
The traveler went, and when he had walked twenty paces, Socrates called out:
- Two hours!
Why didn't you tell me right away? - he was indignant.
- And how did I know how fast you would go!

Socratic calm
Few people endure patiently when people talk badly about them in absentia. Socrates, great philosopher Athenian, with the greatest indifference, listened to how he was reviled behind his eyes.
“If they beat me in absentia,” the philosopher always said, “then I won’t say a word either.”

Peter I

Death prevented the presentation of the award
Remember the lines of Pushkin's "Poltava": "...Where is Mazepa? Where is the villain? Where did Judas flee in fear?" The comparison of Mazepa with Judas, who was paid thirty pieces of silver for the betrayal, has a special meaning from the point of view of numismatics.
Having learned about the betrayal of Mazepa, Peter I decided to "pay" the traitor with a kind of coin. This coin was specially made - weighing about 4 kg and with the appropriate inscription. According to Peter's plan, the notorious hetman, as a sign of his betrayal, had to wear a giant coin around his neck until the end of his life. Only the death of Mazepa prevented the tsar from carrying out this plan.

Drinking medal
Great Peter did not respect overly passionate drink lovers. According to his decree, drunkards who ended up in prison were hung around their necks with a cast-iron medal weighing 17 pounds (about 7 kg) with the inscription "For drunkenness."

Voltaire

Philosopher and God
The French writer and philosopher Voltaire was asked what relationship he has with God, whether he shows disrespect for God. He answered with dignity:
- Unfortunately, many have long noticed the opposite. I have been bowing to God for many years, but he has never answered me even one of my most polite bows.

Caution
When Voltaire was asked if he would undertake to write the history of his king, he sharply replied:
- Never! This would be the surest way to lose the royal pension.

Spectacular sharpness
One scientist, wishing to see Voltaire, went specially to Ferne, where he was very affectionately received by the writer's niece, Madame Denis. However, Voltaire himself did not appear. Before leaving, the guest wrote to the host: "I considered you a god and now I am finally convinced that I am right, since it is impossible to see you."
Voltaire liked this joke so much that he ran after its author and kissed him.

Like chestnuts
Voltaire's books, which denounced churchmen, were subjected to censorship. The censors sentenced one of the books to be burned. Voltaire commented on this:
- All the better! My books are like chestnuts: the more they are roasted, the more they are bought.

Friend of Voltaire
Voltaire had a doctor friend with whom he willingly spent evenings when he was healthy. But as soon as he fell ill, he immediately wrote a note to the doctor: "Dear doctor! Please, do not come today: I am ill."

Voltaire's review
One young playwright asked Voltaire to listen to his new play. After reading his work to him, he looked forward to Voltaire's opinion.
- That's what, young man, - said Voltaire after a long pause. - You can write such things when you become old and famous. Until then, you need to write something better.

Haydn

oracle error
A young man came to the old Viennese bandmaster and, holding out an envelope with a letter of recommendation from his first music teacher, shyly asked to teach him counterpoint.
Having opened the envelope, the bandmaster read: "The bearer of this is an empty dreamer who is obsessed with the fact that he can make a revolution in music. He has no talent at all, and, of course, he will not compose anything decent in his whole life. His name is Joseph Haydn" .

bull minuet
The great Austrian composer Joseph Haydn, to his considerable surprise, once saw a guest in his house - a butcher, who turned out to be a lover and connoisseur of his works.
- Maestro, - the butcher respectfully took off his hat, - the other day is my daughter's wedding. Write me a beautiful new minuet. To whom should I turn with such an important request, if not to the illustrious Haydn?
A day later, the butcher received the composer's precious gift, and a few days later decided to thank him. Haydn heard deafening sounds, in which he hardly recognized the melody of his minuet. Going to the window, he saw on his porch a magnificent bull with gilded horns, a happy butcher with his daughter and son-in-law, and a whole orchestra of itinerant musicians. The butcher took a step forward and said with feeling:
- Sir, I think that the best expression of gratitude for a fine minuet on the part of the butcher can only be the best of his bulls.
Since then, this Haydn minuet in C major has been called the Bull Minuet.

witty revenge
Once Haydn conducted an orchestra in London. He knew that many English people sometimes go to concerts not so much for the pleasure of listening to music, but for tradition. Some London concert hall patrons have developed the habit of falling asleep in their comfortable chairs during performances. Haydn had to make sure that no exception was made for him. This circumstance greatly annoyed the composer, and he decided to take revenge on the indifferent listeners.
Revenge was smart. Especially for the Londoners, Haydn wrote a new symphony.
At the most critical moment, when part of the audience began to nod off, there was a thunderous beat of a bass drum. And every time, as soon as the listeners calmed down and settled down to sleep again, a drumbeat was heard.
Since then, this symphony has been called "Symphony with timpani beats", or "Surprise".

Suvorov

Eye gauge
When they asked Alexander Vasilyevich Suvorov what an eye was, the great commander replied:
- Eyeball - this means you need to climb a tree, survey the enemy camp and immediately congratulate yourself on the victory.
So he did under Rymnik.

Who cares
The wife of one officer once complained to A.V. Suvorov about her husband:
“Your Grace, he treats me badly.
“That doesn’t concern me,” the general replied.
- But he scolds you behind your back...
“That, mother, is none of your concern.

Townships
- Alexander Vasilievich, - Suvorov was asked, - how do you assess the game of gorodki?
- The game of towns develops an eye, speed and onslaught, - the commander answered. - I rush about with a bat - this is an eye. I beat with a bat - this is speed. I beat with a bat - this is an onslaught.

Mozart

Grateful subject
Archduchess Marie Antoinette took little Mozart, the future composer, around the Vienna Palace. The boy slipped on the parquet floor and fell. The Archduchess hastened to pick it up.
- You are very kind, - the young musician told her, - I will marry you.
Marie Antoinette passed Mozart's words to her mother.
- Why do you want to marry her highness? the Empress asked.
“Out of gratitude,” Mozart replied.

Immediacy
Once a noble Salzburg dignitary decided to talk with the young Mozart, who by that time had already gained world fame. How to address the boy - that's what embarrassed the nobleman. To say “you” to Mozart is inconvenient, his fame is too great, to say “you” is too much honor for the boy ... But here is a way out:
- We were in France and England? Have we had great success? asked the dignitary.
- But I don't think I've ever met you anywhere except Salzburg! the ingenuous Wolfgang interrupted him.

How to do it
One young man asked Mozart how to write symphonies.
- You are still very young, - answered Mozart, - why don't you start with ballads?
- But you composed a symphony when you were only nine years old...
- That's right, - Mozart agreed, - but I didn't ask anyone how to do it.

Envious people are not an ally
Haydn had many envious people among mediocre composers. One of them decided to recruit ... Mozart as an ally. He invited the great composer to a concert in which the Haydn quartet was performed, and during the performance he said indignantly to Mozart.
- I would never write like that.
- Me too, - Mozart answered briskly, - and do you know why? Neither you nor I would have thought of these lovely melodies.

Incredible Facts

Do you believe in true love? What about love at first sight? Do you believe that love can last forever? Perhaps the love stories below will help you strengthen your faith in this feeling or renew your faith in it. These are the most famous love stories, they are immortal.

1. Romeo and Juliet

These are probably the most famous lovers in the whole world. This couple has become synonymous with love itself. Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy by William Shakespeare. The story of two teenagers from two warring families who fall in love at first sight, then get married, and later risk everything for their love. The willingness to lay down one's life for a husband or wife is a sign of real feeling. Their premature departure united the feuding families.

2. Cleopatra and Mark Antony

The true love story of Mark Antony and Cleopatra is one of the most memorable and intriguing. The history of these two historical characters was subsequently recreated on the pages of the work of William Shakespeare, and filmed by famous directors more than once. The relationship between Mark Antony and Cleopatra is a real test of love. They fell in love with each other at first sight.

The relationship between these two influential people put Egypt in a very advantageous position. But their romance was extremely outraged by the Romans, who feared that as a result of it, the influence of the Egyptians would increase significantly. Despite all the threats, Mark Antony and Cleopatra got married. It is said that while in battle against the Romans, Mark received false news of Cleopatra's death. Feeling empty, he committed suicide. When Cleopatra learned of Antony's death, she was shocked and then also committed suicide. Great love requires great sacrifices.

3. Lancelot and Guinevere

The tragic love story of Sir Lancelot and Queen Guinevere is probably one of the most famous of the Arthurian legends. Lancelot falls in love with Queen Guinevere, wife of King Arthur. Their love grew very slowly, as Guinevere did not let Lancelot close to her. In the end, however, passion and love overcame her, and they became lovers. One night, Sir Agravain and Sir Modred, King Arthur's nephew, at the head of a group of 12 knights, broke into the queen's room, where they found the lovers. Taken by surprise, they tried to escape, however, only Lancelot succeeded. The queen was captured and sentenced to death for adultery. However, a few days later, Lancelot returned to save his beloved. All this sad story divided the knights round table into two groups, thereby greatly weakening Arthur's kingdom. As a result, poor Lancelot ended his days as a modest hermit, and Guinevere became a nun, and remained so for the rest of her life.

4. Tristan and Isolde

The tragic love story of Tristan and Isolde has been retold and rewritten numerous times. The action took place in the Middle Ages during the reign of King Arthur. Iseult was the daughter of the King of Ireland, and had just become engaged to King Mark of Cornwall. King Mark sent his nephew Tristan to Ireland to accompany his bride Iseult to Cornwall. During the journey, Tristan and Isolde fall in love with each other. Isolde still marries Mark, but the love affair continues after her marriage. When Mark finally found out about the betrayal, he forgave Iseult, but exiled Tristan forever from Cornwall.

Tristan went to Brittany. There he met Iseult of Brittany. He was drawn to her because she looked like his true love. He married her, but the marriage did not work out because of his true love to another woman. After he fell ill, he sent for his beloved in the hope that she would come and be able to cure him. There was an agreement with the captain of the ship sent by him that if she agreed to come, then the sails of the ship would be white upon return, if not, then black. Tristan's wife, seeing the white sails, told him that the sails were black. He died of grief before his love could reach him, and shortly thereafter Iseult died of a broken heart.

5. Paris and Helena

Told in the Homeric Iliad, the story of Helen of Troy and the Trojan War is a Greek heroic legend that is half fiction. Helena of Troy is considered one of the most beautiful women in all of literature. She married Menelaus, king of Sparta. Paris, the son of King Priam of Troy, fell in love with Helen and kidnapped her, taking her to Troy. The Greeks gathered a huge army, led by Menelaus' brother, Agamemnon, to bring Helen back. Troy was destroyed, Helen returned safely to Sparta, where she lived happily throughout her life with Menelaus.

6. Orpheus and Eurydice

The story of Orpheus and Eurydice is an ancient Greek myth about desperate love. Orpheus fell deeply in love and married Eurydice, a beautiful nymph. They loved each other very much and were happy. Aristaeus, greek god land and agriculture, became interested in Eurydice and actively pursued her. Fleeing from Aristaeus, Eurydice fell into a nest of snakes, one of which fatally bit her on the leg. The distraught Orpheus played such sad music and sang so sadly that all the nymphs and gods wept. On their advice, he went to the underworld, and his music softened the hearts of Hades and Persephone (he was the only person who dared to take such a step), who agreed to the return of Eurydice to earth, but on one condition: upon reaching the earth, Orpheus would not must look back and look at her. Being extremely alarmed, the lover did not fulfill the conditions, turned around to look at Eurydice, and she disappeared a second time, now forever.

7. Napoleon and Josephine

Having married her by calculation at the age of 26, Napoleon clearly knew whom he was taking as his wife. Josephine was older than him, a wealthy and prominent woman. However, over time, he fell deeply in love with her, and she loved him, however, this did not stop both of them from cheating. But mutual respect kept them together, all the burning passion in its path did not fade away and was genuine. Yet, in the end, they broke up, because Josephine could not give him what he so wanted - an heir. Unfortunately, their paths diverged, however, throughout their lives they kept love and passion for each other in their hearts.

8. Odysseus and Penelope

Few couples understand the essence of sacrifice in a relationship, however, it was this Greek couple who understood it best. After they were separated, it took a long 20 years before the reunion. Shortly after marrying Penelope, war demanded that Odysseus leave his new wife. Although she had very little hope of his return, Penelope still resisted 108 suitors who sought to replace her husband. Odysseus also loved his wife very much and refused the sorceress who offered him eternal love And eternal youth. Thus, he was able to return home to his wife and son. So believe Homer who said true love is worth the wait.

9. Paolo and Francesca

Paolo and Francesca are the heroes of Dante's famous masterpiece The Divine Comedy. This is a true story: Francesca was married to a terrible man, Gianciotto Malatesta. However, his brother, Paolo, was the exact opposite, Francesca fell in love with him and they became lovers. The love between them became even stronger when (according to Dante) they read together the story of Lancelot and Guinevere. When their connection was revealed, Francesca's husband killed both.

10. Scarlett O'Hara and Rhett Butler

"Gone with the Wind" is one of the immortal literary works. Margaret Mitchell's iconic creation is laced with love and hate in Scarlett and Rhett Butler's relationship. Proving that timing is everything, Scarlett and Rhett never seemed to stop "fighting" each other. Throughout this epic story, this tempestuous passion and their tumultuous marriage took place against the backdrop of the events civil war. Flirtatious, fickle and constantly pursued by fans, Scarlett cannot decide among the many contenders for her attention. When she finally decides to settle for Retta, her mercurial nature pushes him away from her. Hope finally dies when their romance is never rekindled, with Scarlett saying at the end, "Tomorrow is a new day."

11. Jane Eyre and Rochester

In Charlotte Bronte's famous novel, loneliness finds its cure in solitude by keeping each other company. Jane is an orphan who took a job as a governess in the home of the very wealthy Edward Rochester. The couple bonded very quickly, as Rochester had a tender heart underneath his rough exterior. However, he does not reveal his penchant for polygamy, and on their wedding day, Jane discovers that he is already married. A heartbroken Jane escapes, but then returns after a fire destroyed Rochester's house, killed his wife, and left him blind himself. Love triumphs, lovers reunite and live out their days in each other's company.

12. Layli and Majnun

A well-known classic of Persian poetry and one of the most famous poets medieval East, which complemented the Persian epic poetry colloquial speech and realistic style, Nizami of Ganja became famous after he wrote his romantic poem "Layli and Majnun". Inspired by an Arabic legend, Layli and Majnun is a tragic tale of unattainable love. For many centuries, it was told and retold, and the main characters were depicted on ceramics and written about them in manuscripts. Leyli and Kais fell in love with each other while studying at school. Noticing their love, they were forbidden to communicate and see each other. Kais then decides to go into the desert to live among the animals. He is often malnourished and becomes very emaciated. Due to his eccentric behavior, he becomes known as Majnun (crazy). In the desert, he meets an elderly Bedouin who promises him to win back his Layla.

The plan fails to materialize, and Layla's father continues to refuse to be together with the lovers due to Majnun's insane behavior. Soon he marries her to another. After the death of Leyla's husband, the old Bedouin facilitates her meeting with Majnun, however, they could not fully be on the same wavelength and understand each other. After their death, they were buried next to each other. The story is often interpreted as an allegory for the soul's desire to connect with the divine.

13. Eloise and Abelard

This is the story of a monk and a nun whose Love letters became world famous. Around 1100, Pierre Abelard traveled to Paris to study at the school of Notre Dame. There he acquired a reputation as an outstanding philosopher. Fulbert, a high-ranking official, hired Abelard as a tutor to his niece, Heloise. Abelard and Heloise fell in love with each other, conceived a child and secretly married. However, Fulbert was furious, so Abelard hid Eloise in a safe place in the monastery. Believing that Abelard had decided to abandon Heloise, Fulbert had him castrated while he slept. Heartbroken, Eloise became a nun. Despite all the troubles and hardships, the couple continued to love each other. Their emotional love letters were published.

14. Pyramus and Thisbe

A very touching love story that will not leave indifferent anyone who reads it. Their love was selfless, and they were sure that even in death they would be together. Pyramus was very handsome man and from childhood he was friends with Thisbe, a beautiful maiden from Babylonia. They lived in neighboring houses, and fell in love with each other as they grew up. However, their parents were strongly opposed to their marriage. One night, just before dawn, while everyone was sleeping, they decided to sneak out of the house and meet in a nearby field near a mulberry tree. Thisbe came first. While she was waiting under a tree, she saw a lion approaching a spring located near the tree to quench his thirst, his jaw was covered in blood.

Seeing this terrifying sight, Thisbe rushed to run to hide in the depths of the forest from a lion, but on the way she dropped her handkerchief. The lion followed her and came across a handkerchief, which he decided to taste. At this time, Pyramus approached the place, and seeing a lion with bloodied jaws and with a scarf of his beloved, he lost the meaning of life. At that moment, he pierces himself with his own sword. Unaware of what had just happened, Thisbe continued to hide. After a while, she came out of hiding, and discovered what Pyramus had done to himself. Realizing that she has no reason to live, she takes the sword of her beloved and also kills herself.

15. Elizabeth Bennet and Darcy

In fact, Jane Austen embodied the two attributes of human nature, pride and prejudice, in her characters Darcy and Elizabeth. Darcy belongs to high society, he is a typical educated representative of the aristocracy. On the other hand, Elizabeth is the second daughter of a gentleman with very limited means. Mr. Bennet is the father of five daughters who were given the right to grow up as they wanted, who did not receive a school education and were not brought up by a governess.

Elizabeth's very indulgent mother and irresponsible father never thought about their daughters' future, taking it for granted that they would do well. "All is well" in the understanding of the mother of girls meant to marry a rich and prosperous man. For a man of Mr. Darcy's social status, the shortcomings of the Elizabeth family were very serious, and absolutely unacceptable to his polished and refined mind. He falls in love with Elizabeth, however she turns him down, but she later realizes that she cannot love anyone but Darcy. The story of their union and the birth of love is very interesting.

16. Salim and Anarkali

Every lover knows the story of Salim and Anarkali. The son of the great Mughal emperor Akbar, Salim, fell in love with an ordinary but very beautiful courtesan Anarkali. He was fascinated by her beauty, so it was love at first sight. However, the emperor could not accept the fact that his son fell in love with a courtesan. He began to put pressure on Anarkali, using all sorts of tactics to make her fall in the eyes of the prince in love. When Salim found out about this, he declared war on his father. But he failed to defeat his father's gigantic army, Salim was defeated, captured and sentenced to death. At this moment, Anarkali intervenes, who renounces her love in order to save her beloved from the clutches of death. She was buried alive in a brick wall in front of Salim.

17. Pocahontas and John Smith

This love story is a famous legend in American history. Pocahontas, an Indian princess, was the daughter of Powhatan, who was the leader of the Powhatan Indian tribe, who lived in what is now the state of Virginia. The princess first saw Europeans in May 1607. Among all, she drew attention to John Smith, she liked him. However, Smith was captured by members of her tribe and tortured. It was Pocahontas who saved him from being torn to pieces by the Indians, and later the tribe adopted him as their own. This incident helped Smith and Pocahontas become friends. The princess after this incident often visited Jamestown, passing messages from her father.

John Smith, severely injured after an accidental explosion of gunpowder, returned to England. After another visit, she was told that Smith was dead. Some time later, Pocahontas was captured by Sir Samuel Argall, who hoped to use her as a link between him and her father in order for the latter to free the English prisoners. During her captivity, she decides to become a Christian and, taking the name Rebecca, was baptized. A year later, she married John Rolfe (John Rolfe). Having gone to London after a certain time, she and her husband met with his old friend John Smith, after a long 8 years. This was their last meeting.

18. Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal

In 1612, a teenage girl, Arjumand Banu, married 15-year-old Shah Jahan, ruler of the Mughal Empire. Then she changed her name to Mumtaz Mahal, bore Shah Jahan 14 children and became his beloved wife. After Mumtaz died in 1629, the grieving emperor decided to create a worthy monument in her honor. It took 20,000 workers, 1,000 elephants and almost 20 years of work to complete the construction of this monument - the Taj Mahal. Shah Jahan did not have time to complete the construction of a black marble mausoleum for himself. Deposed by his own son, he was imprisoned in the Red Fort at Agra, where he spent lonely hours looking across the Yamuna River at the monument to his beloved. He was subsequently buried next to her in the Taj Mahal.

19. Marie and Pierre Curie

This is a story about partnership in love and science. Unable to continue her studies in Poland because the universities then did not accept women, Marie Skłodowska-Curie came to Paris in 1891 to enter the Sorbonne. Marie, as the French began to call her, spent every free minute in the library or in the laboratory. The hard-working student once caught the eye of Pierre Curie, director of one of the laboratories in which Maria worked. Pierre actively courted Maria and several times proposed to her to marry him. Finally, in 1895, they got married and began working together. In 1898, the couple discovered polonium and radium.

Curie and scientist Henri Becquerel received Nobel Prize in 1903 for the discovery of radioactivity. When Pierre died in 1904, Marie made a promise to herself to continue their work. She took his place at the Sorbonne, becoming the school's first female teacher. In 1911, she became the first person to win a second Nobel Prize, this time in chemistry. She continued to experiment and teach until her death from leukemia in 1934, driven by the memory of the man she loved.

20. Queen Victoria and Prince Albert

This is the love story of an English queen who mourned her dead husband for 40 years. Victoria was a lively, cheerful girl who was fond of drawing and painting. She ascended the English throne in 1837 after the death of her uncle King William IV. In 1840 she married her cousin Prince Albert. Although initially disliked in some quarters for being German, Prince Albert was later admired for his honesty, hard work and devotion to his family. The couple had 9 children, Victoria loved her husband very deeply. She often used his advice in matters of state, especially with regard to diplomatic negotiations.

When Albert died in 1861, Victoria was devastated. She did not appear in public for three years. Her prolonged seclusion drew public criticism. There were several attempts on the Queen's life. However, under the influence of Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli, Victoria returned to public life, opening Parliament in 1866. However, she never ended her mourning for her beloved husband, wearing black robes until her death in 1901. During her reign, which was the longest in English history, Britain became a world power on which "the sun never sets".

1:512

Faina Ranevskaya

1:557

1:1110 1:1120

Once Faina Ranevskaya before the performance, practicing this method, stood in the dressing room in front of the mirror completely naked and smoked.

1:1349

1:1844

Nothing that I smoke?

1:38 1:48

Mark Twain

1:102

2:617

Once Mark Twain received a letter in which there was only one word: "Pig".

2:773 2:1130 2:1137

Once, while at a social event, Mark Twain was talking with one unpleasant person. To smooth over the awkwardness, he decided to compliment her:

2:1397

You are simply adorable today!

2:1463

To which the rude lady threw:

2:1516

Can't say the same about you.

2:58

Mark Twain was not taken aback:

2:106

But you can do like me! Lie!

2:176 2:186

Foot

2:232

3:747 3:757

In the 19th century, an actor named Foote was very famous in Britain. Once, while traveling around the country, he stopped for the night in a small town.

3:1073

3:1399

Today I had the best dinner in England

3:1475

Except for our mayor, - the innkeeper politely prompted him.

3:1602

Nonsense! I definitely had the best meal!

3:70

Except the mayor,” the innkeeper said again.

3:154

3:880

I have never seen such a fool as this innkeeper!

3:980 3:1041

Except for the mayor, of course.

3:1100 3:1110

Alexander II

3:1167

4:1682

4:1289

The received message of Alexander II was very amused. He decreed:

4:1416

To accept his son to the University and teach there so that he would not be as illiterate as his father.

4:1584

4:9

Socrates

4:51

5:566

Walking speed
A passer-by asked the philosopher Socrates:
- How many hours drive to the city?
Socrates replied:
- Go...
The traveler went, and when he had walked twenty paces, Socrates called out:
- Two hours!
Why didn't you tell me right away? - he was indignant.
- And how did I know how fast you would go!

5:1091

Socratic calm
Few people endure patiently when people talk badly about them in absentia. Socrates, the great Athenian philosopher, listened with the greatest indifference to being reviled behind the eyes.
“If they beat me in absentia,” the philosopher always said, “then I won’t say a word either.”

5:1587

Peter I

5:47

Death prevented the presentation of the award
Remember the lines of Pushkin's "Poltava": "...Where is Mazepa? Where is the villain? Where did Judas flee in fear?" The comparison of Mazepa with Judas, who was paid thirty pieces of silver for the betrayal, has a special meaning from the point of view of numismatics.
Having learned about the betrayal of Mazepa, Peter I decided to "pay" the traitor with a kind of coin. This coin was specially made - weighing about 4 kg and with the appropriate inscription. According to Peter's plan, the notorious hetman, as a sign of his betrayal, had to wear a giant coin around his neck until the end of his life. Only the death of Mazepa prevented the tsar from carrying out this plan.

6:1678

Drinking medal
Great Peter did not respect overly passionate drink lovers. According to his decree, drunkards who ended up in prison were hung around their necks with a cast-iron medal weighing 17 pounds (about 7 kg) with the inscription "For drunkenness."

6:410 6:420

Voltaire

6:470

7:1577 7:9

Caution
When Voltaire was asked if he would undertake to write the history of his king, he sharply replied:
- Never! This would be the surest way to lose the royal pension.

7:347 7:357

7:1104 7:1114

7:1590

7:9

7:424 7:434

7:1055 7:1065

Haydn

7:1105

8:2457

8:9

8:1860

8:9

8:1604 8:9

Suvorov

8:53

9:1040 9:1050

9:1504

9:9

9:452 9:462

Mozart

9:504

10:1805

10:9

10:932 10:942

10:1475 10:1485

10:2280

Love is a great feeling that can work wonders: change the world and people, heal heart wounds and inflict new ones, shock society and give peace of mind. Beautiful and unimaginable interesting stories about love can be found not only in movie novels and books, but also real life, especially if you pay attention to celebrities. We picked up the most mind-blowing love stories that were talked about on every corner.

This love story is not a scandal, but simply the collapse of all iron, as it would seem, English traditions. The thing is that the chosen one of the representative of the monarchy, Edward, who became the first and only king in the entire long history of England, was an ordinary, not even very pretty divorced (twice!) American woman. It was because of her that he abdicated.

Their romance began when Mrs. Wallis lived in London with her new husband, a successful and wealthy businessman Ernest Simpson. Their first fateful meeting took place in 1930 at a dinner party. At first sight, the woman sunk into the heart of the Prince of Wales, and then everyone thought why, because she was not a beauty. Although it is worth noting her charm and magical charm.

The couple began to twist their romance in front of everyone, not even ashamed of their position (Wallis is with her husband, and Edward is a representative of the monarchy). Together they attended social events, dined in restaurants, walked the streets. The royal family thought that this was a windy, not long-term hobby for the prince, which would soon come to naught. But how wrong they were! As soon as Edward came to the throne after the death of King George V, the American filed for divorce. The couple decided to get married, but then the royal family intervened, which set a condition for Edward: either the throne or a windy woman from another country.

The result was the king's famous speech in which he abdicates the throne out of love. The couple lived for a very long time. They did everything together: wrote memoirs, traveled, gave interviews. True, they had no children. Happiness ended in 1972 when Edward died of cancer.

That's really in whose relationship and seething passion, it's between Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor. Their romance of the century lasted a long time, experienced ups and downs.

The story of their love can be safely put in the basis of the plot and make a wonderful and exciting film. It would have everything: passionate kisses, quarrels and partings, fights and reconciliation, divorce and marriage (even twice). They not only starred together in films that brought fame and awards, but also crushed numbers together while they fought furiously.

Their meeting took place on the set of the film "Cleopatra" in 1962. He is successfully married to actress Wallace Sybil, and she was also not free, she was married to a singer. The passion that flared up on the set so seized Richard and Elizabeth that they continued to kiss even after the romantic scene was filmed. They behaved depravedly, not embarrassed by anyone, made love wherever they had to. The paparazzi were constantly on the lookout for them. Even the Vatican officially recognized this relationship as sinful, but the couple continued to meet. As a result, they divorced their spouses and got married. Later they parted, but they were constantly drawn to each other.

Yes, Hollywood's Golden Age novels don't compare to today's adultery. But there is a couple whose love has passed many tests and is one of the most beautiful.

The novel by Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones was skeptical for a long time, they say "play and quit." But it was not there!

The successful actor, who managed to win several Oscars, fell in love at first sight with a young aspiring but already famous actress at the premiere of her film The Mask of Zorro. Michael, who had been married for 23 years at that time, simply could not allow Katherine to remain in the role of mistress. He pursued her as best he could, a little old-fashioned, but selfless. Five months later, the fortress of the actress fell, and the lovers went on a trip around the world.

On the eve of Valentine's Day, we decided to recall the stories of the great novels of the 20th century - those that shocked the world and in one way or another influenced modern society. The most touching and passionate, happy and unfortunate novels of famous people, stories of mutual love and ostentatious well-being, marriages of equal people in their greatness and the most famous misalliances.

Wallis Simpson - Edward VIII English

The story of the most famous misalliance in recent history has received an incredible response because English monarch Edward VIII(1894-1972) became the first and only king in the history of England to voluntarily abdicate. The reason was a passionate love for a twice-divorced American woman.

It was not even a scandal - it seemed that the end of the world had come and collapse moral and ethical standards and foundations of secular society.

The heir to the main monarchy of the world turned 36 years old when he met Mrs. Wallis SimpsonWallis Simpson(1896-1986), née Warfield. The woman was married for the second time and lived in London with her husband, a wealthy entrepreneur Ernest Simpson.

The fateful meeting happened in early November 1930, when the Simpsons were invited to a dinner party where the Prince of Wales was to attend. Legend has it that the English prince was captivated at first sight, even though Wallis was not even a beauty. According to contemporaries, she was unremarkable at first glance, special, but in communication she had an amazing charm.

Amazingly, the lovers did not hide their feelings, even despite the status of Euard and marital status Wallis. They appeared together on the streets, social events and in restaurants. The royal family did not even think that this shameful hobby would last long. But when it became clear that the romance was dragging on, attempts were made to hide the details of the prince's relationship from the public.

In January 1936, King George V of England died and Edward assumed the throne. In parallel, Wallis filed for divorce. Neither the royal family nor Parliament wanted to hear about Edward's legal union with an American. Edward was given a choice: either the throne or Wallis. His choice was unequivocal: the price for love was the abdication of the English throne.

On December 10, 1936, Edward VIII delivered his famous speech to the people: “You all know the circumstances that forced me to abdicate the throne. But I want you to understand that in making this decision, I have not forgotten about my country and empire ... But you must also believe that it is impossible for me to fulfill my duty as a king in the way I would like it, without help and support for the woman I love…”

The couple lived happily ever after, traveled, wrote memoirs. Their family idyll continued until 1972, until Edward died of cancer.

Vivien Leigh - Laurence Olivier

The most famous couple of British theater and film actors Vivien Leigh And Laurence Olivier challenged the puritanical England of the 1930s when she stopped hiding her whirlwind romance. The difficulty of the situation was that both were married. The spouses did not give them a divorce, and the need to live in sin, deceit and an atmosphere of universal censure forced Vivien Leigh give candid interview magazine The Times, where she honestly outlined the details of the personal drama. The public unexpectedly went to meet the favorites of the public who were leaving for America - it was there that Vivien won her right to play Scarlett O'Hara in the film adaptation « Gone with the wind» .

Vivien Leigh And Laurence Olivier were not just movie stars, but intellectual actors who achieved the status of great performers. Both shone in the theater and cinema, and their love story unfolded on stage and in life - unlike most acting couples, they worked perfectly in the frame and on stage. So, they played together in the film "Flames over England" (1937) and the classic film version of "Lady Hamilton" (1941), where Lawrence played the role of Nelson, and Vivien - Emma Hamilton . In addition, they were united by a huge number of joint theatrical works. Their tandem was recognized in their homeland as the most outstanding theatrical duet. Lawrence was called "the king among actors", and Vivienne became a national treasure after receiving two Oscars for her roles as Scarlett in Gone with the Wind and Blanche Dubois in A Streetcar Named Desire. . Her international fame gained momentum. The image of the world's first beauty and the main British actress, as well as the marriage, which was called the happiest among acting unions, all seemed like a dream come true for millions of viewers.

But there was no happy ending in this love story. The bright life of two wonderful actors was not so cloudless. As you know, Vivienne was a woman of incredible inner strength, achieving what she wanted at any cost. All biographers vied with each other to tell how she twice made fateful promises to herself. For the first time - being still an unknown actress who saw the famous Laurence Olivier. After the first meeting, Vivienne resolutely told everyone she knew that she would marry him. At the time it seemed like pure madness. The second time she made a big promise was on the eve of the filming of Gone with the Wind, when the biggest film casting in the history of the United States was gaining momentum. The first Hollywood beauties dreamed of playing Scarlett, no one believed in the success of the visiting Englishwoman. "Larry will not play Rhett Butler, but I will play Scarlett!" Vivienne then announced.

It was said that Vivien was more practical than Larry in all matters, but, like a true woman, she gave the impression that her husband made all decisions. A strong character, however, was also her problem - like many great actresses, she had an extremely mobile psyche. Each absence of her husband for shooting could end in depression for her, and work on the role could lead to attacks of obsession. Her genius, turning into whims and wayward attacks, began to annoy her husband.

After 17 years together, Lawrence left her, unable to withstand another bout of hysteria. The actress was already seriously ill. Many fans of the actress consider Olivier, first of all, not a brilliant actor, but a cowardly traitor - depression aggravated the course of the disease, and Vivien Leigh died of pulmonary tuberculosis in the summer of 1967 at her home in Ethan Square in London.

Eva Duarte - Juan Peron

Evita- a household name in Argentina and the most famous first lady of the twentieth century. Second wife of the 29th and 41st Presidents Juan Peron, Eva (Eva Duarte) was an example of an ideal communicator, diplomat and ideological inspirer of the first person of the state.

She was born into a poor family and devoted her whole life to the struggle for Better conditions existence. Legend has it that the young actress and the colonel became lovers on the very first day they met. Peron, who initiated the military coup, might not have had so many ambitions if not for Eva, who made him believe that he would definitely become the head of government. Perón appeared openly with his young girlfriend, shocking the officers with his relationship with the actress.

After the arrest of Peron, October 17, 1945 happened - this date went down in the history of Argentina as the day of "the liberation of Peron by the people." 5,000 workers and their families gathered in the May Square in Buenos Aires in front of the presidential palace, demanding "the return of the colonel." After such support, Peron began to prepare for the presidential election, having previously married Eva, who immediately left her work in the cinema and entered the headquarters of his closest aides. Peron relied on feminist slogans, and therefore wanted to have a wife next to him, a presidential candidate, personifying the increased role of women in the modern world.

Eva turned out to be so energetic that she began to play one of the main roles in the government under Peron, although she did not officially hold any post. She founded charitable foundation named herself to help the poor and since 1949 has become one of the most influential people in Argentina. In addition, she was right hand and adviser to Juan Peron, although gradually came to the fore in their tandem. The charismatic Evita very quickly turned into a cult personality, her popularity was supported by propaganda - Eva, with all her proximity to power, was the idol of left-wing youth, like Che Guevara. Estimates of her life and personality are contradictory, but it is Eva Peron who is considered responsible for attracting women to public and political life Latin America.

Eva Peronumla died at the age of 33 from uterine cancer. Juan Peron after her death was destined to become the President of Argentina again. Notably, his next wife, Maria Estela Martínez de Perón, a former nightclub dancer, became the first female president in history after his death.

Grace Kelly - Prince Rainier

This union did not Great love. However, the history of the relationship between the most mysterious Hollywood actress and the Prince of Monaco is inscribed in history. greatest novels XX century.

Favorite actress of the "King of Horror" Alfred Hitchcock, Grace Kelly different from most Hollywood stars. She acted and looked like a true princess due to her Nordic appearance and restrained manner, although, as is often the case, behind a beautiful facade was an amorous and passionate nature, prone to both adventurous short ties and calculated profitable relationships. Beautiful, cold, seemingly inaccessible, Grace Kelly misled men - it seemed that there simply could not be a more inaccessible star. However, there were legends about the promiscuity of the actress on the sidelines - she could give herself up on the first day of her acquaintance to an ordinary cameraman from the set, while accepting the courtship of the Iranian Shah. Many biographers are seriously talking about the nymphomania of the actress and a slight mental disorder associated with playing the inaccessible Snow Queen. So, during the filming, she always entered into love affairs with partners on the set, and on the set of the film High Noon, not only her partner Gary Cooper, but also the director of the film, Fred Zinneman, became her lovers.

The halo of purity and purity, which Grace Kelly cultivated in her image, worked for her - in Hollywood she was given the nickname "Miss high society" and they believed that she should marry only a real prince. Angelic appearance and the right image did their job - it was she who was married to the Prince of Monaco Rainier III (Rainier III).

An epochal acquaintance that changed the fate of the whole state happened in 1955. Rainier III had long been looking for a worthy spouse, since the fading economy of the ruined state of Monaco required decisive measures. Marrying a well-known Hollywood beauty with a good reputation could attract investment and arouse the interest of tourists in the region. All that was left was to choose a bride. Grace Kelly seemed like the perfect fit - impeccable manners, classic elegance, meek eyes. After a short romantic correspondence, the young people agreed on a wedding.

Monaco is not a state where marriage with a star would be considered a wild misalliance. Prince Rainier was a good politician, and therefore his plan to attract an Oscar-winning Hollywood beauty to the royal wedding became one of the most successful PR moves in history. The fabulous wedding, which took place in 1956, not only revived interest in Monaco, but turned the region into one of the most prestigious on the planet.

The country idolized its new princess - Grace gave Monaco heirs and new economic opportunities. The flow of tourists and investments has turned the troubled region into a prosperous financial center. Grace's life was like a fairy tale: couture outfits, shooting in palaces for glossy publications, international trips with visits.

But in fact, everything was not so cloudless. Grace, who managed to curb her temper and with all her passion got used to the new image, suffered from the difficult nature of Rainier, and secular duties made her forget about the personal. After forty-five, the princess had health problems - she began to gain weight. Beloved children - two daughters and a son - grew up and turned into scandalous gossip heroes. Grace was horrified to recognize in the indomitable daughters who ran away from home, neglected secular duties and had affairs with bodyguards, a young self, suppressing instincts in the name of a new role that wrote her name in history.

In 1982, Grace Kelly lost control of her car and got into a car accident. Her daughter, who was also in the car, got off lightly. The injuries of the princess herself turned out to be incompatible with life - the next day, by decision of Prince Rainier, the life support apparatus was turned off.

Reporters still consider Kelly's death not as clear cut as it seemed from the outside.

Maria Callas - Aristotle Onassis

History passionate love and humiliation - this is how you can characterize the novel of the great opera diva and the richest man in the world in the middle of the twentieth century.

Greek shipowner Aristotle Onassis- a cult personality, a billionaire who prefers to communicate with the elite different countries- he was a dear guest at the reception and social events of any level. He surrounded himself the most beautiful women from influential circles, which, however, he often used for his own purposes - to achieve personal or business goals. He experienced a real feeling only once - in 1959, when he met a young opera singer Maria Callas whose talent was applauded by the whole world.

Callas (real name) Cecilia Sophia Anna Maria Kalogeropoulos) was born to Greek immigrants in the United States. She married very well and was happily married - her husband was a wealthy Italian industrialist Giovanni Battisto Meneghini, a great connoisseur of opera, who fell in love with the singer at first sight. He became for Maria not only a faithful spouse, but also a devoted manager and a generous producer who sold a business for her and lived only in her interests.

Onassis noticed Maria Callas at a ball in Venice, later got to her concert, and then invited her and her husband to his legendary yacht "Christina" - the main symbol of the unprecedented luxury of that time. The Greek magnate, who was also tied by the knot, was shocked by the magnificence of the singer, for the first time in his life, passion turned out to be stronger than the voice of reason. Maria Callas, who had made a career of being a huge obese woman, had lost more than 30 kg by that time and was in excellent physical shape.

The events unfolding on the luxury yacht "Christina", cruising along mediterranean sea shocked the public. Forgetting about decency, Onassis and Callas not only had an affair in front of the spouses and guests, but also defiantly reveled in their love - they danced to the music on the deck and disappeared all night long until morning.

Discouraged, Meneghini could not find a place for himself and felt like a real fool. Even then, he hoped for the prudence of his wife and was ready to forgive the holiday romance, but the lovers did not think of parting. Onassis and Callas began to live together. Having achieved his goal, Onassis turned from an ardent lover into a rude and despotic roommate who was in no hurry to register a relationship. Mary's compliance and sacrificial love gave rise to Onassis's unpunished cruelty towards her - he began to insult her with friends, openly cheat on her and even raise a hand against her. Kallas meekly endured, which provoked even greater bouts of aggression from her lover.

The opera diva, blinded by love, stopped giving concerts and tried to cultivate sacrifice in herself - she decided to devote herself to love, even if it cost her to give up her self-esteem. She lost her voice and withdrew into herself, even the memories of her magnificent triumph at La Scala did not give her peace - she lived in the hope of re-experiencing the feelings that she experienced on the Christina yacht .

In October 1968, Greek billionaire Aristotle Onassis married the widow of the President of the United States. Jacqueline Kennedy. His cohabitant Maria Callasus learned about it from the newspapers. The blow was so strong that she withdrew into herself and did not leave her apartment. A little more than a month passed when Onassis, who realized his mistake, rushed to Paris, begging his former lover for forgiveness. Aristotle tried to assure Mary that marriage to Mrs. Kennedy was an image deal for him, a PR move that had nothing to do with normal human relationships.

Former US First Lady Jackie Kennedy turned out to be a cold, energetic and prudent woman - she devoted herself entirely to consumption. There were legends about Jacqueline's extravagance: she bought hundreds of creations of eminent couturiers and left them unpacked in closets, constantly traveled around the world and spent such sums on entertainment, furs and diamonds that even fantastically rich Onassis clutched his heart. Jackie bought designer clothes literally from stores. Being a recognized style icon, she allowed herself to experiment - she appeared in public in short skirts and transparent dresses, and social life occupied her much more than the illness and suffering of her elderly spouse. When he died in a plane crash The only son billionaire Alexander, Onassis almost went crazy - everything in his life lost its meaning. Last years he lived on, finding peace only in communion with his beloved and all-forgiving Mary.

He died in a Paris hospital on March 15, 1975. Maria Kallas was next to him, and Jackie was in New York at that time - having learned about the death of Onassis, she calmly ordered a collection of mourning dresses from Valentina.

Elizabeth Taylor - Richard Burton

Relations Hollywood star Elizabeth Taylor and a characteristic British actor Richard Burton, who made a brilliant career in Hollywood, is called nothing more nor less than the "novel of the century." Firstly, both of them were stars of the first magnitude, and the era of the paparazzi was just in its infancy - and it was their love story that became the main newsbreak of the era. Secondly, the romance of the two stars was not just stormy, but worthy of film adaptation: love to frenzy, quarrels, fights, separations and reunions - the lovers got married twice and divorced twice, starred together in Oscar-winning films, proudly posed on the red carpet and destroyed rooms in expensive hotels in a fit of drunken quarrels. This lifestyle and the close attention of the world community allowed them to become the first classic celebrities - with sky-high raiders and millions in fees, as well as the most expensive collection of jewelry that the generous Richard gave Elizabeth after every quarrel.

Elizabeth Taylor is one of the true legends of Hollywood and the most famous actresses of all time. Before meeting Richard, she did not yet have a reputation as a dramatic actress - a fatal beauty, she was already married for the fourth time at that time (there were eight marriages in her life, two of which were with Burton) and was considered an eccentric star. Barton, with his incredible dramatic role, had a reputation as a character actor on stage and in life - temperamental and aggressive, he liked to drink and did not try to appear at least a little politically correct.

A stormy romance, followed by the whole world, happened on the set of the film "Cleopatra" in Rome in January 1962. Compared with the scale of that action, the story of modern Jolie and Pitt looks like a timid parody of the majestic epic - Hollywood shot the most expensive film in history (40 million of those old dollars), where the main roles are Cleopatra and Mark Antony - played by the stars that laid the foundation for the gossip genre, millions in royalties, diamonds as gifts, yachts and front pages of newspapers devoted to the ups and downs of the relationship of the main movie couple of the century.

By 1961, the thirty-seven-year-old Welshman Barton was being called "British Brando". He was happily married to actress Sybil Wallace and the couple had two children. Twenty-nine-year-old Taylor was married to singer Eddie Fisher. The passion that flared up on the set absorbed the actors so much that they didn’t even make an effort to hide their love and didn’t listen to anyone - they continued to kiss when the love scene had already been played and the director said: “Stop!”, made love wherever it was only perhaps they indulged in drunkenness and debauchery and drowned in the abyss of sinful passion.

The hype raised by the newspapers led to the fact that the Vatican officially condemned the relationship between Liz and Richard. They tried to part, but they were drawn to each other irresistibly.

In his letters, which today have become a bestseller, Barton, blinded by love, wrote: “In my poor and painful youth, I dreamed only of such a woman. And now, when from time to time the dream comes back to me, I reach out and understand that she is here, next to me. If you haven't met or known her, you've lost a lot in your life."

Eventually, they both divorced their official spouses and married in 1964. Barton showered his wife with diamonds, instilled in her confidence that she had the potential of a deep dramatic actress. They demanded millions of fees from film bosses and in every possible way created a legend of great stars of the first magnitude.

In the second half of the sixties, their famous paintings were filmed - "The Taming of the Shrew", "Comedians", "Boom", "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?". For the last film, Elizabeth received a second Oscar. Two brilliant dramatic actors in their personal lives experienced painful love on the verge of frenzy, fits of jealousy and addiction to alcohol. “Maybe we loved each other too much ... I never thought that this was possible,” Liz Taylor wrote in her diaries. And in July 1973, she suddenly announced: “Richard and I are parting for a while. Maybe we love each other too much… Pray for us!” The divorce took place in June 1974.

Life apart turned out to be unbearable - the 16 months spent as if in delirium ended in a second wedding. The second marriage lasted from October 1975 to July 1976.

Richard Burton died of a heart attack on August 5, 1984. His death was a terrible tragedy for Elizabeth, despite the fact that at that time she already had another lover. Elizabeth Taylor herself, despite her illnesses and ailments, died at the age of 79 in March 2011. The published letters of Richard Burton, who turned out to be an incredible writer, formed the basis of the book "Furious Love: Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, and the Marriage of the Century"(Furious Love: Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, and the Marriage of the Century). Today, the main Hollywood directors are fighting for the right to film this story, and the best Hollywood actors - to play the lovers of the brightest drama of the twentieth century.

Frank Sinatra - Ava Gardner

For America Frank Sinatra not only the most popular singer centuries”, but also a real legend and symbol of the era of show business and the golden era of Hollywood with all its attributes - classic glamor, gangsters, millionaires and the halo of greatness and inaccessibility of idols. Sicilian, mafia friend, he is named the most desirable man of the 20th century. His biography, in which incredible creative victories were combined with friendship with presidents and politicians, criminal authorities and the first beauties, is one of the brightest pages of world culture.

As for the great story of his love, it was only one. While all the women in his life were passing, including such Hollywood beauties as Marilyn Monroe And Lana Turner, the passion for one woman shocked him so much that the great Sinatra lost his voice, went into a binge and tried to commit suicide.

Her name was Ava Gardner (Ava Gardner). An actress, one of the brightest Hollywood stars of the 1940s and 1950s, an incomparable beauty and a woman of incredible temperament, she was famous for her magnetic influence on men. About what is the force of attraction of this fatal beauty, there were legends. The great Hemingway himself called her a muse and a favorite actress. At the time of the meeting with Sinatra, she had been married twice and was going through a dizzying affair with a multimillionaire Howard Hughes, who first encountered such a wayward woman. The fan indulged all the requests of the beauty: planes, diamonds, outfits.

Frank was married and had three children. He did not consider the family an obstacle to stormy relationships, but the passion of such strength turned out to be more important than the desire for home comfort.

They met in 1950 at the premiere of the film "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" The state in which Sinatra was after this meeting is described by his friends and biographers as insanity. “She poured something into my glass!” he justified. The feeling that took over main star era, destroyed it: Sinatra suffered, suffered, went crazy with love and jealousy. It was hard for him to compete with Hughes in offering expensive gifts, and his trademark ways of fooling Ava did not work. Friends did not recognize Frank - he beamed with delight when Ava agreed to have dinner with him, then he walked like a beaten dog when she stopped taking him seriously. "I have got you under my skin ”- these words of the famous song Frank Sinatra recorded in one breath late at night, dying of love for Ava Gardner.

Their best songs he wrote, being in a state of love fever, which did not let him go for a minute, - a ballad "Fool, I wanted you" was the product of his sensual fit.

Sinatra knew how to love to the point of frenzy and madness, and the proud but passionate Ava was impressed by this way of expressing feelings. When she succumbed to his pressure, they bright romance contemporaries called nothing more than a "bullfight of love" of two bright personalities and idols of the era. The clash of two southern temperaments resulted in such a passion that swallowed both. Generous, flamboyant, generous, Frank made Ava feel things she didn't get from Hollywood bosses and wealthy fans. They were both witty, energetic, impulsive and emotional, they coincided in everything - in love for strong drinks, delicious food, night boxing fights and love on the verge of frenzy. It was energy true love and a passion that was impossible to resist.

At the same time, Frank and Ava met secretly - for the press and society, he was Nancy's husband, and she met with Hughes. A random snapshot of a reporter catching them together made a lot of noise. Avoiding a scandal, Ava flew to Spain, and Frank, who decided that he had been abandoned, lost his voice with grief. He flew to her on the other side of the world, but there a new blow awaited him - his beloved woman had an affair with a bullfighter. He almost committed suicide, but Ava stopped him, promising to return. And deceived again - her affair with Richard Green ended for Sinatra with an overdose of sleeping pills. And Ava gave up. The long-awaited wedding took place in Philadelphia. Several years of absolute happiness were for Sinatra a reward for suffering.

However, even in family life, Frank and Ava continued to torment each other with jealousy, quarrels and a stormy showdown. Frank worshiped Ava as a goddess, kept pictures of her in his office, watched over her, and lost his health in his paranoid quest to possess her completely.

Such an obsession cannot keep in suspense forever - love of such intensity does not stand the test of time. But even after the divorce, which took place in 1957, Frank and Ava continued to meet secretly from time to time - the paparazzi kept catching them in godforsaken hotels under the cover of night.

After Ava, Frank had many women, beautiful and famous, but he never again experienced anything even remotely resembling the all-consuming love that happened in his life. Ava passed away in 1990 at the age of 68. Sinatra lived to 82 and passed away in 1998.

Alain Delon - Romy Schneider

This love story seemed real and sincere, but the ideal romance of European stars did not stand the test of fame, promiscuity and ambition.

Beginning of life Romy Schneider, the best actress in the world according to French and Austrian viewers, was cloudless and promised only happiness and prosperity. It was impossible to imagine what a nightmare her life would turn out to be.

Romy Schneider And Alain Delon met on the set of a movie "Christina" in 1958. By that time, the Austrian actress, European film star and heiress famous dynasty actors-aristocrats was already in the status that she could afford to choose partners. Her choice fell on an unknown French actor.

Love at first sight did not happen to them - the educated and intelligent Romy considered her colleague too young, handsome and dressed up. Alain found his partner completely unattractive. The novel broke out unexpectedly for everyone, because the young people had nothing in common. He is a cynical and cruel homeless child who came out of poverty, she is intelligent girl from a good family, a symbol of the bourgeoisie, which he so despised. He rejected any moral foundations and understood freedom as complete indifference to the problems of other people, and she tried to follow burgher principles and could not afford much due to the concepts of decency and duty.

Passion consumed Romy so much that she left for her beloved in Paris. Her principles and lifestyle, dreams of a family and children caused Delon only contemptuous laughter. He openly called her a bourgeois and emphasized in every way that he was free from conventions and obligations. They were irresistibly attracted to each other, but there was never harmony, understanding and respect in these relations. While most considered this novel a misalliance, Delon himself was emphatically rude to Romy, making it clear who needed this relationship more.

The media adored the little angel Romy and condemned the adventures of her companion, but in their desire to make his every step public, they literally killed the actress. The yellow press tracked every step of Delon and Schneider, wrote about all his adventures and ridiculed the naivety of Romy, who forgave the groom of his betrayal and spree. The humiliating fate of Romy Schneider was to endure and be ridiculed. She could not leave due to lack of experience, because of great love and a really naive belief that everything would work out - Delon was able to convince her that tomorrow everything would certainly be different. Meanwhile, he not only destroyed her self-esteem by betrayal and deceit, but gradually moved on to rough treatment and assault.

This went on for over five years. Passionate, painful, full of ambiguity and humiliation, the relationship was cut off by Delon himself. His career went up, their joint film roles turned out to be extremely successful - the relationship experienced at the break of feelings helped the couple play the forbidden love of a brother and sister in a theatrical production Luchino Visconti. Delon was accepted in a theatrical environment, he began to receive serious fees, crowds of fans appeared in his life and that “Dolce Vita” that accompanies the life of every beautiful and successful young actor. Radiant little Romy, who helped him become a star, instilled a love of literature and helped form his own acting method, there was no place in this new life. It was at this time that Romy Schneider became not just a living actress, but a deep, characteristic one, with a strong dramatic temperament.

Delon said goodbye to her through a note, with the wording "We only met at airports." It was his style - cold, cynical, detached. Nothing personal. He soon married an actress Natalie Barthelemy.

Romy Schneider was dying without him. She struggled with her feelings for a man and with a feeling of deep rejection. During the years spent with Alain Delon, one of the best dramatic actresses in Europe completely forgot how to love herself. In the spring of 1966, she remarried. For the sake of Romy, her chosen one is a playwright Harry Mayen left the woman with whom he lived for 12 years. Romy wrote in her diary: “The years spent with Alain were wild, crazy. With Harry, I finally calmed down. In this union, she was looking for respect rather than love.

Perhaps the story of her life would have been different if not for Delon's fatal call in 1968. He convinced Romy and the producers that in the role of his partner in the film "Pool" he sees only her. Stuck in scandals and unsuccessful projects, experiencing the collapse of family life, Delon needed a high-profile successful project to improve his affairs. He needed Romy Schneider not only as a beauty and a great actress - the story of their long-standing relationship was the best PR move. The current status of a faithful wife and mother added spice to the situation.

The film was an explosion, many people bought it European countries. Newspapers circulated images of Romy and Alain passionately kissing, who were enjoying a relationship renaissance in the posh resort of Saint-Tropez, playing six years after the breakup. The mature beauty of yesterday's cutie Romy shocked - it seemed that she had never been more beautiful and convincing. Alain Delon achieved his goal and again disappeared from her life.

Harry Mayen could not forgive his wife for this, their relationship cracked. He quit his job and started drinking. Romi fell into a severe depression and also became addicted to alcohol. A terrible period began in her life. Divorce, remarriage, ex-spouse suicide. She withdraws into herself and refuses a number of proposals, including "Man and Woman", "Last Tango in Paris", but flies to the other side of the world, to Mexico, to shoot in a third-rate picture with Delon and shock everyone with candid shootings in Playboy magazine . The biggest tragedy in the life of an actress happens after a divorce from her second husband - as a result of a tragic accident, her 14-year-old son David dies, who ran into a metal fence. The distraught Romy withdrew into herself and communicated only with Delon. She drank a lot and just faded away in front of everyone.

She died on the night of May 29-30, 1982. Everyone knew about the tragedy of the life of the great actress, and no one could believe that she, 44-year-old, had a heart failure. Newspapers came out with headlines "Romy Schneider committed suicide." Later it was officially announced that Romy's heart simply could not stand it. All of Europe mourned the beloved actress. And Alain Delon remained true to himself and sent a dubious appeal called “Farewell, my doll” to the Paris Match magazine.

“The day I stop trusting you will be the last day of my life,” this line from the movie "Christina" Romi repeated in life. She trusted Delon until the end of her days.

Michael Douglas - Catherine Zeta-Jones

The scale of the passions of modern Hollywood can hardly be compared with the golden age, but in its recent history there are novels worthy of special mention. Love story Michael Douglas And Catherine Zeta-Jones has long been perceived by skeptics as a demonstration of the proverb about "the demon in the ribs" - the age difference of 25 years and the blooming appearance of a rising Hollywood star did not give rise to optimistic forecasts.

Michael Douglas who belonged to the famous acting dynasty Hollywood has never been number one in the tacit ratings, but has always been among the top stars. In his professional life, everything was as it should be - from the role of the hero-lover and the hero of action-adventure films in the style of "Indiana Jones", he turned to psychological thrillers, the feature of which was a strong erotic beginning. He received two Oscars and recognition, and later the status of a sex symbol - after his role in the cult "Basic Instinct" from Sharon Stone. In a word, his professional life was a success. In his personal life, he maintained a semblance of well-being in a 23-year marriage and was sometimes seen in affairs that did not bring him satisfaction.

British beauty Catherine Zeta-Jones starred mostly in second-rate films. She no longer dreamed of becoming a star - until the age of 27, the actress continued to be the heroine of category B films. The accidental success of the Titanic mini-series with her participation helped the film producers notice the beauty "Mask of Zorro" from Anthony Hopkins And Antonio Banderas. And, as often happens, the next morning after the premiere, the girl woke up famous. On the very day of the film's premiere, she met the star Douglas, who was so excited at the sight of the sultry beauty that he began to speak outright nonsense. The battered 56-year-old actor fell in love in such a way that he did not even think of offering the young actress the humiliating role of a mistress - all his efforts were aimed at conquering the woman who drove him crazy. It was also symbolic that Katherine and Michael were born on the same day - September 25 - with a difference of 25 years.

Despite the fact that in Hollywood they laughed at the habits of the macho Douglas and called him “an erotic playboy” behind his back, there was not a drop of vulgarity and well-established schemes in these relations. Michael understood that after the success of the film "The Mask of Zorro" a whole series awaits such a beauty. good suggestions, which means fame and all its attendant attributes: fans, millions of fees, photo shoots, social events. He preferred to act quickly in order to be the first to get a girl who was just getting used to Hollywood.

He courted beautifully, old-fashionedly, selflessly, convincing not only Katherine, but the whole world, that this love meant too much to him. Douglas noticeably rejuvenated - a love obsession gave the actor a second youth. After five months of siege, Katherine surrendered. Photos of the paparazzi, capturing a couple in love on the actor's yacht in Mallorca, spread all over the world. Everyone was waiting for a scandal, but the couple said they were going to get married. The scandal, however, happened: the wife of Michael Dinara refused to give a formal divorce until the unfaithful spouse paid her $ 60 million from his 225 million fortune. For the sake of his desire to marry Katherine, the actor paid a giant compensation. In addition, blinded by love, Douglas presented the bride with a unique ring with a 10-carat diamond surrounded by 28 more diamonds, and agreed to marriage contract, according to which, in the event of a divorce, he was obliged to pay his ex-lover $ 3.2 million for each year of their life together.

One of the most luxurious weddings in Hollywood history happened on November 18, 2000 at the New York Plaza Hotel. OK magazine paid $ 1.6 million for the right to film this celebration. Among the invitees were Jack Nicholson,Sharon Stone,Brad Pitt,Sean Connery,Anthony Hopkins,Steven Spielberg and even general secretary UN Kofi Annan. The bride was wearing a designer dress from Christian Lacroix embellished with diamonds.

A marriage that was predicted to fail continues to surprise skeptics. He is stable and prosperous - the couple has two common children; Catherine, being pregnant, received an Oscar for her role in the musical "Chicago"; Michael, thanks to the support of his wife, coped with cancer, although he suffered a lot. A rare misalliance becomes such a strong union. And he is the only one in the history of modern Hollywood that can be called a stronghold of family values.