Grigori Gorin
Grigori Israilevich Gorin was a Soviet and Russian playwright and writer of Soviet Union|Jewish] descent.
Gorin is particularly credited with scripts for several plays and films, which are regarded as important element of cultural reaction to the Era of Stagnation and perestroika in Soviet history.
Biography
Gorin was born in Moscow to a Ukrainian Jewish family of Soviet Army officer father hailed from Podolian Volochysk and doctor mother. After graduation from the Sechenov 1st Moscow Medical Institute in 1963, Gorin worked as an ambulance doctor for some time.
He was involved in amateur playwriting during his student years. First, with the sketches for the students' local KVN network club. Gorin started publishing his satirical articles and sketches since 1960th, finally choosing writing as the professional career. He worked as a Chief of Humor Department in Yunost magazine, using Galka Galkina pen name.
In 1966, first book was published — Four Under One Cover.
In 1978 — 1990 Gorin was a regular participant in the Vokrug Smekha, the popular TV program.
He died suddenly at home in Moscow on the night of June 15, 2000, at the age of 61 from a massive heart attack and was buried at the Vagankovo Cemetery.
Dramaturgy
Selected works
Til, 1970 — loosely based on Till Eulenspiegel and other national folkloreForget Herostratus! — tragic comedy, 1972The Very Truthful, 1974 — about Baron MunchausenThe House That Swift Built, 1980Phenomenons, 1984Good Bye, Compere!, 1985Domestic Cat of Average Downiness, 1989 — co-authorship with Vladimir VoynovichMemorial prayer, 1989 theatrical, 1993 televised version - loosely based on a Sholem Aleichem workKean IV, 1991 — loosely based on Edmund Kean's biographyPlague on Both Your Houses!, 1994 — a loose sequel to Romeo and Juliet by William ShakespeareRoyal Games, 1995Luckyman-Unluckyman, 1997Balakirev The Buffoon, 1999 theatrical, 2002 televised version
Screenplays
To Kill a Dragon, 1988My Tenderly Loved Detective, 1986 Formula of Love, 1984The House That Swift Built, 1983Say a Word for the Poor Hussar, 1980Naked Kurentsov, 1980Case on a Factory No. 6, 1980That Very Munchausen, 1979Velvet Season, 1978100 Grammes for Bravery, 1976You to Me, Me to You, 1976Small Comedies of a Big House, 1975Stop Potapov!, 1974
Cultural impact
Many of Gorin's aphorisms became popular among the Soviet people, e. g. piano in the bushes, which means painstaking preparations for a would-be impromptu. This particular one appeared in a humoresque called Quite accidentally by Arkanov and Gorin, published in that 1966 book.