Wild West Ladies
05/28/2016
In the fall of 1963, young Gordana Cheko, born in
Sibenik, performed a risky stunt in the film “Winnetu - Apache Leader”: instead
of the Israeli actress Dalia Lavi, she jumped naked into the bubbling waters of
the Skradinski Buk on the Krka River. For the first time, Gordan will tell us
about this and many other things in detail in his exclusive interview.
In the autumn of 1963, in the vicinity of the Croatian
city of Šibenik, the West German-Yugoslav Western Old Shetterhand was filming
in full swing, which in five years will be released on our screens under the
name “Vinnetu - Apache Leader”
Born in Sibenik, young Gordana Cheko performed a risky
stunt in the film: instead of Israeli actress Dalia Lavi, she jumped naked into
the boiling waters of the Skradinski Buk waterfall on the Krka River. For the
first time, Gordan will tell us about this and many other things in detail.
- Dear Gordana, tell me how you got your small role in
the movie “Old Shetterhand”?
It happened quite by accident, but rather funny. Somehow
we in Sibenik with a cousin went to the cinema for an evening session. I didn’t
suspect that at the same time, not far from the places where I live, a film is
being shot. So, suddenly a stranger approached me and asked how tall I was.
Well, I replied that it does not concern him at all. But he continued to
insist, and then I shouted to him to get rid of: “Meter seventy-two!” Well,
actually, it was true. Then he said that he was looking for a girl with acting
data who could replace the sick actress Dahlia Lavi, who played an Indian in
one film. And so, he supposedly found in me the one he was looking for. But I,
of course, was not going to believe him. He tried to convince and interest me.
I - in any! The conversation dragged on. My brother was already angry and he
stood between us. But the man turned out to be very persistent: “Believe me,
please, I beg you very much! We need just such a girl like you! "
At that time I had dark and very long hair, so far here
(Gordana shows his hand strongly below the shoulder). As it turned out, these
were exactly what was needed for the film, but I found out about that later.
The stranger suggested: “Let's go to the hotel“ Yadran ”. Everything is there
now: producer, director, actors. You all see for yourself. " As a result,
instead of the cinema, we went to the Yadran Hotel, which still stands on the
waterfront. There really was everything: Lex Barker, and many others. As soon
as I entered, they immediately: “Yes, this is she!” ... Then they talked to me,
they told everything. And for the first time in my life I signed a contract,
naturally, without reading anything. I was told that tomorrow morning at nine
o'clock they would pick me up by car, and I should be ready. After I called the
school - by the way, I reasonably did, - I said that I was sick and would not
come.
In the morning I went out in advance and waited. But no
one came. No, no, no, no ... Oh, something is definitely wrong here ... And
finally, the combi comes up. I'm invited inside. After a while we were at the
Krka waterfalls. I spent almost the whole day there. People were scurrying
around: groups of operators, extras, someone else. What does all of this mean?
I was led up to a Dalia Lavi apartment van. She had a little dog. I was first
told to look after her. “Aha, that means my role!” I thought. But this did not
last long - I gave the watch to someone else. On this first day ended.
The next day, they drove me again. This time I was
dressed, painted in “Indian” brown tones. Wig is not needed, my hair came up.
Well, actually, here, at last, they told me that I should jump into the
waterfall. Then I found out that this diving was not even in the script! Can you
imagine? The director asked me if I could jump into the water. I looked down -
hmm, probably not. Well, well, time it is necessary, I will jump. You know, I
then calmly walked over the wet stones without a curtain and risked diving into
a furious stream upside down. Everything turned out unexpectedly good. I had to
repeat the jump, but this did not happen. Later I participated in several
scenes of the film and could get acquainted with the film crew, with the
actors. For me it was a real joy and great pleasure. That's how I came to the
cinema. Or a movie - to me, which is more true.
And what was the water like?
Everything happened at the end of September, the water
was cold, but not so much. First, the water jumped extras, stuntman. He checked
the depth, felt where the stones were. I jumped after him. In general, Krka is
a very insidious river. Every year someone drowns. You can dive and not emerge.
Was there any fear?
You know, there was no fear. After all, they say: do it
without thinking, then it will work out. Then I thought so, and did not even
think about danger. With my current thinking, I certainly would not jump.
I understand that there was only one double?
Yes, I refused to jump again. Well, firstly, I was naked
and, of course, really did not want so many people to stare at me again. By the
way, before jumping into the loudspeaker the assistant announced: “Attention,
attention! All those unoccupied in the scene, please leave the area! ”People
were removed outside the shooting area. But it would be better if he did not
announce this publicly, since there were local staff among them. In my small
town for me it turned into a disaster. Yes true! I later had problems, but I
endured all this.
And what, Dalia Lavi thanked you for that jump?
She wouldn't jump anyway. I was not going to. Maybe
because she was frightened or for some other reason. Everything was
spontaneous, the jump was not foreseen in advance, so she did not say
"thank you" to me. Then we sat well together, but she, of course,
behaved like a "star."
Have you ever met Pierre Brice and Lex Barker?
Often. Several times we had dinner with them and other
actors after the shootings, some of them drank ... But my brother was always
there. They turned out to be very nice people. I remember other English,
American actors. The Italian Rick Battaglia stood out, and another Spanish
performer forgot her name - who played a soldier in a blue uniform (probably
Gordana means Spanish-Uruguayan actor Gustavo Rojo, who played the role of
Corporal Bush), we often drank coffee with him. Yes, they were all gallant and
for some reason constantly wanted to protect me ... They did not allow me to go
anywhere with extras or stuntmen, because they drank and smoked in the evenings
...
Unfortunately, Pierre Bris died in France yesterday. What
memories do you have about him?
Pierre was a wonderful person. Of course, I don’t know
his character, because it’s all inside, but outwardly he was a very nice,
friendly person, he always smiled. These dimples are on his cheeks ... I have
never seen him angry. If Lex Barker could grumble on his horse, then Pierre
would not. I think he had a thin soul. But this is purely external perception.
But what really was inside him, nobody knows.
Last year, for the first time in so many years, you met
Gojko Mitic in the village of Marasovici, located near the Bolshaya Paklenica
gorge. What are your impressions?
I also met Gojko Mitic in Šibenik during the shooting of
the film “Old Shetterhand”. Then he was a simple peasant guy. I thought he was
a Montenegrin. He looked attractive, and later became a famous and more
attractive man. But to Pierre Bris he then had some jealousy. In a
conversation, I remarked to him: “He already has a name, but you do not”. He
treated me a bit down. Down, in the sense that I was constantly among the
actors, and he is always with the stuntmen. "You are all with Pierre and
Lex ..." he told me. Once we met in the harbor of Sibenik, but all this
was somehow wrong ... Then I lost sight of him for a long time. A few years
later, when I was in the GDR, where we were making a film for the television of
the Federal Republic of Germany, I quite accidentally saw a familiar face. Oh,
that's Goyko Mitic! We phoned, met, and it was not so bad. But when we met last
year, I immediately noticed how much he had changed. I remembered him so young
... this is his "my ego" and the like ... He became a different
person. Everyone talked a little about himself. He became completely different
...
Interestingly, “Indian films” with Gojko Mitic were
popular in the then Yugoslavia?
Yes, but when I left for Germany, I did not have a clue
about this, and only then was very surprised.
And what can you say about the director of the film Hugo
Fregonese?
He was Hispanic, a very nice man.
Everyone during the shooting spoke his own language?
Yes, it could be called "language salad". Then
the voices of the actors were duplicated.
What happened after the shooting?
When the film was released on the screens of Yugoslavia,
of course, some of the inhabitants of Sibenik could see it. Voices began to be
heard: “How is it that Gordana is naked jumping into the water ...” My brother
was very angry then. I myself, of course, wildly feared what would happen when
the film was brought to Šibenik. Then, in general, the passage will not give!
And so, when the film was supposed to be shown for the first time in Sibenik,
before the session I approached the projectionist who was supposed to turn the
movie and asked to cut out this short scene. He waved his hands: “No, what are
you doing? I can’t do this! ”I didn’t give up:“ Here's money for you, that's
all for you, just ask, do it for me! ”In the end, he gave up and cut out a
small piece. Only a fragment was shown on the screen, where I walk on stones.
Only my legs are visible. And so, when the whole Šibenik rushed into the
movies, many were deeply disappointed ...
But the film was in Zadar, Split and in other major
cities, and some of our local people then assured others: yes, yes, there was a
scene where she was naked jumping into the water! Over time, of course, the
passions subsided.
The film “Old Shatterhand” was shown in the former
Yugoslavia as its own products?
No, as a joint movie.
By the way, in our rental version of the movie the jump
into the water was completely absent. In it, your heroine only swims under
waterfalls, and a soldier is watching her from behind the trees. In general,
this western called “Winnetu - Apache Leader” was very popular among us. It is
known that readers of the magazine "Soviet screen" recognized him as
the best foreign film in the USSR in 1969.
Dont know. Interesting information.
Gordana, tell me, and often showed the film adaptation of
Karl May in the former Yugoslavia?
Not as often as in Germany. Then I did not see all the
films in the cinema, and they rarely played them on TV in general. I can say
that I later looked at almost all the film versions of Karl May, except for the
third part of Winnetu. All of them are characterized by the same clichés and plots
developing according to certain canons.
Did these shootings become the beginning of the film
career?
No, then I haven’t been involved with filmmakers for a
very long time, because I still went to school. Later, I began to play in the
Šibenik Theater in King Drshislav Square. They gave everything from Shakespeare
to folk plays. I really wanted to study in Belgrade, but my parents were
totally against it. One day, I ended up at the Pula International Film
Festival. I was invited there as the Yugoslav Miss Photogena (Miss Fotogena).
After the festival, I was unexpectedly invited to Velko Bulaich's film “Battle
on the Neretva” (Bitka na Neretvi, 1969). I was taught the role of a nurse,
which Milena Dravic played in the end. My family once again said:
"No!" Because it was believed that for young girls who fall into the
world of cinema, there was a bad name on their heels. Like, play in the
theater, and in the movie or foot! That was the time, and I had to obey ...
Well, how was your fate?
For a while I remained in Sibenik. Then it so happened
that I went to Germany.
Did it happen in the late 1960s?
Yes, in Germany I got married. There she got on
television, performed on the WDR channel. At that time, the so-called “personal
shows” were fashionable. Then I was invited to the theater in Wuppertal, but it
didn’t work there because both of my children were very young. Here, and my
husband told me to choose: theater, career or family ... Naturally, the family
outweighed, but in the end it did not save her. After the divorce, I decided to
work in the modeling business, in which I felt good. Later she was employed in
the Croatian edition of Deutsche Welle radio station ...
But in Germany, you finally did not move?
No, my homeland is here. Of course, I am grateful to
Germany for being able to make a career on radio and television there. This
country is very important to me - because my children are there now. But I stay
here.
It was hard with a foreign language?
When I arrived in Germany, I did not know a word of
German. I could only say: "Ich liebe dich". The first year I spoke
only in English with my ex-husband. Then my mother-in-law took the initiative.
She wanted her husband and I to understand each other better. Then I went to a
language school where I learned a lot. It was a private school, where they
taught German from the very beginning. Every day, dialogue, talk ... And yet
this is not the language of my mother.
Your German is almost flawless!
Well, only when I try hard ...
It is evident, nevertheless, you have a gift for
languages ... As far as I know, you have two aunts. And one of them speaks
Russian very well ...
During the days of socialist Yugoslavia, she taught
Russian as a foreign language at school. I went to the gymnasium, she taught
Russian and another Latin. Then she began to write poetry. Naturally, she loved
and loves Russia, because during the 2nd World War you helped us fight the
Germans and Italians. In general, by profession, she is an agronomist engineer.
11 years lived in Australia. Then she returned, for some time worked as a
manager in hotels, because she knew Italian, Russian, German and English very
well. She is very dear to me. She often replaced my parents, came to Šibenik
and took care of me.
And who were your ancestors, grandmother and grandfather?
Grandmother and grandfather were simple people, they
spent their whole life "on earth." They had big fields and vineyards,
they grew ficuses ... As a child I never experienced hunger, there were always
eggs, milk and everything I needed in the house. My brother, who lives in
Sweden, and my grandparents are devoted to rural work all their lives. No
universities and high schools. Although old people have always wanted their
children to learn ...
Have there been people or events in your life that
determined the future path or strongly influenced fate?
Oh ... My divorce was very hard. The worst of all was my
children. I had to take this step because I always believed in the best. I
thought that after the rain because of the clouds, the sun would definitely
look out. It was very hard to be alone in Germany with two children. But I kept
telling myself: you have to do it! And I managed it. I worked a lot: a flight
attendant at the airport, then a model and an actress, all the while earning
money for my children. I was lucky, I managed. My motto of the time: "If
today is bad, tomorrow will be better." I traveled a lot with children, we
looked all over Europe. I always tried to provide them with everything I
needed. You know, apparently because they grew up so spoiled (laughs).
And yet, where do you draw strength, when is it
difficult?
My strength is within me. I always believe in a guardian
angel that protects me in a dangerous situation. He is always with me ... My
strength is the belief that everything will be fine. I am an optimist and not
one of those who sigh: it hurts here, it hurts ... I do a lot of sports, eat
healthy food.
In fact, our conversation was much longer, livelier and
even more interesting. In childhood, the screen heroes of Gordana were Tony
Curtis and Marlon Brando. At the same time she adored the Russian classics:
Dostoevsky, Gorky, Yesenin. I was amazed when I learned that from cover to
cover she read Anna Karenina and War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy. By the way, all
Russian classics were translated into the then Serbo-Croatian language. Shakespeare,
Dante Alighieri, Federico Garcia Lorca - she adores poetry! Appreciates the
Tibetan philosophy of the Dalai Lama, while not considering any religion holier
than others. Acting Gordana considers difficult, but a profession, but in
composing music or writing books, in her opinion, much more talent is needed.
She hates war and speaks openly about it. The biggest sin is murder, and there
is no reason to commit it ...
In our long conversation there was a lot of personal, so
I do not have the right to disclose details. I can only add that Gordan is a
thin and ironic person, easy-going. Her much worried. As a true woman, she is
very attentive, notices everything and feels good to her interlocutor. Always
and all she has her own opinion, supported by strong arguments. Talking with
such a person is a pleasure!
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