Yakov Protazanov
Encyclopedia
Yakov Alexandrovich Protazanov (January 23 (O.S. February 4), 1881 – August 8, 1945) was Russian
and Soviet film director
and screenwriter
, and one of the founding fathers of cinema of Russia
.
In the period from 1911 to 1918 he directed some 80 features, including The Queen of Spades
(1916) and Father Sergius
(1917), which have been acclaimed as his masterpieces. Ivan Mozhukhin starred in many of his early films.
After the Russian Revolution
Protazanov resolved to stay in Europe
but returned to USSR in 1923. The following year, he produced Aelita
, arguably the first Soviet movie and the first film on space travel
.
In 1928, he directed the White Eagle, with Vsevolod Meyerhold
and Vasili Kachalov. The Three Million Trial (1926) and St. Jorgen's Day (1930) launched the film careers of two outstanding Soviet actors, Igor Ilyinsky
and Mikhail Zharov
.
His last acclaimed feature was a screen version of Alexander Ostrovsky's play Without Dowry
in 1937. Its cast featured many celebrated actors from the Maly Theatre
.
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
and Soviet film director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
and screenwriter
Screenwriter
Screenwriters or scriptwriters or scenario writers are people who write/create the short or feature-length screenplays from which mass media such as films, television programs, Comics or video games are based.-Profession:...
, and one of the founding fathers of cinema of Russia
Cinema of Russia
The cinema of Russia began in the Russian Empire, widely developed under the Soviet and in the years following the fall of the Soviet system, the Russian film industry would remain internationally recognised...
.
In the period from 1911 to 1918 he directed some 80 features, including The Queen of Spades
The Queen of Spades (1916 film)
The Queen of Spades is a 1916 film adaptation of the Aleksandr Pushkin short story of the same name, noted for high producer and operator culture, with the psychological depth of actor's game, first of all of Ivan Mozzhukhin...
(1916) and Father Sergius
Father Sergius (film)
Father Sergius is a 1917 Russian silent film directed by Yakov Protazanov based on the eponymous story by Leo Tolstoy....
(1917), which have been acclaimed as his masterpieces. Ivan Mozhukhin starred in many of his early films.
After the Russian Revolution
October Revolution
The October Revolution , also known as the Great October Socialist Revolution , Red October, the October Uprising or the Bolshevik Revolution, was a political revolution and a part of the Russian Revolution of 1917...
Protazanov resolved to stay in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
but returned to USSR in 1923. The following year, he produced Aelita
Aelita
Aelita , also known as Aelita: Queen of Mars, is a silent film directed by Soviet filmmaker Yakov Protazanov made on Mezhrabpom-Rus film studio and released in 1924. It was based on Alexei Tolstoy's novel of the same name...
, arguably the first Soviet movie and the first film on space travel
Interplanetary travel
Interplanetary spaceflight or interplanetary travel is travel between planets within a single planetary system. In practice, spaceflights of this type are confined to travel between the planets of the Solar System....
.
In 1928, he directed the White Eagle, with Vsevolod Meyerhold
Vsevolod Meyerhold
Vsevolod Emilevich Meyerhold was a great Russian and Soviet theatre director, actor and theatrical producer. His provocative experiments dealing with physical being and symbolism in an unconventional theatre setting made him one of the seminal forces in modern international theatre.-Early...
and Vasili Kachalov. The Three Million Trial (1926) and St. Jorgen's Day (1930) launched the film careers of two outstanding Soviet actors, Igor Ilyinsky
Igor Ilyinsky
Igor Vladimirovich Ilyinsky was a famous Russian actor and notable silent film comedian.-Early years:Igor Ilyinsky was born on 24 July 1901 in Moscow.At the age of 16 he entered the Komissarzhevskaya Theatre Studio and in half a year already debuted on the professional stage in Kommisarzhevskaya...
and Mikhail Zharov
Mikhail Zharov
Mikhail Ivanovich Zharov was a Russian actor.He studied under the prominent director Theodore Komisarjevsky and debuted in Yakov Protazanov's Aelita...
.
His last acclaimed feature was a screen version of Alexander Ostrovsky's play Without Dowry
Without Dowry
Without Dowry is a 1937 Soviet film directed by Yakov Protazanov based on the eponymous play by Alexander Ostrovsky.-Cast:* Olga Pyzhova - Kharita Ignatiyevna Ogudalova* Nina Alisova - Larisa Dmitriyevna Ogudalova...
in 1937. Its cast featured many celebrated actors from the Maly Theatre
Maly Theatre (Moscow)
Maly Theatre is a drama theater in Moscow, Russia. Established in 1806 and operating on its present site on the Theatre Square since 1824, the theatre traces its history to the Moscow University drama company, established in 1756...
.
Selected filmography
- Departure of a Grand Old Man (1912)
- The Queen of SpadesThe Queen of Spades (1916 film)The Queen of Spades is a 1916 film adaptation of the Aleksandr Pushkin short story of the same name, noted for high producer and operator culture, with the psychological depth of actor's game, first of all of Ivan Mozzhukhin...
(1916) - Satan Triumphant (1917)
- Father SergiusFather Sergius (film)Father Sergius is a 1917 Russian silent film directed by Yakov Protazanov based on the eponymous story by Leo Tolstoy....
(1917) - AelitaAelitaAelita , also known as Aelita: Queen of Mars, is a silent film directed by Soviet filmmaker Yakov Protazanov made on Mezhrabpom-Rus film studio and released in 1924. It was based on Alexei Tolstoy's novel of the same name...
(1924) - The Tailor from TorzhokThe Tailor from TorzhokThe Tailor from Torzhok is a 1925 Soviet silent comedy film directed by Yakov Protazanov and starring Igor Ilyinsky-Plot:A small-town tailor Petya Petelkin buys a lottery ticket starting a chain of comic adventures.-Cast:...
(1925) - His CallHis CallHis Call is a 1925 Soviet film directed by Yakov Protazanov. It was also released as 23 January in the Soviet Union and as Broken Chains in the United States.-Plot:...
(1925) - The Case of the Three Million (1926)
- Man from the RestaurantMan from the RestaurantMan from the Restaurant is a 1927 Soviet film directed by Yakov Protazanov based on the story by Ivan Shmelyov. The main role was wrote for Ivan Moskvin, but he was changed for Chekov because of illness.-Cast:* Michael Chekhov * Vera Malinovskaya...
(1927) - The Forty-firstThe Forty-First (1927 film)The Forty-First is a 1927 Soviet film directed by Yakov Protazanov based on a story of the same title by Boris Lavrenyov....
(1927) - Don Diego and Pelagia (1928)
- The White Eagle (1928)
- Ranks and People (1929); co-directed with Mikhail DollerMikhail DollerMikhail Doller was a Soviet film director and screenwriter. He worked as co-director with Vsevolod Pudovkin and was awarded Stalin Prize twice in 1941.-Life:...
- St. Jorgen's Day (1930)
- TommyTommy (1931 film)Tommy is a 1931 Soviet film directed by Yakov Protazanov based on a play Armoured Train 14-69 by Vsevolod Ivanov.-Cast:* Aleksei Temerin* A. Zhutayev - British Soldier* Mikhail Kedrov - Chinaman* Vasili Kovrigin - Leader* Vasili Vanin - Guide...
(1931) - Marionettes (1934)
- About Oddities of Love (1936)
- Without DowryWithout DowryWithout Dowry is a 1937 Soviet film directed by Yakov Protazanov based on the eponymous play by Alexander Ostrovsky.-Cast:* Olga Pyzhova - Kharita Ignatiyevna Ogudalova* Nina Alisova - Larisa Dmitriyevna Ogudalova...
(1937) - Salavat YulayevSalavat Yulayev (film)Salavat Yulayev is a 1941 Soviet film directed by Yakov Protazanov, about Bashkir national hero, poet Salawat Yulayev and Pugachev's Rebellion.-Cast:* Arslan Muboryakov * Mikhail Bolduman * Sergei Blinnikov * Nikolai Kryuchkov...
(1941) - Nasreddin in BukharaNasreddin in BukharaNasreddin in Bukhara is a 1943 Soviet comedy film directed by Yakov Protazanov, based on the Leonid Solovyev novel Disturber of the Peace about Nasreddin.-Cast:* Lev Sverdlin - Nasreddin* M...
(1943)