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Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov (22 April 1870 - 21 January 1924), better known as Vladimir Lenin, was a Russian revolutionary, politician, and political theorist. He served as the first and founding head of government of Soviet Russia from 1917 to 1924 and of the Soviet Union from 1922 to 1924. Under his administration, Russia, and later the Soviet Union, became a one-party socialist state governed by the Communist Party. Ideologically a Marxist, his developments to the ideology are called Leninism.- Alexander Kerensky was born in Simbirsk, Russia, in 1881, the son of a lower-ranking nobleman in the Russian aristocracy. As a law student he gained renown for his skillful defense of socialist activists arrested by the Czarist police, which may well have contributed to his political party, the Socialist Revolution, being outlawed in 1912. That same year he was elected to the Russian Duma (Parliament).
After the Russian Revolution of 1917 and the overthrow of the Czar, Kerensky was named Minister of Justice in the Provisional Government. He was appointed Minister of War in May of that year, and since Russia was still involved in World War I, he made preparations for a new offensive against the Germans. Unfortunately, the Russian military had become dispirited, disenchanted and demoralized after a series of crushing defeats and staggering losses (the Battle of Tannenberg alone cost them more than 100,000 dead, brought about mainly because of stupefyingly inept and incompetent leadership), and its soldiers were in no mood or condition to continue fighting for a cause they no longer believed in. In addition, the Russian people themselves were sick of the war and the deprivations that came with it, and the country was being convulsed by strikes, riots and all manner of civil strife. In July of 1917 the Bolsheviks attempted to seize power in the city of Petrograd, and Kerensky sent Cossack troops there to crush the revolt. Later that month he was appointed Prime Minister. He found himself clashing with Gen. Kornilov, commander of the Russian army, who wanted to clamp down on the country and turn it into a military dictatorship. In November of 1917 the Bolsheviks again took advantage of the chaotic conditions in the country and mounted another revolt. This time Kerensky couldn't put it down, and as the revolt spread he was forced to flee Moscow. He sought refuge in London and became part of a Russian "government in exile", but his somewhat heavy-handed methods alienated many of the groups that formed the opposition, especially the White Russians. There was a strong resistance to the Bolsheviks inside Russia itself, and the White Russians had formidable military forces that fought them across Russia, but the resistance finally ended in the 1920s with the Red Army triumphant. Kerensky stayed in England, becoming the editor of a socialist revolutionary newspaper, "Dni", and wrote several books decrying the Communist takeover of his country. In 1940 he moved to the US, where he wrote more books and headed a foundation called the Study of War and Revolution at Stanford University in Palo Alto, CA.
He died in New York City in 1970. - Director
- Actor
- Writer
Pyotr (Peter, Petr) Chardynin was a prolific silent film director who made over 100 silent films in Russia, France, Germany, and Soviet Union.
He was born Pyotr Ivanovich Krasavtsev, on 28 January 1972, in Simbirsk, Russian Empire (now Ulyanovsk, Russia). His father was a small business owner, his mother was a homemaker. Young Chardynin was fond of theatre, and had a dream of becoming an actor, albeit his parents objected, so he left them and dropped out of Simbirsk Gymnasium at age 16. He moved to Moscow and worked lowly jobs to achieve his dream. In 1890 he was admitted to the class of Vladimir Nemirovich-Danchenko at the Drama School of Moscow Philharmonic Society. There his classmates were such actors as A. Kosheverov, and Maria Tarasova among others. He also attended classes of Konstantin Stanislavski, Aleksandr Yushin, and Alexander Nevsky, graduating in 1893 as an actor.
During the 1890s he was an actor and director in several cities of Central Russia, such as Belgorod, Orekhovo-Zuevo, Uralsk, and Vologda. In 1901 he played the title role in the Shakespeare's Hamlet in Vologda, then moved to Moscow. From 1908 - 1910 he was member of the troupe at Vvedensky Narodny Dom in Moscow. There Chardynin met Aleksandr Khanzhonkov who invited him to work in movies. Chardynin replaced French directors and cinematographers, becoming the principal director for Khanzhonkov. He also brought in several fellow stage actors, such as Ivan Mozzhukhin and Nathalie Lissenko, and made them leading stars of Russian silent film.
Chardynin directed over 30 films for Khanzhonkov. He also appeared as actor in several silent films. His theatrical experience was a plus, however, in his later years his face was affected by a skin disease, that was misdiagnosed and mistreated, leaving permanent scars. As director, Chardynin did not survive serious competition from Yevgeny Bauer, and left the Khanzhonkov's film company. In 1916 Chardynin with Vera Kholodnaya and several other leading actors joined the D Kharitonov studio of Dmitrij Kharitonov in Odessa. There Chardynin made several successful films starring Vera Kholodnaya. After the death of Kholodnaya in 1919, he tried to work for the new Soviet Communist regime, albeit the Soviet propaganda was not exactly his style.
In 1920 Chardynin accepted invitation to work for Dmitrij Kharitonov in Rome, Italy. Then he had a brief stint at "Gomon" studio in Paris, then worked for stage projects in Berlin, Germany. From 1921 - 1923 Chardynin lived and worked in Riga, Latvia. There he directed four silent films. In 1923 he was visited by a special envoy from Odessa and was invited to work at Odessa Film Studio. There he directed several costume dramas and epics about the history of Ukraine, such as 'Taras Shevchenko' (1926) and 'Cherevichki' (1928), among his other films. In 1930 Chardynin was censored by the Soviet authorities and was banned from working in films. He suffered from a serious emotional breakdown, and eventually developed a liver cancer. He died on August 14, 1934, in Odessa, Ukraine, Soviet Union (now Odesa, Ukraine), and was laid to rest in Odessa.- Actor
- Director
Konstantin Aleksandrovich Zubov was born on August 20, 1888, in the village of Bazarny Syzgan, Simbirsk province, Russian Empire (now Ulyuanovsk, Russia). His father, Aleksandr Zubov, was a school teacher, his mother was a homemaker. Young Zubov was sent to study at Technical School in Nancy, France, then studied history at Sorbonne University in Paris until 1906. Back in Russia he studied history at St. Petersburg University. There he began acting at a student theatre club, then studied acting at St. Petersburg Theatrical School under V. N. Davydov, eventually becoming a permanent member of the Davydov's touring troupe. After years of touring all over Russia he was invited by Aleksandr Tairov and joined the troupe of Korsh theatre in Moscow, then worked as actor and director with other theatre companies in Moscow.
From 1936-1956 Konstantin Zubov was a permanent member of the legendary troupe at Maly Academic Theatre in Moscow. There he worked on stage with such stars as Yelena Gogoleva, A. Yablochkina, Vera Pashennaya, Varvara Massalitinova, Aleksandr Yuzhin, Aleksandr Ostuzhev, Vladimir Davydov, Boris Babochkin, Mikhail Zharov, and many other notable Russian actors. Zubov was awarded for his powerful stage performances as Henry Higgins in George Bernard Shaw's classic drama 'Pygmalion'. Among his best known stage performances were such classic parts, as Famusov in 1947 staging of 'Gore ot uma' (Woe from Wit) based on the eponymous play by Aleksandr Griboyedov, Tsiganov in the 1941 staging of 'Varvary' (the Barbarians), based on a play by Maxim Gorky, and Gorodulin in the 1948 staging of 'Na Vsyakogo Mudretsa Dovolno Prostoty', a classic play by Aleksandr Ostrovskiy. Over the course of his acting career Konstantin Zubov established himself as one of the best performers in classic Russian plays. From 1947-1956 Zubov was the Artistic Director of Maly Academic Theatre.
In the early 1950s Zubov's stage performances were captured on film in theatrical settings and with the support of his fellow actors at the Maly Theatre. He co-starred as Famusov in the classic film Gore ot uma (1952), based on the successful 1947 stage production, with Mikhail Tsaryov and Igor Ilyinsky and other fellow actors from Maly Theatre. In another film based on the theatrical production of Maxim Gorky's 'Varvary', Zubov co-starred as Tsiganov opposite Yevdokiya Turchaninova and Nikolai Annenkov among the ensemble of actors from the Maly Theatre. He also co-starred as Gorodulin in Na vsyakogo mudretsa dovolno prostoty (1952) with the same ensemble of actors.
Konstantin Zubov was a reputable acting teacher since 1920. He taught at the Shchepkin Theatrical School in Moscow, where his student was Pavel Luspekayev and other notable actors. Zubov was designated People's Artist of the USSR. He was decorated with the Order of Lenin, was four times awarded with the State Prize of the USSR, and received other decorations and honors for his outstanding achievements as actor and director. Konstantin Zubov died on November 22, 1956, in Moscow, and was laid to rest in Novodevichi Cemetery in Moscow, Russia.- Director
- Writer
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Boris Shelontsev was born on 15 November 1897 in Alatyr, Simbirsk Governorate, Russian Empire [now Chuvash Republic, Russia]. He was a director and writer, known for Mari Kuzher (1929), Chyornyj stolb (1928) and Tainstvennyy ostrov (1941). He died on 24 August 1962.- Ivan Goncharov was a classic Russian writer whose novel 'Oblomov' was adapted to film by director Nikita Mikhalkov.
He was born Ivan Aleksandrovich Goncharov on June 18, 1812, in Simbirsk, Russian Empire (now Ulyanovsk, Russia). His father, a wealthy merchant, died when Goncharov was only seven, and he was brought up by his Godfather, Nikolai Tregubov, a retired Navy sailor. Goncharov received an excellent private education at the home of his parents. From the age of 10 he studied at a private boarding school in Moscow, specializing in commerce. From 1830 - 1834 Goncharov attended Moscow University, having such schoolmates a Mikhail Lermontov, Alexander Gertsen, and Ivan Turgenev among other distinguished Russians. Upon his graduation from Moscow University in 1834, Goncharov served as a government official for the next thirty years. He specialized in translations of foreign correspondence with the Russian government.
Between 1852 and 1855 Goncharov served as a secretary to the legendary Navy Admiral Yevfimy Putyatin. Goncharov took part in the historic Russo-Japanese Treaty of 1855, serving as the official interpreter between the Russian and Japanese governments. At that time Goncharov made voyages aboard the Russian Navy frigate "Pallada" ('Pallas'), visiting many countries in Europe, Africa, and Asia. Upon his return to Russia, Goncharov eventually experienced disillusionment with the Russian social and economic traditions. His 1858 publication of his travelogue, a chronicle of his three-year journey, became a sensation in the Tsarist Russia. His next book, Oblomov', made Goncharov a classic, and was praised by such figures as Fyodor Dostoevsky, and others.
In 1867 Goncharov fell under pressure for his independent views, and retired from his position as a government interpreter and censor. He eventually became a professional writer, living in St. Petersburg, Russia. He wrote numerous short stories, critiques, essays and memoirs, and continued traveling outside of Russia. During the 1860s Goncharov was part of the St. Petersburg cultural milieu, albeit his independent political position and his advanced and original views on Russian reality were causing him problems with the rigid hard-liners in the Russian establishment. He eventually suffered from negative criticism that was orchestrated by his conservative opponents. Goncharov struggled for twenty years writing his third big novel, 'Obryv' (aka.. The Precipice), dealing with romantic rivalry of three men, and sporting a veiled critique of disintegrating Russian society. Ivan Goncharov never married, he died if pneumonia in his home in St. Petersburg, Russia, and was laid to rest in the writer's corner of cemetery in St. Petersburg, Russia.
Ivan Goncharov's most important novel, 'Oblomov', was published in 1859, and became widely successful in Russia. It was even compared with the Shakespeare's Hamlet, albeit the title character, Oblomov, is giving the answer "No!" to the question "To be or not to be?". The story of Oblomov and Russians around him is dealing with a conundrum of problems of social and economic nature that are typical of Russia. The novel was adapted into the eponymous film, A Few Days from the Life of I.I. Oblomov (1980), by director Nikita Mikhalkov, starring Oleg Tabakov in the title role.
Ivan Goncharov's writings are included in the Russian school curriculum and reissued in massive printings. - Aleksandr Varlamov is a composer, arranger, singer, conductor, head of one of the best Soviet jazz orchestras. Honored Artist of the RSFSR (1979), author of more than 400 musical works.
Until September 1918 Varlamov lived in Simbirsk, studied at the second male gymnasium. In 1912, his first musical works were published in Simbirsk - the play "Sadness" and the waltz "Evening". In 1922 he entered GITIS (in the same workshop with Erast Garin and Nikolai Okhlopkov). However, he soon leaves there and enters the Gnesin School.
As the jazz bandleader, Varlamov debuted in 1934. The attention of the music community was attracted by Varlamov's collaboration with a singer from the USA, Celestine Cool. Later he assembled the first group in the USSR from improvising musicians (The Seven). In the fall of 1938, he created the All-Union Radio Committee jazz orchestra, with which he worked until September 1939, having managed to take part in the first domestic television show. In 1939-1940 led the jazz orchestra of MVTU of N. Bauman. From the summer of 1940 to the summer of 1941, he was the chief conductor of the USSR State Jazz Orchestra. Being one of the few then Soviet composers, arrangers and conductors who mastered the swinging style of playing and writing, one of the first in the country to perform swing music, giving interesting examples of a new style.
Aleksandr Varlamov wrote music for pop orchestras, films and television productions, made a number of recordings of his own compositions with sympho-jazz composition. He also translated foreign songs into Russian and performed them himself. Aleksandr Varlamov carefully worked on improving the performing technique and ensemble playing, which led to a noticeable increase in professionalism in domestic jazz and had a significant impact on the development of jazz music in the USSR. - Cinematographer
- Camera and Electrical Department
- Production Manager
Viktor Shtatland was born on 24 November 1912 in Alatyr, Alatyr uyezd, Simbirsk Governorate, Russian Empire [now Chuvash Republic, Russia]. He was a cinematographer and production manager, known for Na Dunae (1940), Nuremberg Trials (1946) and Pobeda na Pravoberezhnoy Ukraine i izgnanie nemetsikh zakhvatchikov za predely ukrainskikh sovietskikh zemel (1945). He died in 1971 in Moscow, RSFSR, USSR [now Russia].- Nikolay Livanov was born on 20 November 1874 in Simbirsk, Russian Empire [now Ulyanovsk, Russia]. He was an actor, known for Vosstaniye rybakov (1934). He died in 1949 in Moscow, RSFSR, USSR [now Russia].
- Inna Kosheleva was born on 23 May 1968 in Ulyanovsk, RSFSR, USSR [now Simbirsk, Russia]. She is an actress, known for Shou-boy (1991).
- Boris Ryzhukhin was born on 3 April 1917 in Station Batraki, Syzran uyezd, Simbirsk Governorate, Russian Empire [now Oktyabrsk, Samara Oblast, Russia]. He was an actor, known for The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson (1980), Krasnye dipkurery (1977) and 12 stulyev (1966). He died on 15 September 1997 in St. Petersburg, Russia.
- Actor
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
- Director
Yuri Vasilchikov was born on 23 April 1901 in village Soldatskaya Tashla, Simbirsk uyezd, Simbirsk Governorate, Russian Empire [now Terengulsky District, Ulyanovsk Oblast, Russia]. He was an actor and assistant director, known for Dve materi (1931), Son of the Regiment (1946) and Brat geroya (1940). He died on 9 October 1969.- Kuzma Gorbunov was born on 28 October 1903 in Panshino village, Syzran uyezd, Simbirsk guberniya, Russian Empire [now Radishchevsky rayon, Ulyanovsk oblast, Russia]. Kuzma is known for The Thaw (1931).
- Mariya Smirnova was born on 1 April 1905 in Samaykino, Simbirsk Governorate, Russian Empire [now Novospassk Raion, Ulyanovsk Oblast, Russia]. She was a writer, known for The Village Teacher (1947), Revolt in the Desert (1931) and Povest o pervoy lyubvi (1957). She died on 4 May 1993.
- Aleksandr Plotnikov was born on 19 August 1903 in Simbirsk, Russian Empire [now Ulyanovsk, Russia]. He is known for Ekho dalyokikh snegov (1970), Zoloto (1970) and Adres vashego doma (1973).