Victor Tourjansky ( 4 March 1891 – 13 August 1976), born Vyacheslav Konstantinovich Turzhansky (), was a Russian actor, screenwriter and film director who emigrated after the
Russian Revolution of 1917
The Russian Revolution was a period of Political revolution (Trotskyism), political and social revolution, social change in Russian Empire, Russia, starting in 1917. This period saw Russia Dissolution of the Russian Empire, abolish its mona ...
. He worked in France, Germany, Italy, and the United States.
Biography
Born into a family of artists in
Kiev
Kyiv, also Kiev, is the capital and most populous List of cities in Ukraine, city of Ukraine. Located in the north-central part of the country, it straddles both sides of the Dnieper, Dnieper River. As of 1 January 2022, its population was 2, ...
, Tourjansky moved to Moscow in 1911, where he spent a year studying under
Konstantin Stanislavski
Konstantin Sergeyevich Stanislavski ( rus, Константин Сергеевич Станиславский, p=kənstɐnʲˈtʲin sʲɪrˈɡʲejɪvʲɪtɕ stənʲɪˈslafskʲɪj, links=yes; ; 7 August 1938) was a seminal Russian and Sovie ...
. He became involved with silent film and, two years later, made his first productions as a screenwriter and director on the eve of
World War I
World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
. When the
October Revolution
The October Revolution, also known as the Great October Socialist Revolution (in Historiography in the Soviet Union, Soviet historiography), October coup, Bolshevik coup, or Bolshevik revolution, was the second of Russian Revolution, two r ...
broke out, he left and stayed in
Yalta
Yalta (: ) is a resort town, resort city on the south coast of the Crimean Peninsula surrounded by the Black Sea. It serves as the administrative center of Yalta Municipality, one of the regions within Crimea. Yalta, along with the rest of Crime ...
, which had not yet been taken by the
Bolsheviks
The Bolsheviks, led by Vladimir Lenin, were a radical Faction (political), faction of the Marxist Russian Social Democratic Labour Party (RSDLP) which split with the Mensheviks at the 2nd Congress of the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party, ...
.
When the laws for the nationalisation of the cinema industry were applied to Crimea, he left with the
Ermoliev film company and its actors for France, via Constantinople, in February 1920. He was accompanied by his wife, the actress
Nathalie Kovanko. On arriving in Paris, he changed his birth name Viatcheslav, to Victor, which was more easily pronounceable for the French. He was the assistant to
Abel Gance
Abel Gance (; born Abel Eugène Alexandre Péréthon; 25 October 188910 November 1981) was a French film director, producer, writer and actor. A pioneer in the theory and practice of montage, he is best known for three major silent films: ''J'ac ...
for the filming of his
''Napoléon'' (1927). He later worked for
Universum Film AG
UFA GmbH, shortened to UFA (), is a film and television production company that unites all production activities of the media conglomerate Bertelsmann in Germany. The original UFA was established as on December 18, 1917, as a direct response t ...
in Germany, where he arrived during the 1930s and directed twelve films, of which several were officially honored by the Nazis (''
City of Anatol
''City of Anatol'' () is a 1936 German drama film directed by Viktor Tourjansky and starring Gustav Fröhlich, Brigitte Horney and Fritz Kampers. It is based on a 1932 novel '' City of Anatol'' by Bernhard Kellermann. The film is set in a small ...
'', ''
Secret Code LB 17'', ''
Faded Melody'', ''
Enemies
Enemies or foes are a group that is seen as forcefully adverse or threatening.
Enemies may also refer to:
Literature
* ''Enemies'' (play), a 1906 play by Maxim Gorky
* ''Enemies, A Love Story'', a 1966 novel by Isaac Bashevis Singer
* '' Enem ...
'', and ''
Orient Express
The ''Orient Express'' was a long-distance passenger luxury train service created in 1883 by the Belgian company ''Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits'' (CIWL) that operated until 2009. The train traveled the length of continental Europe, w ...
'').
Selected filmography
* ' (Russia, 1915)
* ' (Russia, 1915)
* ' (Russia, 1918)
* ' (France, 1921)
* ''Les Contes des mille et une nuits'' (France, 1921)
* ''Le Quinzième prélude de Chopin'' (France, 1922)
* ''Nuit de carnaval'' (France, 1922)
* ''
La Riposte'' (France, 1922)
* ''Calvaire d'amour'' (France, 1923)
* ' (France, 1923)
* ''
That Scoundrel Morin
''That Scoundrel Morin'' (French: ''Ce cochon de Morin'') is a 1932 French comedy film directed by Jacques Baumer, Rosine Deréan and José Noguéro. It is based on the 1882 short story of the same title by Guy de Maupassant. Goble p.116 The ...
'' (France, 1924)
* ''
The Masked Woman'' (France, 1924)
* ''
Prince Charming
Prince Charming is a fairy tale stock character archetype who comes to the rescue of a damsel in distress and must engage in a quest to liberate her from an evil spell. This classification suits most heroes of a number of traditional folk tales ...
'' (France, 1925)
* ''
Michel Strogoff
''Michael Strogoff: The Courier of the Czar'' () is a novel written by Jules Verne in 1876. Critic Leonard S. Davidow, considers it one of Verne's best books. Davidow wrote, "Jules Verne has written no better book than this, in fact it is deserv ...
'' (France, 1926)
* ''
Tempest'' (director:
Sam Taylor
Samuel, Sam or Sammy Taylor (male first name) may refer to:
Arts
* Sam Taylor (director) (1895–1958), American film director and screenwriter
* Samuel W. Taylor (1907–1997), American author
* Samuel A. Taylor (1912–2000), playwright and sc ...
, USA, 1928), uncredited
* ''
The Adventurer'' (USA, 1928)
* ''
Volga Volga'' (Germany, 1928)
* ''
Manolescu'' (Germany, 1929)
* ''
The Eaglet'' (French-language film version, 1931)
** ''
The Duke of Reichstadt'' (German-language film version, 1931)
* ''
The Unknown Singer'' (France, 1931)
* ''
Student's Hotel
''Student's Hotel'' () is a 1932 French drama film directed by Viktor Tourjansky and starring Lisette Lanvin, Raymond Galle and Christian Casadesus. The film's sets were designed by the art director Edouard Nikitine. It was screened at the inaug ...
'' (France, 1932)
* ''
The Orderly
''The Orderly'' is a 1918 American silent comedy film featuring Oliver Hardy.
Cast
* Billy West as Sanitarium orderly
* Oliver Hardy (as Babe Hardy)
* Leatrice Joy
* Ethel Marie Burton
* Leo White
* Joe Bordeaux
* Bud Ross
See also
* Olive ...
'' (France, 1933)
* ''
Volga in Flames
''Volga in Flames'' (French: ''Volga en flammes'') is a 1934 historical adventure film directed by Viktor Tourjansky and starring Albert Prejean, Valéry Inkijinoff and Danielle Darrieux.Driskell p.209 It was made as a co-production between Fra ...
'' (France, 1934)
* ''
Dark Eyes'' (France, 1935)
* ''
The World's in Love'' (Austria, 1935)
* ''
La Peur'' (France, 1936)
* ''
City of Anatol
''City of Anatol'' () is a 1936 German drama film directed by Viktor Tourjansky and starring Gustav Fröhlich, Brigitte Horney and Fritz Kampers. It is based on a 1932 novel '' City of Anatol'' by Bernhard Kellermann. The film is set in a small ...
'' (German-language film version, 1936)
** ''
Wells in Flames
''Wells in Flames'' (French: ''Puits en flammes'') is a 1937 German adventure film directed by Viktor Tourjansky and starring Josseline Gaël, George Rigaud and Suzy Vernon.Rentschler p.289 It is the French-language version of ''City of Anatol'' ...
'' (French-language film version, 1937)
* ''
The Lie of Nina Petrovna
''The Lie of Nina Petrovna'' (French: ''Le mensonge de Nina Petrovna'') is a 1937 French drama film directed by Viktor Tourjansky and starring Isa Miranda, Fernand Gravey and Aimé Clariond.Gundle p.131 It is a remake of the 1929 silent film '' T ...
'' (France, 1937)
* ''
The Postmaster's Daughter
''The Postmaster's Daughter'' (French: ''Nostalgie'') is a 1938 French historical drama film directed by Viktor Tourjansky and starring Harry Baur, Janine Crispin and George Rigaud. It is an adaptation of Alexander Pushkin's 1831 short story '' ...
'' (France, 1938)
* ''
Faded Melody'' (Germany, 1938)
* ''
Secret Code LB 17'' (Germany, 1938)
* ''
The Blue Fox'' (Germany, 1938)
* ''
The Governor'' (Germany, 1939)
* ''
A Woman Like You'' (Germany, 1939)
* ''
Enemies
Enemies or foes are a group that is seen as forcefully adverse or threatening.
Enemies may also refer to:
Literature
* ''Enemies'' (play), a 1906 play by Maxim Gorky
* ''Enemies, A Love Story'', a 1966 novel by Isaac Bashevis Singer
* '' Enem ...
'' (Germany, 1940, also screenplay)
* ' (Germany, 1940)
* ' (Germany, 1941, also screenplay)
* ''Liebesgeschichten'' (Germany, 1943)
* ''
Tonelli Tonelli may refer to:
* Tonelli (surname)
Arts
* ''Tonelli'' (film), a 1943 German film
Science
* Tonelli's theorem (functional analysis)
* Tonelli's theorem
* Tonelli–Shanks algorithm
* Tonelli–Hobson test
See also
{{disambig ...
'' (Germany, 1943, also screenplay)
* ''
Orient Express
The ''Orient Express'' was a long-distance passenger luxury train service created in 1883 by the Belgian company ''Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits'' (CIWL) that operated until 2009. The train traveled the length of continental Europe, w ...
'' (Germany, 1944)
* ' (Germany, 1945–1949)
* ''
The Blue Straw Hat
''The Blue Straw Hat'' () is a 1949 West German period comedy film directed by Viktor Tourjansky and starring Margot Hielscher, Karl Schönböck and Mady Rahl.Goble p. 324 It was shot at the Bavaria Studios in Munich and on location in the city' ...
'' (West Germany, 1949)
* ' (Spain, 1950)
* ''
The Man Who Wanted to Live Twice'' (West Germany, 1950)
* ''
Chased by the Devil
''Chased by the Devil'' () is a 1950 West German crime film directed by Viktor Tourjansky and starring Hans Albers, Willy Birgel and Lil Dagover.Hake p. 224
It was shot at the Bavaria Studios in Munich and on location around the city. The film ...
'' (West Germany, 1950)
* ' (West Germany, 1951)
* ''
Marriage for One Night
''Marriage for One Night'' () is a 1953 West German comedy film directed by Viktor Tourjansky and starring Gustav Fröhlich, Hannelore Bollmann and Adrian Hoven.Bock & Bergfelder p.139 It was shot at the Carlton Studios in Munich. The film's set ...
'' (West Germany, 1953)
* ''
Salto Mortale'' (West Germany, 1953)
* ''
Arlette Conquers Paris
''Arlette Conquers Paris'' (German: ''Arlette erobert Paris'') is a 1953 West German comedy film directed by Viktor Tourjansky and starring Johanna Matz, Karlheinz Böhm and Claus Biederstaedt.Bock & Bergfelder p.264 It was shot at the Babelsber ...
'' (West Germany, 1953)
* ''
Daybreak'' (West Germany, 1954)
* ''
Island of the Dead'' (West Germany, 1955)
* ''
The Royal Waltz'' (West Germany, 1955)
* ' (West Germany, 1956)
* ''
The Goddess of Love'' (co-director:
Fernando Cerchio
Fernando Cerchio (7 August 1914 – 19 August 1974) was an Italian film director and screenwriter. He directed more than 30 films between 1940 and 1972.
Selected filmography
* ''Men of the Mountain'' (1943)
* ''Mistress of the Mountains'' ...
, Italy, 1957)
* ''
Heart Without Mercy
''Heart Without Mercy'' () is a 1958 West German crime film directed by Viktor Tourjansky and starring Barbara Rütting, Hansjörg Felmy and Werner Hinz.Hake p.117
It was made at the Wandsbek Studios in Hamburg. The film's sets were designed by ...
'' (West Germany, 1958)
* ''
Herod the Great
Herod I or Herod the Great () was a History of the Jews in the Roman Empire, Roman Jewish client king of the Herodian kingdom of Judea. He is known for his colossal building projects throughout Judea. Among these works are the rebuilding of the ...
'' (co-director: , Italy, 1959)
* ''
Prisoner of the Volga'' (co-director: , Italy, 1959)
* ''
The Cossacks'' (co-director:
Giorgio Rivalta
Giorgio Venturini (1906–1984) was an Italian film producer.Bayman p.169 He also directed three films under the name Giorgio Rivalta.
Selected filmography
* ''William Tell'' (1949)
* '' Hand of Death'' (1949)
* ''Mistress of the Mountains'' (19 ...
, Italy, 1960)
* ''
The Pharaohs' Woman
''The Pharaohs' Woman'' () is a 1960 Italian historical drama film directed by Victor Tourjansky and starring John Drew Barrymore. The film is set in Ancient Egypt during the 31st century BCE (shortly after the unification of Upper and Lowe ...
'' (co-director:
Giorgio Rivalta
Giorgio Venturini (1906–1984) was an Italian film producer.Bayman p.169 He also directed three films under the name Giorgio Rivalta.
Selected filmography
* ''William Tell'' (1949)
* '' Hand of Death'' (1949)
* ''Mistress of the Mountains'' (19 ...
, Italy, 1960)
* ''
The Triumph of Michael Strogoff
''The Triumph of Michael Strogoff'' (French: ''Le triomphe de Michel Strogoff'') is a 1961 French-Italian historical adventure film directed by Viktor Tourjansky and starring Curd Jürgens, Capucine and Claude Titre. It is inspired by the 1876 no ...
'' (France, 1961)
* ''
A Queen for Caesar
''A Queen for Caesar'' (, ) is a 1962 Italian-French historical drama film directed by Piero Pierotti and Victor Tourjansky and starring Pascale Petit, George Ardisson and Rik Battaglia. It is set in Egypt in 48 BC. Unlike other films about Cae ...
'' (co-director:
Piero Pierotti
Piero Pierotti (1 January 1912 – 4 May 1970) was an Italian director and screenwriter.
Life and career
Born in Pisa, Pierotti started his career as a journalist, working for '' La Nazione'' and ''Il Nuovo Corriere'', and later founding the n ...
, Italy, 1962)
External links
*
*Christian Gilles, ''Le cinéma des années
rente, quarante, cinquantepar ceux qui l'ont fait'', Paris : L'Harmattan, 2000.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tourjansky, Victor
Film directors from the Russian Empire
Male actors from the Russian Empire
People who emigrated to escape Bolshevism
1891 births
1976 deaths
Male actors from Kyiv
Emigrants from the Russian Empire to Germany
Emigrants from the Russian Empire to France
White Russian emigrants to Germany
White Russian emigrants to France
Russian male film actors
Russian film directors
Russian male silent film actors
Film people from Kyiv