Vladimir Pavlovich Basov[a] (28 July 1923 – 17 September 1987[1]) was a Soviet Russian actor, film director and screenwriter. He was named a People's Artist of the USSR in 1983.[2]

Vladimir Basov
Владимир Басов
Basov during WWII
Born(1923-07-28)28 July 1923
Urazovo, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
Died17 September 1987(1987-09-17) (aged 64)
Moscow, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
Occupation(s)Actor, film director, screenwriter
Notable workThe Shield and the Sword (1968)
TitlePeople's Artist of the USSR (1983)
AwardsMedal for Battle Merit (1943), Order of the Red Star (1945)

Biography

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Vladimir Basov was born in the Urazovo village, Voronezh Governorate (now Belgorod Oblast) to Pavel Basov (Basultainen) and Aleksandra Basova.[3] His father was a Tartu alumnus of Finnish ethnicity who joined Bolsheviks during the revolution. "Basov" was his party alias later adopted as a family name. He served as an officer and political commissar up until his death in 1931. Vladimir's mother Aleksandra Ivanovna was a daughter of a Russian Orthodox priest from Pokrovsk. She met Pavel during the Civil War; he was a runaway and asked for shelter. During the 1920s she taught peasant children Russian language and literature. According to Vladimir Basov Jr., his father had Russian, Finnish and Georgian roots.[4]

In 1941 Vladimir Basov joined the Great Patriotic War. He served in the Red Army as an artillery officer, mortar battery commander, then, as a staff officer in the 28th Special Artillery Division in the rank of Kapitan. He was awarded the Medal "For Battle Merit" in 1943 and the Order of the Red Star in 1945 for displaying outstanding heroism during the capture of a Nazi military base.[5] He was wounded in action, but continued serving until the war ended.

In 1947 Basov entered VGIK. He studied direction under Sergei Yutkevich and Mikhail Romm and graduated in 1952 to work on the Mosfilm studio. As a director Basov made 18 films, and one teleplay. Among his most acclaimed pictures is the TV adaption of Mikhail Bulgakov's play The Days of the Turbins and a big-screen spy thriller The Shield and the Sword (1968) which he also co-wrote. He is credited with writing screenplays to most of his movies.

In 1963 his friend Georgiy Daneliya offered a small part in the upcoming film Walking the Streets of Moscow (1963).[6] Basov quickly turned into one of the most beloved Soviet comedy actors. He usually portrayed episodic, but distinguishing characters running some shady businesses, such as the lonely official in Moscow Does Not Believe in Tears. Among his bigger roles is Viktor Myshlaevsky in The Days of the Turbins (1976), Huck Finn's father in Hopelessly Lost (1973), Duremar in The Adventures of Buratino (1975), Pyotr Luzhin in Crime and Punishment (1969), Artur Arturovich in The Flight (1970), Stump in The Adventures of the Elektronic (1979). He also voiced a number of popular animated cartoons.

His busy schedule mixed with heavy drinking resulted in serious health problems during the 1980s.[3] In 1983 he survived a stroke that led to complete paralysis of half of his body, yet he continued working. Basov died after a second stroke in 1987. He was buried on the Kuntsevo Cemetery.[7]

Basov was a member of the Communist Party since 1948.

Personal life

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Vladimir Basov was married three times to three Soviet actresses. His first wife was Roza Makagonova (1927-1995). They met while studying at VGIK. They had no children.

His second marriage was to Natalya Fateyeva. They had one son - Vladimir Basov Jr. (born 1959), also a prominent actor and film director.

His last wife was Valentina Titova. Their son Aleksandr Basov (born 1965) is a Russian film director as well, while their daughter Yelizaveta (born 1971) finished dance courses.[4]

Selected filmography

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Year Film Original title Role Notes
1954 Courage School Школа мужества Poruchik (uncredited) Also director
1955 The Crash of the Emirate Крушение эмирата Colonel (uncredited) Also director
1957 It Happened at the Mine Number Eight Случай на шахте восемь Uncredited Also director
1961 The Fight on a Way Битва в пути Broadcaster's voice Also director
1963 Walking the Streets of Moscow Я шагаю по Москве Floor polisher
The Silence Тишина Driver Also director
1964 The Blizzard Метель Uncredited Also director
1965 Thirty Three Тридцать три Museum's director
Operation Y and Shurik's Other Adventures Операция «Ы» и другие приключения Шурика The strict policeman
1968 The Shield and the Sword Щит и меч Bruno Also director
1969 Crime and Punishment Преступление и наказание Pyotr Petrovitch Luzhin
1970 The Flight Бег Artur Arturovich, the Cockroach Tsar
1972 As Ilf and Petrov Rode a Tram Ехали в трамвае Ильф и Петров Tramway passenger / The head of department
Back to Life Возвращение к жизни Guitarist Also director
Dangerous Corner Опасный поворот Charles Trevor Stanton Also director
1973 Big School-Break Большая перемена Photographer
Hopelessly Lost Совсем пропащий Huck's father
Chipollino Чиполлино Prince Lemon
1974 100% Nylon Нейлон 100 % Kireev the lawyer Also director
1975 The Adventures of Buratino Приключения Буратино Duremar
Afonya Афоня Vladimir Ivanovich
Captain Nemo Капитан Немо Royer
Vasilisa Mikulishna (animation) Василиса Микулишна Prince Vladimir Voice only
1976 The Days of the Turbins Дни Турбиных Viktor Myshlayevsky Also director
Sentimental Romance Сентиментальный роман Father
1977 About the Little Red Riding Hood Про Красную Шапочку Thin Wolf
Mimino Мимино Sinitsyn, the opera singer
The Nose Нос A Doctor
Domestic Circumstances По семейным обстоятельствам Edward Bubukin
The Miracle Voice of Gelsomino Волшебный голос Джельсомино King Giacomon Vocal by Oleg Anofriyev
1978 A Dog Was Walking Down the Piano Шла собака по роялю Gromov
The New Adventures of Captain Wrongel Новые приключения капитана Врунгеля Block Silent
Father Sergius Отец Сергий uncredited
Last Bride of Zmey Gorynych (animation) Последняя невеста Змея Горыныча Zmey Gorynych Voice only
1979 Moscow Does Not Believe in Tears Москва слезам не верит Anton Kruglov Best Foreign Language Film of 1980[8]
The Adventures of Elektronic Приключения Электроника Stump the chief gangster
The Suicide Club, or the Adventures of a Titled Person Клуб самоубийц, или Приключения титулованной особы Inspector Trenton
1980 Teheran 43 Тегеран-43 Taxi driver Soviet-French-Swiss-Spanish production
1981 Unpaid Vacation Отпуск за свой счёт Yevdokimov USSR-Hungary production
Be My Husband Будьте моим мужем Camper
Past Day Facts Факты минувшего дня Petr Danilovich Also director
Silva Сильва Oberleutnant von Rohnsdorff
1982 The Story of Voyages Сказка странствий Lawyer
Look for a Woman Ищите женщину Jacque-Pierre Antoine
The Trust That Has Burst Трест, который лопнул Fake John Morgan
The Circus Princess Принцесса цирка Pelikan
Chertyonok № 13 (animation) Чертёнок № 13 Teacher Voice only
1984 Time and the Conways Время и семья Конвей Ernest Beevers Also director
1985 A Boatswain and a Parrot (animation) Боцман и попугай Film director Voice only
1986 Seven Cries in the Ocean Семь криков в океане Director only

Notes

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  1. ^ Russian: Владимир Павлович Басов, romanizedVladimir Pavlovich Basov

References

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  1. ^ Могила на Кунцевском кладбище, уч. 10
  2. ^ Peter Rollberg (2016). Historical Dictionary of Russian and Soviet Cinema. US: Rowman & Littlefield. pp. 91–92. ISBN 978-1442268425.
  3. ^ a b Bodanova L. I., Vladimir Basov. In Direction, in Life and Love. Moscow, 2014. ISBN 978-5-227-05104-2 p. 3-8
  4. ^ a b Vladimir Basov: Everything About My Mother Karavan Istoriy, October, 2011. (in Russian)
  5. ^ Basov Vladimir Pavlovich, born 1923 National Act of Bravery During the Great Patriotic War 1941-1944, online archive by the Ministry of Defence. (in Russian)
  6. ^ «The movie is too optimistic». How Walking the Streets of Moscow was made Argumenty i Fakty, 11/04/2014. (in Russian)
  7. ^ Basov Vladimir Pavlovich (1923-1987) Celebrity Tombs
  8. ^ "The 53rd Academy Awards (1981) Nominees and Winners". oscars.org. Retrieved 2013-06-15.
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