Vladimir Basov


Vladimir Pavlovich Basov was a Soviet actor, film director and screenwriter. Vladimir Basov was named People's Artist of the USSR in 1983.

Biography

Vladimir Basov was born in the Urazovo village, Belgorod Oblast to Pavel Basov and Alexandra Basova. 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 'till his death in 1931. Vladimir's mother Alexandra 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.
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. 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 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. 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 Myshlaevski in The Days of the Turbins, Huck Finn's father in Hopelessly Lost, Duremar in The Adventures of Buratino, Pyotr Luzhin in Crime and Punishment, Artur Arturovich in The Flight, Stump in The Adventures of Elektronic. He also voiced a number of popular animated toons.
His busy schedule mixed with heavy drinking resulted in serious health problems during the 1980s. In 1983 he survived a stroke that led to complete paralysis of half of his body, yet he continued working. Basov died after the second stroke in 1987. He was buried on the Kuntsevo Cemetery.
A member of the Communist Party since 1948.

Personal life

Vladimir Basov was married three times to three Soviet actresses. His first wife was Roza Makagonova. They met while studying at VGIK. They had no children.
His second marriage was to Natalya Fateyeva. They had one son - Vladmir Basov Jr., also a prominent Soviet/Russian actor and film director.
His last wife was Valentina Titova. Their son Alexandr Basov is a Russian film director as well, while their daughter Elizaveta finished dance courses.

Selected filmography

YearFilmOriginal titleRoleNotes
1954Courage SchoolШкола мужестваPoruchik Also director
1955The Crash of the EmirateКрушение эмиратаColonel Also director
1957It Happened at the Mine Number EightСлучай на шахте восемьUncreditedAlso director
1961The Fight on a WayБитва в путиBroadcaster's voiceAlso director
1963Walking the Streets of MoscowЯ шагаю по МосквеFloor polisher
1963The SilenceТишинаDriverAlso director
1964The BlizzardМетельUncreditedAlso director
1965Thirty ThreeТридцать триMuseum's director
1965Operation Y and Shurik's Other AdventuresОперация «Ы» и другие приключения ШурикаThe strict policeman
1968The Shield and the SwordЩит и мечBrunoAlso director
1969Crime and PunishmentПреступление и наказаниеPyotr Petrovitch Luzhin
1970The FlightБегArtur Arturovich, the Cockroach Tsar
1972As Ilf and Petrov Rode a TramЕхали в трамвае Ильф и ПетровTramway passenger / The head of department
1972Back to LifeВозвращение к жизниGuitaristAlso director
1972Dangerous CornerОпасный поворотCharles Trevor StantonAlso director
1973Big School-BreakБольшая переменаPhotographer
1973Hopelessly LostСовсем пропащийHuck's father
1973ChipollinoЧиполлиноPrince Lemon
1974100% NylonНейлон 100 %Kireev the lawyerAlso director
1975The Adventures of BuratinoПриключения БуратиноDuremar
1975AfonyaАфоняVladimir Ivanovich
1975Captain NemoКапитан НемоRoyer
1975Vasilisa Mikulishna Василиса МикулишнаPrince VladimirVoice only
1976The Days of the TurbinsДни ТурбиныхViktor MyshlayevskyAlso director
1976Sentimental RomanceСентиментальный романFather
1977About the Little Red Riding HoodПро Красную ШапочкуThin Wolf
1977MiminoМиминоSinitsyn, the opera singer
1977The Nose НосA Doctor
1977Domestic CircumstancesПо семейным обстоятельствамEdward Bubukin
The Miracle Voice of GelsominoВолшебный голос ДжельсоминоKing GiacomonVocal by Oleg Anofriyev-
1978A Dog Was Walking Down the PianoШла собака по роялюGromov
1978The New Adventures of Captain WrongelНовые приключения капитана ВрунгеляBlock Silent
1978Father SergiusОтец Сергийuncredited
1978Last Bride of Zmey Gorynych Последняя невеста Змея ГорынычаZmey GorynychVoice only
1979Moscow Does Not Believe in TearsМосква слезам не веритAnton KruglovBest Foreign Language Film of 1980
1979The Adventures of ElektronicПриключения ЭлектроникаStump the chief gangster
1979The Suicide Club, or the Adventures of a Titled PersonКлуб самоубийц, или Приключения титулованной особыInspector Trenton
1980Teheran 43Тегеран-43Taxi driverSoviet-French-Swiss-Spanish production
1981Unpaid VacationОтпуск за свой счётYevdokimovUSSR-Hungary production
1981Be My HusbandБудьте моим мужемCamper
1981Past Day FactsФакты минувшего дняPetr DanilovichAlso director
1981SilvaСильваOberleutnant von Rohnsdorff
1982The Story of VoyagesСказка странствийLawyer
1982Look for a WomanИщите женщинуJacque-Pierre Antoine
1982The Trust That Has BurstТрест, который лопнулFake John Morgan
1982The Circus PrincessПринцесса циркаPelikan
Chertyonok № 13 Чертёнок № 13TeacherVoice only-
1984Time and the ConwaysВремя и семья КонвейErnest BeeversAlso director
1985A Boatswain and a Parrot Боцман и попугайFilm directorVoice only
1986Seven Cries in the OceanСемь криков в океанеDirector only