Mikhail Kalatozov: biography, filmography, photo

This man showed his remarkable talent in several roles. He became famous both as a screenwriter, as a director, and as an operator. Mikhail Kalatozov was awarded prestigious awards, being also the owner of "high-profile" regalia. A lot of articles and essays have been written about him, as many as two documentaries have been shot about the vicissitudes of his life. What was the creative way of the maestro? Let's consider this issue in more detail.

Biographical information

Kalatozov Mikhail Konstantinovich was born in the Georgian capital on December 28, 1903. His ancestors were representatives of the ancient princely family Amiredzheby. The uncle of the future director served as a general with the tsar himself. It should be noted that the Kalatozov estate was frequented by representatives of the local intelligentsia who liked to talk about the fate of the country. But then the October Revolution broke out, which also made adjustments to the fate of the boy.

Start of work

Already in 1917, Mikhail Kalatozov, whose biography certainly deserves a separate consideration, began to earn a living. He worked as an ancillary, as a worker, and as a driver.

In 1923, a young man goes to work in the capital film studio first as a chauffeur, and then as a projectionist. Responsibility and responsible attitude to the cause of the young man soon noticed, and now Michael Kalatozov is assisting on the set. After some time, he was appointed to the post of editor and operator. During his time at the Tbilisi Film Studio, the young man began to understand at once several professions that were directly or indirectly involved in the cinema.

Kalatozov's test ball as a screenwriter was the film "The Case of Tariel Mklavadze", shot by Ivan Perestiani in 1925. After a while Michael Kalatozov is already involved both as a screenwriter and as an operator in the films "Gyuli" and "Gypsy Blood". For the sake of justice, it should be noted that the creator of the famous film "The Cranes Are Flying" did not gain immense popularity as an actor, despite his impressive appearance, but his directorial work was filigree and masterful. Michael Kalatozov, whose films, no doubt, entered the treasury of the domestic cinema, first experienced himself in a new capacity in the late 20-ies.

Career director

The debut work of the maestro was the film "Their Kingdom", which he co-wrote with Nutsoy Gogobiridze. Already in this picture, Mikhail Kalatozov began to show directorial individualism, creating unique effects and lighting perspectives, seeking from actors the maximum realism in characters. In 1930, the young man already takes a silent film called "The Svaneti Salt", which tells about the specific life of the community.

When filming Mikhail Konstantinovich used ethnographic material of the documentary genre, he was able to withstand some expression in the change of plans, why this work was rated excellent by film critics.

Temporary change of vector

The era of silent cinema gradually came to naught, and the maestro was not immediately able to catch new trends in art. In 1932, Mikhail Kalatozov creates the film "Nail in the boot," but this work remains unnoticed by the viewer. The failure of the film was painfully experienced by the Georgian director. He decides for the time being to leave work on the set. The maestro comes to study at the State Academy of Art Studies and subsequently becomes the head of the Tbilisi Central Film Studio. While in this post, Mikhail Kalatozov (the real name is Kalatozishvili) is carrying out reforms in the filming process, modernizing the equipment and working room for the views.

However, such innovations were not liked by all representatives of the authorities, and after a while the maestro was accused of "planting bourgeois modernism". Kalatozov goes to the city on the Neva.

Return to Directing

In the late 30's, the maestro was employed at Lenfilm, where he began shooting the film "Courage." In 1941 another picture of the director - "Valery Chkalov" - appeared on the screens. Both these films tell of the exploits of Soviet pilots, so they have a stunning success with the viewer. The plot about Chkalov will appeal to film critics, and the image of the protagonist, performed by Vladimir Belokurov, will become a model for imitation.

Michael Kalatozov, whose photo after the release of "Valery Chkalov" will print all the central newspapers, invited in the movies about the pilots to work eminent actors - Serafim Birman, Arkady Raikin, Mark Burns. The Maestro was equally popular with the film "Invincible", which he shot with a famous director Sergei Gerasimov in 1942.

Work abroad

In 1943, director Mikhail Kalatozov will be transferred to an administrative position and temporarily sent to the bourgeois US. Here he will serve as an authorized representative of the Soviet Film Cinema Committee. It is abroad that fate will confront him with the famous 20th century artists - Charlie Chaplin, Jean Gaben, Henri Matisse.

From the United States, the maestro will bring modern technology for the filming of films and will work already at the Mosfilm studios. Subsequently, he will assume the post of the head of the Glavk on artistic cinematography, and then the responsible post of Deputy Minister of Cinematography of the Soviet Union. However, Mikhail Konstantinovich will pay great attention to directing.

Continuation of work as a director

In the 1950s, another film by Kalatozov was shown on Soviet screens, entitled "Conspiracy of the Doomed" based on N.Virta's play. For this work, the maestro was awarded the Stalin Prize. Then he shot the film "Whirlwind Hostile", which is filled with serious political overtones. In 1954, the director finished work on the satirical comedy "Faithful Friends", which is still loved by the national audience of the older generation. And, of course, it's worth mentioning the Soviet movie masterpiece "The Cranes Are Flying," the creation of which Mikhail Konstantinovich worked in 1957.

This humanistic story of the struggle for peace has become a classic of Soviet cinema. In 1964, the viewer saw the film "I am Cuba", the script to which Kalatozov wrote together with the poet Evgeni Evtushenko. The last film of the maestro was "The Red Tent" (1969). In the center of the story is the story of the rescue of the polar expedition of Umberto Nobile.

Personal life

The famous director, who received the title of People's Artist of Georgia in 1965, and the title of People's Artist of the USSR in 1969 , was married to the daughter of Italian Consul Jeanne Valaci. Their acquaintance took place during the rest in Batumi. In the late 20-ies the maestro had a son, George, who later continued his father's dynasty. The spouse soon after the birth received the citizenship of the Georgian ASSR. However, the marriage of Mikhail Konstantinovich with a foreigner broke up after some time: the director left Georgia, and Zhanna and her son stayed in Tiflis.

According to the memories of his grandson, Kalatozov, despite the difficult break with his family, was a happy man, because he was able to achieve all that he wanted from life. Being in the northern capital, the director passionately fell in love with actress Elena Junger, but they were not destined to be together. Died Mikhail Konstantinovich March 26, 1973, and he was buried at the Novodevichy cemetery of the capital.