Yakov Protazanov
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Yakov Alexandrovich Protazanov (1881–1945) was, together with Aleksandr Khanzhonkov and Vladimir Gardin, one of the founding fathers of cinema of Russia.
In the period from 1911 to 1918 he directed some 80 features, including The Queen of Spades (1916) and Father Sergius (1918), which have been acclaimed as his masterpieces. Ivan Mozhukhin starred in many of his early films.
After the Russian Revolution Protazanov resolved to stay in Europe but returned to Russia in 1923. The following year, he produced Aelita, arguably the first Soviet movie and the first film on space travel.
In 1928, he directed the White Eagle, with Vsevolod Meyerhold and Vasily Kachalov as protagonists. The Three Million Trial (1926) and The Feast of St Jorgen (1930) launched the film careers of two outstanding actors, Igor Ilyinsky and Mikhail Zharov.
The musical Marionettes (1934) was Protazanov's first sound film. His last acclaimed feature was a screen version of Alexander Ostrovsky's play Bespridannitsa ("Undowry") in 1937. Its cast featured many celebrated actors from the Malyi Theatre.
