Vladimir Shaternikov

Actor

Active: 1912

About Vladimir Shaternikov

Vladimir Shaternikov was a Russian actor who appeared during the very early years of Russian cinema, specifically during the silent film era. His only known film appearance was in the 1912 production 'The Departure of a Great Old Man' (Uekhod velikogo staratsa), a biographical film about the final days of Leo Tolstoy. This film was significant as one of Russia's earliest narrative features and was directed by Yakov Protazanov, who would become one of the most important figures in Russian cinema history. Shaternikov's participation in this pioneering work places him among the first generation of Russian film actors, though his career appears to have been extremely brief, limited to this single production. The film itself was notable for its historical subject matter and was one of the first attempts to bring Russian literary figures to the screen. Unfortunately, like many early Russian actors from this period, detailed records of Shaternikov's life and career are scarce, and he appears to have left the film industry after this single appearance.

The Craft

Milestones

  • Appeared in 'The Departure of a Great Old Man' (1912), one of Russia's earliest narrative feature films

Best Known For

Iconic Roles

  • Unknown role in 'The Departure of a Great Old Man' (1912)

Must-See Films

  • The Departure of a Great Old Man (1912)

Working Relationships

Worked Often With

  • Yakov Protazanov (director)

Why They Matter

Impact on Culture

Vladimir Shaternikov's significance lies primarily in his participation in one of the foundational works of Russian cinema. 'The Departure of a Great Old Man' was among the first Russian films to tackle a major literary and historical subject, helping establish the pattern of adapting Russian literature to the screen that would become a hallmark of the nation's cinema. Though his individual contribution was minimal, his role in this pioneering film places him among the first generation of Russian film actors who helped establish the medium in their country.

Lasting Legacy

Vladimir Shaternikov's legacy is that of a pioneer in Russian cinema, albeit one with a very limited filmography. His single known film appearance represents the very beginning of Russia's rich cinematic tradition, which would later produce some of the world's most celebrated filmmakers and actors. While he did not achieve lasting fame, his participation in this early landmark film makes him part of the foundation upon which Russian cinema was built.

Who They Inspired

Due to his extremely brief career and single film appearance, Vladimir Shaternikov's influence on subsequent generations of actors appears to be minimal. However, as an early participant in Russian cinema, he was part of the initial wave of performers who helped establish the acting conventions and techniques that would be developed by later Russian film actors.

Off Screen

Very little is known about Vladimir Shaternikov's personal life, which is typical for many early Russian film actors whose careers were brief and occurred before systematic record-keeping in the film industry.

Did You Know?

  • Appeared in one of Russia's earliest narrative feature films from 1912
  • The film he appeared in was about Leo Tolstoy's final days
  • His only known film was directed by Yakov Protazanov, a pioneering Russian director
  • 1912 was during the very early period of Russian cinema before the 1917 revolution
  • Like many early film actors, his complete filmography may be lost to history
  • The film was significant for being one of the first Russian biographical pictures
  • His career appears to have lasted only one year, making him among the briefest careers in cinema history

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was Vladimir Shaternikov?

Vladimir Shaternikov was a Russian actor from the silent film era who appeared in only one known film, 'The Departure of a Great Old Man' in 1912. He was among the first generation of Russian film actors during the very early years of Russian cinema.

What films is Vladimir Shaternikov best known for?

Shaternikov is known only for his appearance in 'The Departure of a Great Old Man' (1912), a Russian silent film about Leo Tolstoy's final days, directed by Yakov Protazanov.

When was Vladimir Shaternikov active in film?

Vladimir Shaternikov was active only in 1912, making his film career extremely brief and limited to a single known production.

What was the significance of 'The Departure of a Great Old Man'?

The film was significant as one of Russia's earliest narrative feature films and one of the first attempts to bring Russian literary figures to the screen. It was directed by Yakov Protazanov, who became a major figure in Russian cinema.

Why is so little known about Vladimir Shaternikov?

Very little is known about Shaternikov because he had an extremely brief career in the very early days of Russian cinema, before systematic record-keeping in the film industry was established. Many early Russian actors from this period have sparse historical documentation.

Films

1 film