
Alexandre Volkoff
Directing
Biography
Alexandre Volkoff was a Russian actor, screenwriter and film director. He was born on December 27, 1885 in Moscow, Russian Empire. Aleksandre Volkov established his film career in Russia, and was one of a significant number of film artists who fled Russia following the Bolshevik takeover. The bulk of his output was in France where he was known as Alexandre Volkoff. He also made films in Germany and later Italy. He directed several films starring his fellow Russian exile Ivan Mozzhukhin. He was known for Father Sergius (1918), The Prince of Adventurers (1927) and Edmund Kean: Prince Among Lovers (1924). He died on May 22, 1942 in Rome, Lazio, Italy.
Known For

A biopic of Napoleon Bonaparte, tracing the Corsican's career from his schooldays (where a snowball fight is staged like a military campaign) to his flight from Corsica, through the French Revolution (where a real storm is intercut with a political storm) and the Terror, culminating in his triumphant invasion of Italy in 1797.
Napoleon

Republic of Venice, 1760. Pursued by a vengeful husband, the intrepid womanizer Casanova, who symbolizes the decline of the city and its fall into debauchery, manages to escape and, by a circuitous route, arrives in Saint Petersburg, where he will be involved in the many plots that threaten the throne of Czar Peter III…
Loves of Casanova
Ivan Mozzhukhin is a "...hot-headed Caucasian mountaineer leader whose irrational behavior comes to the attention of the Czar . Hoping to use Hajji Murad as a go-between in his plans to conquer the Caucasus mountaineers, the Russian ruler finds that the hero is not so easily manipulated. Rescuing the beautiful Saira from the Czar's clutches, Hajji Murad leads the mountain people's revolt against the despotic regent." Needless to say, the film ends in tragedy.
The White Devil

Julien Villandrit is the owner of the estate of Les Basses-Bruyères and its textile factory, where the manager is his childhood friend Corradin. Julien marries his neighbour Régine, unaware that Corradin also loves her. Julien is sent to gaol for a murder actually committed by Corradin. The only witness to the truth is the woodsman Rudeberg and Corradin buys his silence by paying for the education of his son Pascal. Julien's struggle to clear his name and to rescue Régine and their daughter Christiane from Corradin's scheming extends over many years and faces many setbacks.
The House of Mystery

An Arabian prince falls in with a group of downtrodden rebels and faces the wrath of an unsympathetic sultan whose wife he is also romancing.
The 1002nd Night

By 1820, Edmund Kean is the most admired Shakespearan actor. But if his art is peerless, his free lifestyle is ill thought of, particularly by the high society. Kean has fallen passionately in love with Countess Elena de Koefeld, the wife of the ambassador of Denmark. Elena loves him too but hesitates to give up her rank in society and follow Kean. On the other hand, Anna, a rich heiress who refuses to marry Lord Mewill, the husband chosen by her parents, confesses her love for Kean and decides to become an actress like him... The aristocrats, outraged by Edmund's profligate ways, decide to boycott his performances and his career is broken. Kean does not recover from such a blow and, on a stormy night, dies in Elena's arms.
Kean

The marquis de Granier would like his son Charles to end his current relationship for a respectable marriage. His younger brother Octave tries to help but Yvonne Lelys tricks him and he nearly leaves his family for the dancer. He even follows her to Constantinople. He falls asleep while writing to his father and dreams that he is a movie actor who, driven by poverty, sneaks into his father's home to rob him. As his father catches him, he kills him. Thankfully, it was all a dream.
A Narrow Escape

Desire brings out the worst in an actress' suitors-- One a well-to-do patron of London's theatre set, the other a lovestruck loner on the verge of penning a play dedicated to her.
Heart of an Actress

Directed by Vladimir Gardin and Yakov Protazanov, this two-part epic was the most expensive Russian film at the time and smashed box office records. It is now considered lost, with only a 4 minute clip surviving.
The Keys to Happiness

A cobbler dreams that he is a prince, in this takeoff on an Arabian Nights style romance.
Secrets of the Orient

Famous Russian screen actors play themselves in this drama about the lives of actors. Thirteen minutes of the film survive.
Behind the Screen
Lost film.
What the Violin Wept About

The story of Prince Stepán Kasátsky discovering his fiancée was the mistress of the Czar, so he then becomes a monk.
Father Sergius

Millionaire Gornostayev and ballet dancer in Ilona are always arguing about what is more important - youth and beauty or wealth. Ilona thought that youth and beauty are more important, but Gornostayew disagreed with her. He intended to prove Ilona that she in wrong. Gornostayew signed a contract with young worker Alexey. They moved abroad. Year later. Alexey changed into a real aristocrat and returned to Russia. Gornostayew introduced Alexey to Ilona and she falls in love with him.
The Bartered Soul

A corrupt young man somehow keeps his youthful beauty, but a special painting gradually reveals his inner ugliness to all.
The Picture of Dorian Grey

Russia, 1667: The Cossacks, led by Rasin, are ill-treated by Prince Dolgoruki who arrests and sentences Rasin to forced labor on the ship that brings the Prince and his daughter to her arranged wedding. But the Princess falls for Rasin.
Stjenka Rasin

No description available.
Amore imperiale
No description available.
Blood Need Not Be Spilled
No description available.
А он, мятежный, ищет бури…

A desperate mother abandons her child on the door step of a playboy.