Vera Kholodnaya
Acting
Biography
Vera Vasilyevna Kholodnaya (née Levchenko) was a Ukrainian-born actress of the silent film era. She was the first star of Imperial Russian cinema. Only eight of her films have survived, in part or in whole, and the total number she acted in is unknown, with speculation ranging from 50 to 100.
Born: August 5, 1893
Place of Birth: Poltava, Russian Empire [now Ukraine]
Known For
A Corpse Living
"The Living Corpse" - Fedor Protasov is tormented by the thought that his wife Liza never really made a clear choice between him and Victor Karenin, a more conventional rival for her hand. He wants to kill himself, but doesn't have the nerve. Running away from his life, he falls in with Gypsies, and into a sexual relationship with a Gypsy singer Mascha. Meanwhile, his wife Liza, presuming him dead, marries the other man, Victor.
Mirages
Marianna advertises for work as a reader and is employed by the reclusive millionaire Dymov. Appreciative of her sensitive, artistic nature, and of her youthful innocence and purity, Dymov is protective of Marianna and shields her from the attentions of his philandering playboy son. Marianna confesses to her fiancé Sergei that, at times, she feels deeply conflicted, drawn by the seductive lure of wealth and luxury. When her protector Dymov dies, his son begins to pursue her. Can Marianna resist her attraction to the opulent lifestyle that Dymov's son offers?
Be Silent, My Sorrow, Be Silent
Paula is a circus performer married to the alcoholic clown-acrobat Lorio. Lorio's heavy drinking leads to him being severely injured during a performance. This forces Paula and the now-crippled Lorio to become street musicians. This film formerly ran to 81 minutes – regrettably, the second half is considered lost.
A Life for a Life
Wealthy Mrs. Khromova has a natural daughter, Musya, and an adopted daughter, Nata. The merchant Zhurov is in love with Nata, and hopes to marry her, but she is non-committal.
Children of the Age
The picture tells the story of Maria, a devoted wife of a bank employee. The couple has a cozy life; they have a baby but he is cared for by their maid so Maria can spend her time doing terrific things like going shopping. During one of these consumer afternoons, Maria meets by chance an old friend, Lidia, who will introduce her to exclusive idle class social circles. Soon Maria's beauty attracts the interest of Lebedev, a rich old libertine. From that point on Maria suffers continual sexual harassment (worthy of inclusion in any silent film encyclopedia article on beleaguered heroines) which she resists for a time. In the end, however, she falls into his bourgeois claws.
Cinema in Russia
Documentary film about early years of Russian cinema: its first directors, cameramen, producers and actors. Includes rare fragments of pre-revolutionary feature films, newsreels and Starewicz's animation.
Vanyushin's Children
Song of Triumphant Love
Anna Karenina
In Imperial Russia, Anna, wife of the officer Karenin, goes to Moscow to visit her brother. On the way, she meets charming cavalry officer Vronsky, to whom she's immediately attracted. But in St. Petersburg’s high society, a relationship like this could destroy a woman’s reputation.
The Woman Who Invented Love
Filmography
as Film footage
as Masha, gypsy woman
as Chloe
as Paula, Lorio's partner
as Antonella
as Séverine
as Polya, forester's daughter
as Ganka, the dancer
as Countess Rutskaya
as Vera Darovskaya
as Anya, Stroev's daughter
as Nata Khromova
as Marianna
as Mariya Nikolayevna
as Elena
as Italian wet-nurse (uncredited)