Vitali Melnikov

Vitaly Vyacheslavovich Melnikov (; 1 May 1928 – 21 March 2022) was a Soviet and Russian film director and screenwriter. He was named People's Artist of the RSFSR in 1987 and awarded Order of Honour in 2002 and IV Class Order "For Merit to the Fatherland" in 2010. He was also a member of the Russian Academy of Cinema Arts and Sciences and was awarded the special Nika Award in 2016 "For outstanding contribution to national cinema".

Biography Vitaly Melnikov was born at the maternity hospital of the Svobodny town (modern-day Svobodny, Amur Oblast of Russia), although his birthplace was written down as Mazanovo village where his parents lived at the moment. His maternal grandfather Danilo Fomich Trapeznikov, a peasant from the Tobolsk Governorate, served at the Far East during the Russo-Japanese War and enjoyed the area so much that he chose to stay there; during the Russian Civil War he was mobilized by the White Army, and during the 1930s he was arrested and executed "for collaboration with Alexander Kolchak". Vitaly's mother Avgusta Danilovna Melnikova was a teacher.

His paternal grandparents, Vladimir and Eudokia, lived at the Far East near gold mines. During the Great Purge his father was also arrested, declared an enemy of the people and executed. His mother was told that her husband had been sentenced to 10 years in prison and suggested to leave the Far East, so she moved in with her relatives in Omsk, and later to a village near Khanty-Mansiysk in Western Siberia, where Vitaly finished secondary school. He also got addicted to cinema during that time. Together they produced four movies in total, including another popular comedy The Head of Chukotka (1966) and a TV adaptation of Fyodor Dostoevsky's story Another Man’s Wife and a Husband Under the Bed (1984).

His social drama Mother Got Married (1969) based on Yuri Klepikov's screenplay had been postponed for a long time and was finally released during the 1970s as a TV movie, while the psychological drama September Vacation (1979) adapted from Alexander Vampilov's play Duck Hunting was banned for 8 years and released only in 1987.

In 1990 Melnikov turned to the Russian history, directing the so-called Empire. The Beginning (or Empire. The XVIII Century) trilogy: The Royal Hunt dedicated to the times of Catherine the Great, Tsarevich Alexei about Alexei Petrovich, Tsarevich of Russia and Poor Poor Paul about Paul I of Russia, both based on Dmitry Merezhkovsky's writings. The films received various national awards and nominations, including a number of Nika Awards.

Melnikov and his wife, Tamara Aleksandrovna Melnikova, lived together for over 60 years. They have two daughters, Irina and Olga.

Melnikov died in Saint Petersburg on 21 March 2022 at the age of 93.

Filmography Year Title Original title Director Screenwriter 1963 Happiness Day День счастья second unit director 1964 Berbos Visiting Bobik Барбос в гостях у Бобика 1966 Chief of Chukotka Начальник Чукотки 1969 Mama Married Мама вышла замуж 1970 The Seven Brides of Lance-Corporal Zbruyev Семь невест ефрейтора Збруева 1972 Hello and Goodbye Здравствуй и прощай 1974 Ksenia, Fedor's Beloved Wife Ксения, любимая жена Фёдора 1976 The Elder Son Старший сын 1977 Marriage Женитьба 1979 September Vacation Отпуск в сентябре 1981 Two Lines in Small Font Две строчки мелким шрифтом 1983 Phenomenon Уникум 1984 Another Man’s Wife and a Husband Under the Bed Чужая жена и муж под кроватью 1985 To Marry a Captain Выйти замуж за капитана 1987 First Encounter - Last Encounter Первая встреча, последняя встреча 1990 The Royal Hunt Царская охота 1991 Chicha Чича 1994 Varyony's Last Case Последнее дело Варёного 1997 Tsarevich Alexei Царевич Алексей 2000 The Garden Was Full of Moon Луной был полон сад 2003 Poor Poor Paul Бедный, бедный Павел 2007 Agitbrigade "Beat the Enemy!" Агитбригада «Бей врага!» 2012 The Admirer Поклонница

Literature Vitaly Melnikov (2011). Cinema. Life. — St. Petersburg: BXV-Peterburg, 416 pages (Memoirs)