Soviet film director, screenwriter, organizer of film production. Honored Artist of the RSFSR (1965). From 1911 to 1916 he studied at a real school in Tsarskoye Selo. From 1916 to 1918 - at the Faculty of Physics and Mathematics of Petrograd University. In 1918 - at the Faculty of Law of Kharkov University and at the Kharkov Drama Studio of N. Sinelnikov. In 1918 he performed on the stage of Sinelnikov's Drama Studio in Kharkov (Orgon in Tartuffe). From 1919 to 1920 he was director and head of the Drama Studio of the Political Department of the 14th Army. In June 1920, the Political Department of the 14th Army was admitted to the CPSU (b). From 1920 to 1921 he worked as a director at the Kharkov Drama Theatre. From 1921 to 1929 he served in the Red Army, worked in the courts and prosecutors. He was an investigator for special cases of the Military Collegium of the Supreme Tribunal under…
