Difference between revisions of "Ossip Runitch"

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== Biography ==
 
== Biography ==
  
Born Ossip Iliych Runitsch (Russian: Осип Ильич Рунич) in Russia in 1889, he became a star of Russian silent cinema in the period 1915-1919, appearing in a number of silent films including ''Molchi, grust... molchi'' ("Be silent, sorrow ... be silent") and ''Posledneiye tango''.
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Born Ossip Iliych Runitsch (Russian: Осип Ильич Рунич) in 1889 in St. Petersburg, Russia, he became a star of Russian silent cinema in the period 1915-1919, appearing in a number of silent films including ''Molchi, grust... molchi'' ("Be silent, sorrow ... be silent") and ''Posledneiye tango''.
  
In 1919 during Russian Civil War, he fled Russia for Italy, where he acted in  a number of films before moving to Germany to work with Emil Jannings and other famous German actors.
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In 1919 during Russian Civil War, he fled Russia for Italy, where he acted in  a number of films before moving to Germany to work with Emil Jannings and other famous German actors. Other foilms listed included known for ''Danton'' (1921), ''Die Bestie im Menschen'' (1920) and ''Düstere Schatten, strahlendes Glück'' (1924).  
  
 
In 1925 he married [[Nina Pavlishcheva]], a courtier ballet dancer and by the late 1930s, they were living in Riga, Latvia, where he was part of a Russian company (possibly known as the Russian Drama Theatre).  
 
In 1925 he married [[Nina Pavlishcheva]], a courtier ballet dancer and by the late 1930s, they were living in Riga, Latvia, where he was part of a Russian company (possibly known as the Russian Drama Theatre).  

Revision as of 06:20, 16 June 2019

Ossip Runitch (1889-1947) was a Russian-Jewish silent film actor, producer and stage director.

Also known as Ossip Runitsch, Osip Runich and Giuseppe Runitsch

Biography

Born Ossip Iliych Runitsch (Russian: Осип Ильич Рунич) in 1889 in St. Petersburg, Russia, he became a star of Russian silent cinema in the period 1915-1919, appearing in a number of silent films including Molchi, grust... molchi ("Be silent, sorrow ... be silent") and Posledneiye tango.

In 1919 during Russian Civil War, he fled Russia for Italy, where he acted in a number of films before moving to Germany to work with Emil Jannings and other famous German actors. Other foilms listed included known for Danton (1921), Die Bestie im Menschen (1920) and Düstere Schatten, strahlendes Glück (1924).

In 1925 he married Nina Pavlishcheva, a courtier ballet dancer and by the late 1930s, they were living in Riga, Latvia, where he was part of a Russian company (possibly known as the Russian Drama Theatre).

It seems that, being aware of the impending Second World War, he accepted an invitation from his local Jewish friends to tour South Africa in 193*. He ended up staying in South Africa, working in theatre and opera.

He passed away in Johannesburg, South Africa on 6 April 1947.

Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance

Runitch is said to be among the pioneers of professional Yiddish theatre in South Africa and at one time a professional opera producer.

(According to the Wikipedia entry on Runitch[1], he "became a founder of one of the first professional theatre companies in a country. Besides, he produced operas for the State Theatre in mid-1940s." Both these statements are patently wrong and need to be rectified: there had been numerous professional companies in the country since the late 19th century and the first 'State Theatre' theatre in the country - the National Theatre Organization - was only founded in 1947, the year of his death.)

Sources

Personal correspondence from Boris Gorelik. (15 June, 2019)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ossip_Runitsch

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