Nikolai Batalov

Batalov gained international recognition as the heroic worker Pavel Vlasov in Vsevolod Pudovkin’s Mother (1926).

In Abram Room’s controversial social drama Bed and Sofa (1927) played a more humorous character.

He transitioned to sound film successfully with the first Soviet sound feature, Nikolai Ekk’s Road to Life (1931), in which he portrayed Communist educator Nikolai Sergeev who wins the trust of homeless juvenile delinquents and converts them to Soviet ideals.

Batalov also starred in a number of historical and adventure films such as The Shepherd and the Tsar (1935).

Semen Timoshenko’s comedy Three Comrades (1935), in which Batalov played efficient manager Latsis, was also a success.