Born into a family of artists in Kiev, Tourjansky moved to Moscow in 1911, where he spent a year studying under Konstantin Stanislavski.

He became involved with silent film and, two years later, made his first productions as a screenwriter and director on the eve of World War I.

When the laws for the nationalisation of the cinema industry were applied to Crimea, he left with the Ermoliev film company and its actors for France, via Constantinople, in February 1920.

On arriving in Paris, he changed his birth name Viatcheslav, to Victor, which was more easily pronounceable for the French.

He later worked for Universum Film AG in Germany, where he arrived during the 1930s and directed twelve films, of which several were officially honored by the Nazis (City of Anatol, Secret Code LB 17, Faded Melody, Enemies , and Orient Express).