Mikhail Maklyarsky

Short Biography

Famous Soviet scriptwriter, secret agent, colonel of special forces. All movies based on his novels and scenarios got extremely popular in the URSS. Mikhail Maklyarsky knew very well the subject of his stories. Young Maklyarsky fought against rebels, `basmach`, in the Central Asia. Then he joined NKVD special forces. In 1937 he was arrested and accused in trotskism but later the same year he was released and all accusations were recalled. Mikhail continued his service in NKVD. During the war he served in the 4-th department (intelligence, sabotage, guerrilla) under the command of Pavel Sudoplatov, Soviet diversionist #1. After the war, in 1947 he left the service and became scenario-writer. In 1947-1951 Maklyarsky was director of Exportfilm and Gosfilmofond (state depositary of films) of the URSS. He got the most prestigeous Stalin prize twice: for `Podvig razvedchika`(`Secret Agent` - USA), 1947 and "Secret Mission`, 1950. Since the 6th November of 1951 his name dissapeared from movie titles. Maklyarsky was arrested again. This time for the supposed participation in the imaginary `Zionist plot`. On the 16th November of 1953 he was released and rehabilitated. His name came back to titles. In 1960 Maklyarsky created his school for directors and scriptwriters. His first graduates were the brightest stars of Soviet cinema: Leonid Gaidai, Vasili Shukshin, Rolan Bykov.