Biographie

His comedy movie Seven Brides of Gefreiter Zbruev ([ink=0066351]) based on the screenplay by Vladimir Valutsky became the only comedy released in 1971 as well as one of the leaders of the Soviet box office (11th place), seen by 31.2 million people.

During the Great Purge his father was also arrested, declared the enemy of the people and executed. His mother was told that her husband had been sentenced to 10 years in prison and suggested to leave the Far East, so she moved to her relatives in Omsk, and then - to a village near Khanty-Mansiysk in Western Siberia where Vitaly finished secondary school.

He was named People's Artist of the RSFSR in 1987 and awarded Order of Honour in 2002 and IV Class Order "For Merit to the Fatherland" in 2010.

He was a member of the Russian Academy of Cinema Arts and Sciences and was awarded the special Nika Award in 2016 "For outstanding contribution to national cinema".

In 1990 Melnikov turned to the Russian history, directing the so-called Empire. The Beginning (or Empire. The XVIII Century) trilogy: The Royal Hunt dedicated to the times of Catherine the Great, Tsarevich Alexei about Alexei Petrovich, Tsarevich of Russia and Poor Poor Paul about Paul I of Russia, both based on Dmitry Merezhkovsky's writings. The films received various national awards and nominations, including a number of Nika Awards.