Taming of the Fire

Taming of the fire (Russian: Укрощение огня) is a 1972 film, directed by Daniil Khrabrovitsky and starring Kirill Lavrov.

Plot
Epic film in two episodes, based on a true story of creation and development of Soviet space and missile industry. Due to secrecy demand, all names were altered in the script, although most of the characters are easily recognizable. Sergei Korolev was prototype for the lead character Bashkirtsev, played by Kirill Lavrov.

Episode 1. He is obsessed with flying since his youth. Bashkirtsev's career takes shape after his meeting with visionary space scientist Tsiolkovsky (played by Smoktunovsky). Before World War II he develops the first rockets and builds a launch center in Central Russia. Then he makes the "Katyusha" weapon and takes it to the front-lines of World War II. In spite of his arrest and imprisonment, he continues working on rocket design. He is released from prison upon his request to fight in the front-lines against the Nazis.

Episode 2. After the end of World War II, Bashkirtsev makes a new rocket system, and works with nuclear scientist Igor Kurchatov on the nuclear missiles program. Then he makes a new rocket that launched "Sputnik" to orbit in 1957, from Baykonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. His next achievement is the first man in space, Yuri Gagarin, and other human space missions. By the mid 1960s Bashkirtsev makes developments for the flight to the Moon. However, Bashkirtsev's uncompromising character causes him many problems with Soviet politicians, in additions to other pressures in his life, and he dies from a heart attack. His mission is carried on by his colleagues and apprentices.

Cast

 * Kirill Lavrov as Andrei Bashkirtsev (character based on Sergei Korolev)
 * Ada Rogovtseva as Natalia Bashkirtseva
 * Igor Gorbachev as Ognev
 * Andrei Popov as Gromov
 * Igor Vladimirov as General Anatoly Golovin, Chairman of the State Commission
 * Innokenti Smoktunovsky as Konstantin Tsiolkovsky
 * Petr Shelokhonov as Mikhail Karelin
 * Svetlana Korkoshko as Zoya Konstantinova
 * Vsevolod Safonov as Leonid Sretensky
 * Zinovi Gerdt as Arthur Matveevich Kartashov, lecturer
 * Yevgeny Matveyev as factory director
 * Vera Kuznetsova as Bashkirtsev's mother
 * Andro Kobaladze as Stalin
 * Igor Petrovsky
 * Yuri Leonidov
 * Ivan Ryzhov as Alekseich
 * Valentina Khmara as Korolev's secretary
 * Galina Samokhina
 * Vladimir Deyanov
 * Vadim Spiridonov as Ivan Flyorov
 * Nikolai Barmin
 * Galiks Kolchitsky as Igor Kurchatov
 * Vitali Belyakov
 * Lavr Lyndin
 * Georgi Shevtsov
 * Yevgeny Steblov as Innokenti Bashkirtsev
 * Anatoly Chelombitko as Gagarin