Wassilchikoff, Irina


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Johan Melle
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Wassilchikoff, Irina

Post by Johan Melle » 30/08/2018, 4:35

Indagine - Irina Wassilchikoff.jpg
Irina Wassilchikoff in Indagine su un delitto perfetto (1978)

Irina Wassilchikoff was a familiar face in many Italian films from the 1970s. Prior to identifying her, I gave her the nickname "Old Countess" because she has a somewhat regal appearance and always seems to be playing noblewomen of high society women, and we later learned that she really was a noblewoman in real life.

She was identified by Ciavazzaro thanks to the film Ash Wednesday (1973) in which she is credited as Irina Wassilchikoff, and Ciavazzaro also found an old news article about about the Hollywood epic Ben-Hur (1959), stating that several noblemen and noblewomen were used as extras for a party scene, and among these the Russian princess Irina Wassilchikoff.

The genealogy website Geneanet has a listing for a certain Princesse Irina Vassiltchikov: here.
She's listed as being born on 28 August 1910 and died 26 February 1992, and her parents are listed as Prince Hilarion Vassiltchikov and Princess Lydia Léonidovna Wiazemsky. Based on the extensive information listed for this family, the informations looks convincing.

Filmography

1948
  1. Amanti senza amore .... Audience member at concert (uncredited)
  2. Follie per l'opera .... Dancing woman (uncredited)

    1953
  3. Le infedeli .... One of Luisa's friends (uncredited)

    1960
  4. La dolce vita .... Woman waving at the helicopter (uncredited)
  5. Risate di gioia .... Party guest at the German villa (uncredited)
  6. Romanoff and Juliet .... Guest of the Concordia Russian embassy (uncredited)

    1961
  7. Leoni al sole .... Marilù O'Connor (credited as "Irina Wassillikof")

    1963
  8. Gidget Goes to Rome .... Party guest (uncredited)
  9. The Pink Panther .... Holiday guest at Cortina d'Ampezzo (uncredited) / Costume party guest (uncredited)

    1964
  10. I marziani hanno 12 mani .... Party guest (uncredited)

    1966
  11. After the Fox .... Audience member at the cinema (uncredited)
  12. Io, io, io... e gli altri .... Woman at the awards ceremony (uncredited)

    1967
  13. 100 ragazze per un playboy .... Party guest (uncredited)
  14. Il tigre .... Party guest (uncredited)

    1968
  15. Buona sera, Mrs. Campbell .... Friend of the Countess (uncredited)
  16. Candy .... Woman at the operation and at the post-op party (uncredited)
  17. House of Cards .... Party guest (uncredited)
  18. La matriarca .... Party guest (uncredited)
  19. La pecora nera .... Party guest (uncredited)
  20. Riusciranno i nostri eroi a ritrovare l'amico misteriosamente scomparso in Africa? .... Party guest (uncredited)
  21. Scusi, facciamo l'amore? .... Woman waiting to attend Bebe's funeral (uncredited)
  22. Straziami ma di baci saziami .... Guest at the Ingegnere's party (uncredited)

    1969
  23. Il Prof. Dott. Guido Tersilli primario della Clinica Villa Celeste convenzionata con le mutue .... Party guest (uncredited)

    1970
  24. The Adventurers .... Party guest (uncredited)

    1971
  25. Stress.... Party guest (uncredited)
  26. Tre donne: L'automobile (TV) .... Restaurant diner (uncredited)

    1972
  27. Avanti! .... Elegant woman on the plane (uncredited)
  28. La prima notte di quiete .... Woman at the funeral (uncredited)
  29. Questa specie d'amore .... Banquest guest (uncredited)
  30. Sbatti il mostro in prima pagina .... Woman at the funeral (uncredited)

    1973
  31. Ash Wedensday .... Silvana Del Campo (credited)
  32. Io e lui .... Party guest (uncredited)

    1974
  33. L'erotomane .... Member on the board of directors (uncredited)

    1975
  34. Attenti al buffone .... Woman at the funeral (uncredited)
  35. I baroni .... Party guest (uncredited)
  36. Mahogany .... Woman at fashion show (uncredited)
  37. Un genio, due compari, un pollo .... Dinner guest (uncredited)

    1976
  38. Cadaveri eccellenti .... Party guest (uncredited)
  39. Il comune senso del pudore .... Princess (uncredited)
  40. Il secondo tragico Fantozzi .... Guest at the Countess' dinner (uncredited)
  41. L'innocente .... Party guest (uncredited)
  42. Telefoni bianchi .... Woman at Franco D'Enza's party (uncredited)

    1978
  43. Dove vai in vacanza ? - segment "Le vacanze intelligenti" .... Diner at the restaurant (uncredited)
  44. Eutanasia di un amore .... Book presentation attendant (uncredited)
  45. Indagine su un delitto perfetto .... Friend of Lady Clementine (uncredited)
  46. La cage aux folles / Il vizietto .... Nightclub client (uncredited)

    1979
  47. Caro papà .... Party guest (uncredited)
  48. Uno sceriffo extraterrestre poco extra e molto terrestre .... Woman at the firemen's ball (uncredited)

    1980
  49. L'avvertimento .... Wedding guest (uncredited)
  50. Speed Cross .... Guest at Meyer's house (uncredited)

Filmography to check
  • Per amore (1976, credited as "Irina Wassilchkoff"?) .... Marina's mother (sources: IMDb, Notrecinema.com)
Last edited by PeplumParadise on 14/01/2024, 15:14, edited 23 times in total.

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Johan Melle
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Re: Irina Wassilchikoff

Post by Johan Melle » 03/09/2018, 23:18

She gets a nice close-up and some brief dialogue in L'erotomane (1974) where she plays one of the members on the board of directos
irina erotomane.jpg

And here finally as a wedding guest in L'avvertimento (1980)
irina avvertimento.jpg
Attachments
irina telefoni2.jpg
irina telefoni1.jpg
irina telefoni.jpg
irina secondo fantozzi1.jpg
irina secondo fantozzi.jpg
Last edited by Cinema Italiano on 07/07/2023, 12:44, edited 3 times in total.

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Ciavazzaro
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Re: Irina Wassilchikoff

Post by Ciavazzaro » 03/09/2018, 23:22

Great news i have identify her !

Yesterday while watching for new generici, i look at the imdb cast list for the movie Gidget Goes to Rome (1963). Among the uncredited names there was a woman playing a role called "lean party guest", and when i saw the movie i recognize that the lean woman was our generica!

So in order to see if she was really her i search for the credited roles of that actress, and i check on Ash Wednesday (1973) where she is credited, and just look who is here in a speaking role, present in many scenes:
irinamercoledi.png
irinamercoledi1.png
Yes our old countess !!!
So let me introduced you Irina Wassilchikoff

At the end Johan was very right in calling her countess, because our generica is really a noblewoman !
I have read an article about Ben-Hur (1959) in wich it is written that the director uses several real nobleman and noblewoman to play generici roles in the party scene, and among them is the Princess Irina Wassilchikoff from Russia!

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Ciavazzaro
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Re: Irina Wassilchikoff

Post by Ciavazzaro » 03/09/2018, 23:28

And here is her uncredited speaking role in Gidget Goes to Rome (1963) where she even dance !
irinagidget.png
irinagidget1.png
irinagidget2.png
Attachments
Scusi Facciamo - Irina Wassilchikoff.jpg
Cadaveri Eccellenti - Irina Wassilchikoff.jpg
irinariusciranno.png
Last edited by Cinema Italiano on 04/10/2023, 17:37, edited 4 times in total.

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Ciavazzaro
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Re: Irina Wassilchikoff

Post by Ciavazzaro » 03/09/2018, 23:32

Speaking role with a nice-close up as german translator in Il comune senso del pudore (1976)
irinacomunesenso.png
and Noiret called her principessa ! :cool:


Nice role in Bel ami 2000 a.k.a. 100 ragazze per un playboy (1967)
She is a woman who sees the protagonist naked and she faint, surrended by Howard Nelson Rubien !
irinabelami.png
irinabelami1.png
irinabelami2.png

But when she is taken away in an ambulance she wanted the naked man back :D
irinabelami3.png

As wife of Nando Sarlo in I baroni (1975)
irinabaroni.png

Io e lui (1973) on the left
Io E Lui - Irina Wassilchikoff.jpg
Attachments
Straziami - Irina Wassilchikoff.jpg
Last edited by Cinema Italiano on 14/06/2023, 17:48, edited 1 time in total.

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Re: Irina Wassilchikoff

Post by Ciavazzaro » 03/09/2018, 23:35

How much i love Irina! In every movie have always a different dress (unlike the other generici you know very well often used the same dress in many many movies :D


Can our Irina miss a party ?
Off course not and here in La matriarca (1968) with a new dress as always
Matriarca - Irina Wassilchikoff.jpg

And with Margherita Horowitz in Questa specie d'amore (1972) - pic by Emiliano
Questa Specie D'Amore - Wassilchikoff.jpg
Attachments
irinavacanza.png
Last edited by Cinema Italiano on 04/03/2023, 10:57, edited 1 time in total.

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Johan Melle
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Re: Irina Wassilchikoff

Post by Johan Melle » 26/09/2018, 3:36

Irina also shows up in Buona sera, Mrs. Campbell (1968) together with another nobleman generico, Andrea Esterhazy - as a friend of the countess played by Giovanna Galletti.
Buonasera Mrs Campbell - Wassilchikoff.jpg

And she's also fittingly cast as one of the aristocratic party guests in Visconti's L'innocente (1976)
L'Innocente - Irina Wassilchikoff.jpg

And it's not possible to get a good pic but she's for sure sitting at the same table as Filippo Perego in La cage aux folles a.k.a. Il vizietto (1978)
Cage Aux Folles - Irina Wassilchikoff.jpg
Last edited by Emiliano on 11/09/2022, 17:44, edited 2 times in total.

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Re: Irina Wassilchikoff

Post by Johan Melle » 17/10/2018, 23:57

So.... should we update the first post with this information I found, or...?

In any case, here are two new roles:

Sbatti il mostro in prima pagina (1972) as Woman at funeral
Sbatti Il Mostro - Irina Wassilchikoff.jpg
pic by Emiliano

Attenti al buffone (1975) as Woman at funeral
Attenti Al Buffone - Irina Wassilchikoff.jpg

Caro papà (1979) as Party guest
Caro Papa - Irina Wassilchikoff.jpg
Caro Papa - Irina Wassilchikoff2.jpg

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Re: Irina Wassilchikoff

Post by Johan Melle » 27/01/2019, 1:30

Risate di gioia (1960) as Party guest at the German villa
Risate Di Gioia - Irina Wassilchikoff.jpg

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Re: Irina Wassilchikoff

Post by Johan Melle » 10/04/2019, 23:35

La prima notte di quiete (1972) as Woman at the funeral
Prima Notte Di Quiete - Irina Wassilchikoff.jpg

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