Boris Dvornik

Acting

Boris Dvornik

Born 1939-04-16 · Split, Croatia

Boris Dvornik was born to the family of a carpenter. His acting experience started at the age of 8 when he took parts in plays for children. In his high school days he was learning to be electrician, but soon decided to pursue full-time acting career instead. After finishing National Acting School in Novi Sad he enrolled in Drama Academy in Zagreb. While on the first academic year, he began his movie career in Deveti krug (1960). His film debut was instant success, and in his second movie, Martin u oblacima (1961), he proved his abilities in comic roles. Dvornik soon became on of the movie icons of former Yugoslavia, together with 'Bata Zivojinovic', Milena Dravic and Ljubisa Samardzic. However, the zenith of popularity was reached by his role in humorous cult series "Malo misto" (mini) and some other light pieces that followed in the 1970s. However, although still being one of the most prolific actors in history of former Yugoslav and Croatian cinema and TV, Boris Dvornik in 1980s mostly used to work in the Croatian National Theatre in Split. In 1992, due to the friendship with Antun Vrdoljak, he flirted with politics for a couple of months. Dvornik is married, has a daughter and four granchildren, while two of his sons - Dean Dvornik and 'Dino Dvornik', who used to cameo as children in his movies - are now major pop stars in Croatia.

Acting credits

The Bridge poster
7.0

In order to check the German offensive, Partizans send an elite team of explosive experts to blow up a strategically important bridge. Besides being heavily guarded, that bridge is almost indestructible and the only man who knows weak spots in the construction is the architect who built it. He is, however, reluctant to cooperate because he doesn't want to see his masterpiece destroyed.

The Bridge

1969

The Battle of Neretva poster
6.8

In January 1943 the German army, afraid of an Allied invasion of the Balkans, launched a great offensive against Yugoslav Partisans in Western Bosnia. The only way out for Partisan forces and thousands of refugees was the bridge on the river Neretva.

The Battle of Neretva

1969

The Last Will poster
4.6

After the death of a wealthy Croatian emigrant, it is discovered that he left his fortune to an unknown, illegitimate relative back in Croatia.

The Last Will

2001

Thunder at the Border poster
5.8

Firehand and his Apache friend Winnetou are determined to get justice for the murder of four young braves. They set off to track down the gang responsible for the horrendous act.

Thunder at the Border

1966

Heads or Tails poster
4.0

A village fella tries to make it big in the city.

Heads or Tails

1983

The Battle of Sutjeska poster
6.6

The headquarters of the Marshal Tito's Liberation Army are surrounded by Axis forces. The Partisans have no choice but to fight their way out of the encirclement and face the enemy on the plains of Sutjeska.

The Battle of Sutjeska

1973

The Insanity Doctor poster
6.0

Doctor Emil Hofbauer has a motto: "Everyone's crazy until proven otherwise". And a group of patients in his waiting room are just about to find out that this might be more true than they originally thought.

The Insanity Doctor

2003

No artwork available
9.0

One summer afternoon, three old desperadoes violently shatter a pure and innocent love.

The Suburb

1972

Superfluous poster
6.2

Young farmer Mikajlo while on youth labour action falls in love with a student Nada and infatuated with her, he leaves the peasant brigade and Malena, a girl who as if she were overabundant, followed him to work the labour action. Mikajlo's courtship of Nada provokes laughter and ridicule, so ambitious 'Don Juan' returns to his brigade and the girl.

Superfluous

1962

Mad Summer poster
5.3

A summer in the life of tourist-seducing boys.

Mad Summer

1964

No artwork available
5.8

An ex-motorcycle racing champion who gave up the sport after a serious crash meets a charming girl who came to watch one of the races. A new romance between them ratchets up his desire to compete again and apply for the race, whilst girl's boyfriend tries to win her heart back.

The Shadow of Glory

1962

Thirty Horses poster
NR

An ambitious carpenter from Dalmatian village puts an old mill back in function in order to prove himself worthy among the locals.

Thirty Horses

1988

Countrymen poster
7.2

A girl from passive area comes to work in Vojvodina's fertile lowlands, along with a group of peasants for a seasonal work. After visiting a city nearby, she finds more about modern life and starts romance with a local fella. Her furious fiancée she had left behind comes to find her.

Countrymen

1963

Long Dark Night poster
6.9

"Long Dark Night" follows the life of the fictional character Iva Kolar: his experiences as a Croatian University student, his role as a Partisan fighting Hitler's troops during W.W. II, his involvement in his nation's post-war government, and his eventual downfall.

Long Dark Night

2004

From One Friday to the Next poster
7.0

Friday is the day that everyone goes away for the weekend. A bank clerk spends his weekend off a small island with his boat, but the weekend does not run its usual course.

From One Friday to the Next

1985

No artwork available
8.0

Yugoslavia, 1979. Jugoslav is an ambitious reporter in a state that strictly controls the media. Blagoje is a retired UDBE colonel, crippled by health problems. Their paths cross when they both go to investigate a brutal murder case in eastern Serbia. In the picturesque surroundings, Jugoslav meets Blagoje's children, his son Aljoša, a dissident hermit, and his daughter Sonja, the widow of a crime victim and a local femme fatale.

The Trail

1974

The Return poster
5.2

Despite the ongoing WW2, most of the people were just minding their own business. But everything changes when police arrests the group of youths under suspicion of being resistance sympathizers. Outraged townsfolk organize the siege of police station.

The Return

1979

The Secret of an Old Attic poster
5.6

During a summer holiday, two boys discover an anti-gravity cannon in an old attic.

The Secret of an Old Attic

1984

Roko and Cicibela poster
6.9

A poor fisherman and his girlfriend live in a small boat under an open sky for decades. Based on a true story.

Roko and Cicibela

1978

An Event poster
6.7

A grandfather and his grandson go to a fair to sell a horse. A ranger and his vicious partner, Matijevic, follow them as they return home in order to rob them. The confrontation takes place in the forest.

An Event

1969

Tight Skin 2 poster
5.8

After car crash with some Turk, Pantic gets the idea to build a motel for all Turks who traveling through Yugoslavia. Sojic wants to thwart the plan, and tells the Turk in confidence that Pantic is gay. However, the Turk is also gay.

Tight Skin 2

1987

Man Is Not a Bird poster
6.1

A Serbian engineer falls for a younger woman, but he is inept at courtship.

Man Is Not a Bird

1965

Cyclops poster
5.9

Melkior Tresic is one of many intellectuals in 1941 Zagreb who is helplessly waiting for the encroaching war.

Cyclops

1982

Nausicaa poster
6.0

Nazi-occupied Croatia, 1941. A young university student named Matija Remenar moves from his small provincial town to Zagreb. During his stay, he notices a beautiful woman in the window across the street from his apartment, falling head over heals for her. He names this woman Nausicaa, after the eponymous character from Homer's Odyssey. Things complicate, however, when he becomes involved in an active suicide investigation of the three tennants who had rented the apartment prior to him. Not only that, but the apartment's original owner, middle-aged mrs. Šlajner, seemingly becomes infatuated with him, despite the huge age gap.

Nausicaa

1995

Behind the camera