Detective. A screen version of the works of the famous English writer Arthur Conan Doyle about the world's most famous detective Sherlock Holmes and his adventures with the notorious assistant Dr. Watson. Well, finally, I got my hands on this episode, shot by the talented Soviet director Igor Maslennikov. I love the whole series immensely and I revise it from time to time for the umpteenth time, and here's my short opinion - The Best Sherlock Holmes. I do not intend to talk about the minuses, because there are none, and if you really want to nitpick about the little things, then read the review of someone else. Yes, this is a very subjective review, but I will still describe the expressive merits that make this picture a real masterpiece of Soviet cinema.
So, here they are:
1. Atmosphere - from the first shots, the creators immerse the viewer in Victorian England, or rather London, with its well-known attributes, stiffness, costumes, and norms of behavior. Environment, small details, scenery, nature. Yes, London was played by the Soviet Riga and Leningrad, but the audience doesn't care. The atmosphere is excellent in all parts. The creators clearly tried - and they have earned my praise and the love of the audience for more than one generation!
2. Music - the composer Vladimir Dashkevich has created amazingly high quality and so attractive music that it is known even outside the former Soviet Union. It's not worth mentioning the title topic, how many alterations I have heard, but nobody has succeeded in surpassing the original and will never succeed!
3. Humor - surprisingly, in such a serious detective story there was a place for humor. But there is no need to worry, it is easy to understand, but you should not wait for "wild rzhaki", rather humor here serves to defuse.
4. Detective stories - in the first episode (Acquaintance) our heroes are just getting to know each other and decide to solve one riddle, and in the second (Bloody Inscription) our homies have to unravel a rather curious and non-trivial case from the philistine point of view. Its finale will make you think about some things and seal the unbreakable friendship of a retired doctor and an eccentric London detective. Of course, when you are not watching a detective story for the first time, you lose interest, but you still enjoy the process itself, and when all this is played by very talented actors, it is doubly pleasure!
5. Excellent cast - the director has collected, I'm not afraid of this word, the entire color of Soviet cinema in this series, here are just a few names (in addition to the main characters): Igor Dmitriev, Borislav Brundukov, Nikolai Karachentsov and others. When so many talents gather under one roof, success is guaranteed!
Well, the gatherings of Holmes and Watson at the end of each episode are priceless!
Well, everyone knows about replacing the word "Afghanistan" with "East" in the first episode. You yourself know that it was in that year that we entered Afghanistan, and what this led to is known. Censorship, so I had to re-sound, nothing can be done.
A little about the main characters:
1. Sherlock Holmes performed by Vasily Borisovich Livanov is an eccentric London detective who is able to solve any crime. Loves intricate puzzles. A monstrous snob with an unimaginable number of bad habits, but after meeting Dr. Watson, he becomes the last sincere and devoted friend. The best role of Vasily Borisovich in his entire long career and simply the best screen embodiment of the legendary detective! Sincere bravo Vasily Borisovich and good health to you!
2. Dr. Watson performed by Vitaly Methodievich Solomin is a retired military doctor who arrived after being wounded in London, where he rented an apartment for a couple with the mysterious Sherlock Holmes. The initial antipathy soon gave way to genuine admiration, and then to friendship between two so dissimilar characters. Cheerful, cheerful, with a brilliant military bearing. An inseparable assistant and a reliable support for Sherlock. Vitaly Methodievich just perfectly fit into this famous role, and we will never see the best Doctor Watson. Bravo Vitaly Methodievich and the Kingdom of Heaven to you!
3. Mrs. Hudson, performed by Rina Vasilyevna Zelena, is the owner of the house where Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson live. A kind and endearing elderly lady who becomes an invariable attribute that complements the image of Sherlock Holmes. Rina Vasilievna played this role in such a way that there can be no question of any competition. This is her best role and the best Mrs. Hudson! Bravo Rina Vasilievna!
Soviet viewers were delighted with these two episodes, so soon new ones were released, where our heroes had to face the "Napoleon" of the underworld and no less dangerous bandits, but I will tell you about this another time.
As a result, we have a great start to the adventures of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson with excellent detective stories, great music and atmosphere, and simply grandiose in their splendor acting works!
