Sherlok Kholms i doktor Vatson: Znakomstvo (1979) (TV)

User Rating:

9.0/10   

Director:

Igor Maslennikov

Writers:

Arthur Conan Doyle (stories)
Yuli Dunsky (writer)

Genre:

Crime

Plot Keywords:

Foreign Language Adaptation | Detective | Based On Novel | Based On Book

Cast

Vasili Livanov	...	Sherlock Holmes
Vitali Solomin	...	Dr. Watson
Rina Zelyonaya	...	Mrs. Hudson
Mariya Solomina	...	Helen Stoner / Julia Stoner (as Marina Solomina)
Gennadi Bogachyov
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Fyodor Odinokov
Catherine Schell

Also Known As:

Шерлок Холмс и доктор Ватсон: Знакомство (Soviet Union: Russian title)
Acquaintance
Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson (literal English title)

Runtime:

Soviet Union:142 min (2 parts)

Country:

Soviet Union

Language:

Russian

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Company:

Lenfilm Studio

Movie Connections:

Followed by Priklyucheniya Sherloka Kholmsa i doktora Vatsona: Dvadtsatyy vek nachinaetsya (1986) (TV)

Sherlock Holmes rides again - in the USSR this time.

Vasili Livanov dons the deerskin cap for the first time in the Russian series "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson" and does an excellent job at it. The movie begins with the titular acquaintance between Holmes and Dr. Watson as Watson, fresh from the East Indies, moves in with Holmes and in the 221 Baker Street apartment. Shenanigans of a mysterious, often baffling nature, lead Watson quite humorously to suspect Holmes as a criminal mastermind of some kind before he reveals himself as a private detective. The ensuing murder mystery involving two sisters, their stepfather and a heritage is not all that good but for an introductory film it's nevertheless solid material. What really stands out is the baroque atmosphere and sets, the cinematic feel for a movie that was practically made for TV and the cinematography that uses heavy blacks and lush colours.