On a lighter note, Russian television has been showing episodes of the Sherlock Holmes series that was made back in the early 80s. Vasily Livanov and Vitaly Solomin starred as the intrepid duo. The program was one of the most successful in Soviet television. It pretty much covered all the short stories, which have been handsomely bound into a new annotative 2-volume set. Here's a clip from the series, with subtitles.
Wrapped up Part II the other night and have to say that Dostoevsky certainly has a comic's eye, although one senses the potentially tragic undertones. For Dostoevsky the aristocracy seems to be one largely made up of capricious souls more obsessed with good manners than any profound sense of their being. This is particularly true for the Epanchins, who comically wrestle with their emotions in one scene after another as he places them in very odd and unnerving situations that test the limits of poor Lizaveta Prokofyevna's endurance. Of her daughters, Aglaya, is the most interesting. A real beauty much along the same lines as Nastasya Filippovna Barashkov, who likewise seems to have a hold on Prince Myshkin's emotional strings. Part II ended with Lizaveta demanding to know the extent of the Prince's interests in her youngest daughter. The Prince insisted his feelings were Platonic, but one senses there is more to be said on the matter in later chapters. ...

Sherlock Holmes and subtitles! What a terrific opening I'm going to watch the entire show tonight if it's there.
ReplyDeleteFor some reason, I've become a Sherlock Holmes junky lately. I purchased the entire Granada series with Jeremy Brett, and all the Basil Rathbone shows as well. There must be something about solving the world's problems through logic that appeals these days.
Have you seen the recent movie?
ReplyDeleteNo, I am passing on the new one. I love Robert Downey Jr. -- think he's one of the best actors out there -- but I saw the previews and it looks too much like a super hero/action film. Sort of defeats the whole idea if you have to attack the enemy with brute force and a little kung fu.
ReplyDeleteLoved the Russian version of "the beginning" though. Great scenes.
Vasily Livanov is my all time favorite Holmes!
ReplyDeleteThe series is probably the best adaptation ever :)
Thanks for dropping a line, Buddy. Love the old series.
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