Sherlock Holmes in the 20th Century

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Sherlock Holmes (Soviet TV series) is a series of television films made by Soviet television. They were directed by Igor Maslennikov.

The photograph of Livanov as Sherlock Holmes is said to be the largest of those gracing the walls of the Sherlock Holmes Museum in Baker Street.

Between 1979 and 1986, Soviet television produced a series of five films at the Lenfilm movie studio, split into eleven episodes, starring Vasily Livanov as Sherlock Holmes and Vitaly Solomin as Dr. Watson. Later, a cinematic adaptation was made based on the 1986 episodes. This film was called Sherlock Holmes in the 20th Century. The series ran as follows:

• 1979 Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson
  • 1st episode: "Acquaintance" (based on A Study in Scarlet and "The Adventure of the Speckled Band")
  • 2nd episode: "Bloody Inscription" (based on A Study in Scarlet)
• 1980 The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson
  • 1st episode: "The Master-Blackmailer" (based on "The Adventure of Charles Augustus Milverton")
  • 2nd episode: "Deadly Fight" (based on "The Adventure of the Final Problem")
  • 3rd episode: "Hunt for the Tiger" (based on "The Adventure of the Empty House")
• 1981 The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson Two episodes based on The Hound of the Baskervilles
• 1983 The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson Two episodes called "The Treasures of Agra", based on The Sign of the Four and "A Scandal in Bohemia".
• 1986 The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson Two episodes called "20th Century Begins", based on "The Adventure of the Engineer's Thumb", "The Adventure of the Second Stain", "His Last Bow" and "The Adventure of the Bruce-Partington Plans"

[edit] Regular Cast

• Vasily Livanov as Sherlock Holmes
• Vitaly Solomin as Dr. Watson
• Rina Zelyonaya as Mrs. Hudson
• Borislav Brondukov as Inspector Lestrade

[edit] Trivia

• The series' soundtrack has become one of the most recognizable pieces of cinematic music in the former Soviet Union.
• Unlike their Western counterparts, the films are very close to the literary source. Some of the departures include Holmes' easy-going and humorous demeanor, as well as comic relief provided by some of the characters (most notably that of Sir Henry Baskerville in The Hound of the Baskervilles , played by Nikita Mikhalkov).
• A street in Old Riga doubles as Baker Street. The same street was used for exterior locations for several Soviet features set in the West.