An amazing series for the Soviet era, a detective, and even English, with an outstanding cast, has long been the standard of a television film. Slow development of the plot, original dialogues almost entirely from the book of the same name created the ideal atmosphere of old London. The actors of the film "Treasures of Agra", the fourth part of the series, also contributed to the success.
About the series
The series was filmed by director Igor Maslennikov in 1979 - 1986.
Julius Dunsky and Valery Frid, known for the popular Soviet films “Two Comrades Served” and “Burn, Burn My Star,” wrote the script of the first two episodes on their own initiative. The authors submitted material to Lenfilm, director Maslennikov liked the idea, although he was not a fan of Conan Doyle's work. And he decided to shoot the television movie "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson."
The success of the picture was overwhelming. After the premiere of the first parts in 1980, the film studio was inundated with letters from the audience demanding continuation. The authors of the series actually repeated the fate of Conan Doyle, who continued the series of stories at the request of readers. As a result, 5 films were made (11 episodes), each film had its own screenwriters.
"Treasures of Agra" - the fourth film of the television cycle "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson." The first part of “The Secret of Treasures”, based on the novel “The Sign of Four” and “Irene Adler” based on the story “The Scandal in Bohemia”. The film premiered in 1983. The director and screenwriter of the film was Igor Maslennikov. The popularity of the series was such that interesting actors in "Treasures of Agra" were even selected for minor roles.
Holmes and Watson
The success of the film was largely facilitated by perfectly selected performers for the main roles, which did not change throughout the series. The fact that Vasily Livanov should play Holmes was never doubted by the director, but Alexander Kaydanovsky was formally invited for auditions . Maslennikov with difficulty managed to confirm Livanov, everyone knew the temperamental and explosive nature of the actor. However, the long years of filming ruined the relationship. Already by the time of filming "Treasures of Agra", the actor and the director had difficulty transferring each other, and after finishing work on the series they did not talk for a long time.
For a long time they could not choose an actor for the role of Dr. Watson, because the only thing that is known about his appearance from the works of Conan Doyle is that he limped slightly after being wounded in the war in Afghanistan. The case helped, the director came across an old archive photo of Vitaly Solomin with a glued mustache. Maslennikov thought he looked like an Englishman. Solomin and Livanov met on trial and had a stasis in friendly relations, and during the filming of "Treasures of Agra" the actors became close friends and remained them until Solomin's death in 2002.
In other roles
A number of characters appear in the frames of the entire series, there are those who participate in one or both parts of the fourth film.
The colorful image of the mistress of the house, Miss Hudson, was created by Rina Green. She was immediately approved for this role. She remained in the cast of the actors of “Treasures of Agra” even though she was already about 80 years old and her vision problems worsened.
The hapless inspector Leistred, who personified an ineffective law enforcement system, was well played by Boris Brondukov.
For the fourth part of the series about Sherlock Holmes in "Treasures of Agra", the actors involved in the main roles are already mentally tired of playing the same characters.
Popular Soviet actors starred in the film. For example, Sergei Shakurov as a fugitive convict Jonathan Smole. Victor Proskurin immediately got two roles of the Sholto twin brothers: greedy Bartholomew and fair Tadeusz. The first role in the movie was received by Larisa Solovyova, who played the beautiful swindler Irene Adler.
First part
In the film, the storylines of two works are intertwined, the first part is largely based on the events described in the story “Sign of the Four”. The Mystery of Treasures is dedicated to the search for a mysterious benefactor who sends Mary Morsten (Ekaterina Zinchenko) a pearl every year.
In the role of Major Sholto, who appropriated the treasures of his comrades and was an inadvertent culprit in the death of Father Mary, the legendary Pavel Kadochnikov starred.
Even in the minor roles of housekeepers, servants, and gatekeepers, honored artists were involved.
The second part of
The second part of the film "Irene Adler" about Sherlock’s only failure, when he was unable to steal photos that compromise the king of Bohemia. The monarch was played by Russian actor Grigory Martirosyan.
The native of Tonga, who in the book kills with the help of a wind pipe, in the picture has a completely European appearance of Yuri Serov. Pavel Remezov played Norton's lawyer whom Irene marries, giving him preference over Holmes.
For many viewers, the actors and roles in "Treasures of Agra" have become symbols that embody the English detective story. Another such character in the film was the Tori Bulldog, who was “played” by Bambula, owned by Livanov.