In the Soviet period, our country could be proud not only of its ballet and achievements in space exploration. Cinema was also quite remarkable during this period. A vivid proof of this fact are quotes from many films that literally immediately after the premiere went to the people and, most interestingly, are still found in our everyday life.
Of particular interest to Soviet viewers were films made on the basis of works by foreign authors, because their action took place outside the state, located behind the Iron Curtain. However, it was extremely difficult to export a film crew consisting of a considerable number of people abroad. That is why the directors were forced to find places that would visually resemble other countries, but were on the territory of the USSR. One of these films is an adaptation of Arthur Conan Doyle's stories about detective Holmes and his friend Watson. Moreover, even the British love this film. They consider him one of the best adaptations of the books of this writer.
Filming History
Initially, director Igor Maslennikov did not want to work on the series. However, at the request of the audience, he was forced to do so. As a result, the blue screens came out:
- In 1979, two episodes of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson.
- In 1980, three episodes of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson.
- In 1981, two episodes of The Hound of the Baskervilles.
- In 1983 - two series of "Treasures of Agra."
- In 1986 - two episodes of âThe 20th Century Beginsâ.
The directorâs favorite film was the second one that the audience met in 1980. It is interesting that Igor Maslennikov could hardly be called a great lover of detectives. In addition, as a philologist, he did not think that Conan Doyle was a capital writer. Why did the director begin to work on the script? An important role in this was played by the situation that prevailed in the Soviet state. She provoked the desire to fly somewhere far away, into some sky-high distances, where one could do pleasant things that have nothing to do with gray everyday life. The script came to the liking of Igor Maslennikov and another important feature. The fact is that in the storyline a lot of attention was paid not only to Sherlock Holmes, but also to Dr. Watson.
The director sincerely believed that the main mistake of two hundred films shot about the great detective around the world was that the main attention was concentrated on him alone. However, Maslennikov believed that Holmes is one-line and mechanistic, moreover, if he is alone, then he will not be able to successfully film the work of Conan Doyle. But in the dramatization of Fried and Dunsky he liked how piercingly accurately and with a slight irony the relationship between Holmes and Watson was described. Moreover, the doctor was so lively and interesting that Maslennikov did not put the script aside and set to work.
It is known that Conan Doyle at the end of the period of writing stories about Sherlock Holmes hated his hero. He was sure that the work on this work distracted him from a serious matter - the creation of historical novels. Nevertheless, he continued to compose stories about Holmes at the request of King Edward himself. Igor Maslennikov also shot the last film about the detective without any hunting. He believed that work on the series âThe Twentieth Century Beginsâ could not have been taken at all. After all, by this time, filmmakers had begun continuous repetitions. They seemed to be exhausted, repeating the fate of Conan Doyle. However, numerous letters of protest, which expressed disagreement with the end of the stories about Sherlock Holmes, forced to shoot the continuation of the film.
Arts Council Decision
After the first movie about Sherlock Holmes was ready, the approval process began. To do this, in one of the halls of "Lenfilm" gathered the leadership of the studio in the person of director and chief editor. The artistic council was attended by a representative from the regional party committee, as well as the main director I. Maslennikov. Everything was gathered to decide whether it is possible to release the film on blue screens, as well as what changes are necessary for him so that the tape can correspond to all the ideological ideas of the country's leadership.
After viewing the picture, the artistic council made only one remark. It concerned the question of Holmes, which he asked Watson: âHow long has it been from Afghanistan?â The fact is that it was during this period that our troops were on the territory of this state. To fulfill the instructions of the artistic council, it was necessary to replace all phrases in the film that spoke of Afghanistan, inserting the word âEastâ and âeastern coloniesâ instead. However, for several years the film came out without these edits.
For the first time on blue screens, the two-part film âSherlock Holmes and Dr. Watsonâ was watched by viewers on March 2, 1980. The film was shown before the âTimeâ program and immediately after it. This broadcast led to an unexpected reaction of the inhabitants of the country. At this time, the city streets were almost empty, as most people literally stuck to the screens of their TVs. For three hours, the country seemed to emigrate not only at another time, but also to another state, having fallen from the Brezhnev Soviet Union to Victorian England. People broke away from the usual queues in the grocery store, certificates from the Housing Office and food packages by November 7th and saw a cozy fireplace, polite bobby and a snow-white apron of unflappable Mrs. Hudson. After that, "Lenfilm" began to receive enthusiastic letters from the audience, which the mail delivered there literally in bags.
Where did you shoot the series about Sherlock Holmes, which touched the hearts of millions of people of the Soviet state? Let's get acquainted with the geography of the creation of this cinematic tape.
The plot of the series "Meet"
The first part of the film about Sherlock Holmes, as mentioned above, consists of two parts. The first of them is called âAcquaintanceâ. In this series, Dr. Watson, played by Vitaly Solomin, having retired, returns from Afghanistan to his homeland - to England. His friend Mr. Stamford invited him to rent a room with an elderly lady - Mrs. Hudson (she was played by Rina Green). In the womanâs apartment, another room was rented. She was busy with Mr. Sherlock Holmes (actor Vasily Livanov), who turned out to be a private investigator. Soon, friends were faced with an investigation of the case "On a colorful ribbon." They took him at the request of the girl Helen. She reported the strange death of her sister two years ago on the eve of her wedding. Now Helen herself is going to get married. But she is afraid that the same thing will happen to her.
Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson went to the house where the girl lived, and were on duty there all night. All this gave them the opportunity to find out that Helen, like her sister, decided to kill his stepfather. To do this, he launched a poisonous snake into the girlâs bedroom. Holmes saved Helen by uncovering this case.
Geography of the series "Acquaintance"
Where did you make a film about Sherlock Holmes with Livanov and Solomin? In the episode in which Stamford leads the doctor to Mrs. Hudson, the heroes walk through the Kommunarov park (Esplanade). It is located in Riga (Latvia). In 1919, the Communards who fell in the struggle for Soviet power were solemnly buried in this place. Since that period, the area was renamed Kommunarov Park. She had such a name at the time when the film about Holmes was shot.
In 1950-1952 the area has been slightly modified. There appeared tracks with a concrete coating, lawns were broken, a rose garden was arranged, and a playground for children was arranged. Where previously ran the route for riding, located the Alley of heroes. There were sculptural portraits of Latvians-revolutionaries, heroes of the Great Patriotic War, as well as prominent military, state and party leaders. By the way, if you look closely at the heroes, you can see one of these busts behind the left shoulder of Stamford's path.
Where was Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson filmed when they first met? That house on Baker Street, in which Mrs. Hudson rented rooms, was in Riga (Latvia). He stood on the old street of Jauniel, which appeared at the end of the 16th century, adjacent to the Dome Cathedral. It was house number 22.
On the street, whose name is translated into Russian as New, in Soviet times, many films were shot. One of them is â17 Moments of Springâ. It was on this street that Professor Pleischner passed, and he fell on the pavement just opposite the house where the famous detective âlivedâ. However, the building at number 22 is not located on the roadway, but in a small cramped courtyard. In the summer, a cafe exhibits its tables here. The one who sees this house for the first time does not even come to mind that it is part of the monastery complex. However, directly behind it is a courtyard belonging to the Dome Monastery, and above its roof you can see the silhouette of the Dome Cathedral.
Where else in Riga did Sherlock Holmes shoot? On Kalpaka Boulevard. The Academy of Arts of the State of Latvia is located here at No. 13. This building is one of the most significant works of the architect Boxlough. It was built in 1902-1905. Until 1919-1921 students of the Commercial School of the Exchange Committee studied here. In the architectural style of the building, a luxurious Gothic style is visible. Its exterior walls are lined with red brick. The roof is covered with copper plates. The windows of the Academy are made in the form of stained-glass windows. For a long period of time, this building was considered the most comfortable in Riga.
The plot of the series "Bloody inscription"
In the second part of the first film about the famous detective, Inspector Gregson (played by Igor Dmitriev) tells Holmes that in an abandoned house on Brixton Road, the police found the body of an elderly American citizen without any signs of violence. Not far from him on the wall, someone wrote the word "revenge" with blood. After some time, another American was killed. On the wall near his corpse, the word "revenge" was also written in blood. Holmes found the killer. However, the famous detective remained in the shadows. The disclosure of the crime was attributed to Inspector Lestrade. Watson, outraged by this state of affairs, decided to become Holmes's personal "biographer".
Location of the series "Bloody inscription"
The abandoned house in which the first murder was committed is a summer residence that previously belonged to Princess E. Saltykova. The building is located in St. Petersburg on the street. Academician Krylov. The number of this house is 4. Dacha Saltykova is a whole complex. It includes the main house, as well as office buildings and gates. The date of construction of the complex is 1837-1843.
Where did you make a film about Sherlock Holmes with Livanov and Solomin besides St. Petersburg (in those years of Leningrad)? In that episode, when the detective hurries to the aid of the doctor, he crosses Herder Square in Riga (Latvia). On the map of the city, this place was first marked back in 1650. Since 1864, the square was named after the German enlightener and philosopher Johann Herder. In the same episode, the viewer can see the corner of one of the most significant monuments of medieval Latvian architecture - the Dome Cathedral. But the lantern that appears in the frame is fake.
In Riga, the director also found a hotel building suitable for filming. It became Johnâs Compound, or Jan Seth. In one of the shots, we see the crew passing through an old gate. In Riga, they are located between the Convent Ekka building (Skarnu St. 20/22) and the church named after St. John.
There is another episode in this series in which Hole and Drebber ride in a cab. The street in Riga where Sherlock Holmes was shot in this shot is named after Valdemara. The cab drives past the City Art Museum (d. 10a). This building is one of the works of the architect Wilhelm Neumann. The author performed the facade of the building in the Neo-Baroque style, and in its interior used the details of Art Nouveau.
Further in the film, the cab follows from the museum and goes to the Latvian State Academy of Arts (13 Kalpaka Boulevard). Then he goes along the street. Maza Skolas. On the left in the frame appears the building, which houses the Museum of Navigation and the History of Riga. In fact, this is the southern facade of the Dome Monastery.
To be continued
The first film about Sherlock Holmes aroused great interest among viewers. A huge number of letters came to the address of the Central TV channel, which contained a request to remove the continuation of the film. The second part was aired in September 1980. It was three-part. It included The King of Blackmail, as well as Mortal Kombat and Tiger Hunt. Where did Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson shoot in this part of the film? Let's get acquainted with the summary and geography of these series.
"King of blackmail"
In this series, Holmes meets with his brother Mycroft, who gives the detective a letter from Eva Brackwell. In this message, the lady asks to save her from the intrigues of the extortionist and blackmailer Charles Milverton. And for this it is necessary to withdraw from him the letters of this married woman addressed to her lover. The only way to fulfill Eva Brackwellâs request is to rob Milverton. Holmes and Watson secretly climb into the house of the blackmailer and become unwitting witnesses of his murder. Lady Huxley, another victim of his machinations, shot Milverton right before their eyes. At the crime scene, comrades discover a strange monogram. It decodes for detective Lady Huxley.
Where did you make the movie about Sherlock Holmes? Club "Diogenes", in which the detective met with his brother, is the Gorky House of Scientists, which is located in St. Petersburg on Palace Embankment, 26. Initially, it was the palace of the son of Alexander II and uncle Nicholas II - Prince Vladimir Alexandrovich. The building was built in the eclectic style from 1867 to 1874. Its architect is A. Rezanov.
Where was Sherlock Holmes filmed? In one of the episodes, the detective and his friend Watson climb the front marble staircase. The shot was shot in a palace that belonged to Leningrad scientists. Interestingly, because of the state of conservation of its interior, this building is the most unique in St. Petersburg.
Where did you make a film about Sherlock Holmes in those episodes when he tried to get into Milverton's estate? The fence opposite this building, near which Watson was walking, was located in Leningrad along the English passage (Macklin), d. 8-10. Where the movie about Sherlock Holmes was shot, just a stone's throw from this place is another one chosen by the director. There is also a fence (in the film, it was the enclosure of Milverton's estate). Filming was conducted in Leningrad along Angliyskiy pr., Near house 2b and on the embankment of the river. Moika, not far from d. 122.
The second fence is located in close proximity to the park surrounding the palace of the brother of Alexander III, Prince Alexei Alexandrovich. The building itself is a masterpiece of eclecticism. In its appearance, the palace resembles a French castle of the Middle Ages.
Where did they shoot about Sherlock Holmes when the characters of the film climbed into Milvertonâs house? Leningrad was also chosen for this episode. The house itself was a palace located in Peterhof. The construction of this building was carried out from 1826 to 1829 according to the design of A. Menelas. This architect built a palace in the style of an English country house. At one time, the cottage was the summer residence of Tsar Nicholas I. After the 1917 revolution, the building housed a historical and art museum.
Mortal Kombat
The encryption in the hands of Holmes included the names of the criminals, which began with the letter âMâ. One of them is Sebastian Moran. Holmes also meets Professor Moriarty. This tall, hunchbacked man is the head of one of the most powerful criminal organizations known throughout Europe.
In the Bagatel club an unpleasant scene takes place. One of the young aristocrats, Ronald Adair, who played cards in tandem with Moran, began to accuse him of cheating. Dr. Watson is witnessing this episode.
Realizing that a serious criminal organization is operating in London with both heroes in their hands, they decide to move to Switzerland. Staying at one of the hotels, friends go to a local attraction - Reichenbach Falls. A messenger boy comes running here with a note. It contains a request to the doctor to examine the patient. Watson is forced to leave. Holmes is left alone, well aware that Moriarty is hunting him. Here, the detective and professor clashed in a deadly duel. During the battle, Moriarty slid off a cliff and died in a waterfall. Holmes remained hanging on his hands, clinging to the edge of the cliff. But, as it turned out, Colonel Moran came up to the place of the fight. He shot Holmes on the fingers, and he screamed off the cliff.
Where was the Reichenbach Falls filmed at Sherlock Holmes? Of course, the film crew did not go to Switzerland. The waterfall where Sherlock Holmes was filmed is located in Abkhazia. They call him Gegsky. The Abkhazian name of the waterfall where Sherlock Holmes was filmed is Zou. It was formed thanks to the river, the origins of which are in the karst cave. But from afar it seems that the water does not erupt from the mountain, but from a huge black mouth.
Another name for the place where they shot the deadly battle of Sherlock Holmes is the Circassian Falls. According to various sources, its height is in the range from 40 to 65 m. Not everyone dares to wash, and even more so swim in the water flows pouring from the rocks. The mountain river is literally icy.
Those who wish to explore the place where they shot the deadly battle of Sherlock Holmes with Professor Moriarty are offered excursions from Gagra. They go to the waterfall daily.
Tiger Hunt
Watson, wanting to finish the work of a deceased friend, stands up for Adair. But a young aristocrat was found shot dead in his house. Murder charges were brought against Watson. The doctor is desperate. But here comes to the rescue ... alive Holmes. The famous detective reveals the case of the murder of Adair, pointing to Moran, and then tells the story of his miraculous salvation.
And where was Sherlock Holmes filmed? In the episode in which Watson went to Adera, you can see Leningrad, st. Rubinstein, Tolstoy House (No. 15-17), as well as the embankment of the river. Fontanka, 54. This is the place where there is a six-story house, built in the style of late Art Nouveau, beloved by many filmmakers. Where Soviet Sherlock Holmes was filmed, episodes were created for such famous films as âYou Never Had A Dreamâ, as well as âWinter Cherryâ.
But the house, which according to the plot belonged to Ronald Adler, is nothing more than the dacha of Prince Boris Vladimirovich, which is located in Pushkin at 11 Moskovskoye Shosse.
The episode in which Watson, while waiting for Holmes, walks with an umbrella, was also shot in Leningrad, in Cavendish Square, on Pushkinskaya Street (d. 9-11). This place is located near the Moscow railway station and Nevsky Prospect. A little later, episodes of the film âTreasures of Agraâ were also shot here.
Places where Holmes travels with Watson in some back streets are Leningrad, 2-4 on Ligovsky passage, as well as Apraksin Dvor in Mikhailovsky passage (buildings 15, 38) and Yagodny Ave (buildings 46, 47 and 49) . In those years when the film was shot, it was a deserted place in the very center of the city.
The Hound of the Baskervilles
The events described in this film take place in 1889. Dr. Mortimer came to visit Holmes and Watson. He tells his friends the legend of the infernal hound, which for several centuries has been haunting the representatives of the Baskervilles. He also tells his interlocutors about the recent death of Charles Baskerville. At the same time, traces left by a huge dog were found not far from his body.
Holmes is forced to stay in London on business. Watson goes to the estate alone. His main task is to protect the life of Sir Henry, the heir to the deceased. As it turned out, there is still a huge dog. It was used as a murder weapon by the younger brother of Charles Baskerville, who for a long time was hiding behind embezzlement of state money. His main goal was to receive an inheritance.
Where was the Hound of the Baskervilles filmed at Sherlock Holmes? To accurately convey the plot, the director needed to recreate the atmosphere of the English heartland. To do this in the absence of the possibility of leaving the country was quite difficult. However, Maslennikov coped with the task. The county of Devonshire, where the main events unfold, perfectly replaced the landscapes of Estonia.
Where was the Hound of the Baskervilles filmed at Sherlock Holmes? Partly in Tallinn. But in most of the shooting, they were conducted not far from it.
Where the film was made about the adventures of Sherlock Holmes and the plot should be the Grimplen quagmire, there is a swamp of Kuystlemm. This is the county of Lyaznemaa, the village of Risti, belonging to the Kuplama parish. However, in order to show hills that are not in Estonia in the film, the film crew had to base themselves at one of the quarries in Tallinn. Today, there is a residential area.
The place where they shot âThe Hound of the Baskervillesâ in Sherlock Holmes is Str. Kadaka, somewhere near house number 191. In addition, to create an atmosphere of Dartmoor peat bogs, heaps of rock were used, which were located at a chemical plant located near Tallinn.
It becomes clear to the attentive viewer that the swamps throughout the film are shown by the operator on only one side. The fact is that shooting was conducted from the highway going from Tallinn to Haapsalu. Thus, in order to inspect the place where Sherlock Holmes was filmed, it is enough to look out of the car window if someone happens to go here.
"Treasures of Agra"
The fourth part of the television series about Sherlock Holmes includes the films âSign of the Fourâ, as well as âThe Scandal in Bohemiaâ.
The action takes place in 1888. A modest girl turned to Holmes for help. Her name was Mary Morsten. The girl asked the detective to find her father, and also to find out who sends her every year a pearl. As it turned out, Mary Morsten is a wealthy heiress. However, in addition to her, the sons of Major Sholto, as well as the convict Jonathan Small, who at one time had been deceived by his comrades - the elder Sholto and Morsten - claim a huge fortune.
As a result, treasures did not go to anyone. Small stole them, but, fleeing from the chase, threw jewelry into the Thames. And Mary Morsten and Dr. Watson fell in love and decided to get married.
When dealing with the treasures of Agra, Holmes remembered how he had tried in his time to help the king of Bohemia. When he was still the crown prince, inadvertently made a love affair with Irene Adler. This woman was a famous adventurer. On the day of Kingâs wedding, Irene promised to send the bride a photo where she is depicted with a prince and which he signed as a keepsake. Holmes task is to get a snapshot. To carry it out, he imitates a fire in a womanâs house and finds out where the photo is. However, Sherlock does not steal him. Unexpectedly, Holmes becomes a witness at the wedding of Irene and lawyer Norton. The woman left with her husband and promised to keep the love affair with the king secret.
Where did the Sherlock Holmes adventures shoot in this part of the series? In the episode in which the detective and the doctor go to a meeting with Mary Morsten, you can see in Leningrad, this is st. Pushkinskaya. In one of the frames, the house number appears - 9.
The scene at the Lyceum Theater was shot in Leningrad, along Solyanoy Lane, 11. This is the building of the Mukhinsky Art College. There is an episode in the film in which the viewer sees the road leading to the house of Tadeusz Sholto. This is also Leningrad, the Big Alley on Stone Island, d. 13. This is a pretty stylish mansion. It was designed by architect R. Meltzer on the order of the Swiss tailor E. Follenweider. This building is also loved by filmmakers. For example, in the movie "Mr. Designer" in the mansion, the director located the house of Grillo.
After the building was overhauled, the Danish consulate moved here. Not far from this building is the house of Irene Adler.
Where was the âTreasures of Agraâ filmed in âSherlock Holmesâ when the detective and Dr. Watson ran in the footsteps of Small? This place is located in Leningrad, on the Stone Island.
Where was the series âScandal in Bohemiaâ about Sherlock Holmes filmed? The house of Irene Adler is the cottage of E. Gauswald. The building is located on Stone Island, on the corner of the 2nd Birch Alley and the Big Alley. The construction was carried out in the Art Nouveau style as early as 1898. The authors of the project, which was ordered by the bakery master for his wife Eugenia Gauswald, became V. Chenet and V. Chagin.
"XX century begins"
In the last part of the series about Sherlock Holmes, the famous detective with his friend Watson no longer lives in a house on Baker Street. The doctor got married and again engaged in medical practice. Holmes moved to Sussex, where he began to breed bees.
However, with the advent of the new century, the criminal world has also changed. Criminals have become more dangerous, since most of them were politicians. Europe began to face the outbreak of a major war.
Where did you shoot Sherlock Holmes with Livanov? In the last part, the viewer sees the famous detective in the Vyborg district of the Leningrad region, in the village. Guards. Until 1939, it was a village called Karisalmi, which means "reef strait." She was part of Finland. In the geography of the Holmes movie, this is the northernmost point. From the village to Vyborg - 30 km, and to the city of St. Petersburg - all 150 km. Since the filming of the film, nothing has changed here, except for the coloring of the station houses, which have now turned yellow. These are picturesque places with rocks located in the district, strewn with large boulders and overgrown with dense forest. There are many lakes nearby.
Where else did you shoot Sherlock Holmes? On Kuibyshev Street in Leningrad, there is a building in which, according to the plot of the film, the Watson spouses lived. This is Brant's mansion (d. 4). In the series âMortal Kombatâ he was the âBagatelâ club.
Holmes's farm was filmed in two places. The first of them is Lakhta. This is a historic district of St. Petersburg, located on the shores of the cold Gulf of Finland. The second place in which the Holmes house itself was located, the director found in Riga (Latvia). This is the territory of the Ethnographic Museum, which is in the open. The detective's country house is located in the courtyard of the Kurzeme fisherman. In the frames of the film, other buildings located in the museum are also visible.