TV Review: Vasily Livanov as Sherlock Holmes – "Bloody Inscription" (1979) - Review

Vasily Livanov as Sherlock Holmes in 'Bloody Inscription'

The first episode of the Russian adaptation “Acquaintance” had Holmes and Watson get acquainted (pun intended) with each other, before they are beseeched by Helen Stoner (The Adventure of the Speckled Band).

This episode is a faithful adaptation of A Study in Scarlet, the first novel written by Arthur Conan Doyle that introduced Sherlock Holmes as the world’s first consulting detective.

Vitaly Solomin as Dr Watson

Holmes and Watson investigate the murder of one Enoch Drebber. Holmes, in his usual style, makes a series of observations and deductions, much to the amusement of his official counterparts, Gregson and Lestrade.

The Scotland Yard detectives follow their own lines of investigation and each is confident of his own success. Soon, another murder occurs that proves both of them wrong. This time, the victim is Joseph Strangerson.

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As expected, Holmes follows his own course of investigation and brings the case to a successful conclusion.

Vasily Livanov continues to amaze as the master detective as does Vitaly Solomin as Dr Watson. But the standout performance is given by Boryslav Brondukov as Lestrade. Brondukov makes for a very remarkable and interesting Lestrade, one who will appeal to and amuse all Sherlock Holmes fans.

Boryslav Brondukov as Inspector Lestrade

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Image Source: Lenfilm Film Studio

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TV Review: Vasily Livanov as Sherlock Holmes - "Acquaintance" (1979)

Vasily Livanov as Sherlock Holmes

This episode is based on A Study in Scarlet and The Adventure of the Speckled Band.

The opening shot is that of 2 men walking in the distance, approaching the camera. A man is explaining to Dr.Watson about the eccentricities of a prospective roommate. The man talking to Dr Watson is assumed to be Stamford (though we never get to know his name). They eventually meet up with the Bohemian resident of 221 B Baker Street and the rest is history! 

Coming back to the episode, Holmes and Watson discuss each other’s character traits. Dr.Watson proves to be the quiet and retiring one, with Holmes being the exact opposite. As Holmes opens up about his thoughts on astronomy, poetry and philosophy, Watson slowly comes to realize that his roommate is not your regular Joe.

The famous lodgings at 221 B Baker Street

A series of events, including a stranger entering Holmes’s room to never reappear, Watson’s breakfast interrupted by the Baker Street Irregulars, Holmes playing violin at unearthly hours that makes Watson highly suspicious of Holmes’ intentions and character.

He even shares his apprehensions with Stamford, who does not take him seriously. Returning to his apartment, he finds Holmes tinkering with the apartment locks and this proves to be the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back. Watson challenges Holmes to a boxing duel. Holmes proceeds to knock him out cold.

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After quickly establishing himself as the world’s only consulting detective to Watson, we immediately meet Helen Stoner from the The Adventure of the Speckled Band. The sequence in which Holmes questions Ms.Stoner and coolly lights his pipe is to me the one money shot that convinced me that I had found my Definitive Sherlock Holmes.

The rest of the episode very closely follows the The Adventure of the Speckled Band.

Sherlock Holmes gets a visit from the Baker Street Irregulars

What worked best: As always, the casting, music and direction. It was a very inspired choice to combine the initial parts of A Study in Scarlet and The Adventure of the Speckled Band.  The transition from one story to another is flawless and will work fine irrespective of the viewer’s familiarity with the Canon.

The addition of Baker Street Irregulars and the boxing duel were nice touches as well. The background score for Helen Stoner is extremely well done and is probably the best in the series. 

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Image Source: Lenfilm Film Studio 

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Vasily Livanov as Sherlock Holmes

Vasily Livanov is my all-time favorite actor to portray Sherlock Holmes. Born to actor Boris Livanov, Vasily's upbringing was steeped in the artistic milieu. His trademark hoarse voice led to prodigious work in many Russian cartoon productions.

His greatest success as an actor is undeniably as Arthur Conan Doyle's legendary creation, Sherlock Holmes. His Holmes is a highly refined intellectual with extraordinary skills in observation and deduction.

Though Livanov is a tad short to match the physical description of Sherlock Holmes, he invests a lot of wisdom and humor in the role. Livanov's Holmes occasionally wears spectacles as well. To the best of my knowledge, this is quite unique among all the adaptations.

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Livanov's Holmes is assertive and masterly. Livanov presents a very calm and collected version of Holmes that readers of the Canon will instantly recognize.

Unlike another great Sherlock Holmes impersonator, the great Basil Rathbone, Livanov is not saddled with a dumbed down version of Watson. Basil was an excellent Holmes and he would have been the definitive version, but for the gentleman portraying Dr Watson.

Vitaly Solomin is a great foil as the ever-dependable ally and friend, Dr. John Watson. Solomin's Watson is exactly as Conan Doyle had envisioned him to be: a true friend of Holmes and a competent doctor in his own right.

Vitaly Solomin as Dr John Watson

While it is inarguable that the observation and deduction skills of Holmes have made him the most prominent fictional detective in the world, the camaraderie between Holmes and Watson is the other major ingredient that has made Conan Doyle's works so successful.

The literary success of the Holmes-Watson duo has inspired many other similar team-ups (Agatha Christie's Poirot-Hastings is a famous example). True to the spirit of the works that inspired this adaptation, Livanov and Solomin share an excellent on-screen chemistry.

Russian Monument dedicated to Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson

Both Livanov and Solomin have been immortalized in bronze as Holmes and Watson near the British Embassy in Moscow.

Vasily Livanov and Vitaly Solomin are featured in a 4-coin set released to celebrate the 120th anniversary of Sherlock Holmes

The critical acclaim and public reception for Livanov's work is not just limited to Russia. He was awarded in 2006 with an Honorary MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) for his portrayal of Sherlock Holmes. New Zealand Mint released a 4-coin set to celebrate the 120th anniversary of Sherlock Holmes, featuring Vasily Livanov and Vitaly Solomin.

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Image Sources: Lenfilm Films Studio, Sherlockian Who's Who, Alexander Sodov

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