Russian actor Vitaly Solomin would have turned 76 today.  He played an absolutely perfect Watson in the Lenfilm series the Adventures of Sherlock Holmes.  (the 'old' Russian Holmes series)  Here is a link to a lovely youtube video tribute to Solomin:  www.youtube.com/watch

Happy birthday Vitaly Solomin!

alek_morse referenced this in his lj, so I'm reposting the link here, since I'm guessing not many of you on my f-list read Russian (just to be clear, I don't either), but the review itself is in English.

The Curious-Incident of the Russian Sherlock Holmes is a very insightful review of the "old" Russian Series with Livanov and Solomin. If you haven't seen this series, you should. It's widely available on DVD and although it's subtitled and the subtitles are occasionally a bit odd, you already know what the actors are saying anyhow, so don't let that put you off.

Happy birthday to Sir Vasily Livanov, the Russian Sherlock Holmes. I say it that way, because to me he is 'the' Russian Holmes in the same way that Jeremy Brett is 'the' British Holmes.

If you haven't seen the series, run don't walk to get it. I don't believe there is a dubbed version, but don't let that stop you. There are subtitles and you know pretty much what they're saying anyhow.

This is from Google translate, so it's a little disjointed, but the sense of it comes across pretty well. If you read Russian, the original is in
ru_sherlockiana


Vasily Livanov : "This is not Holmes, but some punks ! "

"Russia" ill Holmes. At 9 pm - a new series , in 11 - old . They say, feel the difference. And it is this difference , seen at a glance . Differently , in general, could not be , because Sherlock Holmes in this country alone - Vasily Livanov . He - and the most interested spectator fresh TV product .
- Vasily Borisovich , well, how do you show?
- Very boring .
- This is what, the only impression?
- Practically yes. I was wondering just because I'm a very good attitude to Igor Petrenko, thought it has the potential cast .
- Maybe it 's just not his role?
- His - not his, as a professional in any role he should be organic. A Petrenko is sandwiched ... You know, when I was advertising, I switched on the next button , and there was a film "Lucky Paschke " Igor starring . Normal young man : internally free, logical , charming ... And here , because that is clamped and tries to portray something , he does not live image. Image of something not created! And he can not create it : inorganic , strums . Does not believe in what's playing . Looking for anything to hide , for what part. You look after every sentence he purses his lips . Or what if he has a playful such index finger , which he pokes around in all subjects , in partners, themselves . And when not in that poke , picks up some reason , such as wind direction determines ...
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- Vasily Borisovich , maybe its restraint - partly your fault ? All the same sample before your eyes .
- I got nothing to do with it. There is Sir Arthur Conan Doyle , who is described in detail his hero , and any discrepancy looks strange . As well as claims to originality , which are contrary to the author .
- You watched " Holmes " with Downey Jr. ? Do not feel that it mimics more Petrenko , and not you ?
- I do not know who they're all imitate . Try something vytvorit of big ambitions, but this is not the source , hence all sorts of absurdities . Holmes then just kind of riff-raff ! I read an interview with the director, where he talks about Holmes and Watson : " This is not a gentlemen , it is the poor people ." He just in my head full of confusion , because "gentleman" - not a financial concept. And he says, " the poor people who find it difficult to pay the rent in Baker Street ." Sorry, Baker Street in central London . If they are poor , could rent an apartment somewhere in the suburbs, right? .. Generally , the Victorian era - a century of respectability is the iron laws of etiquette. A man can not appear in their underwear in front of a lady, it is indecent . And for some reason they appear endlessly in his underwear in front of the ladies. A flat Mrs. Hudson ? It's just the Odessa Rookery , something out of "liquidation" . And all the characters are there - absolute Odessa ! .. You know , at one time with the Air Force sent me a thick anthology - all the film adaptation of " Hound of the Baskervilles ." There were any Watson and Holmes - skinny , fat ... Were homosexuals . Well before that director Kavun not thought , he decided to do differently - joined Watson and Mrs. Hudson ...
- By the way, as you Andrei Panin as Watson ? They say the only bright spot .
- I said - it's punks . They're punks . Why, for example , Watson thrashes all ? Is that Steven Seagal ? Everything is built on power, on violence, that is not the same as Conan Doyle. Holmes wins because the power of thought , the iron logic ... I do not say that the plot is very confusing - after 10 minutes the viewer loses the thread , do not understand what is happening . And time does not understand , it becomes boring ... In general, I do not understand what it is . There are only claims , and - the failure of these claims. In terms of building plot, in terms of image interpretation , in terms of the display of the era ...
- To you creators for some advice, advice is not addressed?
- Appeals to me twice Guy Ritchie (director of Anglo-American film " Sherlock Holmes ." - Ed.) . First, they called me and offered a role in his film senator . Asked what fee ? Say free. I said that I have no reason to make such gifts Guy Ritchie . A second time he invited me to dinner , but I refused - said that usually dine with friends. Well, interesting to me . Whatever I told him about his paintings ? What would you tell ? .. As for the film - I was invited to a talk show dedicated to exit the show. I said, " You know, I have not seen the film, the concept of it have not. And in general it is unethical ... "And they asked about the ethics tell me:" We will pay you . " That is not even understand what I tell them . They also invited Steblova Zhenyu . He also asked why , what for? And you say , will act as an expert on Conan Doyle . In general, some bullshit ... I can say that yesterday I had two calls . Please call Nicholas Vashchilin who put in all our movie Trick scene , but what he said about the show, unprintable . And then there was another call. I asked: " Who is it? " They say: " It does not matter , I'm your audience ... You see that? "" Saw " - I answered. " Can not you guess why this series after your show ? " - " I have no idea ." - "Herbs poison , and then give an antidote ... " You know, at one time Thank Govoruhin invited me to play Paganel in his film " Children of Captain Grant ." I say : "Glory , I can not play after Cherkasov. It is amazing , and is filled with the exact image . What will repeat it ? " And now I understand why Jack refused and Mironov, and Knightley from work at Kavun . You know why? It just speaks to their professionalism ...

Go, Sir Vasily! Call 'em as you see 'em!!