At the end of the past century,
when there were no planes to chase the criminals,
no helicopters to spot them,
not even radio to announce their features -
one man lived in London and successfully managed without all of this -
the great detective Mr. Sherlock Holmes.
He lived 221-B, Baker-street.
SHERLOCK HOLMES AND DOCTOR WATSON
PART ONE
ACQUAINTANCE
Based on the book of stories by A. Conan Doyle
Starring
Sherlock Holmes - Vasily Livanov
Doctor Watson - Vitaly Solomin
Mrs. Hadson - Rina Zelenaya
Also starring
Maria Solomina, Gennady Bogachev, Feodor Odinokov
But I warn you, Watson, He is extremely ill-tempered.
- I'd say, he's unbearable. - How's that?
He is a bit on the weird side.
He has strange habits.
He's unsociable.
Very well. I don't like to socialize much myself.
It's here.
- You still want to go through with it? - I have no choice.
- Is Mr. Sherlock Holmes in? - Come in. He's upstairs.
- After you. - Good day.
Good day.
I found it
- What? - The formula.
I found a reagent, that falls out only with haemoglobin.
Allow me to introduce Doctor Watson. Mr. Sherlock Holmes.
Just recently from the East?
- How did you know? - That's nothing.
Do you realize the importance of my discovery, Doctor?
It is an interesting experiment. But what practical use?
My god!
It is by all means practical. Don't you understand
what tremendous opportunities it opens before forensic medicine?
- Give me your finger. - No!
Just one drop of blood.
You see, the water looks practically transparent.
The ratio of blood is insignificant. One to a million.
Now...
What do you say?
And now,
imagine that the suspect's clothes are stained with one
tiny brownish spot.
What is it? Blood? Rust? Fruit juice? Paint?
Not one expert would dare to say it definitely.
Whereas with my reagent you can tell in a matter of seconds.
True. I take my words back.
Very interesting, but Watson's here for a different matter.
- You say the rent is too high for you. - Far too high.
And as you guessed, Watson has just come back from the East.
He's looking for an apartment in London, not too expensive.
- We could split the rent. - If you still want a companion.
If that suits Mr. Watson...
There are 2 separate bedrooms and one sitting-room.
Of course you'll get rid of all this.
Well, I find that the place is rather cozy.
I find It suitable, and I could move in already tomorrow.
That's splendid.
I can understand you, Mr. Watson.
You got to know Mrs. Hudson. Sweet old lady,
minds her own business, but I am not like that.
- First of all, I smoke. - Me too.
- Second, I play the violin. - Unfortunately I don't,
but I like to listen to good music.
Third, I practice chemical experiments.
You're in your right, the more so that they are successful.
Fourth, I receive quite a number of visitors.
But no one will come to visit me, except maybe Mr. Stanford.
Therefore the overall number of visitors shouldn't be too high.
And then again, Mr. Holmes,
I boast of the same virtue as your landlady -
I mind my own business.
And I like to stick my nose into other people's business.
Did you shoot him?
Yes, It was a lucky chance.
Even though I'm not a bad shot.
- Oh, Mr. Holmes... - Yes?
How could you tell I came back from Eastern colonies?
Sheer logic.
Stanford introduced you as a doctor.
But you have a military bearing. So, a military doctor.
You have difficulty moving your left arm. You were wounded...
All I had to remember was where the British fought last.
In the East.
Quite simple in deed.
- Mr. Watson. - Yes?
Is this a novel?
Yes.
- You like reading novels? - You don't?
But that is Dickens.
I never read them and don't intend to. I don't like fiction.
What about history and philosophy?
History, philosophy... Never was into that either.
What about Aristotle? Joan of Arc? Kopernik?
Kopernik? That name sounds familiar. What's he famous for?
My god.
He discovered that the Earth revolves around the Sun.
Or perhaps you're ignorant of that fact also?
My eyes tell me that rather the Sun revolves around the Earth.
Then again maybe he is right, this... What's his name?
If I may ask, Holmes. You are a man of acute mind,
I can tell right away.
You are an expert in chemistry.
How is it that you don't know things known to any schoolboy?
I knew them when I was a schoolboy, but then forgot.
You brag of your own ignorance?
Could you tell dirt from Regent St. From
dirt from Picadilly?
Or ashes of a Hawaiian cigar from that of a Manilla cigar?
Can you say what it says in Paragraph 3
of the British Penitentiary Code?
But I'm speaking of elementary things, familiar to everyone.
I'm not "everyone", Watson. The human brain is like an attic,
that you can stuff with anything you want, which is what fools do
when they drag everything useful and useless over there.
Until finally there's no place for the most useful thing,
or else it is put away so far in the back, you can't take it out.
This is not what I do.
I keep only the most useful tools up my attic.
They're many, all kept in ideal order, always handy.
- No useless junk. - You call Kopernik's teaching useless junk?
All right, supposing the Earth revolves around the Sun.
What...
What do you mean, supposing?
The Earth revolves around the Sun.
But I can find no use for that in my line of work.
How awful it would be to live in a world,
where you couldn't talk to anyone about poetry,
about art,
or politics.
Where everyone knows only what he has to know for his business.
Watson.
I'm sorry.
Mister Watson.
Watson, I can cheer you up. The thing is that people like me...
are few in the world. It could be that I am the only one.
- Good morning, sir. - Good morning.
- Let us in. - What is it, gentlemen?
What's going on?
Where do you think you're going, sir?
- Where? - We want Mr. Holmes.
Watson, they've come to see me.
- Good morning, gentlemen. - Good morning, sir.
You didn't wait for me.
Hunger beats male solidarity.
But that's all right.
I'll catch up with you, and then we can play a game of chess.
You play chess?
What about your visitor?
Visitor? The old man? He left.
- He left? - That's right.
I didn't see him leave.
Mrs. Hudson.
Did you happen to see an old man leave Mr. Holmes' room?
What old man?
Disgusting looking, dressed in shabby rags.
No, I haven't. And, Mr. Watson, I try...
not to notice who goes in there and who goes out.
And I would advise you to do the same.
Watson. Come on in, Watson.
Come in.
Say, Watson, did you ever meet
any of these charming gentlemen?
Put your power of observation to a test.
Who are they?
My good acquaintances.
I don't know any of them.
After you.
I'm sure you will no longer need my services.
Straight ahead, please, and use this door.
You may rest assured, Your Highness.
What is it you're eating there, Watson?
Omelet! I hate omelet. Put it aside and get dressed!
What for?
We're dining at the "Ferrari", quail and "Chateau Rose".
Today I am wealthy.
Thank you, I'm full.
Mrs. Hudson.
Don't you find, that Mr. Holmes...
is a somewhat mysterious person?
No, I don't find that.
I don't find that. And I prefer not to discuss him.
Me too.
Why are you whispering?
He's not at home.
What, you can't sleep, Watson?
I slept soundly.
But I was awakened by these sounds.
But you said you loved music.
Music, yes.
But this... I thought someone was having a fit.
Or a cat got trapped in a pipe.
Maybe you're right.
But it is one of my habits, you see.
I like to think this way, and I have something to think about.
You'd better think, that its already
2 in the morning.
- What is this? - An eye. A human eye.
Glass?
No, real.
It's thought that the pupil of the eye of a murdered man
holds the image of the murderer at the moment of the murder.
I carried out a few experiments and I can say with a great
deal of certainty - absolute crap.
Dear Watson, to cheer you up
I can play you something more familiar to your ear.
He is very secretive.
Never talks about his past, about his family.
Do you know what he does for living?
No, even though we know each other 3 years already.
- It didn't seem proper to pry. - I agree.
That is why I decided to observe him more attentively.
Yes? And what did your observations lead to?
Wait.
Have patience.
I will tell you everything in due time.
I noticed right away that he has a very narrow sphere of interests.
He...
is not familiar with the most simple things, but is an expert
in the Criminal Code and chemistry.
Especially in part of poisons
and explosives.
He knows everything about cold steel and fire arms.
- Is a fairly good shot. - And he boxes.
Boxes? Well, I can check that.
So, what are you saying?
I will say everything I want to say.
He is receiving very odd visitors. I saw women,
who left his room crying.
One disgusting looking old man went in but didn't come out.
He disappeared in Holmes' bedroom and never came out.
- So where did he go? - I don't know.
Maybe he was hiding from the police,
and Holmes helped him to escape through the window.
- Maybe worse. - You're not saying that Holmes
has criminal connections?
Tss! Look on your left, only be careful.
Do it discretely.
- You see him? - So?
A man reading a newspaper.
It's not that simple.
There's a hole in his paper.
He's watching us through it.
Oh-oh, there's another one.
Where?
Over at the tree.
Staring at us.
Those must be his people.
Watson, this poor guy found the paper it in a garbage bin.
That's why it's got a hole in it.
He is waiting to pick up the butt after you finish smoking.
I know, It's hard to believe.
I wouldn't want to believe it myself.
There is much attractive about Sherlock Holmes.
He's pleasant company.
I like him.
But facts speak against him.
This is what I found on the dresser in the hall.
Master keys.
Still I can't believe that such a man like Sherlock Holmes
would end up being a common criminal.
Not a common one.
That's just it! He's an unusual one.
I'm sure he doesn't commit crimes himself.
He's the Mastermind.
The Brain of the criminal world.
How can I help you, sir?
Watson, you've come right in time. I couldn't find my keys.
There they are.
Thank you. I'm glad you found them.
- Mister Holmes. - Come in.
- Care to box with me? - You serious?
You may regret it.
I was the champion of my regiment.
It's time we had a serious talk, Watson.
No doubt, you think that I steal wallets,
Cut off watches from gawks,
scare passers-by in dark alleys...
You haven't forgotten about the Doctor's arm, sir?
Poor observation. I am not boxing with my left one.
- So our chances are even. - Then I'll go bring sherry.
To begin with, you started to hide your watch.
You used to leave it on the fireplace, on the table,
on the sideboard.
Supposing you are afraid of my visitors.
But that's not all.
You used to subscribe to the "Times", now to "Daily News".
Why?
Because they publish apartments-to-rent ads.
You want to change the apartment.
And finally.
As of late you started to lock your door.
You used to leave the key sticking out on the outside.
This allows me to conclude, that you are afraid.
And you are afraid of me.
At first I found it amusing.
On the one hand.
On the other, I understood that we have to clear the matter.
I knew you had a gun hidden away for our final conversation.
A "Webbly-Scott", 38. A military gun, If I'm not mistaking.
Of course.
Accept my congratulations, Watson.
Your deductions are correct. But for the sign.
You should have put a plus instead of a minus.
I am most closely connected with the criminal world.
I am a private detective.
A detective.
- Of course! Of course. - Please calm down.
- Mister Holmes. - Here, drink this.
That's better.
Of course, I should have known!
You are a typical law-abiding Englishman, Watson.
The British are conservative, and we don't like changes.
Anyone who is not like us
in the ways of mind, is easily taken for a rogue.
I should have guessed the first day.
- The experiments with haemoglobine. - Watson.
- People are not observant. - Preoccupied with themselves.
True. But they know little about themselves. Take you, Watson.
Can you say how many steps there are in our staircase?
8.
- How many? - 7.
10.
10. The first one squeaks, a plank was replaced on the second.
Those are trifles. But trifles are most important.
One tiny trifle leads to a chain
of logical deductions.
This is what my deduction method is based on.
How does it look in reality?
I'll show you.
They find a cigarette butt near the body of colonel Ashby.
And cigarettes of the same brand in colonel Ashby's cigarette box
Who smoked the cigarette?
The colonel?
That's what the police thought. I prove beyond any doubt,
that the colonel couldn't have done that.
The colonel wore big luxuriant moustache,
And the butt was very small.
He would have burned his moustache.
Yes, yes, yes.
Then I examined the imprints of teeth and a few other things
and named the murderer. It was the colonel's nephew.
Amazing!
Why don't you go work for the police?
Never. Let them come to me.
Which is exactly what they do when they have a knotty case.
You mean you can solve a case
without leaving your room?
Possible. Not always though. But I have an agents network.
Junkmen, house-maids, street boys.
They provide me with the necessary information.
And Holmes, what about that disgusting looking old man?
You remember him?
The one who went into your room and mysteriously disappeared.
Is he your agent too?
Good morning, sir.
Mr. Holmes, there's a young lady to see you.
- Good day, young lady. - Good day, sir.
My name is Sherlock Holmes. Please come into the room.
My friend and assistant Doctor Watson.
You can trust him and speak freely in his presence.
You're trembling. Are you cold?
- It is not the cold, Mr. Holmes. - What then?
- Fear. - There's nothing to be afraid of.
I hope we will settle everything.
You're just tired.
Got up early, took a long ride in a cart along a bad road.
Then took a train.
How do you know?
The return ticket is sticking from under your cuff.
The left sleeve of your jacket is spattered with dirt.
The spots are fresh.
You must have sat to the left of the driver in a two-wheeled cart
That's exactly the way it was.
Of course. Why should I be surprised?
Mrs. Farintosh told me you were a magician.
Mrs. Farintosh. Yes...
Case of the missing cousin. Did she send you to me?
Yes. And she asked me to thank you once again.
Help me, Mr. Holmes. Help me, or I'll lose my mind.
Worst of all is that no one believes me.
Everyone laughs at my fears.
Even my fianc� says it's the ravings of a madwoman.
Tell me everything from the very beginning
I promise no one will laugh at you here.
My name is Ellen Stoner.
I live in Sarray, in my stepfather Roylott's mansion.
For a long time he was on army service in India, but his career
ended in a most unfortunate way.
I must say, he is a man with a mad temperament
The whole family is like that.
Doctor Roylott beat up his Hindu servant to death.
He spent some time in jail, was to be executed,
but somehow escaped capital punishment
and came back to England. But he was broke.
Here he met my mother, a widow with 2 little girls.
I had a sister, Mr. Holmes.
We were twins.
Mother married Roylott, and we started living together.
Mother had some money, not terribly much, but enough to
live fairly comfortably.
But I can't say we were happy.
The doctor was rude and often lost his temper.
Mother was afraid to fondle us, so as not to make him mad.
Then my mother died, and it grew even worse.
Who did your mother bequeath her assets to?
She left everything to Roylott, but there was one condition.
As soon as we got married, each of us was to get
a third of the money as dowry.
Of course, we wanted to get married.
If at least to get away from that horrible house.
But no one came to visit us. The neighbors were afraid of Roylott
and he didn't need any company.
At last my sister Julia met a nice man,
not very young, but pleasant. And he proposed to her.
I was so happy for her!
But 3 days before the wedding Julia died.
Miss Stoner.
Starting from that moment...
could you please be very accurate in your recollections.
When exactly did it happen?
2 years ago, but I remember it clearly as if it were yesterday.
That night I couldn't sleep, I lay with a book in my hand.
I've come to say goodnight.
Goodnight, Julia.
I envy you so much.
In 3 days you will start a new life.
And I am both happy and sad. I hate to leave you here alone.
But don't worry, I'll often come to visit.
Goodnight.
Ellen, did you hear something hissing at night?
- Hissing? - Yes.
- Where? - I don't know. Perhaps in the hallway,
or maybe outside, on the lawn. A quiet subtle hiss.
I didn't hear anything, but you know I sleep very soundly.
And I couldn't sleep all week.
I wake up - it's all dark and quiet around.
And there's only that hissing sound.
And knocking, you know, very quiet and subtle,
like someone was asking to let him in. Knock-knock-knock.
Oh, that's probably nonsense.
Goodnight.
Miss Stoner, did you always lock your door?
Yes, both Julia and me would lock our doors every night.
Why?
Doctor Roylott brought a baboon and a hyena from India.
A hyena and a baboon?
And he lets them out to walk about the house at night.
(a woman's cry)
Julia. Julia, open the door.
Julia, open it!
Julia!
A motley...
Motley ribbon.
Oh, my god.
Forgive me for...
making you relive the painful experience of that night.
What about your stepfather?
Awakened by the cry, he rushed out of his bedroom,
listened to her heart, examined her pupils. He's a doctor.
And said it was over.
How did he formulate the cause of death?
Heart failure.
But I think she died of fear.
Someone scared her to death. Remember, she whispered:
"The motley ribbon".
Where could she see a motley ribbon?
I don't know. That could have something to do with gypsies.
I didn't tell you, a gypsy camp settled next to our mansion.
Interesting.
But I didn't tell you the most important thing.
A month ago our neighbor Mr. Harmitage proposed to me.
- We are to get married in a week. - A week?
Yes, but 2 days ago they started repairs at the mansion.
One wall in my room was dismantled,
and for the time I had to move into my sister's room.
At night I couldn't sleep. I lay awake thinking about Julia.
Suddenly I heard a quiet hissing sound.
And knocking. Knock-knock.
The next night that happened again.
All night I sat up in bed with with my bed lamp switched on.
And in the morning I took the first train here, to see you.
Mr. Holmes, if you don't help me something terrible will happen.
I'd very much like to comfort you, Miss Stoner,
but I'm afraid you are faced with a lethal threat.
I'd like to examine the house and the room when Roylott's out.
- Can that be arranged? - I think so.
Tomorrow he's visiting a notary. He won't be in for 2 hours.
Too bad. It'd be better not to delay until tomorrow.
But, well, tomorrow will do.
Don't go to sleep this night. Look, listen and remember.
- What is the name of the mansion? - Stock-Moron.
I shall be near by. When Roylott leaves,
you'll give me a signal with the candle. Like this.
- What do you say, Watson? - You're the expert here.
But as a doctor
I would doubt the story of that young lady.
She's clearly under tremendous nervous pressure.
Is in visible agitation.
It could very well be her fantasy.
The fruit of her sick imagination.
Are you judging by her look?
Not just that.
Remember the way she described her stepfather?
To listen to her, he's an absolute monster.
All her life she's been jealous of him and her mother.
A common story.
Any psychologist would say:
Don't trust a husband who speaks bad of his mother-in-law,
don't trust a stepson who speaks bad of his stepmother.
Don't listen to all the terrible things a stepdaughter tells you
about her stepfather.
- Let me through! - You can't go in there.
- But I will! - No!
- You have no right. - Let me through!
- You can't... - Get out of my way!
Old cow!
- Go away, bandit! - Idiot.
Which one of you is Sherlock Holmes?
I said, which one of you is Sherlock Holmes?
I am Sherlock Holmes.
Doctor Grimsby Roylott.
My stepdaughter Ellen Stoner has just been here.
- So? - What do you mean, so?
You don't think you can pull any tricks on me, do you?
The old cow Farintosh gave her your address.
What lies did she tell you about me?
That's none of your business.
Listen here, young scoundrel! I had to do with your kind.
Just stick your long nose in my business,
and see what happens.
I'll make a roast-beef out of you.
Listen, sir, I won't allow...
Shut your mouth!
This fool wants to teach me!
Another bloody sleuth.
Mind you, both of you:
Don't try and play any tricks on me.
Now what do you say, my dear psychologist?
You can't go there alone, Holmes.
I'll go with you.
Very well. And please take your gun.
The bastard. Broke into the house, left footprints all over
the floor, ruined a good poker.
This case is very interesting and very simple.
I call those a "one-pipe case".
Meaning?
While you smoke out one pipe, you find the answer.
You mean to say, you already know the answer?
There're a few details missing but that's not the point
The main thing is to nail down the murderer
and help the young lady.
Gentlemen. There's Stock-Moron.
Stop here.
Thank you, we'll walk from here.
Thank you, sir.
Watch the window.
There's the signal. Let's go, Watson.
I'm so glad you came, Mr. Holmes.
No.
- That's your former bedroom? - Yes.
Your stepfather is not pushing with the repairs.
That's my sister's room. Now I sleep here.
Anything new, Miss Stoner?
- Nothing. - What's with your arm?
I didn't see that yesterday. It must be your stepfather.
Yes.
He was very cross with me for my coming to see you.
Mr. Holmes, keep away from him, he is a terrible man.
What a bastard!
The shutters are strong enough.
You can't open them from the outside. Watson.
Have you ever seen such a strange bed?
- Strange? - The legs are screwed on to the floor.
What's this?
That's a string from a bell.
To summon the servants.
- Was it always there? - No, Roylott put it there
some time before Julia died.
But we never used it, we did everything ourselves.
If I understand correctly, that is an air- hole.
Yes, it was also made about that time.
We're through here, now let's go to your stepfather's room.
- But it's locked. - We'll try to unlock it then.
Miss Stoner, is there a cat in the house?
No, no cat. Just the hyena and the baboon.
We haven't seen your hyena, but I doubt it's going to drink
from such a small saucer.
- Where's the baboon? - Wandering about the house.
Very well, Watson. Better than I expected.
I have to ask you a favor. It's not quite something usual.
I'll do anything you say.
Me and Watson will spend the night in your bedroom.
And what about me?
You'll stay with us. It is necessary.
Very well.
When he comes in - and we will hear him -
I'll put out the lights, as if you'd gone to sleep.
Watson, you sit here.
Try not to fall asleep. Your life depends on it.
Get your gun ready.
Whatever happens - stay quiet.
Don't be afraid, that's a night moth. There's many of them.
Watson, did you see? Did you see it?
(a man's cry)
Mr. Holmes, you saved more than just my life.
You...
You delivered me from constant terror.
I know It's a bit awkward to talk about money,
but still, how much do I owe you?
Miss Stoner, you owe me and Mr. Watson
1 pound 6 shillings
for our fare
from London and back.
I discarded the version of gypsies from the start.
Miss Stoner fell victim to common prejudices.
People try to stay away from gypsies out of fear for them.
They accuse them of all sorts of things. Who robbed the church?
Who steals children? The gypsies do.
But Mr. Roylott liked their company. Why?
Who knows. Perhaps to make his neighbors mad.
And maybe he fell in love with a gypsy queen.
It's clear however that no one except Roylott would benefit
from the death of the poor sisters.
The next step was the air-hole.
Have you ever seen a vent that would lead not outside,
not to the attic, but to the adjoining room. Then this
string that no one needed.
That's when you thought about the snake?
Yes. Roylott's plan was very well thought out.
The swamp viper is one of the most venomous snakes in India.
Roylott lived in India and he knew...
its venom could not be detected by chemical analysis.
Its bite leaves 2 tiny spots. Who'd notice them?
But what about that mysterious hissing?
To hide the evidence Roylott called the snake with a hiss,
to the place where the saucer with milk stood.
But that's impossible. You can tell you don't read much.
The latest experiments have proved that snakes are deaf.
Oh yes? I didn't know that.
Roylott must have suspected that,
that's why to make sure, he knocked on the wall.
All deaf creatures are extremely sensitive to vibration.
When I heard a rustling sound I used my poke.
I must have hit the snake, and it fell into a rage
and bit the first one it saw - its own master.
That's the whole story.
My dear Holmes, you are a great detective.
My dear Watson, that's what I keep telling you.
But why did you refuse to accept the fee?
Work costs money.
I don't always refuse to accept money. But in this case...
To accept money from the poor girl...
I'm not rich, but I can always afford 2 tickets to the opera.
They're giving the "Magic Flute" at the Covent-Garden tonight.
(sings a tune)
Written by Yuly Dunskoy, Valery Frid,
Directed by Igor Maslennikov
Director of photography Yury Veksler
Production designer Mark Kaplan
Music by Vladimir Dashkevich