The Brothers Karamazov (1958)

Very Cool!!!

Simply A Masterpiece

The movie is wildly uneven but lively and timely - in its own surreal way

It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.

The admirable effort to squeeze one of the greatest novels of all time into a film has resulted in a controversial masterpiece of intensity, and Dostoievsky would have liked it. Maria Schell (Grushenka) and Lee J. Cobb (the murdered father) stand out of a congregation of an ideal acting ensemble. Yul Brunner as Dimitri, Claire Bloom as Katia, Richard Baseheart as Ivan, William Shatner as Alyosha and Albert Salmi as a perfectly loathsome Smerdyakov are all perfect in their performances leaving nothing out, the music is perfectly fitted into the constantly changing and dramatic moods of ever increasing tension, but the greatest credit goes to the writer/director Richard Brooks, who has succeeded with the impossible, to give one of the most complex and polyphonic novels a digestible cinematic form. He adds to the show by including some extra scenes to make the drama easier to grasp, like a considerable foreplay to where the real start of the novel, the family congregation at the Starets Zossima's. I saw this film some 40 years ago and have never been able to forget the performances of Maria Schell and Lee J. Cobb, and the pleasure of reviewing them in what could have been their best performances was a welcome return of a great delight. It was a special satisfaction to observe how Richard Brooks has succeeded in underscoring the romantic element of Dostoievsky, he is in fact the greatest of romantics although well covered under a massive outfit of humanity, intelligence, psychology and the faculty of anatomizing human nature. The romance here is that between Dimitri and Grushenka, totally hopeless because of the circumstances but therefore the more heightened. It is very interesting to compare this film version with the Russian complete screen adaptation of 2008, which will be reviewed later. They definitely complement each other.

This movie succeeds best in creating believable characterizations, particularly of Yul Brynner's fascinating Dimitri and Maria Schell's Druzhinka.For anyone interested in family dynamics and love relationships "Brothers" presents a web of triangulated rivalries and unrequited, seething passions -- fiction that rings powerfully true.Lee J. Cobb's debauched patriarch commands the screen and his world-weary, cynical musings ring as true as those of his sons', including an unrecognizable William Shatner as a monk who seems to walk if not on water than several inches above the earth the rest of us mortals tred.I am embarrassed to admit I haven't read this great novel -- although the movie makes me want to -- so I wasn't familiar with the story. However the movie seemed to waste the talents of beautiful Claire Bloom in the role of a masochistic yearner. And the ending seemed somehow rushed and incomplete, leaving one to wonder how Dimitri fled so easily.The movie, filmed in Hollywood, delightfully conjured rural Russia and its wonderful horse-drawn carriages and snowscapes.An excellent tribute to a classic.

I first read this novel as a 13 year old at my dad's recommendation! I loved it and reread it many times as a teen-ager. I was young, impressionable, and brought up in an "Orthodox" home...I was spiritually moved and felt a kinship with Dostoyevski's religiosity. I saw the movie at age 19 and was prepared to hate what Hollywood might have done to commercialize my favorite novel! Instead I was transported to 19th century Russia and was totally mesmerized. I forgave the "deletions," I forgave the "alterations"...Dostoyevski was still there and talking!!! I fell in love with Maria Schell and nearly swooned during her Gypsy dance! Alexei was the young monk who personified what it means to be a generous and forgiving Christian; Ivan the spiritually conflicted and deeply honest man of science; Dimitri the tortured deeply human soul who takes on suffering...I even understood and cried when the saintly Starets knelt before Dimitri in the powerful scene at the monastery and asked for his blessing! If only some of our US citizens who explain their draconian political notions as manifestations of their religious beliefs could learn spirituality from Father Zosima! I am now 68 years of age and thrill with each reviewing of this classic. All actors were perfect in their role and for me Schatner will always be vulnerable young Alexei...not the omnipotent Kirk!

The earthy intense smoking emotional energy of the actors pulls in the watcher. It stamps the viewer forever. A visit through movie watching becomes a memory that stays stamped on the viewer for eternity or as in my case a lifetime.Emotional fencing supported by the physical threat of violence wrapped in raw pure need and desire fired with a tight steal corset of greed. This movie is all of this and more. Why it is not higher in the rating is certainly a puzzle.Yul Brynner is timeless, and nails his character. Yul Brynner .... Dmitri Karamazov Character of strength and entitlement nails this character.Maria Schell .... Grushenka;Claire Bloom .... Katya, The female characters played well off each other. Lee J. Cobb .... Father Karamazov Cobb unbending with favorites who anoints the chosen one with forgivenessAlbert Salmi .... Smerdjakov William Shatner .... Alexi Karamazov Star Trek Captain character is not to be seen in this role, but his promise does shine through. Richard Basehart .... Ivan Karamazov The Submarine Captain of the future TV series, his strong voice, in this role he is a great. Judith Evelyn .... Mme. Anna Hohlakov Edgar Stehli .... Grigory Harry Townes .... Ippoli Kirillov Miko Oscard .... Ilyusha Snegiryov David Opatoshu .... Capt. Snegiryov Simon Oakland .... Mavrayek Frank DeKova .... Capt. Vrublevski (as Frank de Kova) Jay Adler .... Pawnbroker I truly enjoyed this movie, it is one of my favorites, and has stayed with me over 40 years. That being said it definably struck a fiber cord with in my being