Dvenadtsataya noch

This black and white Russian version is probably of greater interest to Shakespearean film scholars than audience members looking for a watchable Twelfth Night. It has the feel, but not the studio slickness, of Hollywood Shakespeare from the thirties and forties.

It begins with a shipwreck, uses the same actress to play Viola and Sebastian, and in spite of cutting the play to the bone (What else can one do in 88 minutes?), spends an amazing amount of time showing people walking silently.

The actors do have plenty of energy, and where else does Feste sing in Russian?

When I stumbled on the title in imdb.com, I was pained to see that the brilliant film was still awaiting 5 (five!) votes. It has dazzling ensemble of actors and actresses in it. To start with, as the film was made in the 50-s, the era of beauties on the screen, it stars Alla Larionova, a ravishing beauty with a cascade of golden hair, Klara Luchko, Vadim Medvedev. But though just to see such beautiful people is a feast for the eye, their participation is not the greatest attraction of the film. Yanshin, Vitsin and Merkuryev - they are the marvellous trio that is absolutely unforgettable. If they had never played another part in all their lives, after playing in this film they would have become immortal as actors. Their performance is witty, boysterous, playful. In one word, I will always see the three characters in my mind's eye the way they were played by the three great actors. The film crew managed to convey that playful irreality of Shakespeare when life is stranger than fiction, when everything is not what it seems. I think that had the film been known to the Western public it could have been given a bunch of Oscars even now. At least as a tribute to great actors.

I have just seen this in Russian and it appears to be available with english subtitles. I can't recommend it highly enough for its scenery, costumes, characterisation and the period colour.