The Brothers Karamazov ** (1958, Yul Brynner, Maria Schell, Richard Basehart, William Shatner, Claire Bloom, Lee J Cobb) – Classic Movie Review 11,375

Writer-director Richard Brooks’s 1958 Metrocolor film The Brothers Karamazov turns Fedor Dostoevsky’s 1880 novel into a busy melodrama of a boorish Russian father’s murder, the false imprisonment of one of his three illegitimate sons, boisterous army officer Dimitri (Yul Brynner), and his escape from conviction during a trial when the real killer is revealed.

The Brothers Karamazov is a sincere and well-mounted film, but it is sunk by the long and unexciting production and the unconvincing performances, apart from Lee J Cobb’s as the old father Fyodor Karamazov, who kicks off the plot when he tries to decide on an heir. Cobb was Oscar nominated as Best Supporting Actor.

Brynner plays the oldest brother with the hots for sluttish Grushenka (Maria Schell, making her American film debut), Richard Basehart is the intellectual middle brother, journalist Ivan, and William Shatner makes his film début as the youngest brother, Alexei, who is training to be a monk.

Marilyn Monroe wanted the Schell role. Brooks said she would have made a fine Grushenka, but negotiations fell through ‘because of her contractual demands and personal troubles’.

Also in the special cast are Claire Bloom, Albert Salmi, Judith Evelyn, Edgar Stehli, Harry Townes, David Opatoshu, Simon Oakland, Frank DeKova, and Mel Welles.

It is written by Julius J. Epstein, Philip G. Epstein and Richard Brooks, and produced by Pandro S. Berman.

Perhaps surprisingly, it was a success. It cost $2,727,000 and grossed $5,440,000, resulting in a profit of $441,000. It was shot from June to August 1957 on location in London and Paris.

The Brothers Karamazov is directed by Richard Brooks, runs 149 minutes, is made by Avon, is released by MGM, is written by Julius J. Epstein, Philip G. Epstein and Richard Brooks, is shot in Metrocolor by John Alton, is produced by Pandro S Berman, is scored by Bronislau Kaper.

© Derek Winnert 2021 Classic Movie Review 11,375

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