The Brothers Karamazov (1958 film)

The Brothers Karamazov is a 1958 American period drama film[3] directed by Richard Brooks from a screenplay co-written with Julius and Philip Epstein, based on Fyodor Dostoevsky's 1880 novel. It stars Yul Brynner, Maria Schell, Claire Bloom, Lee J. Cobb, Albert Salmi, Richard Basehart, and William Shatner in his film debut.

The Brothers Karamazov
Theatrical release poster
Directed byRichard Brooks
Screenplay byRichard Brooks
Julius J. Epstein
Philip G. Epstein
Based onThe Brothers Karamazov
1880 novel
by Fyodor Dostoevsky
Produced byPandro S. Berman
StarringYul Brynner
Maria Schell
Claire Bloom
Lee J. Cobb
Albert Salmi
Richard Basehart
William Shatner
CinematographyJohn Alton
Edited byJohn Dunning
Music byBronislau Kaper
Production
company
Avon Productions
Distributed byMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release date
Running time
145 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$2.7 million[2]
Box office$5.4 million[2]

The film was released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer on February 20, 1958. It received mixed-to-positive reviews from critics, though the performances were widely praised. It was nominated for the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival,[4] and Lee J. Cobb received an Oscar nomination performance as Fyodor Karamazov. The National Board of Review ranked The Brothers Karamazov as one of its Top 10 Films of 1958.

Plot

The story follows Fyodor, the patriarch of the Karamazov family, and his sons. When he tries to decide on an heir, the tensions among the brothers run high, leading to infighting and murder.

Cast

Source:[3]

Production

Marilyn Monroe was rumored to be in negotiations to play the role of Grushenka, but several conflicting accounts arose around the time the film entered production. An MGM executive said she'd turned down the role in part because she was expecting a baby, but Monroe's agent denied this and claimed that the studio had never even made her an offer.[5] Richard Brooks said that Monroe would have made a "fine" Grushenka, but claimed that negotiations fell through "because of her contractual demands and personal troubles."[6] Carroll Baker was the next choice for the role, but Warner Bros. put her on suspension and would not loan her out after she refused to play Diana Barrymore in Too Much, Too Soon. Maria Schell stepped in instead, making her American film debut.[7][8] It was also the film debut for William Shatner, Albert Salmi and Simon Oakland.

The film was shot from June to August 1957[1] on location in London and Paris.[8]

Release

The film had its premiere at Radio City Music Hall in New York on February 20, 1958. It opened at the Pantages Theatre in Los Angeles on February 26 and a day later at 3 theaters in Florida before expanding to 20 US cities in March.[9]

Reception

In its opening week at Radio City Music Hall it grossed $157,000.[10] In its third week of release, the film reached number one at the U.S. box office.[11] According to MGM records, the film made $2,390,000 in the U.S. and Canada[12] and $3,050,000 in other markets, resulting in a profit of $441,000.[2]

Critical response

Contemporary reviews were mixed to positive.

Bosley Crowther of The New York Times wrote "Except for a halfway happy ending that blunts the drama's irony, [Brooks] has done a good job of compressing the substance of the book...But most of all, Mr. Brooks and Mr. Berman have put upon the screen a large splash of vigorous drama and passion involving interesting, robust characters."[13] Variety declared "Sumptuous and sensitive MGM production by Pandro S. Berman doesn't sacrifice art to entertainment nor lose entertainment in a false conception of what constitutes art. 'The Brothers Karamazov' should be one of the year's commercial successes."[14] Harrison's Reports wrote: "Excellent is the word for this absorbing and vigorous screen version of Fyodor Dostoyevsky's epic novel...The acting is superb, with brilliant performances turned in by Lee J. Cobb, as the lecherous and crafty father, and by Yul Brynner, as his fiery, quick-tempered eldest son."[15] For the Los Angeles Times, Philip K. Scheuer called Brynner's performance "impressive" and wrote that Lee J. Cobb as Fyodor "succeeds in striking a recognizable and responsive chord with an audience," but found that Maria Schell's Grushenka was played "with a persisting Mona Lisa smile that I felt was not only foreign to the role of the materialistic, venal harlot but was also incomprehensibly at variance with her changing moods."[16]

In more critical reviews, John McCarten of The New Yorker declared that the film "goes on for about two and a half hours, most of which you'd be better off spending at some more rewarding pursuit...I think that Mr. Brooks, in addition to being saddled with actors who just can't stand up to the obligations they've assumed, never quite grapples with the ideas that Dostoevski was trying to propound."[17] The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote "There is none of Dostoievsky's profundity or exciting exploration of motive. All the brothers emerge as quite inexplicable people. It is hard to be sympathetic to Dmitri, and not to be embarrassed by Alyosha or scornful of Ivan. The performances throughout suggest that the cast never really knew what it was all about."[18]

Awards and nominations
Award Category Nominee(s) Result
Academy Award Best Supporting Actor Lee J. Cobb Nominated
Cannes Film Festival Palme d'Or Richard Brooks Nominated
Directors Guild of America Award Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures Nominated
Laurel Award Top Male Dramatic Performance Lee J. Cobb Nominated
Top Cinematography – Color John Alton Nominated
Top Music Composer Bronislau Kaper Nominated
National Board of Review Award Top Ten Films 8th Place
Best Supporting Actor Albert Salmi (also for The Bravados) Won
New York Film Critics Circle Award Best Director Richard Brooks Nominated

See also

References
  1. "The Brothers Karamazov - Details". AFI Catalog of Feature Films. Retrieved July 13, 2018.
  2. The Eddie Mannix Ledger, Los Angeles: Margaret Herrick Library, Center for Motion Picture Study.
  3. "AFI|Catalog". catalog.afi.com. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
  4. "Festival de Cannes: The Brothers Karamazov". festival-cannes.com. Retrieved February 9, 2009.
  5. "Marilyn and Studio Differ on Role Offer". Los Angeles Times: 2. May 7, 1957.
  6. Scheuer, Philip K. (June 16, 1957). "'The Brothers Karamazov' Rolling — Without Marilyn". Los Angeles Times: Part V, p. 2.
  7. Pryor, Thomas M. (May 3, 1957). "Warners to Hold Actress to Pact". The New York Times: 20.
  8. "The Brothers Karamazov - History". AFI Catalog of Feature Films. Retrieved July 13, 2018.
  9. "M-G-M Back On Top in '58!". Variety. February 19, 1958. p. 15. Retrieved September 26, 2021 – via Archive.org.
  10. "B'way Snaps Back; 'Karamazov' Sock 157G, 'Cowboy' OK 32G, 'Sing' Mild 10G, 'Witness' Mighty 53G, 2 Houses". Variety. February 26, 1958. p. 9. Retrieved September 27, 2021 – via Archive.org.
  11. "National Boxoffice Survey". Variety. March 12, 1958. p. 3. Retrieved September 26, 2021 – via Archive.org.
  12. "Top Grossers of 1958". Variety. January 7, 1959. p. 48. Please note figures are for U.S. and Canada only and are domestic rentals accruing to distributors as opposed to theatre gross
  13. Crowther, Bosley (February 21, 1958). "Screen: 'The Brothers Karamazov'". The New York Times: 18.
  14. "The Brothers Karamazov". Variety: 6. February 19, 1958.
  15. "The Brothers Karamazov". Harrison's Reports: 32. February 22, 1958.
  16. Scheuer, Philip K. (February 16, 1958). "'Karamazov' People Full of Complexities". Los Angeles Times: Part V, p. 1–2.
  17. McCarten, John (March 1, 1958). "The Current Cinema". The New Yorker. pp. 104, 106.
  18. "The Brothers Karamazov". The Monthly Film Bulletin. 25 (295): 98–99. August 1958.
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