THE BROTHERS KARAMASOV

Old hand Richard Brooks follows Hollywood’s rule that a film has to be “bigger than life“. He presents a sumptuous Russian visual medley with huge feelings – custom-made for his leading actress Maria Schell as Grušenka in her US debut, who together with Yul Brynner as Dmitrij is in the film’s center. Young officer Dmitrij Karamazov who is engaged to Katja, a girl from a good family, demands his share of the inheritance from his father Fedor Karamazov (Lee J. Cobb who received an Oscar nomination for his part), but with no success. When Dmitrij learns that the old man is about to marry the prostitute Grušenka, he attempts to ruin his plans, but falls in love with Grušenka himself and becomes insanely jealous of his father, now his rival. Soon after, the old Karamazov is murdered and Dmitrij immediately becomes the main suspect. His former fiancee manages to have Dmitrij banished by presenting a letter containing the murder intention – although in this version he can escape.