20 best Soviet TV series for adults and children

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

"Seventeen Moments of Spring", "Connoisseurs lead the investigation" and other famous projects of the past.

During the Soviet era, there were no serials on our television in the modern sense. They were most often filmed not in seasons, but entirely at once, and only later were divided into episodes.

In fact, most Soviet television films were what are now called mini-series: a multi-part project created for the air, not for the big screens. However, if it turned out to be popular, it could be continued and new parts removed.

1. The meeting place cannot be changed

• USSR, 1979.
• Crime, drama, detective.
• Duration: 5 episodes.
• IMDb: 8, 9.

After the war, retired intelligence officer Vladimir Sharapov goes to serve in the criminal investigation department under the leadership of Captain Zheglov. On the very first day, he has to face all the difficulties of a new job. Now Zheglov and Sharapov must investigate the murder of Larisa Gruzdeva and find the Black Cat robbery gang.

This mini-series is a true legend. Largely thanks to the leading actors. Moreover, the party leadership did not really want to see Vladimir Vysotsky in such a story: he did not have the best reputation. But the authors of the original book "The Era of Mercy", the Weiners brothers and director Stanislav Govorukhin were sure that he would do it perfectly. As a result, for the samples, actors were specially recruited who lost to Vysotsky. Of course, in the end they took him.

2. Seventeen Moments of Spring

• USSR, 1973.
• Drama, military.
• Duration: 12 episodes.
• IMDb: 8, 9.

The legendary series about the Soviet intelligence officer Maxim Isaev, who was introduced to the highest circles of Nazi Germany under the name of SS Standartenführer Stirlitz. On the eve of the defeat of the Nazis, he continues to carry out the orders of the center, suppressing the last attempts of the enemy to escape from retaliation.

In 2009, a restored color version of this series was released. The audience perceived it ambiguously: on the one hand, it made the picture clearer and show more details. In addition, the sound track was updated for the re-release, making it more pleasant to the ear. On the other hand, adjusting the image to fit the modern 16: 9 aspect ratio greatly reduced the height of the frame. Plus, some of the scenes were cut.

But in any case, the classic black and white version has not disappeared anywhere.

3. Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson

• USSR, 1980-1986.
• Detective drama.
• Duration: 5 films (11 episodes).
• IMDb: 8, 7.

The famous film adaptation of the works of Arthur Conan Doyle about the great detective Sherlock Holmes and his partner Dr. Watson. Together, detectives investigate the most complicated cases: from the attack of the mysterious Baskervilles dog to the capture of the greatest villain Moriarty.

The project came out in the format of television films, each of which consisted of two or three episodes. Moreover, in many ways, the authors of the Soviet version repeated the fate of Arthur Conan Doyle himself, who wanted to finish the story of Sherlock much earlier. By the last film "The Twentieth Century Begins" the actors were already tired of the project, and Vasily Livanov completely ruined relations with the director Maslennikov for many years.

But still, the audience is very fond of the Soviet version, considering it one of the most iconic and exciting film adaptations of books about Sherlock Holmes.

4. In Search of Captain Grant

• USSR, Bulgaria, 1986.
• Adventures.
• Duration: 7 episodes.
• IMDb: 8, 3.

Lord Glenarvan and his wife Helene find a bottle with a letter during a sea cruise. In the paper, Captain Grant and two sailors, who miraculously escaped the crash of the ship Britannia, ask for help. Glenarvan and the captain's children set out on a journey to find Grant. The trouble is that from the coordinates they only know the latitude.

In addition to the main plot, a line was added to this multi-part version of the famous story, which tells about the author of the book "Children of Captain Grant" Jules Vernet and how the plot of the novel was born in his head.

5. Guest from the future

• USSR, 1985.
• Science fiction, adventure.
• Duration: 5 episodes.
• IMDb: 8, 3.

The boy Kolya from the sixth grade of an ordinary Soviet school went for kefir and found a time machine. In the future, he managed to destroy the insidious plans of the space pirates, who wanted to steal the myelophon mind reading device. And now the villains are looking for Kolya, who has returned to the past. And they are followed by Alisa Selezneva.

The most famous and successful film adaptation of children's fiction by Kir Bulychev with live actors. In 1987, the full-length film "Purple Ball" was released, where Alice was again played by Natasha Guseva. And a year later - “The Island of the Rusty General”, a new actress Katya Prizhbiljak starred there.

6. D'Artagnan and the Three Musketeers

• USSR, 1978.
• Historical, Adventure, Musical.
• Duration: 3 episodes.
• IMDb: 8, 0.

The three-part Soviet film adaptation of Alexander Dumas's book tells about the poor but proud Gascon d'Artagnan, who arrives in Paris, wanting to join the ranks of the king's musketeers. He has to find true friends and confront vile enemies. And also get involved in intrigues on which the fate of all of France depends.

The authors of the film adaptation, of course, greatly changed the plot of the original, smoothing out the provocative themes of Dumas. But the audience loved great actors, songs and a dynamic plot. And after the first film, the fate of the on-screen musketeers developed as in a real series.

First came the four-part film The Musketeers Twenty Years Later, then two episodes of The Secrets of Queen Anne. And four more episodes entitled "The Return of the Musketeers, or the Treasures of Cardinal Mazarin" appeared already in the two thousandth. But each next film was received worse than the previous one.

7. Shadows disappear at noon

• USSR, 1970-1971.
• Drama.
• Duration: 7 episodes.
• IMDb: 7, 9.

Far in the taiga, in the small village of Zeleny Dol, serious passions unfold. Residents have to go through the same events that shake the entire vast country: civil war, modernization, elections to the Supreme Soviet and, of course, hardships during the Great Patriotic War.

Initially, this project was shown in an abridged version of four episodes. And in the late nineties, the ORT channel decided to divide the parts into shorter ones, and released a new restored version of 10 episodes.

8. Russia is young

• USSR, 1981-1982.
• Historical, drama.
• Duration: 9 episodes.
• IMDb: 7, 9.

The mini-series, based on the novel of the same name by Yuri German, tells about Russia during the time of Peter the Great. The plot is centered around three main characters: captain-commander Sylvester Ievlev, lieutenant of the customs troops Afanasy Krykov and helmsman-pomor Ivan Ryabov. They participate in the construction of the Russian fleet, coping with the greed and laziness of officials, and then help save the country from the attack of the Swedes.

Although the story is dedicated to other heroes, many viewers especially fell in love with the emotional Peter the First, played by Dmitry Zolotukhin.

9. Shield and sword

• USSR, 1968.
• Drama, military.
• Duration: 4 episodes.
• IMDb: 7, 8.

Soviet intelligence officer Alexander Belov in 1940 leaves for Germany under a false name. For several years he reaches good heights in the service in the Abwehr and is transferred to Berlin. There he gets access to important classified information.

This mini-series can be called the predecessor of Seventeen Moments of Spring. Due to the success of the latter, it was a little forgotten, but excellent actors and an exciting plot make the film story a must-see.

10. Eternal Call

• USSR, 1973-1983.
• Drama.
• Duration: 19 episodes.
• IMDb: 7, 8.

The plot tells the story of the Savelyev family, who came from a Siberian village. Their fate is inextricably linked with the main and often tragic events in Russia from the beginning of the 20th century to the sixties.

This series is based on the novel of the same name by Anatoly Ivanov. Among the interesting facts about this work, one can recall the "Dulles Plan", which was spread in the press, and then on the Internet, which in fact turned out to be a hoax, or rather, an almost word-for-word quote from the book.

11. Adjutant of His Excellency

• USSR, 1969.
• Military.
• Duration: 5 episodes.
• IMDb: 7, 8.

In 1919, Chekist intelligence officer Pavel Koltsov was sent on a special mission to the White Guard volunteer army. He becomes the commander's aide-de-camp. The plot tells not only about his secret operation, but also about the nature of people who lived in difficult times of the civil war.

12. Option "Omega"

• USSR, 1975.
• Drama, military.
• Duration: 5 episodes.
• IMDb: 7, 8.

Two years after the appearance of "Seventeen Moments of Spring", another mini-series about the activities of Soviet intelligence officers was released on the screens. This time the plot tells about Sergei Skorin, who, under the name of Paul Krieger, goes to Tallinn occupied by the Nazis. Sergei must infiltrate the Nazi intelligence agencies that seek to misinform the Soviet troops.

13. Dagger

• USSR, 1974.
• Detective, adventure, family.
• Duration: 3 episodes.
• IMDb: 7, 6.

In the early twenties, three schoolchildren fell into the hands of a dagger that belonged to an officer from a blown up battleship. Friends, with the support of the commander of the Red Army, decide to figure out the secret associated with this weapon - it is no coincidence that a White Guard bandit is looking for it.

This multi-part film proved to be very popular among both children and an adult audience. And so subsequently two sequels came out: "The Bronze Bird" and "The Last Summer of Childhood." Each of them consisted of three episodes.

14. Midshipmen, forward

• USSR, 1988.
• Historical, adventure.
• Duration: 4 episodes.
• IMDb: 7, 6.

Mid-eighteenth century. Three young cadets are studying at the navigation school. All of them, against their will, are drawn into palace intrigues aimed at overthrowing the empress.

"Midshipmen" was clearly filmed as a response to the films about the three Musketeers. But nevertheless, the authors managed not to go into copying, and the story turned out to be no less vivid and interesting. Soon there was a sequel to "Vivat, Midshipmen", and then "Midshipmen-3". And even filming Started filming of the film "Midshipmen-4" in the Crimea, the fourth part.

15. Two captains

• USSR, 1976.
• Adventures.
• Duration: 6 episodes.
• IMDb: 7, 6.

Young Sanya Grigoriev, suffering from dumbness, finds in the river a bag with letters from the members of the missing expedition. His whole future life will be connected with them. He will try to find traces of the disappeared heroes and will face those who are responsible for their death.

This is the second screen version of the novel of the same name by Benjamin Kaverin. In 1955, the work was already transferred to screens in the form of a full-length film. But in the seventies, the story was expanded, turning it into a mini-series.

16. Connoisseurs lead the investigation

• USSR, 1971-1989.
• Detective drama.
• Duration: 22 episodes.
• IMDb: 7, 5.

One of the longest-running and most famous TV series in the USSR tells about three workers of the Moscow police. Investigator Znamensky, Criminal Investigation Officer Tomin and forensic expert Kibrit understand complicated cases, catch counterfeiters and speculators, and sometimes even face killers.

In total, 22 episodes of the classic series were released. And in 2002 they decided to resume the project for a short time and released two more episodes with the subtitle "Ten Years Later".

17. TASS is authorized to declare …

• USSR, 1984.
• Detective.
• Duration: 10 episodes.
• IMDb: 7, 5.

Soviet intelligence officers learn that a CIA agent has appeared in Moscow. He sends information to America related to African countries in which a military coup is being prepared. Now the fate of an entire state depends on the work of Soviet services.

18. State border

• USSR, 1980-1988.
• Historical, adventure.
• Duration: 8 films (16 episodes).
• IMDb: 7, 4.

Eight films, united by a common theme, tell about the different periods of the formation of the Soviet border service. The heroes have to go through a civil war, face the Basmachi in Asia and fall under the first blow of the Nazis.

In 2013, the continuation of the project, filmed by the Belarusfilm studio, started. In total, four two-part parts came out, but they did not gain much success.

19. Born by the Revolution

• USSR, 1974-1977.
• Adventure, detective, historical.
• Duration: 10 episodes.
• IMDb: 7, 4.

The mini-series tells about the formation of the Soviet militia. As in the "State Border", the action stretches over the years and shows important events in the life of the country. And in the center of the plot is the fight of the criminal investigation department against crime.

20. Visit to the Minotaur

• USSR, 1987.
• Detective.
• Duration: 5 episodes.
• IMDb: 7, 4.

In the mid-eighties, the violin of the famous master Antonio Stradivari was stolen in Moscow. In parallel, the plot tells about the life and work of Stradivari himself in Italy in the 17th century.