Thread: 12 chairs (the comedy)

Can anybody give me any insight in order to see the best translation of the movie 12 chairs? One of my developers recommended it, but he could not provide information on the best translation for the comedic value. I know this is probably the wrong forum for this; however, it is a translation issue. I am trying to learn Russian, but I do not know it well enough to be able to watch a movie and understand everything.

I don't understand.. Is it a Russian film? Because if so don't worry about the comedy, it won't be funny. I've witnessed the horror of Moya Prekranaya Nyanya.

It is supposed to be an old Russian folk comedy that several movies were made of (the first in 1937, I think. It is about an old aunt that hid diamonds in an old chair. The chairs were sold off at auction and it caused a spree of greed. Mel Brooks remade it in 1970 but I would like to find the best version. The developer I am talking about is from Moscow.

Just in case somebody wants to read it in Russian:
http://lib.solutions.lv/HUMOR/12CHAIRS.TXT.bz2?p=ab

Keep the translation up for awhile; I want to know the modern translation.
Thanks

Well, there are two russian movie versions of 12 Chairs, and one american version by Mel Brooks.

What do you want help with? What do you mean "the best translation"? It is not like we have a choice which translation to choose. I suggest go to your local Russian shop and find the movie and if they are not bootlegged, they could have english subtitles. I can't speak for how well they translated it, but you have no other choice (unless you read the book along with the film...)

Originally Posted by racercat40

It is supposed to be an old Russian folk comedy that several movies were made of (the first in 1937, I think. It is about an old aunt that hid diamonds in an old chair. The chairs were sold off at auction and it caused a spree of greed. Mel Brooks remade it in 1970 but I would like to find the best version. The developer I am talking about is from Moscow.

It's not folk art at all. It is based on the famous book by Ilf & Petrov. I think there are at least 3 different movies made in Russia and based on this book. With regards to translations, check out reviews on amazon.com, people frequently discuss translation quality there...
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/081...books&v=glance

Originally Posted by kalinka_vinnie

Well, there are two russian movie versions of 12 Chairs, and one american version by Mel Brooks.

Really?! American version of 12 chairs? I'll like to watch it sometimes...

http://masterrussian.net/mforum/viewtopic.php?t=6648

Interplanetary Chess Congress by Ilf, Ilya & Petrov, Evgeny In an excerpt from "The 12 Chairs", con man Ostap Bender transforms a backwaters Volga River town into the chess capital of the universe.