War & Peace (TV Series)

Part Four: A Letter and Two Proposals (1972)

Barbara Young: Anna Scherer

Quotes 

• Anna Scherer : We really shouldn't laugh at Sergei Kuzmich. He's a very dear man.

  Prince Vasili Kuragin : No. But it was very funny, Anna. Here is a governor general of Petersburg, so overcome at receiving a letter from the tsar, he can't even read it properly.

  Princess Aline Kuragina : He should have got the town cryer.

  Prince Vasili Kuragin : There he is, standing before a Wednesday session of the privy council, trying to read the letter, and can't get past his own name without weeping.

  Vasili's guest : Sergei Kuzmich. By God, I wish I'd been there.

  Prince Vasili Kuragin : The letter began: 'Sergei Kuzmich, from all sides reports reach me.'

  Vasili's guest : And he never got further than 'Sergei Kuzmich.'

  Prince Vasili Kuragin : The whole session, 'Sergei Kuzmich, from all sides.' He tried again, starting at the other end. 'From all sides, Sergei Kuzmich.'