In nine pages Gogol's novel is considered in an overview of Bulgakov's interpretaton with translation and production suggestions offered in an adaptation of the text for either the stage or screen and provides a discussion of potential stage scenery, camera shots, angles with symbolism, themes, and analysis of the work's plot also provided. Two sources are cited in the bibliography.
Name of Research Paper File: D0_MBlitbulga.rtf
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that, then, it is quite conceivable to turn Gogols Dead Souls (Bulgakovs adaptation), into a very fine mystery/suspense film without too much trouble. Gogols original story had the protagonist,
Chichikov, arriving in town to visit a series of landowners. He persuades them that they should transfer ownership of the names of those who have died and not been registered
on the census roles. The ultimate plan, however, is to use these unregistered souls to mortgage and estate for himself. The plan falls through and Chichikov has to leave town
quickly. In Bukaolovs adaptation, he uses the basic plot but sets it in a modern time period. In keeping with this original intent, then, the student may want to
consider applying the same technique as well. Why not set this plot to modern times, once again? With the amount of fraud occurring in present times, it is still plausible,
one should think, for a very good con man or woman to pull something of this sort off. Of course, Bulgakovs adaptation was written nearly twenty years prior to the
1950s so a modernization of the language would also have to come into play. However, the basic structure of the plot and the revelation of the characters would not have
to be changed. Unfortunately, though technology seems to advance, human relationships and nature does not seem to advance. The image of the
road dominates Dead Souls, and could be a great cinematic device; life is a journey type of commentary. However, when editing this version one has to leap through long digressions
on setting and descriptions of things, which would not translate well into film. Most of that would of necessity need to be weeded out. Both Gogols original and Bulgakovs adaptation