Sherlock Holmes

[Robert]

I think Cushing's series had Nigel Stock as Watson. Stock had been Wilmer's Watson, so he simply carried on where he left off. I don't recall Arthur Lowe in any Holmes production.

[TomTomKent]

Incidentally, something odd happened during Cushing's run. They broadcast a rehearsal, I think. I remember sitting there watching "The Dancing Men." It got to the point where Abe Slaney comes through the door, only to walk into the arms of the police. Suddenly the screen went dark and someone said, "Take Two," or words to that effect.

Was Cushings series the feature length stories with the Captain from Dads Army as a rather too comedic Watson? I'm sorry but I wasn't born for most of this stuff...

As for the worst series? Ahem:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0218791/

WHY?

[Robert]

Incidentally, something odd happened during Cushing's run. They broadcast a rehearsal, I think. I remember sitting there watching "The Dancing Men." It got to the point where Abe Slaney comes through the door, only to walk into the arms of the police. Suddenly the screen went dark and someone said, "Take Two," or words to that effect.

[Robert]

Wilmer was good. I think Cushing himself admitted that he wasn't at his best as Holmes.

The music for the Wilmer programmes was excellent.

[Phil H]

I was a great fan of Douglas Wilmer as Holmes when the series was first shown. (I never liked Cushing in the role). Hitherto I had been an adherent to Rathbone notwithstanding all the changes the later films made.

Wilmer is still alive, in his 90s I believe, and lives in East Anglia where he is now an artist.

He is also in the "Rivals of SH" series (available on dvd) as Van Dusen (the thinking machine) in which he is amazing.

He can also be seen in Oliviers Richard III, and the 60s epics, El Cid and Fall of the Roman Empire.

I don't question that the first two or three series with Brett are definitive. The last series, made when he was ill, are best forgotten.

I think future Holmes will find their place as Brett's fades in memory, a new generation emerges and TV itself changes in terms of the look and feel of programmes, so that the 1980s series looks dated.

I don't think Downey's Holmes is indicative of anything more than the impossibility of doing a "straight" Holmes while the memory of brett remains vivid.

Incientally, a favorite SH of mine is Robert Stephens (with Colin Blakely as Watson) in "The Private Life of SH" by Billy Wilder. Very funny, lots of cross-references to the books (especially the ones mentioned by never written) and some stunning one-liners.

Phil

[The Grave Maurice]

Ta, Bunny. That's very kind of you.

[Archaic]

Hi Ken, how are you?

I didn't know it was your birthday recently, so i just wanted to say "Happy Birthday!" to you.

Your pal,
Archaic

[The Grave Maurice]

For my birthday, I received the DVDs of the mid-60's BBC production of some of the SH stories starring Douglas Wilmer. This show was, as far as I know, never broadcast in Canada and the DVDs were released just last year, so this is the first time I've seen them.

The producers do very well on what was obviously a limited budget. The plots are reasonably close to the source and Wilmer is extremely good in the part. Despite some of the pro-Brett comments above, I'd say Wilmer is better as SH. Far better.

[Bob Hinton]

New film

I saw the Downey film last night and thoroughly enjoyed it, not the Sherlock we have come to love and admire but a rollicking good film for all that. As for this new Sherlock being a bit of a Bruce Lee, Doyle mentions his prowess in a ruck in a couple of his stories.

"Now Watson you know I am quite an able quarter stick man but it was the fourth rogue that proved too much for me". Or something like that.

There also that scene in a country pub where Holmes defeats the local bully in a few moves.

One thing that did have me cheering from the rafters in this new film is that they have given Holmes back his real pipe - a clay- and not the calabash that is seen as his trademark today!

Although I regularly smoke a calabash - Holmes didn't!

PS Paget based his famous portayal of Holmes on his (Pagets) brother!

[Atrain]

I agree Brett was holmes!

[Gman992]

Hi Gman,

He was Freddy!

And he had often walked on her street before, but the pavement had always stayed beneath his feet before...

Bliss.

Love,

Caz
X

"Marry Freddy? Ha!"

[belinda]

Here's a rather nice interview with Jeremy Brett and Edward Hardwicke

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ElqcgNrukc&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SigzLoepaJ0

[Red Zeppelin]

Okay, a Holmes birthday party was never mentioned in the Canon, but the consensus of the many learned Holmesians who have established chronologies is that both Sherlock and Watson were in their very early 30s when the partnership began, something that is never reflected in the many stage, film and TV presentations.

Keep in mind it was the late 19th century. People aged quicker and died earlier than today. Holmes and Watson in their early 30s would probably have looked like they were in their 40s to us. I am still amazed when I see old photos of people in their 20s from those days. Some of them look 40 or so.

I agree with the consensus regarding Brett as Holmes. He was head and shoulders above everyone and I can't take seeing any other new portrayals. Nobody will ever come close. Of course I can still enjoy those who came before Brett such as Rathbone, Cushing and Richardson. But since Brett I'm afraid anybody else in the role is going to be onto a loser.

[caz]

Thanks Archy. Blimey, Jeremy looks like our own Sir Robert Anderson here!

The clip says 1975 by the way.

(Sigh, I was 21. )

Love,

Caz
X

[Archaic]

Jeremy Brett Singing With Twiggy

Hi guys.

Thought you might enjoy this clip of Jeremy Brett singing on Twiggy's tv show. He has a wonderful voice and looks like a ''matinee idol''.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrMBdQm9P10&feature=related

I'm not sure what year this was recorded; maybe someone else will know.

There's also a couple of videos on YouTube that are montages of Jeremy Brett's singing & dancing if anyone is interested.

Enjoy!
Archaic