Sherlock Holmes

[The Grave Maurice]

A gentleman of that era would never have worn a deerstalker in town. The deerstalker was a hat for the country only. When in the city, Holmes would have worn a bowler or top hat. And Madam is right: the text never mentions a deerstalker, but only a "peaked" hat. It was Sidney Paget, the first illustrator, who decided it was a deerstalker.

[Steven Russell]

Doyle never described Holmes as wearing a deerstalker. The illustrator, Sidney Paget, is the man responsible for that image of the great detective. From memory, I think it was in "Silver Blaze" though I may be wrong on this. Holmes only ever wore his "ear flapped travelling cap" when venturing out into the country. He would never have worn it in town. Likewise the Inverness cape.

Regards,

Steve.

[Madam Red]

It was really only the illustrations where Holmes wore that outfit. Not in the actual books, if I recall.

But yeah, I noticed that as well, the second time I watched it. But these five woman- and nearly a six- were apparently of the upper classes.

[Mycroft]

As far as I am aware, Holmes rarely wore the deerstalker in the Conan Doyle books. The idea that Holmes always wore a deerstalker has been put into people's heads by Hollywood and Basil Rathbone's portrayal of the character.

[kensei]

I finally just saw "Sherlock Holmes" with Robert Downey Jr. Great film, but disappointed that at no point in it does Downey put on a deerstalker. Even with the new take on Holmes as an action hero type, the familiar garb would have been nice to see at least in some scenes. But I couldn't help but raise my eyebrows a bit at how Holmes' nemesis Lord Blackwood is arrested for the murders of five women that have taken place before the film begins as part of a black magic plot. Anyone else think Jack the Ripper had a none too subtle influence on the film's writers in that part? I'm not sure what year it is supposed to take place in, but it shows Tower Bridge under construction which took place between 1886 and 1894, encompassing the Ripper murders.

And just as an aside, there is a scene near the end where the characters run through underground tunnels from Parliament to Tower Bridge in what seems like only minutes. Quite an accomplishment when they are actually three miles apart. But ah well, that's dramatic license for you.