All Things Conan Doyle & Holmes

[Steven Russell]

"Sherlock" (new BBC production)

Just watched the first instalment of "Sherlock" - a new BBC production setting adventures of our heroes in the present day. Despite severe misgivings beforehand, I found the programme highly entertaining and will be an avid viewer of future episodes.

Sir Arthur died eighty years ago this month but his most famous characters will live forever if productions of this quality continue to be made. (What am I talking about? Their immortality is already guaranteed). The programme makers clearly have a great regard and affection for the original stories and, for me at least, managed to preserve much of their flavour despite transplanting the dynamic duo into this century. There were many references, large and small, to keep dyed-in-the-wool Holmes fans like me happy and the whole thing rattled along beautifully.

Of course, the Holmes stories as written by Doyle can never be equalled let alone bettered but I thought this latest effort was expertly done and great fun to boot.

I would love to hear the opinions of fellow H&W addicts.

Best wishes,

Steve.

[Adam Went]

Haven't had the chance to see the new BBC series yet (wonder if it'll be shown in Oz?), but have just ventured to the other end of the scale and bought the DVD "Dressed To Kill", the last Holmes instalment featuring Basil Rathbone as Holmes and Nigel Bruce as Watson. It's black and white and only about 70 minutes long but still very entertaining for an old film....

There seems to be a huge amount of Victorian-era films and remakes floating around recently. Great to see!

Cheers,
Adam.

[Little Nell]

I'm not a Sherlock fan but

I've read "A Study in Scarlet" and had a couple of short stories about SH on tape, as well as seeing the odd film/tv production, without ever being grabbed.

However, yesterday's BBC production was fantastic. I was sceptical as I'd always thought part of the charm of SH for his fans was the period setting. But this was a cracking programme, with a witty script "I'm not a psychopath, I'm a high-functioning sociopath, get your facts straight!" an intriguing plot with twists and turns and above all some excellent acting. Benedict Cumberbatch was compelling as SH and Martin Freeman a worthy Dr. Watson.

I am looking forward to the remaining 2 episodes and its especially gratifying to have decent drama on during the summer.

[Derrick]

I've read "A Study in Scarlet" and had a couple of short stories about SH on tape, as well as seeing the odd film/tv production, without ever being grabbed.

However, yesterday's BBC production was fantastic. I was sceptical as I'd always thought part of the charm of SH for his fans was the period setting. But this was a cracking programme, with a witty script "I'm not a psychopath, I'm a high-functioning sociopath, get your facts straight!" an intriguing plot with twists and turns and above all some excellent acting. Benedict Cumberbatch was compelling as SH and Martin Freeman a worthy Dr. Watson.

I am looking forward to the remaining 2 episodes and its especially gratifying to have decent drama on during the summer.

I completely agree with Nell, BBC's new Sherlock drama is excellent.

The character's of Holmes and Watson come alive and have a depth not often seen. Holmes is an obsessive, confident in his own abilities. He is also a loner who yet craves attention; and in John Watson, a professional soldier and doctor, he has suddenly found someone who perhaps he can also trust and confide his sometime intellectual failings in.

The nice comical touches coupled with the tension of a dark thriller combine to give the wonderful feel of what was a very good production.

I could go on and on but will not spoil it for those who are going to watch it on iPlayer later.

I hope that the next 2 parts don't disappoint, cos the BBC are onto a real winner with this one.

Derrick

[Adam Went]

It's always interesting to note how Dr. Watson is played in the movies, sometimes he's almost as smart as Holmes himself, other times he's a dumb, blundering fool and a total mis-match for Holmes.

Meanwhile, i'm in the process of reading Russell Miller's "The Adventures of Arthur Conan Doyle" - it's a very lengthy, detailed biography, and i'd definitely recommend it to anybody interested in the Doyle story. Having read most of it, I get the feeling that Sir Arthur wouldn't have been overly impressed that Sherlock Holmes is still extremely popular.

Cheers,
Adam.

[The Grave Maurice]

...sometimes he's almost as smart as Holmes himself....

And sometimes he's much smarter (Without a Clue).

[Robert]

I saw some of this by accident, and I thought it wasn't bad. I'm just wondering how they'll cope with 21st century forensics. A lot of info these days is supplied by professionals working in the lab.

[Graham]

"Well, Holmes, it would seem that the cause of death was a sting from a large lemon-coloured flatfish".

"A yellow manta-ray, my dear Watson".

G

[Adam Went]

Did you know....

....that although the phrase "Elementary, my dear Watson" is one of Holmes's most famous, it never appeared in that exact combination in any of the original Conan Doyle novels or short stories?

A piece of useless trivia for you....

Cheers,
Adam.

[Robert]

Excellent, Went! You are scintillating tonight.

Sherlock

[Graham]

Did you know....

....that although the phrase "Elementary, my dear Watson" is one of Holmes's most famous, it never appeared in that exact combination in any of the original Conan Doyle novels or short stories?

A piece of useless trivia for you....

Cheers,
Adam.

Quite correct! Also, Hamlet never said "Alas poor Yorick, I knew him well".

G

[Graham]

Excellent, Went! You are scintillating tonight.

Sherlock

Actually, the wording is, "Excellent, Watson/Went! You scintillate tonight!"

G

[Adam Went]

Graham & Robert:

Don't think i'm familiar with the Shakespeare one, but here's another useless piece of Holmes trivia:

He is recorded as smiling a grand total of 103 times.

By the way, Sherlock, I believe you may have been working too hard, my dear fellow.....it is, infact, morning.

Cheers,
Adam.

[Zodiac]

Quite correct! Also, Hamlet never said "Alas poor Yorick, I knew him well".

G

Quite right Graham, the actual line is... Alas, poor Yorick! I knew him, Horatio, a fellow of infinite jest, of most excellent fancy. He hath bore me on his back a thousand times, and now how abhorr'd in my imagination it is! My gorge rises at it. (Hamlet Act 5, scene 1).

As for Holmes/Conan Doyle, the one that has often made me cry with laughter, despite myself, is the use of phrases, usually by Dr Watson, along the lines of... "Good Lord, I ejaculated!" Funny how the use of particular words can be so redefined in such a relatively short period of time.

Best wishes,

Zodiac.

[Robert]

In the Basil Rathbone films. Holmes said "Hullo!" so many times, in the end they couldn't resist the joke and made Watson answer "Hullo."