Sherlock BBC1

[Barbirollians]

To me, Jeremy Brett is always the Sherlock Holmes

Basil Rathbone - hands down .

[Richard Tarleton]

I was merely seizing an opportunity to misquote the master .

The trouble is, it's not really comparing like with like. Basil Rathbone certainly looked the part, but apart from HOTB weren't most of his SH films rather silly propaganda films bearing no relation to the original? At the time I enjoyed Peter Cushing's BBC series (I see from Wiki that only 6 episodes survive), but not as much as Douglas Wilmer's, whose Holmes on B&W telly is often overlooked.

[Barbirollians]

I was merely seizing an opportunity to misquote the master .

The trouble is, it's not really comparing like with like. Basil Rathbone certainly looked the part, but apart from HOTB weren't most of his SH films rather silly propaganda films bearing no relation to the original? At the time I enjoyed Peter Cushing's BBC series (I see from Wiki that only 6 episodes survive), but not as much as Douglas Wilmer's, whose Holmes on B&W telly is often overlooked.

I found the Jeremy brett series pedestrian and very ITV and his camp slightly hysterical performance unconvincing .

[Nick Armstrong]

I was merely seizing an opportunity to misquote the master .

The trouble is, it's not really comparing like with like. Basil Rathbone certainly looked the part, but apart from HOTB weren't most of his SH films rather silly propaganda films bearing no relation to the original?

I was just musing on the same points... plus Nigel Bruce's 'Watson' is a bumbling caricature. What with that and the very dated and distorted productions, it's all rather tiresome - but I agree Rathbone himself is classic. What a pity there weren't more 'faithful' dramatisations.

The Brett productions are somewhat dated now too, and they are variable - there's some terrible mugging among the bit parts, particularly when they are called on to 'do' foreign accents for the more exotic stories. But the best have a real intensity - I love the micro-level on which Brett works, you can't take your eyes off his face with all the tiny movements and changes.

[Richard Tarleton]

I love the micro-level on which Brett works, you can't take your eyes off his face with all the tiny movements and changes.

OT, he could sing, too - sort of. Does anyone else remember his 1968 TV Merry Widow? Skip forward to 15 for his first entry.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

OT, he could sing, too - sort of. Does anyone else remember his 1968 TV Merry Widow? Skip forward to 15 for his first entry.

Freddie Doodah-Wotsit in the film of My Fair Lady, too:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtbFwWkB4b8

... although he's been dubbed here!

[amateur51]

Can I just clear up one point, which is that in this household at least the master-Holmesian actor's name is Razzle Bathbone

I agree with RT that Douglas Wilmer's Holmes was perhaps understated, particuarly when compared to Brett's headlights-on-and-fist-on-the -horn approach but effective nonetheless.

[Anna]

To me, Jeremy Brett is always the Sherlock Holmes

A quick search reveals there is a Jeremy Brett Sherlock on ITV4, 17th January 11.45am 'The Cardboard Box' which another search reveals is from the last series The Memoirs of SH. Worth recording for Brett fans?
Also, just seen that immediately after the next Sherlock episode on Sunday there is at 22:00 BBC4 a programme about the various Sherlocks in film, which will be interesting.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03pzsd9

[mangerton]

A quick search reveals there is a Jeremy Brett Sherlock on ITV4, 17th January 11.45am 'The Cardboard Box' which another search reveals is from the last series The Memoirs of SH. Worth recording for Brett fans?
Also, just seen that immediately after the next Sherlock episode on Sunday there is at 22:00 BBC4 a programme about the various Sherlocks in film, which will be interesting.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03pzsd9

Yes, I would say "The Cardboard Box" is worth watching/recording, and we'll be all ears (little joke there for aficionados) to hear what you think.

And thanks for the info about Sun's prog on BBC4. I shall watch that.

[Nick Armstrong]

we've had the amuse-gueule let us now get down to the main course

Very succulent it was too


PS: Sherlock's bolt-hole in London with painted windows hiding the tube line (between Paddington and Bayswater stations) is just at my road-end!

[Nick Armstrong]

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

brilliant loved it

[Serial_Apologist]

Very succulent it was too


PS: Sherlock's bolt-hole in London with painted windows hiding the tube line (between Paddington and Bayswater stations) is just at my road-end!

Ah, that house is quite famous, isn't it? I have a VHS of a TV documentary on the story of the Tube, in which it is included. Nasty shock for anyone trying to "break in"!!!

I know that part of London so well, having been born at St Mary's

[Anna]

I thought it was exciting, tense, nailbiting, touching (yet again) but I have one big reservation about how the series is going and that is Mycroft assuming a Mr. Big character. That, I think, would be a mistake.
What does anyone know about the Holmes brother who died? Is Moriarty back or was that engineered by SH/Mikey. We finally know who Red Beard is.
Oh well, only a year to wait until some more intelligent telly ....

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

.... The Bridge continues ....