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"Sherlock Holmes" - Doyle WOULD be Proud (An In-Depth Review & Comparison of the Recent Film)
Thoughts From A Texan ^ | December 31st, 2009 | Joseph "Tex" Dozier

Posted on 12/31/2009 10:29:32 AM PST by TexCon

Sherlock Holmes hails as the most portrayed movie character of all time with 75 actors providing their unique spin to Doyle’s legendary character in over 200 films.

Having grown up reading some of the Holmesian “canon”, I always found Basil Rathbone’s, who always portrayed a great antagonist too, portrayal very “true” to the literary characterization of the great detective – as much as I longed for some sardonic wit. I have a friend across the pond who swears Jeremy Brett’s rendition of this classic figure in the 80s and 90s for British television was the most true- to-form.

Yet, due to the canon being so developed and intricate with its various givings and treatments of and back-stories to Holmes, greater difficulty arises in passing judgment over a proper and commendable portrayal of the detective. Many devoted fans even believe there exists a notable difference in Doyle’s version of Holmes after his three year hiatus in the 1890s to focus on historical novels. When challenged on this point, Doyle once wrote in his defense that though Holmes survived the fatal danger of Reichenbach Falls (while fighting Professor Moriarty), he never recovered as the same detective from the pre-Hiatus years.

(Excerpt) Read more at thoughtsfromatexan.com ...


TOPICS: Books/Literature; Music/Entertainment; TV/Movies
KEYWORDS: doyle; holmes; review; sherlock; sherlockholmes
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To: ArtDodger

It’s a shame that the Jeremy Brett series didn’t start five or six years earlier. After the first couple of seasons, Brett’s deteriorating health gradually became apparent to the point of distraction.


21 posted on 01/22/2010 10:38:17 PM PST by Steve_Seattle ("Above all, shake your bum at Burton.")
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To: Borges
"From what I’m told, the Brett series was meticulously faithful to the texts."

That was true during the first few seasons, but towards the end they started taking liberties with some of the episodes.
22 posted on 01/22/2010 10:40:45 PM PST by Steve_Seattle ("Above all, shake your bum at Burton.")
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To: Finny

I thought Downey’s Holmes was a bit too slovenly, with his “House” five-day beard, tattered clothes, and incredibly filthy apartment. In fact, the film made London look like a horribly filthy place, which perhaps it was in those days.


23 posted on 01/22/2010 10:46:52 PM PST by Steve_Seattle ("Above all, shake your bum at Burton.")
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To: Steve_Seattle

Holmes?

24 posted on 01/22/2010 10:50:26 PM PST by Liberty Valance (Keep a simple manner for a happy life :o)
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To: Steve_Seattle
Yes, that was ONE thing about Downey's portrayal that was not in keeping with Doyle's Holmes. The real (!) Holmes was as tidy as a cat, and even when camping out in the Moor in "Hound of the Baskervilles" managed always to have a clean collar and cuffs; he'd never have had a three-day growth of beard!

As for the filthy apartment ... in the written stories, Holmes was pretty much a slob. London was never described overall as being awful and filthy, but I read a bio of Conan Dolyle, who was origially from Edinburgh, Scotland. Doyle was very happy to leave that city because it was absolutely horrid, filthy, and grim.

25 posted on 01/22/2010 11:23:27 PM PST by Finny ("Raise hell. Vote smart." -- Ted Nugent.)
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To: Finny

Regarding Holmes’s apartment, yes, Doyle described it as untidy, but in the Downey film it looked disgustingly DIRTY. And where Rathbone’s Holmes was well-dressed, and Brett’s Holmes was downright dapper, almost a fop, Downey’s was rather sloppy. But I actually liked the Downey film better than I thought I would because they didn’t contemporize Holmes as much as I thought they would, apart from the aforementioned sartorial issues. I thought they’d have Holmes jumping in and out of bed with women and possibly men, and Freudianizing the whole thing. Yes, they introduced a mild sexual element, but it was at least consistent with Holmes’s expressed admiration for Irene Adler in the original stories.


26 posted on 01/23/2010 12:22:46 PM PST by Steve_Seattle ("Above all, shake your bum at Burton.")
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To: TexCon; Borges; Steve_Seattle; Finny
It was the reinvention of Dr. Watson as a a charming and handsome man of action

I haven't seen the movie yet, but I've seen the Rathbone and Brett series, and read all the Doyle stories.

The Rathbone movies dumbed down the character of John Watson. The Brett series restored some of the original intent.

In the short stories, Dr. Watson is a war hero from Afghanistan. He's wounded in battle, recuperates in a British hospital, and then starts a medical practice in London when he meets Sherlock Holmes. Watson is introduced to Holmes via an acquaintance. They become roommates.

What is special of the Holmes series is the method of storytelling. All but four of the stories are written in the first-person of Dr. Watson. This makes the character of Holmes even more vivid as seen through Watson's eyes, but also makes Watson a strong character in his own right.

-PJ

27 posted on 01/23/2010 12:57:27 PM PST by Political Junkie Too ("Comprehensive" reform bills only end up as incomprehensible messes.)
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To: Political Junkie Too

WhenI first saw the old Basil Rathbone Holmes movies, I was angry the way they portrayed Watson as a buffoon, even though Nigel Bruce did very well with that characterization. The portayals of Watson by Burke and Hardwicke were much truer to the original stories. In fact, in the Brett series the dialogue was sometimes rearranged so as to give the Watson character a more substantial role, or at least more speaking parts, than he had in the original stories.


28 posted on 01/23/2010 4:38:49 PM PST by Steve_Seattle ("Above all, shake your bum at Burton.")
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To: Daveinyork
Many say the new Sherlock movies are "wrong" because of the fist fighting and other things, but in my opinion they are actually closer to the books.

In the books Holmes was actually a boxing champion and addicted to cocaine.

Also Robert Downey Jr is one of the few Republicans among Hollywood actors. Doesn't hurt to give him more power by boosting his box office revenues.
29 posted on 01/04/2012 12:52:57 PM PST by Krosan
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To: Finny

Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson go on a camping trip. After a good dinner and a bottle of wine, they retire for the night, and go to sleep.

Some hours later, Holmes wakes up and nudges his faithful friend. “Watson, look up at the sky and tell me what you see.”

“I see millions and millions of stars, Holmes,” replies Watson.

“And what do you deduce from that?”

Watson ponders for a minute.

“Well, astronomically, it tells me that there are millions of galaxies and potentially billions of planets. Astrologically, I observe that Saturn is in Leo. Horologically, I deduce that the time is approximately a quarter past three. Meteorologically, I suspect that we will have a beautiful day tomorrow. Theologically, I can see that God is all powerful, and that we are a small and insignificant part of the universe. What does it tell you, Holmes?”

Holmes is silent for a moment. “Watson, you idiot!” he says. “Someone has stolen our tent!”


30 posted on 01/04/2012 1:03:17 PM PST by ctdonath2 ($1 meals: http://abuckaplate.blogspot.com/)
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To: ctdonath2
BWA-HAHAHAHAHAHA!! Good one!

You recall that I am a Homes nut! Funny, I was just talking to my mom last night about how I've read the Holmes stories dozens, perhaps even hundreds, of times over the past four decades. He was such a skilled writer, with constant lessons that can be learned in reading his work!

I think he would have liked your joke! Thanks for the good laugh!

31 posted on 01/04/2012 1:15:40 PM PST by Finny ("Raise hell. Vote smart." -- Ted Nugent)
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To: Finny

That’s my preferred variant of what is a finalist for “funniest joke in the world”. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World’s_funniest_joke

Giggle...


32 posted on 01/04/2012 2:41:58 PM PST by ctdonath2 ($1 meals: http://abuckaplate.blogspot.com/)
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To: Daveinyork

He chews Coca leaves and drinks just about anything.


33 posted on 01/04/2012 2:49:55 PM PST by Doomonyou (Let them eat Lead.)
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To: Doomonyou

Why are you telling me this?


34 posted on 01/04/2012 2:52:51 PM PST by Daveinyork
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To: TexCon
I have a friend across the pond who swears Jeremy Brett’s rendition of this classic figure in the 80s and 90s for British television was the most true- to-form.

Jeremy Brett.

Best.

Holmes.

Ever.

35 posted on 01/04/2012 2:55:27 PM PST by Colonel_Flagg (Why, yes. I AM in a bad mood.)
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To: Daveinyork
Well he's not politically correct.
36 posted on 01/04/2012 3:03:20 PM PST by Doomonyou (Let them eat Lead.)
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To: Doomonyou

That’s for sure. I’m a pipe smoker and collector. Those of us in the pipe smoking/collecting community have a special affection for Sherlock.


37 posted on 01/04/2012 3:07:02 PM PST by Daveinyork
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To: Daveinyork
Never tried a pipe, but years ago, Sherlock was on the tube on masterpiece theater or some such program, never missed it. Basil Rathbone version.

"Watson, the games afoot!"

38 posted on 01/04/2012 10:20:44 PM PST by Doomonyou (Let them eat Lead.)
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