"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

[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.

[EveningStar]

ping

[ArtDodger]

If I recall correctly, many of Rathbone’s Sherlock Holmes movies were NOT derived from Doyle’s stories but were plots created by the movie people...So the storylines were not classic.
Same problem with the Downey movie (and Avatar, for that matter)... rotten script that hampers even good actors..
In my opinion, it will be tough to beat the work of Jeremy Brett.

[Salamander]

“In my opinion, it will be tough to beat the work of Jeremy Brett.”

Indubitably.
When he died, I stopped watching the series.
People told me his replacement was “good”.
Fine.
But he’s not Jeremy Brett.

Nicol Williamson played Holmes with a mad vengeance in The 7% Solution.

He’s the runner-up.

[Charles Henrickson]

There are three great portrayers of Holmes: William Gillette (the first and most prolific, but whose work was mostly pre-film); Basil Rathbone; and Jeremy Brett. I have seen everything Rathbone and Brett did, and they each are excellent.

Like Lord of the Rings and Hercule Poirot, so also with Holmes. The books are a unique and unbeatable experience, but the films (Jackson's LOTR, Suchet's Poirot, and Rathbone's and Brett's Holmes) are enjoyable also.

[TexCon]

I had in mind a recent viewing of Rathbone in the “Hound of Baskervilles” when writing this. I’ve never seen any of Brett’s depictions - will definitely make a point to.

I found the original screenplay with the secret, magical cult somewhat amusing. I wonder if they’ll stick more to Doyle’s works when detailing the conflict between Moriarty and Holmes?

[Borges]

From what I’m told, the Brett series was meticulously faithful to the texts.

[Daveinyork]

Does the new movie Holmes smoke, or has political correctness done to Holmes what it has done to Bond?

[Ole Okie]

I acquired the complete canon of Sherlock Holmes when I was about 14 or 15. Ordered it from Sears and Roebuck around 1938. Still have it, aged and worn though it be.

Amazon offers most of the Holmes stories free on Kindle. There are some stories missing, evidently for political correctness, like “A Study in Scarlet”.

I always enjoyed Rathbone’s portrayal of Holmes.

[TexCon]

He’s still attached to his pipe thankfully as well as being a giver of cigars.

[wally_bert]

I bought a leatherbound complete Sherlock Holmes back in the 80s when I was a teen. It is still here and opened sometimes. Jeremy Brett was fantastic as Holmes.

[denydenydeny]

If I recall correctly, many of Rathbone’s Sherlock Holmes movies were NOT derived from Doyle’s stories but were plots created by the movie people

As in Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon, where Holmes matched wits with the Gestapo.

[Daveinyork]

Then I will be going to see it. I’m a lifelong pipesmoker, and Sherlock is an icon to pipesmokers.

[Blind Eye Jones]

in the stories, Doyle made Holmes into a morphine addict and habitual cocaine user – a quick line here and there in the movie would have surely explained some of the detective’s idiosyncrasy and behavior.

A quick line (no pun) wasn't needed. But there was a quick action that suggested it: Holmes drinking the eye solution. That eye solution was cocaine that Dr. Sigmund Freud thought highly of and had wanted to patent for eye surgeries (if memory serves me right). Downey has quite a history of drug abuse and maybe he didn't want any overt references.

I was relieved that there was no political subtext -- thinking at first that Holmes would be a new sponsor/hero for the recent atheist movement (adherence to science and all that) -- like other movies that are out this season. This film was refreshingly neutral. I'm liking neutral movies all the more and so will the public. Holmes to be enjoyed as Holmes, however, quirky and bohemian.

[Salamander]

The cinematography was also top notch.

[Lonely Bull]

I was relieved that there was no political subtext -- thinking at first that Holmes would be a new sponsor/hero for the recent atheist movement (adherence to science and all that) -- like other movies that are out this season.

Which are those?

I'm happy to hear what you have to report about this movie--I'm no fan of the fashion of injecting political subtexts.

[Blind Eye Jones]

I was thinking of Avatar and District 9.

[Finny]

From what I’m told, the Brett series was meticulously faithful to the texts.

Not meticulously -- not hardly, in some cases! I like that they have many, many scenes where the words of the actors are word for word the same as the characters in the books. However, a few of the BBC (Brett) versions bastardized the original plots something awful, especially the later episodes. However, they were, in my opinion, generallly very faithful to the spirit of the texts. For my money, that's the more important consideration.

To me, Brett has been the most comfortable Holmes for somebody familiar with Conan Doyle's written stories, as beautifully written and gripping today as they were 115 years ago.

Since I'm not a purist, though I've read every single SH story from several to dozens of times over my lfe and read them regularly still, I think Robert Downey Jr. is a great Holmes for "dramtatization." Vincent Price hosting the BBC (Brett) series said Conan Doyle gave playwrights permission to do what they pleased with Holmes -- marry him off, whatever. C Doyle divested himself of any ego in the Holmes character.

I enjoyed the heck out of the new Sherlock Holmes movie with Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law. Like some other reviewers, I like that there is zero politicization in it that I could smell, except to say that we'd better get ready for "a storm coming."

[Borges]

Thanks for the feedback! I’ve not read a single SH story. What’s the best one or two to start?

[Finny]

"A Scandal in Bohemia" is a very good one to start, for a short story fast read. My husband's favorite is "The Red-Headed League." "The Reigate Puzzle" is one in which Holmes does some clever things to foil inept local authorities from screwing the pooch. Another one I like quite a lot is "The Adventure of the Illustrious Client," though it is one of the much later stories. "Hound of the Baskervilles" is another fantastic one, but it is a novella, and about three or four times as long as the short stories.

They're ALL good! I enjoy the intricacy of the stories and the training they give one in learning that what you see is not necessarily the reality of things. Even more, I enjoy and ponder the skill of Conan Doyle of in telling the story. It is very fine writing and constantly instructive.