The Seven-Per-Cent Solution (1976) is an interesting departure from the Holmes mythos, as it explores the character’s cocaine addiction. Fantastic cast, too.
From Hollywood’s Golden Age, Rathbone & Nigel Bruce were the definitive Holmes and Watson, respectively. My vote goes to Hound of the Baservilles as the best of the Holmes adventures those actors made.
You might enjoy the BBC series “The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes,” with Jeremy Brett. That show ran for 10 years beginning in 1984. I think it’s the best of the televised Holmes. I wouldn’t consider that to be “stuffy” at all. Rather, the show depicts the world of Holmes as Arthur Conan Doyle had portrayed him in literature.
I’m not opposed to interpretations and exploring new ways of looking at familiar characters and tropes. But I’ll take straight Shakespeare over a Baz Lurhmann interpretation any day.
Cheers,
Steve
CinemaUprising.Blogspot.com
A Baz Luhrman Sherlock Holmes! Let’s not give him any ideas. The upcoming Robert Downey, Jr., version looks dire enough.
Although it takes many liberties with the book (as, frankly, every version has), I’m partial to Terence Fisher’s version of HOUND for Hammer. Peter Cushing is terrific as Holmes (there’s no mention of drugs in the script, but Cushing comes across as jazzed on coke) and Andre Morrell just might be the best Watson ever.
The first two Rathbone films are very good, but Nigel Bruce’s Watson got insufferably stupid when the pair moved to Universal.
Never fully warmed to Brett’s interpretation, but the Granada series was pretty well done.
I think Brett’s the only actor so far to have done the role any justice. He looks edgy throughout, like a man fighting personal demons and a serious addiction problem. And I must agree with CCteve— ‘7% solution’ is an excellent film.
Not actually adaptations, THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS (with Geoge C. Scott thinking he is Holmes) and ZERO EFFECT (with Bill Pullman and Ben Stiller as a sort of modern era version of Holmes and Watson) might be worth seeking out.
I agree with The Seven-Percent Solution. That’s a film that doesn’t get nearly enough retro attention, and it deserves it.
Don’t laugh (or, maybe … do), but there is a Holmesian spoof called Without a Clue that is, at times, very, very funny. The plot is that it is really Watson who is the mastermind and Holmes is merely his creation. When events conspire that Holmes must really appear, he hires a down-and-out actor to “play” the part, and hijinx ensue. Perhaps it’s no cinematic masterpiece, but it’s really worth a look just for a lark. Ben Kingsley (as Watson) and Michael Caine act up a storm.
Put on a good spoof of the Seven Percent Solution recently. Douglas Fairbanks as detective Coke Ennyday in The Mystery of the Leaping Fish.
Very hard to describe.
MURDER BY DECREE (1979) Bob Clark
Pretty good picture, with Christopher Plummer as a surprisingly gentle Holmes, and James Mason as a believable Watson.
Loads of other Brit stage & screen stalwarts (John Gielgud, Frank Finlay, Anthony Quayle, David Hemmings).
It’s another variation on Holmes versus Jack the Ripper, with a plot line similar to that in FROM HELL.
I agree that Cushing makes an admirable Holmes, but that Hammer movie (which I like a lot) is still clumsy in some ways.
I think the Jeremy Brett interpretation of the Holmes character is unsurpassed.
The production values for that series are stunning, by the way.
My only complaint with Jeremy Brett as Holmes is that he is far too old for the role. Holmes is closer to 30 than 60.
I think that Rathbone is by far the definitive Sherlock Holmes, I just wish the movies had a little more to do with the actual character/stories.
SEVEN PER CENT SOLUTION is good fun, and is worth seeing on a lot of levels. It does offer Robert Duvall’s single bad performance as Dr. Watson. I don’t think he’s attempted an English accent since. I like Plummer’s take on the role in MURDER BY DECREE, a surprisingly warm performance.
MURDER BY DECREE yes..yes
And for a laugh, Without a Clue
Murder By Decree is good. Great Victorian-styled atmosphere. Creepy too.
But I don’t think Jeremy Brett seemed that old when he began playing Holmes. His age didn’t bother me at all, since the stories were so brilliantly interpreted. I’d love to have that whole series on DVD. The BBC did a brilliant job in staying true to Doyle’s vision of the master detective. Their version of “The Speckled Band” is worth it on its own, and I love the way the credits end on that particular episode. Brilliant.
I’ve always wanted to see Billy Wilder’s The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes.
>>THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS (with Geoge C. Scott thinking he is Holmes)<<
>>MURDER BY DECREE (1979) Bob Clark<<
Oh, yes! How could I have forgotten those?
>>Douglas Fairbanks as detective Coke Ennyday in The Mystery of the Leaping Fish.<<
It is indeed hard to describe. But it may be the only film in which Fairbanks’ overbearing persona is actually at the service of the material.
>>a Holmesian spoof called Without a Clue<<
I really should seek this out; I’ve heard some good things about it.
And another fairly good Holmes pastiche: A STUDY IN TERROR … at least I recall it as fairly good … it’s been years sine I’ve seen it.
the BBC made some films called Dr. Bell and Mr. Doyle About Conan’s insperation for Holmes. Very Good.
Definitely search for WITHOUT A CLUE. Michael Caine as an incredibly inept “Holmes” and Ben Kingsley as a persistently peeved Watson . . . I’m still grinning at the thought.
One example: “Holmes” when he has determined Professor Moriarty’s real name. Try to get past that moment without passing out from lack of oxygen (one of the few times in my life I’ve laughed myself to unconsciousness).
As much as I love the live-action adaptations of Sherlock Holmes, my favorite of all time is The Great Mouse Detective. My favorite animated feature as well. It’s got Vincent Price, it’s got mystery, danger, hilarity, everything you could want and more. Plus the soundtrack is fantastic.
EDIT: I am seriously not thirteen years old.
Did you know that Ronald Howard is Leslie Howard’s soon? That reason alone is enough to love him!
I’m kind of partial to Basil Rathbone, but I think that’s only because I had a huge crush on him when I was about 13 (no jokes please). :-) His autobiography, “In And Out Of Character”, is up there with David Niven’s “Bring on the Empty Horses” as one of the best-written accounts ever of golden age/classic Hollywood. Brett is probably a grittier Holmes, but does he have the style?
oh, Peter Cushing is also great! Although I haven’t seen the BBC stuff or his 80s TV Holmes, just “Hound of the Baskervilles”. I just recently bought that HUGE 21+ DVD Hammer Box Set they’ve got HMV (the “credit crunch” discount meant it was only £17 – woo hoo!). This just reminded me to go check to see if that film is in it. Everytime I drive across Dartmoor I always think about that scene where Cecile sinks into the moor…
Billy Wilder’s The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes is a marvel.
I have a foot in both the Basil Rathbone camp and the Jeremy Brett camp. I think the Basil Rathbone films have the hollywood charm (not to mention Basil’s good looks) about them but the ones made by Grenada Television starring Jeremy Brett are much more realistic and true to Conan Doyle’s work.
I’m usually not the kind of guy to reopen a topic but I watched last weekend all three episodes of the first season of the BBC 2010 series “Sherlock”;on netflix instant staring Benedict Cumberbatch & Martin Freeman. The middle episode of the series is not as good as the others but still the show is my favorite Sherlock adaptation since “The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes”, “Sherlock” takes place in the present and compared to most films that I see it’s cinematography and editing is wonderful from time to time I was just staring at my TV screen watching the show and not believing that the show was made like this. I’m just writing this so people will at least watch the first episode because I wish I knew about it earlier.
i’ve seen the private life of sherlock holmes and some basil rathbone. those are OK.
The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes is “OK”?
Once I recover from apoplexy, I’ll probably respond to this thread …
Terror by Night with Basil Rathbone is really good, and I really liked the technicolor Hounds of the Baskervilles from the 60s or whatever.
i like jeremy brett best but i was wondering about the new series so thanks for the info; maybe i’ll give it a try :)
Is the “Masterpiece Mystery!: Sherlock” series any good?
It is pretty good Matt.
Yeah, it’s a lot of fun. PBS showed the BBC version in which Holmes literally has antisocial personality disorder, and probably either Asperger’s or OCD.
Thanks, guys. The first season is streaming on Netflix now, so I think I’ll check it out.
Yeah, they’re really quite good in terms of character, the mysteries themselves aren’t as successful but the Holmes, Watson, and Moriarity characters have been modernized without losing their Doyleness. They aren’t afraid to play with some sort of sexual tension between Holmes and Watson and their take on Moriarity is refreshing, if also slightly absurd from any realistic standard just as Holmes is of course They make Holmes and Moriarity much closer in age and characteristic overall, but manage to twist Moriarity enough to add some nice chills. Watson is also bumped up significantly and given some depth often absent for his character and also made a little less stolid than he usually is which adds a welcome edge to his character. I just wish they could make the cases themselves more compelling in a Holmesian way rather than entirely focusing on the disturbing aspects of each as they become less interesting as intellectual exercises which doesn’t suit the character. If the audience knows the answer before Holmes you’ve got a problem even if the cases are somewhat compelling in that Law and Order Criminal Intent kinda way. Oh, and I was really disappointed by their handling of Mycroft, a favorite character of mine, at least so far. They’ve moved him too far from his Doyle characteristics for me. Perhaps I’ll feel differently as the show progresses, but even if not it isn’t a big thing overall in the show so far.
@Matt
Are you talking about the modernized version of Sherlock Holmes? I saw the first two episodes and I don’t think I’m going to continue. I really like the actor who plays Watson, though.
Right, the one where it’s contemporary London and Dr. Watson is a war vet.
johnny
i’m looking for recommendations! i’ve seen the private life of sherlock holmes and some basil rathbone. those are OK.
i’ve seen the series starring ronald howard, which i loved for some reason.
but nothing has been that satisfying.
what is the best holmes movie? are there any that offer a different interpretation than the stuffy BBC type shows?
are there any that are rated R???