Sherlock Holmes

“Elementary My Dear Watson” Is the most misquoted quote of this fictional hero. Who is he and what does he do?  Nearly anybody can tell you that – Mr. Sherlock Holmes of 221b Baker Street and his trusty associate Doctor John Watson, late of her majesties armed forces are once of crime fictions notable characters.  Ever since movies have been around, there has always been someone depicting the hero. 

BACKGROUND: When Conan Doyle started writing about Holmes, it was just to get some money to write more “sensible” works.  Strangely enough, Doyle’s hero became greater than the whole and even when he was “written off” at the Reichenbach Falls in the Final Problem – Doyle was coerced into resurrecting his hero.  Public opinion ruled. 

PORTRAYALS: Soon enough Holmes was being portrayed on the stage.  William Gillette was a noted actor who played the hero many times.

MOVIE REPRESENTATION: As time passed, there was the advent of movies… and as soon as they could, Holmes was on celluloid… firstly in 1900 as a silent movie, then in black and white – and finally in glorious Technicolor. According to the Guinness Book of Records Holmes is the character that has been most portrayed in movies, apparently there have been more than 70 actors playing the role in over 200 films. And that does not take into account the television representation.

FAMOUS ACTORS: Over the years there have been many Holmes actors – Basil Rathbone starred in 14 movies about the sleuth, Arthur Wotner and Raymond Massey were early Holmes stars – more recently there have been people like Christopher Plummer and Robert Downey and next year (2015) is the release of Sir Ian McKellan’s portrayal of the 93 year old Holmes, who comes out of retirement to solve one last problem. 

TELEVISION: Apart from movies, there have been numerous TV portrayals – Ronald Howard, Douglas Wilmer, Peter Cushing, John Neville, Jeremy Brett and most recently Benedict Cumberbatch have played the detective.

BOOKS AND MERCHANDISE: Apart from talking books and movies, there are of course the original Conan Doyle books… which provide quite a bit of merchandise.  Also there was a book series called the Young Sherlock Holmes and of course the cartoon series Sherlock Holmes in the 22^nd Century. Also, once more, Lego enters the franchise scene with a “Detective” who is certainly Sherlock. There is also a 15” Sherlock Holmes Teddy, action figure Sherlock and a toy soldier Sherlock model – Sherlock is not forgotten by franchisers.

FAVOURITES: My favourite Sherlock Holmes, hmm this again is a bit of a challenge.  The first television series starring Jeremy Brett and David Burke was so very well produced and acted that one can’t help but nominate that as a great portrayal and authentic to the story too.  Unfortunately that can’t be said about all of the series (which did go on for a while) as later the director changed and saw fit to rewrite the story lines. The second series started with a new Watson who did not have the same chemistry as Burke and sadly lessened the chemistry.  On another note, there are TV series starring Ronald Howard and Geoffrey Whitehead – both with excellent Holmes/Watson chemistry – but not really following the plot lines.  More recently Cumberbatch has starred in an updated Sherlock which uses titles from the original series but very loosely represents the stories – in actuality they use titles but not the stories.  This is really what I’d call a niche audience as the followers really are watching a show and not comparing the circumstances (21^st century against 19^th century) and the modified story lines accommodate an “up to date” type of viewer. In the 40’s Rathbone was a great Holmes – but he wasn’t so nice to Watson and again his storylines were adapted to a country at war.  I actually quite liked Without A Clue – Michael Caine and Ben Kingsley – I thought it was fun – but I have to say that it wasn’t a representation of the traditional Holmes and it again didn’t follow the story line.  But I enjoyed it.  So all I can say is, look out some of the old stories and some of the new – Robert Downey Jr. was Holmes and Jude Law played Watson not so far back and that might be a place to start. And don’t forget to look up “The Great Mouse Detective!”  When you realize how many portrayals there have been, close your eyes and choose just one or two and I would just say to you good luck!

IN CONCLUSION: Whether you watch movies, TV or read books there is something there for you when you open up the Sherlock Holmes portfolio.  I’ve read the stories time and again and really enjoyed them, but there are so many representations, and there are even talking books telling the stories – that I believe Sherlock fits everyone’s tastes.  Even little ones can watch the Mouse Detective, or if you can get hold of it, Sherlock in the 22^nd Century.  Conan Doyle was a genius that didn’t know what he was getting in to – but is remembered for one of the most memorable detectives of all time.