I should begin this TV/Movies review by saying that you probably saw Jeremy Brett years before you thought you had seen him. If you remember the scene in My Fair Lady (1964) with Eliza's young suitor dancing and singing down the street where she lived, then you know where you first saw Jeremy Brett.
It is for this reason, that when you see these Sherlock Holmes shows, you will clearly see what a lithe dancer Jeremy Brett was. He sometimes seems to simply pirouette through the air, leaping and bounding as gracefully as a dancer would.
But, Brett brought much more than just large movements to his Holmes' character! Brett's facial ticks, all-too-brief attempts at smiles, meditative poses (almost yoga-like trances), and pensive gazes into space ( just to name a few smaller physical movements) were all part of the Sherlock Holmes persona that we have grown to anticipate and love. Brett conveys emotions through his acting, and instead of having to verbalize his feelings, he simply shows us. How many times, during the many episodes, do we see Holmes sit in his chair, smoking his long pipe, flashing a (not even) momentary smile? He doesn't have to say one word, we know exactly what he is thinking…
The sets and costumes of these delightful Sherlock Holmes productions are period-appropriate, and exactly what we have come to expect from the folks at the Granada production company.
There are several different sets that are now available for us to enjoy. Here is a list of the shows in order:
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, 1984 (13 episodes)
The Return of Sherlock Holmes, 1986 (11 episodes)
Sherlock Holmes: The Sign of Four, 1987
Sherlock Holmes: Hound of the Baskervilles, 1984 (I know that '84 comes before '86 & '87, but the official site puts this show in this chronological spot… not where I initially thought it should go…)
The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes, 1991 (6 episodes)
Sherlock Holmes: The Master Blackmailer, 1992 (a 2 Hour Movie)
Sherlock Holmes: the Last Vampyre, 1993 (a 2 Hour Movie)
Sherlock Holmes: The Eligible Bachelor, 1993 (a 2 Hour Movie)
The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, 1994 (6 episodes)
This is one television series that was almost seamlessly able to switch actors playing a leading character. Dr. Watson was played by David Burke until 1985, with Edward Hardwicke taking over from 1986 until the end of the series. I enjoyed both of the Watson portrayals… I have found that in several other Sherlock Holmes adaptions, Dr. Watson is portrayed as (almost) a bumbling idiot. I doubt that Holmes would have kept him around for longer than it took for him to dismiss him>>> with a wave of his hand! (No words needed if it is Jeremy Brett doing the dismissing!)
Although a small part, Rosalie Williams was perfect as Mrs. Hudson. She neither coddled Sherlock nor shied away when he would bellow out orders…. She held her own!
We should remember, while watching these wonderful productions, that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle wrote these stories as newspaper installments. He was one of, if not the first, prolific mystery writer. (Edgar Allan Poe was more of an author of suspense.) Doyle had actually tired of the Holmes stories, and killed him off… only to find that he "had to bring him back to life" when the public "demanded" more Sherlock Holmes newspaper stories.
The one very bad thing about this series is this: Once you see these television productions, you will never be happy with another actor's portrayal of the great Sherlock Holmes character!
If you would like to see more TV and Movies suggestions, click here.
13 comments - click here to see the comments or to add yours
{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }
Oh, you are so right. I was in love with Jeremy Brett (God rest his soul)! I received an old Holmes with Basil Rathbone for my birthday. I was SO disappointed!
Mary Ann,
Well, at least the giver of your birthday gift knew how much you liked Sherlock Holmes…. just not the correct version!
I am trying to think back to the Basil Rathbone versions…. Wasn't Nigel Bruce's Dr. Watson a bumbler?
Nigel Bruce's Dr. Watson was a bumbler. I'll never be able to watch those old versions after watching Jeremy Brett. Mr Brett had already passed away when I discovered this series. I wish A&E would put the series back on. This series will always have a large following, even the younger generation in my family love this Sherlock Holmes.
Isn't this series terrific!?! We all love the shows also…
Yesterday I watched an episode of "Sherlock Homes" (with Jeremy Brett of course), another of "Murder she wrote" and another of "Remington Steele", what a wonderful night watching those episodes with my wife!!! She loves your site too
Hi Jack,
It has been so long since I watched a Remington Steele show>>> Thanks for reminding me about them.
Sounds like you watch the exact types of shows that we do!
Yes, I like "Remington Steele", "Murder, She Wrote", "Moonlighting", "Miss Marple", "Monk"… I watched "Remington Steele" when I was 16 (now I am 38) and some months ago I bought the first season.
Oh my gosh! There's another show I haven't thought of in years… I used to love Moonlighting!
I am one of those people for whom Jeremy Brett IS Sherlock Holmes. While I enjoyed the interpretations of such actors as Basil Rathbone and Nicol Williamson–Brett stands far above the rest in my heart. I also agree that the transition from David Burke to Edward Hardwicke in the Watson role was nearly seamless in this series. (Transitions in the Beringar character, in the Cadfael series, were much bumpier.) Both "Watson actors" were wise to avoid portraying the doctor as a bumbler. The dimension brought to that character by both actors, in this series, was essential to its success. Holmes can be seen as a cold, calculating and isolated figure–by virtue of his extraordinary and unique gifts. The affection felt for him by Watson, Mrs. Hudson and even Inspector Lestrade, however, inspires our own affection for Holmes. Brett also displayed just enough emotion–at key moments–to endear us to Holmes, without compromising the character, as written. It is so sad that such wonderful actors as Jeremy Brett and John Thaw (Inspector Morse) died prematurely. However, their talents and their contributions do and will continue to live on in the signature roles they played.
So happy to see many fans of Jeremy Brett around the world~~~I am a Chinese~
Do you feel suprising if i tell you thousands of JB's fans are in China,they create websites for both SH and JB,make MVs,write articles to memory in their blogs,try to search all kinds of info. about the JB and SH,and on the birthday and death day of Jeremy，fans will make some small gifts for him,apply different ways,just to mourn.
shake hands~~
Jeremy Brett is THE premiere Holmes (with Basil Rathbone running a close second. Very close. As in, make we watch marathon episodes of both, repeatedly.) And Edward Hardwicke is absolutely the best Watson ever.
Why I called up this old post — my personal opinion is that the current movie (12/09, Robert Downey, Jr. et al.) is IMHO likely to be a major disappointment to Holmes' fans. This is kind of curious, because the film assumes you already know a great deal about Holmes going in — there's almost no exposition or discussion of character. I had a similar reaction to Jurassic Park — all roller coaster, but not very much plot to speak of. And, while there is some small fun when clues are explained at the end, they weren't presented in enough context for the audience to participate in figuring them out. (The Detection Club would not approve!) Definitely aimed at an immature audience, with childish hints at homosexuality, ad nauseum. Watson's compassionate nature is almost nonexistent, because the producers kept shoving in our faces about how "tough" he was. (Watson's masculinity was never in question, but in this film's shallow, contemporary world view, in order to be a "real man," you have to be able to engage in marathon violence without a qualm. There are also unnecessary kicks and beatings throughout, which are presented as sympathetic, and which the audience is supposed/ordered to enjoy. Yes, Holmes could box, but he also was not gratuitously cruel.) Many scenic CG shots are visually gorgeous, but there's just too much pandering to the shallow, contemporary mind set for my taste. The best productions, I think, show you fully Holmes' existential struggles — there's just nothing that solid here. End of rant. Might be worth seeing in a theatre for fans who see everything Holmesian to compare with other versions, but, otherwise I'd give it a pass.
I GREW UP WITH THE GRANADA SERIES, I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GO SEE THE NEW MOVIE OUT AS WELL AS I KNOW NOTHING SURPASSES THE LEGENDARY BRETT! ONE OF THE GREATEST ACTORS OR OUR TIMES!
I OWN THE WHOLE SET OF ALL THE EPISODES AND THE FILMS TOO! IT WILL BE A LEGACY FOR MY CHILDREN AS IT WAS FOR ME!
I have completely fallen in love with JB's portrayal of Holmes I watched the series as a child but only recently came across re-runs on British TV. Jeremy Brett is hypnotizing as Sherlock and Burke and Hardwicke make excellent Watsons. I made my 10 year old son watch them and he is a big fan too now. He refuses to see the Sherlock film which received bad reviews in the UK. No one will be able to play Sherlock again as JB did. Guy Richie should have just left the story alone. RIP JB.