Jeremy Brett, the quintessential Sherlock Holmes, is in top form in this tale of treasure, betrayal and murder. As is Edward Hardwicke as Dr. Watson, Jenny Seagrove as Mary Morstan, and Ronald Lacey as both Thaddeus and Bartholomew Sholto. But John Thaw as Jonathan Small steals the show though he comes in only in the last third of the movie. This is a very faithful adaptation of the second Sherlock Holmes story, except that it comes late in the TV series and it eliminates the love story between Watson and Mary Morstan, who in the original tales becomes his wife. This version just hints at their attraction to each other. Thus I have subtracted 1 point for this otherwise excellent movie.
2 Reviews
As good a retelling of ACD's tale as possible while rejecting his ending
aramis-112-80488010 July 2023
ACD's novel of a mysterious treasure and the weird folk seeking it could not have a better retelling.
We can take the exquisite performances of Jeremy Brett and Edward Hardwicke for granted.
Ronald Lacy ("Raiders of the Lost Ark") perfectly captures the Sholto Brothers (yes, both) and his Thaddeus can't be beat.
Jenny Seagrove would not have been my first choice for Mary; but in retrospect she's a positive choice for what she became in the Holmes' canon. A flashier actress simply wouldn't have done. It's to my everlasting regret the producers didn't follow the novel's conclusion.
And I love seeing Gordon Gostelow in whatever he does. He's the perfect guardian of Toby.
Then there's John Thaw. He also played a fictional detective on TV but I can't recall which. My late father always liked the mysteries in modern dress while I preferred the historical ones (Holmes, Campion, Poirot, Marple, Wimsey, etc.)
This whole production reeks of class. It's what we knew the Brett/Holmes was capable of. It's too bad all the stories (especially in the last two series) couldn't have maintained this level of perfection. This is a high-water mark for the series.
We can take the exquisite performances of Jeremy Brett and Edward Hardwicke for granted.
Ronald Lacy ("Raiders of the Lost Ark") perfectly captures the Sholto Brothers (yes, both) and his Thaddeus can't be beat.
Jenny Seagrove would not have been my first choice for Mary; but in retrospect she's a positive choice for what she became in the Holmes' canon. A flashier actress simply wouldn't have done. It's to my everlasting regret the producers didn't follow the novel's conclusion.
And I love seeing Gordon Gostelow in whatever he does. He's the perfect guardian of Toby.
Then there's John Thaw. He also played a fictional detective on TV but I can't recall which. My late father always liked the mysteries in modern dress while I preferred the historical ones (Holmes, Campion, Poirot, Marple, Wimsey, etc.)
This whole production reeks of class. It's what we knew the Brett/Holmes was capable of. It's too bad all the stories (especially in the last two series) couldn't have maintained this level of perfection. This is a high-water mark for the series.
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