Sherlock Holmes, anyone?

[Josh]

12/31/06:

Just curious how many of you are Sherlock Holmes fans?

Furthermore, how many of you remember the Mystery (on channel 10 in the '80's) Sherlock Holmes series starring Jeremy Brett and Edward Hardwicke?

Awesome series! Great memories from my childhood. And this year for Christmas my sister got me 6 episodes on DVD. Splendid!

[Josh]

memorable Holme's quotes:

www.bcpl.net/~lmoskowi/HolmesQuotes/quotes.html

[aimee]

Yes! I love that series! And of course the books We have part of the Jeremy Brett set and I love watching them. Nothing like sitting down with your bowl of popcorn on a dark and stormy night and watching some captivating Sherlock Holmes! Plus I absolutely love contrasting Jeremy Brett's acting from that and from My Fair Lady My favorite story is of course the "The Scandal in Bohemia" where the one and only 'Woman' Irene Adler outwits him . I can't wait untill my kids are old enough and I can introduce them the series.



My favorite quote of Holmes: "Why does fate play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, "There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes." from the Boscombe Valley Mystery

[Josh]

1/3/07:

Just watched that one the other day! (Boscombe Valley Mystery), although I can't remember if they kept that line in it.

I know isn't that so funny that he's in My Fair Lady?

The DVD I got has a little interview with Jeremy Brett... he was quite a trip! Had kinda a sad story, as I discovered on wikipedia.

But he is just awesome as Holmes. And I loved Hardwicke too. He plays CS Lewis' brother Warnie in Shadowlands, which I love, whose character is pretty similar to Watson.



I just watched the "illustrious client" which kinda puts Holmes in an unusual interaction with the woman in the story as well (Kitty). It's funny to watch Holmes attempt to be consoling.

[rose]

1/21/07:

Ok, so what Josh DIDN'T tell you is that yes, his sister got him 6 episodes for Christmas, but then he bought 35 more (the rest of them) since!



And we are addicted! They are such great episodes and Jeremy Brett did such an excellent job playing Holmes. We've been sneaking in at least one episode an evening, and I can't wait to see them all.

[Josh]

Rose and I just finished this series, which ended with the episode, "The Cardboard Box". The last lines by Holmes are a great summary of the whole adventure:

"What is the meaning of it, Watson?" said Holmes solemnly as he laid down the paper. "What object is served by this circle of misery and violence and fear? It must be to some end, or else our universe is rule by chance, which is unthinkable. But what end? There is the great standing perennial problem to which human reason is as far from an answer as ever."

[aimee]

So, Josh and Rose, which were your favorite episodes? I don't think I have seen all of them... My brother got our set for us, but I think I would like to expand our collection a bit as well (only thing is, I don't think Alex enjoys them as much as I do .

[Alex]

I like them, but I have to cut through the 70's tension effects, like discordant violins, bobbing/tilted cameras, and color kaleidescopes. It was a heady period of filmaking, during that special era when people believed you could be brainwashed into killing the president by sticking you in a room and doing those things in the right order.

It was an era when people were bored with the concept of physical torture, and the theory of psychological torture was in its heyday. This is the same mentality that created shows like "The Prisoner" (which I love to watch for its campiness), with all its random gassings and fake agents.

Cruel interrogator docter: "Don't hit him, Phil. We want to make him really hurt and learn to do what we want. Bring out the kaleidescopes and High Fidelity. I've got this really good set on 8 track"

Victem: "Nooooooooo! My modern 70's sensibilities have convinced me this is a fate worse than death. Please just pull out my fingernails!"

Phil: "This is the stupidest interrogation method in all my career. When are we going to move on to unanesthetized dentistry."

Besides that, I rather like it, but frankly enjoy the written stories better.

[Josh]

First off, Sherlock, they were made in the 80's

Also, yes, there are a few episodes that kinda match your description (and I wonder if you've even seen some of the weirdest!) , but far more that would be called conservative, tastful, and restrained.

Since we own all of them now (the inevitably result of the addiction), we'll have to send some of the best your way.

Rose and I are going to try and come up with a good short list of the best, but for now I found a cool website with reviews of all the episodes (with scores):

www.tv.com/sherlock-holmes-1984/show/6802/episode.html?om_act=convert&om_clk=tabssh&tag=tabs;episodes

Oh, and maybe I'll throw in a vote for my favorite "kaleidoscope" episode.

[Josh]

Here you go, my top 7 favorites (5 of which aren't in your Adventures set)

The Musgrave Ritual
The Illustrius Client
The Second Stain
The Dying Detective
The Red Circle
The Greek Interpreter
The Dancing Men

[Alex]

In my own defense, I believe the concept of the effects originated in the 70's, although truthfully from the mid 60's elements can be seen. The implementation of them in the 80's merely shows that the director hadn't yet moved on

That being said, I do like the series as a whole and enjoy the characters. A great vision of Holmes that draws me in.

And yes, most of the episodes don't get too cooky, minus the occasionally discordant violin jumping out at you like fun house prop figures.

'Without a Clue' is a nice presentation of Sherlock as well. ;D

[aimee]

;D yea, 'without a clue' is great!

I have to say 'Dancing Men' and 'The Greek Interpreter' are some of my favs. as well, I really like 'the man with the twisted lip' too, as well as 'A Scandal in Bohemia' of course, oh, and 'The solitary cyclist'...

I guess I have a hard time choosing my exact favorites. Then there is always the famous 'Hound of The Baskervilles'!

What is the name of the one with the Lady who falls in love with a guy who gets sent off on a suicide mission by his jealous buddy? The guy ends up getting captured and presumed dead, and she marries his buddy. Then she ends up seeing him later in life at a homeless shelter? It's a good one too.

Even today, when the music comes up for 'Mystery Masterpiece Theater' on channel 10 I think Sherlock Holmes (only I get dissapointed when it's really 'Foyles War')