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The originals from WWll era with Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce are my Fav's!
Who is your favorite Sherlock Holmes?
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I am a true Holmes fan and have read the books and short stories several times. I liked the character Basil Rathbone developed, but always thought he didn't capture the true Holmes character. Of all of them I thought Jeremy Brett was closest.
I thought the most entertaining was Michael Caine in Without a Clue.....
I thought the most entertaining was Michael Caine in Without a Clue.....
amazingflapjack
US Veteran
Johnny Lee Miller on "Elementary.'
I've given up on the Cumberbatch Holme's as the plots of the current episodes are too weird for me. The only resemblance between Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes and the current ones, are the title of the episode!
He's a little too psychotic for me.....good actor though.
After reading all the books, I always considered Jeremy Brett as the most accurate adaptation of Holmes.
Texas Star
US Veteran
Jeremy Brett, easily. The whole series was close to the books and characters.
Start a topic on the Holmes guns. Clue: Doyle knew very little about guns, so you need to know what was likely in real life there and then. Watson would have retired in about 1880-1885, so his "service revolver" may have been an Adams .450.
Start a topic on the Holmes guns. Clue: Doyle knew very little about guns, so you need to know what was likely in real life there and then. Watson would have retired in about 1880-1885, so his "service revolver" may have been an Adams .450.
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Never much of a Sherlock Holmes fan until the current movie duo of Robert Downey and Jude Law. I did enjoy the movies set back in the day.
Picked up on the new BBC version with Cumberbatch and Freeman and yes Mrs. Hudson. Sometimes though I find that some of the episodes are a little hard to follow!
They may be a little hard to follow because I think PBS clips a little bit here and there out of them like they do the other Mysteries on Masterpiece. They used to really tear up Lewis.
Absalom
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
The Adams as the standard issue until 1880 would indeed be a prime suspect.
However, officers were required to purchase their own kit, including personal arms, and the Adams was not terribly popular.
Webley R.I.C. Models, on the other hand, were, and Webley British Bulldog civilian models were also frequently in use. Especially as a medical officer, Watson would not be bound by any standard unit weaponry conventions. Even Colts were often carried.
After 1880 the Enfield No. 1 was introduced, but since Watson (fictionally) was invalided out of service by then and met Holmes in 1881, that one is not a viable candidate.
the ringo kid
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Basil Rathbone--bar none.
This is akin to asking for a forums favorite James Bond but ONLY between Sirs Roger Moore and Sean Connery. For me it's Moore because he was the first Bond i ever saw.
Flynn vs Greene as Robin Hood. Flynn wins for me partly because I saw has Sir Robin first--but Greene is in the running because I think he did a magnificent job of his version--which is like Flynn's.
The chap recently departed from The Walking Dead--I forget his name) he played Holmes on a Biritish TV series. Ive never seen him as Holmes-but heard he was also very good. As I saw him on TWD first--as the eyepatch/kommandant of that town-first, It might be difficult to waatch him as Holmes knowing he could be a bad ***.
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the ringo kid
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This is the first post by you ever, that I cant agree with you on (only because ive never seen Brett as Holmes) but are giving you a likes--anyways.
I wonder if the choice may be generational. I do think the best was Brett, but I grew up with Rathbone. so he is my favorite. I never saw William Gillett in the role he made famous so maybe he is the best.
Cumberbach is Holmes in modern times, and though I watch it, it is to out of place.
Cumberbach is Holmes in modern times, and though I watch it, it is to out of place.
I''ve only seen Basil Rathbone, Jeremy Brett and Benedict Cumberpatch. All are very talented actors and I don't know which I prefer. I've seen more Jeremy Brett than the others; it was before I had discovered the Smith & Wesson Forum where I generally spend my evenings instead of in front of the TV.
I didn't know of the anntated Sherlock Holmes; I'll have to get a copy. I have a modern edition of the complete Sherlock Holmes, but the edition I generally read is the 1930 Conan Doyle Memorial Edition in two volumes. It was printed from the plates used in the original appearance of the stories in The Strand magazine. The page nubmers are the ones that appeared in The Strand, so each volume doesn't start at page 1 and go up from there.
Sir Arthur was a city dweller; born in Edonburgh and he parcticed medicine in London, I think. i dourt he owned any firearns and he probably had shot only a few if at all. It shows in his stories. However he dashed off the Sherlock Holmes series without much attention to details; he consiered them frivolous potboilers while he worked on others h considered his main works. This also shows in the stories. He was a student of medieval times and it will be difficult to find errors in his novels set in that era, primarily The White Company and its sequels. However I think modern readers will find it difficult to plow through The White Company.
I've read everything of Doyle I could lay my hands on but I actually prefer Kipling among authors of that era. I've read everything of his I could lay my nands on, too. He has a much greater range than Doyle, from the masculine stories of Soldiers Three to the romantic tragedy of The Light That Failed, to the social doings at Simla, high in the cool mountains. Some of his stories, such as Stalky and Company, about the doings of schoolboys in a turn of the century public school (we'd call it a private school) are so steeped in the minutia of the culture of that time that I find it difficult to understand them. His post WW I stories, most of which verge on science fiction are strange indeed (he lost his only child, John Kipling, in the first battle of the Somme, I think, and his body was never found). He has been among the East Indian soldiers and knows how to write about them. He got the details right; I remember Ortheris saying that when the Army went from the Snider to the Martini he found it diffiult to shake the habit of turning the rifle over and tapping it to eject the fired case.
You will note the book adjacent to the Sherlock Holmes stories: A Thief in the Night, by E. W. Hornung. It details the adventures of Raffles, a 'gentleman crackster' (burglar) as told by his assistant, Bunny. Hornung was Doyle's brother-in-law and his stories are a takoff on Sherlock Holmes.
I didn't know of the anntated Sherlock Holmes; I'll have to get a copy. I have a modern edition of the complete Sherlock Holmes, but the edition I generally read is the 1930 Conan Doyle Memorial Edition in two volumes. It was printed from the plates used in the original appearance of the stories in The Strand magazine. The page nubmers are the ones that appeared in The Strand, so each volume doesn't start at page 1 and go up from there.
Sir Arthur was a city dweller; born in Edonburgh and he parcticed medicine in London, I think. i dourt he owned any firearns and he probably had shot only a few if at all. It shows in his stories. However he dashed off the Sherlock Holmes series without much attention to details; he consiered them frivolous potboilers while he worked on others h considered his main works. This also shows in the stories. He was a student of medieval times and it will be difficult to find errors in his novels set in that era, primarily The White Company and its sequels. However I think modern readers will find it difficult to plow through The White Company.
I've read everything of Doyle I could lay my hands on but I actually prefer Kipling among authors of that era. I've read everything of his I could lay my nands on, too. He has a much greater range than Doyle, from the masculine stories of Soldiers Three to the romantic tragedy of The Light That Failed, to the social doings at Simla, high in the cool mountains. Some of his stories, such as Stalky and Company, about the doings of schoolboys in a turn of the century public school (we'd call it a private school) are so steeped in the minutia of the culture of that time that I find it difficult to understand them. His post WW I stories, most of which verge on science fiction are strange indeed (he lost his only child, John Kipling, in the first battle of the Somme, I think, and his body was never found). He has been among the East Indian soldiers and knows how to write about them. He got the details right; I remember Ortheris saying that when the Army went from the Snider to the Martini he found it diffiult to shake the habit of turning the rifle over and tapping it to eject the fired case.
You will note the book adjacent to the Sherlock Holmes stories: A Thief in the Night, by E. W. Hornung. It details the adventures of Raffles, a 'gentleman crackster' (burglar) as told by his assistant, Bunny. Hornung was Doyle's brother-in-law and his stories are a takoff on Sherlock Holmes.
Attachments
Cyrano:
Notice that the introduction to your 1930 Complete Holmes was penned by Christopher Morley. He was one of the founders of the "Baker Street Irregulars", a group of literati who were ardent scholars of the "Canon", or the Holmes stories. Here (center) he is seen with fellow members, the one he is facing is member Rex Stout, who penned the enormously popular Nero Wolfe novels, (which I happen to be rereading for the umpteenth time right now)!!
Another member was Watchdog's muse, Dorothy Parker, who was one of the very few females admitted to the "Irregulars", IIRC.
Edit: I believe that William S. Baring-Gould, the author of "The Annotated Sherlock Holmes", was also a member of the "Irregulars".
Best Regards, Les
Notice that the introduction to your 1930 Complete Holmes was penned by Christopher Morley. He was one of the founders of the "Baker Street Irregulars", a group of literati who were ardent scholars of the "Canon", or the Holmes stories. Here (center) he is seen with fellow members, the one he is facing is member Rex Stout, who penned the enormously popular Nero Wolfe novels, (which I happen to be rereading for the umpteenth time right now)!!
Another member was Watchdog's muse, Dorothy Parker, who was one of the very few females admitted to the "Irregulars", IIRC.
Edit: I believe that William S. Baring-Gould, the author of "The Annotated Sherlock Holmes", was also a member of the "Irregulars".
Best Regards, Les
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Jack Flash
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As a youngster, I thought Basil Rathbone was the greatest Holmes ever, but at that age I also thought Roy Rodgers was the greatest cowboy actor. But that's seeing things through the eyes of a little kid. You grow older and your world view expands ...
I now think Jeremy Brett captures the character, warts and all, much better. Let's recall that Holmes had a ... fairly low opinion of female intelligence. A very typical attitude for that time. He was schooled on this subject in "A Scandal in Bohemia", and thus only wanted the photograph of "The Woman" as payment for his efforts. We see that Holmes is not above allowing bias to cloud his thinking, and having to re-evaluate his own mindset. Maybe some of us can do that too.
The portrayal of his use of drugs (not at all uncommon and certainly not illegal at that time) also allows Mr. Brett to portray the character more accurately. Naturally, this would never have gotten past the censors in Mr. Rathbone's movies, so I'm not faulting him on that point. Holmes has flaws.
Got to love Holmes playing the violin in the Granada series. In fact, the introduction for each show, with the violin and street scenes of Edwardian England, is worth watching just on its own.
I now think Jeremy Brett captures the character, warts and all, much better. Let's recall that Holmes had a ... fairly low opinion of female intelligence. A very typical attitude for that time. He was schooled on this subject in "A Scandal in Bohemia", and thus only wanted the photograph of "The Woman" as payment for his efforts. We see that Holmes is not above allowing bias to cloud his thinking, and having to re-evaluate his own mindset. Maybe some of us can do that too.
The portrayal of his use of drugs (not at all uncommon and certainly not illegal at that time) also allows Mr. Brett to portray the character more accurately. Naturally, this would never have gotten past the censors in Mr. Rathbone's movies, so I'm not faulting him on that point. Holmes has flaws.
Got to love Holmes playing the violin in the Granada series. In fact, the introduction for each show, with the violin and street scenes of Edwardian England, is worth watching just on its own.
I think I like the Cumberbatch Holmes the best, though their are many things I don't like about "updated" classics, and this series is no exception. The acting is very good, though, and a big part of that is Martin Freeman. Those two have a great chemistry. You have to see the episode where Watson gets married. It's unlike any of the other episodes, but it was fantastic!
I haven't seen all of the ones that have played Holmes but I feel that there is only one Sherlock Holmes and that is Basil Rathbone. His portrayal literally defines the character of Holmes. I've seen portrayals that put emphasis on the drug addiction and some that add a comedic aspect and some that just miss the concept of Holmes all together.
Any other actor playing the role of Holmes is like listening to Rose Ann Bar sing the national anthem as far as I'm concerned. And while we are on the subject Nigel Bruce is the only credible Dr. Watson as well. Any one trying to duplicate that role is wasting their time.
Any other actor playing the role of Holmes is like listening to Rose Ann Bar sing the national anthem as far as I'm concerned. And while we are on the subject Nigel Bruce is the only credible Dr. Watson as well. Any one trying to duplicate that role is wasting their time.
ContinentalOp
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I'm definitely in the Jeremy Brett camp.
While I've seen many iterations of Holmes, and have found something to like in all of them, Brett's was the definitive protrayal, in my opinion.
I will add that I really enjoy Cumberbatch's portrayal and have the first three series on DVD.
While I've seen many iterations of Holmes, and have found something to like in all of them, Brett's was the definitive protrayal, in my opinion.
I will add that I really enjoy Cumberbatch's portrayal and have the first three series on DVD.
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ContinentalOp
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That's my favorite episode out of all four series. It was a great mix of drama, humor, and mystery. I'm also a fan of "locked room" mysteries in particular.
ContinentalOp
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While I haven't necessarily given up on the Cumberbatch version, I did find series four to be less enjoyable than the first three series.
