The Man For All Seasons

by Mary Saums

My husband is the TV watcher in our house. While he's in the den watching an episode of The Wire for the 23rd time, I'm usually on the computer working on one project or another.

A few nights ago he called out, "Hey, Sherlock is coming on." I said, "Which one?" There was a long pause and then he said, "Have you ever met a Sherlock you didn't like?"

I had to laugh. How did he know something I didn't realize about myself? He knows that even though I rarely take time out to watch an entire show of anything, there's always time for Sherlock (also The Mummy, 1 and 2) no matter which incarnation is on. 

It's hard to beat Basil. Look at him. So absorbed in a pipe-smoking ratiocination that we all believed he was the real deal. That nobody could top him. And then ...

... came Brett. Yowza. That boy means serious business. I wouldn't want to be caught in that stare. I love how he amped up the cerebral Holmes and stretched it with the quirks that surely would go along with such genius.

One of my favorite Sherlock movies is Young Sherlock Holmes. It satisfies the Sherlock fan in several ways - the resemblance to Basil, the backstory explanations of his attachment to a pipe and a deerstalker, of how the death of his first love affected him for the rest of his life, how his relationship to Scotland Yard began.

It also shows the beginnings of my two favorite aspects of newer Sherlocks, the intimate knowledge of the city of London and the combination of super-intelligence with the ability and inclination to

 
fight. I never thought it would work. When I heard Robert Downey, Jr. and Jude Law would be Holmes and Watson, I thought the producers had lost their minds. But it did work. And not only that, it made sense.

Now, I know a lot of people would disagree. Many Holmes fans are purists who believe the 'facts' about Holmes are only those things mentioned in Conan Doyle's works. Thou shalt not add to nor take away.

I'm not a purist. I think of the newer versions as having a fuller view of London as it really was in Victorian times. Gentlemen Holmes and Watson in the early Sherlock movies lived in the gentleman's world of the city. In more recent interpretations, the duo embraces the full city. Their work takes them into crime-ridden areas.  Fighting and survival skills would be elementary to them because of their familiarity with these parts of town.

But that's just my view. I doubt the real experts see it that way. Just as I'm sure they dislike my absolute favorite Sherlock movie of all time ...

... Without A Clue. What a hilarious movie! Don't let the photo fool you. Michael Caine may be the one with all the Sherlock paraphenalia, but Ben Kingsley, who plays Watson, is the brains of this team. If you missed this one, pick it up through Netflix when you need a good laugh. 

Surely that's as far as the characters can be stretched.

So long as they at least resemble the original Holmes and Watson and take place in turn-of-the-century London, I'm fine with a few little twists. But if they were put, say, in the current decade and had Holmes and Watson as completely different characters, then that would never, ever ...

 ... OMG, IT DOES WORK!!!!

The brand new BBC Sherlock series absolutely blows me away. I love it. Love everything about it, down to the photography. Take this picture for instance, with Holmes and Watson bridging the time gap between St. Paul's and The Pickle. The writing is clever, funny, brilliant.

Hubby was right. I've never met a Sherlock I don't like and probably never will. But then, I'm also a fan of all the different Miss Marples. I know I'm in the minority on that. Joan Hickson was fabulous, no doubt about it. Margaret Rutherford's versions are often criticized, but I love them all and have them on DVD.

I'm sure I'm forgetting other similar characters who have been through some changes over the years. Who are your favorite mystery characters who have gone on to the big (or little) screen?

 

Comments

[Mo]

I too watched BBC's Sherlock expecting not to like it and was amazed at how wonderful it was. not enough episodes in Series 1. I am waiting impatiently now for Series 2.

[Hank Phillippi Ryan]

I loved it. Love it love it. Clever, and intelligent and funny and droll. Love that BBC's Sherlock texts, love the references to real" stories--its just all good.

How about the marvelous Seven Per Cent Solution? On of my all time faves. (No backhand, Holmes, no backhand!)

[Mary S.]

Me too, Mo. What were they thinking, only doing three? :) I'll be getting the DVDs for sure.

Hank, it has been such a long time since I read Seven Percent Solution that I barely remember it. Another one to add to the To Be Re-Read Soon pile!

[Susan M]

I'm another one who thought the new BBC series would never work only to find I liked it after all.

I know what you mean about finding all the different interpretations kinda working, in their own quirky way. Tom Baker & Frank Langella played Sherlock too, and I enjoyed those efforts as well (televised stage productions. I think I saw those in the 80's)

However, IMHO, the very best Sherlock Holmes is/was Jeremy Brett ;)

[Mary S.]

I think you're right, Susan. I always picture him when reading Laurie King's Mary Russell/Sherlock series which I LOVE.

I don't think I've seen the Frank Langella shows. Will have to look for them. Thanks!!

[KrisL]

"Without a Clue" was funny!

[Dana]

Mary, I'll admit: I'm not much for Holmes on TV or movies (never as good as in the books!). But the new BBC Sherlock is just unbelievably good, probably because the writers/producers are such die-hard fans.

[Ellis Vidler]

The new kids on the block surprised me too. I didn't expect to like it, but now I can't wait for more--which I hear are in the works.

[Mary S.]

Ellis, yes, when the new one shows on TV, my various worlds will be put on hold so I can sit for an hour or so and enjoy the new kids. :) Wouldn't it be fun to sit in on their writers' brainstorming sessions. I bet they have a blast.

Happy New Year to you!

[Toni L.P. Kelner]

Mary, I'm with you. Even a bad Sherlock is still Sherlock. I have seen the Langella play on HBO, and thought it was pretty good. And I liked Without a Clue and Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother. (The latter is really not a good movie--but I still liked it.)

And I ADORE the new show Sherlock! We've already watched it multiple times, and will probably do so again while waiting for Season 2.