THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES

REVIEWED BY CHARITY BISHOP

Our rating: 5 out of 5

Originally created for the BBC by Granada, this disk contains four of the popular series adaptations of the stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Although not an original fan of Jeremy Brett's version of the infamous Baker Street detective, this series won me over entirely. There's very little content (individual issues have been addressed in the episode summaries) and the stories are surprisingly true to the original text. Lovers of good mysteries in general will appreciate these noteworthy attempts at recreating Holmes as much as the die-hard fans.

Episode One: A Scandal in Bohemia

Sherlock Holmes was only ever once outsmarted by a woman. His philosophies concerning the female gender were generally distant and unimpressed. He was "wary" of their intellect, and regarded them as dangerous. But in the case of Irene Adler, Holmes made an exception. Her story is told in A Scandal in Bohemia, one of the earliest and finest of the Sherlock Holmes stories produced by Granada. This initial episode introduces us to the eccentric, playful Holmes so well known by his thousands of literary fans, and also provides us the opportunity to watch one of the more tantalizing canon stories unfold.

After a brief absence from Baker Street, Dr. Watson (David Burke) returns fearful of his findings. Sherlock Holmes (Jeremy Brett) is a constantly changing individual, sometimes in the height of his exuberance, at others wallowing in melancholy. On this occasion he's in high spirits, having just received a mysterious letter from an unknown client. The German-inspired note requests his presence at home at the hour of eight that very evening, and promises the price will be well worth his while. Insisting Watson remain to greet the newcomer, Holmes astounds their masked visitor by acknowledging him as the crown king of Bohemia. The problem is singular but unimaginative: the monarch had a former indiscretion in his youth with a woman by the name of Irene Adler. A woman of great beauty and repute, she has the singing voice of an angel and the personality of a queen.

The king requires Holmes to obtain a photograph Irene has of them together, taken in one of his rare cameo shoots. Irene has threatened to reveal it the day of his formal engagement to a foreign princess, thereby threatening the match and extracting her revenge. But Irene is clever. His Majesty has sent agents on four separate occasions to break in and search the house. He's waylaid her luggage, offered to pay her a high price... but there's never any sign of the photograph. Holmes has three days in which to obtain this important document. But this is one case where the hunter may become the hunted. Irene is no simpleton, however generous and sweet she turns out to be. These complexities---in an almost direct-from-page-to-screen adaptation---make this sixty-minute episode one of the more fascinating in the series.

I'm not very fond of Jeremy Brett, having only seen some the later episodes in which he's much too lethargic to play Holmes. But having observed A Scandal in Bohemia, I realized for the first time why he was cast as the eccentric occupant of the flat above Baker Street. Brett truly shines from beginning to end, opening with his humorous thoughts on a "seven percent solution" of cocaine (Watson believes he's been indulging, which proves to be false), to the final shot of him playing his violin. The disguises he adopts are particularly fantastic, and Brett manages to alter his voice, expressions, walk, even his smile to suit whatever role he's playing... that of a surly redheaded Irish groom, or the well-meaning clergyman. The silent battle of wits that engages between him and Irene is splendid.

David Burke is exceptional as Watson. He's excitable but not absurd. One can easily accept him as a physician and writer. Supporting actors are also proficient in their roles. The costuming and set design are beautiful, carrying a romantic but slightly threatening air. Overall the production is well worth viewing and lacks any problematic areas except for a few mild abuses of deity. Nothing scandalous is ever hinted at in the flashbacks of romance between the King and Irene. Her reasons for keeping the photograph are completely above board and only prove her intelligence. Holmes loses a little face but never seems resentful of it, instead marveling at so keen a woman. Having always loved the original story, I was happy to see it kept almost exactly to Doyle's tale, right down to the dialogue. The cinematography in early scenes is also quite stunning... a darkened Baker Street lit by candlelight.

Episode Two: The Dancing Men

A series of little stick figures in various positions are found on an outside bench on the Cubitt estate. Mr. Hilton Cubitt is most curious about their presence, as well as the sinister influence they have over his wife Elsie. A young American woman he chanced to meet while in London for the local festival, their marriage has been happy for some months... until the appearance of a letter postmarked from the States. Having told her husband on the morning of their wedding day she was completely innocent of any past discrepancies in her life, but would never tell him what she left behind in America, Elsie burned the letter without reading it. Ever since she's been melancholy... and now dancing figures have sent her into inexplicable hysterics.

The case is brought to the attention of Sherlock Holmes (Jeremy Brett) at Baker Street, who has made a conclusive study of cryptograms. The little figures are unlike anything he has ever seen and baffle even the logics of Dr. Watson (David Burke). Hilton believes his wife is running from something, but also protests her innocence. As Holmes attempts to piece together the fragile pieces of information he'd provided with, the landowner is forced to contend with his wife's unwillingness to divulge information. More dancing men are found scratched onto door frames and painted onto outside walls. The servants are aware of something amiss but can offer no explanations. The dog-cart is kept busy transporting the stable boy to the station with yet more copied cryptograms for Sherlock Holmes.

But even when the great consulting detective cracks the code, he may be too late to prevent disaster. The Dancing Men provides one of the best climaxes in the series of short stories revolving around Watson's assistance to the great detective. Holmes uses the villain's own means to ensnare him, proving once and for all eventually the sins of the world will catch up to you. Doyle was often fond of using foreign criminals in which to engage British audiences, and this story does not differ from the norm. Elsie is a lovely young woman with a dark secret. Her husband is slightly jealous but convinced of her innocence in any "past deeds." The third party, the originator of the mysterious dancing men, is a surprisingly dimensional character. Both ruthless but also compassionate. His confession is surprisingly moving.

The early films are much better than the later episodes where Jeremy Brett is concerned. Here is yet another fine portrayal of Holmes. His abruptness of manner, the way he wholeheartedly throws himself into the task at hand, and his moody expression whenever deep in thought are the very picture generated through reading the canon. This episode is also detailed and contains no major content issues. There is one profanity and a single mild abuse of deity. Some violence is shown in flashbacks as we witness the actual crime; a man tries to force a woman out of a window. Several shots are fired, one figure is killed. We hear of a suicide attempt in retrospect. Not one of my favorite stories but still one worth viewing... just to see if you can decode the dancing men!

Episode Three: The Naval Treaty

A man screaming with hysteria is brought into the house on a dark and provincial night. Eight weeks later, Sherlock Holmes is musing in Baker Street over a puzzling letter from someone seeking his assistance, but declining to acknowledge the reason for the need for his services. The name is known to his friend and college Dr. Watson as an old schoolmate, a nervous fellow called Phelps. He is currently employed at the Foreign Office but has been lain up in his country estate from an illness brought on by severe shock and concern. When our intrepid duo appear on the morning train, Phelps is none too happy to reveal the source of his pain... the theft of a priceless document from the department.

The agreement, which concerns security-sensitive information concerning "the position of Great Britain towards the Triple Alliance, and fore-shadowed the policy which this country would pursue in the event of the French fleet gaining a complete ascendancy over that of Italy in the Mediterranean," was given into Phelps' care by his uncle in order to copy the document. He was given explicit instructions and followed them to the letter, returning to his office and remaining after the other clerks had gone home. Dutifully he copied the article late into the night and rang for coffee. When it failed to come, concerned and irritated, he left the office momentarily to go down and see what was the matter. When he returned, the priceless legal document was gone without a single person in sight.

Holmes has been called up to retrieve it at any cost and with great deliberation. Phelps' reputation lies on the line, as well as the political stance of England. Were the document to be made known, their alliances would swiftly become enemies. But more than eight weeks have passed since the initial crime, the local police hold very little hope of its recovery, and the trail is cold. Indulging one of the "darkest and most complex" mysteries of his lengthy career, Holmes brings us to a shocking conclusion with a dramatic flair. The nature of the mystery is itself a puzzle, one of the few cases which dealt primarily in international intelligence rather than murder. There are certainly suspicious characters enough, from the sharp-tongued police inspector who must be put in his place by the consulting detective, to Phelps' kindly fiance and her older brother, to the cleaning lady on duty that night.

Brett's detective seems more tense than usual but also manages some truly Holmes moments of sardonic humor. The story incorporates several verbal attacks which prove interesting to the feel of the overall piece. The acting of supporting characters is sometimes week, but the flashbacks are intriguing. My single complaint lies in the climax, when we observe two men struggling in slow motion and primarily from strange camera angles. It was truly strange and failed to fit the flow of the rest of the production. There are no content issues to be concerned of other than a half dozen exclamations of "My God!" when the document is discovered missing, and a knife that cuts someone on the hand.

Episode Two: The Solitary Cyclist

Down a lonely road pedals a beautiful young woman. At a bend in the lane, another bicycler falls in behind her, keeping a lengthy distance. He follows for several miles and then vanishes into the shrubbery at the side of the path. The young woman glances back, puzzled and disturbed. She then takes her problem to Baker Street, where she determines to tell her story despite Holmes' protests of being overworked and exhausted. Miss Violet Hunters has been recently employed as a musical teacher at the home of Mr. Caruthers in the English countryside. Her father had recently died, leaving them with no money at all, and she was forced to take employment. Several months after his death, news came from India concerning their only living relative, who had also recently succumbed to illness. Two close friends of his were sorrowful in informing her he died a pauper, but each desired to give her some financial aid.

The manor house is rambling and old but the company is pleasant enough. Caruthers is a well-meaning gentleman with a charming daughter and obviously good intentions. However, his friend and former companion, a man by the name of Woodly, is much less pleasant. He has made overtures to Violet of a questionable nature and attempted to force her into accepting his proposal of marriage. After he was thrown out of the house, she has not seen him again... but fears he may still be in the neighborhood. None of this was of overt concern until she met the solitary cyclist, a mysterious figure in a black beard who follows her for several miles past an old run-down manor house. Whenever she attempts to corner or follow him, he outpaces her. He's always watchful but never forward and has made no attempts to molest her in any way.... but still it remains troubling.

Holmes is intrigued by this sinister occurrence and encourages her to be wary in her travels, promising to come down as soon as possible. In his stead he sends Watson, who comes up with nothing conclusive. Holmes' own investigations in the neighborhood lead to a brawl in the local tavern, and a shocking series of events revealing the lowest possible form of conniving. One of the more intriguing of Doyle's stories merely because it has such a strong leading female in the position of damsel in distress, The Solitary Cyclist is for the most part good entertainment. The story plays out well on the screen and we're given the opportunity to view incidents as they happen rather than in flashbacks. The conclusion is surprisingly good and the tale has an unforeseeably happy ending.

Some mild profanity intrudes, as well as a scuffle in a bar in which one man winds up knocked senseless and the other comes home with a shiner. (Observers clap and cheer over the loser's well-deserved fate.) A man is found knocked unconscious, with some blood coating the side of his face. Two people struggle on several occasions, when a man makes romantic overtures to a woman. He once passes his hand above her breast without touching it, and tries to kiss her. Violet shows a lot of cleavage in several scenes. A clergyman is involved in underhanded dealings. There's no murder, very little actual violence, and some rather fun scenes between Violet and Holmes. But one thing perturbed me, and that was how blunt and cruel Brett's lethargic detective seemed at times. He's rather mean to Watson after his return from the country, and doesn't hesitate in engaging in fist cuffs with a local ruffian he knows to be a scoundrel.

One of the few Holmes adventures which features a likable heroine in the lead, The Solitary Cyclist is an intriguing story with a surprising twist in the final few minutes. Holmes solves the crime, as always, but berates himself for not being more immediately attentive. This final episode also closes on a humorous note fans of the book series will find amusing.