Basil Rathbone
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Yes, I read all the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Sherlock Holmes books. No, I could never guess who did it or how. But I loved them all the same. Over the years I followed Basil Rathbone embody the very essence of Holmes with his deerskin hat, distinctive coat, pipe and violin. The bumbling Dr. Watson (Nigel Bruce) I didn’t really get. Was he helpful or just comic relief?
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Recently, I’ve enjoyed other incarnations of the brilliant detective. I adore Robert Downey Jr.’s take on Holmes. Unkempt and unhinged. And his relationship with Jude Law’s Watson brings friendship to a whole new level. Friends will stick with you no matter what and this Watson’s loyalty comes through time and time again no matter what craziness Holmes puts him through. A bit cartoony, but in a good way. It makes the abrasive character more appealing.
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The British series, Sherlock, played by Benedict Cumberbatch has only had seven episodes in three seasons. I’m hooked! This time he is in present day and using cell phones, computers and all the latest gadgets, but it’s still his power of observation and deduction that gets things done. He’s still a tortured soul, but the job always comes first. This time around Dr. Watson (Martin Freeman) was injured in Afghanistan. The series starts with their first meeting, so you get to watch their complicated relationship unfold. This series is brilliant and it’s on my “just can’t wait for the next” one list.
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Last night I watched Elementary, the latest Sherlock Holmes incarnation with Jonny Lee Miller as Holmes and in a nice twist, Lucy Liu as Dr. Watson. Again this takes place in the present and Holmes has just gotten out of rehab (can’t get much more 2012 than that). Watson is hired by his father to watch him (and administer random drug tests) for six weeks. Immediately, there is a murder to solve and I found it entertaining to watch the chemistry between the two. It was obvious Watson didn’t want to be dragged into the investigation, but it wasn’t long before she was hooked and finding clues. Although it was just one episode, it was interesting enough for me to come back for more.
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I know there have been a lot more adaptations of the Sherlock Holmes character and I’m sure there will be many more. He’s complex, fascinating and intriguing. He’s a tortured soul who needs understanding and his brilliance only makes him more grating. I admit that I’ve watched the Robert Downey Jr. and Benedict Cumberbatch versions more than once because they are so complicated that I miss things the first time through. This is no chore, just plain fun.
What is your favorite portrayal of Sherlock Holmes? Or are you a “the book is always better” person?
Bottom Line: My favorite…Sherlock. Elementary, my dear Watson.
Barbara, I was pleasantly surprised by Elementary too. I do like Jonny Lee Miller, so I wasn’t surprised at how good he was, but the dynamic with Lucy Liu was better than I expected.
Still, I absolutely love love love BBC America’s Sherlock. Definitely the best of the new crop of Sherlocks, hands down.
I think I’m going to have to watch all the episodes again because there’s just something about Benedict’s Sherlock that makes me want to make sure I didn’t miss a thing.
No mention of Jeremy Brett’s take on Sherlock probably the best
I personally think BBC’s Sherlock is the best. I’ve only seen season 1 but I’m dying for more! Actually 1 episode was enough to be hooked!!! If you say all 3 seasons are good I better go get them soon!
I personally love the banter between Sherlock and Watson. I think their friendship/relationship is the most believable. Watson is his friend but frustrated at times for the craziness Sherlock gets him involved in!
Seasons 1 and 2 are on Netflix. I can’t wait to see #3.
Sherlock is the best. No doubt about that. It prompted me to start re-reading all of the Sherlock Holmes mysteries. Read the Red Headed League last night
I also love the modern Sherlock with Benedict Cumberbatch, but my favorite retelling would be the Laurie King series of novels that began with The Beekeeper’s Apprentice. Holmes, in early retirement, is the beekeeper; his apprentice is the brilliant young Mary Russell.
May I add here that LISTENING to Laurie R King’s Mary Russell novels is a wonderful experience, not to be missed. Narrator Jenny Sterlin has come up with the best voices ever, especially Holmes. I love this series.
Hear, hear!
This sounds like one I need to look into. Thanks.
Robert Downey Jr. for the win. There’s something so endearing, complex and intelligent about that performance. And I think he is very, very true to the tone of the books, with some slight edgy modifications. Besides, it’s Robert Downey, Jr.!
Love him and the time period. His disguises are outrageous and what he does to that poor dog is beyond belief. But RDJ really gets into his roles.
I just read all the books by Arthur Conan Doyle of Sherlock Holmes.I didnt see any of those movies or series but sure are great. I have 13 years and Im from Latin America. Where I can see Sherlock, played by Benedict Cumberbatch?
I love sherlock holmes books!
They are BBC shows and in America are on PBS, but I watched all the episodes on Netflix. It’s probably on DVD by now too.
I really want to see Elementary so I’m glad to know it got your stamp of approval, Barbara.
Love the Robert Downey, Jr versions too. Always fascinating to see how a story is a retold or a character presented in a new way. Love the books.
Be sure to check out the BBC Sherlock. It’s addictive!
I didn’t see Elementary, but I adore Holmes, and think Benedict makes one of the best ever–and the writers have given him some writer-jealous lines that I find myself repeating to my friends. I loved the RDJ version for the steampunk twist…and it IS RDJ, after all. And, thanks, Karen – the King series sounds juicy. Now I have more books to add to my TBR stack.
I think Elementary will appeal to all mystery lovers. It’s all in the details.
Can we have too many Sherlocks? I don’t think so. It’s always interesting to see how each actor will portray the beloved character. Darn hard to choose between Downey & Cumberbatch, so I won’t
. I haven’t seen Elementary yet, but I will.
They are similar but different and I’ll keep watching them all.
I thought ‘Elementary’ wasn’t bad for a pilot, but it was a totally generic US crime show with totally generic lead characters and I just couldn’t see any reason for calling the leads Holmes and Watson other than to cash in on the BBC!Sherlock hype. They could have been called Jones and Smith and it wouldn’t have changed a thing.
My favourite SH is the Sherlock!BBC one – he made me watch all the others and read ACD canon which I would never have done without the BBC-version. In the pastiche’s genre I adore Darlene Cypser’s ‘Crack in the Lens’ and the ‘Detective’-trilogy.
Thanks for the recommendations!
I’m an enormous fan of the BBC Sherlock. Everything in the stories is just spot on the mark.
I was not impressed by Elementary, however. Oh, the leads were okay, but the story didn’t make sense in parts and what’s the business about Sherlock’s FATHER? Unnamed and unseen? Where’s Mycroft? I agree with Kete above.
The only thing that will keep me watching Elementary is that it comes on right after Person of Interest. Now, THERE is a show!
I’m going to give Elementary the benefit of doubt here. Love Lucy Liu as Watson and interested to see where the father angle will go. But Sherlock does have the edge right now and Person of Interest is definitely up there.
The Afghanistan reference is one of my very favorite things about the BBC/Cumberbatch version — excellent both in its creative modernization and in its witty homage to the original stories.
Holmes’s first words to Watson in Conan Doyle’s original “A Study in Scarlet” were, after all, “You have been in Afghanistan, I perceive.”
I love Cumberbatch and I’m pretty fond of Robert Downey, Jr., too. Too soon to say on the guy in ELEMENTARY. But I can’t let Jeremy Brett’s brilliant interpretation of Holmes go without mention. He is just wonderful, and we have all of those shows on DVD to watch and rewatch with pleasure.
Before BBC started running Sherlock, Jeremy Brett was my favorite Holmes; I also enjoyed his series because his Watson (two different actors) was portrayed as intelligent man of action and therefore a great foil for the cerebral detective. I also enjoy the movies starring RDJ and Jude Law – now there’s a wonderful Watson! I like each of these versions for different reasons, and now I’m watching Elementary. I like Lucy Liu’s Watson. BTW, I read that Cumberbatch gave Miller’s Holmes his approval. That’s cool. I’ve been reading the books since I was 10 (it’s been a long long time now). I also like Laurie R. King’s books starting with The Beekeeper’s Apprentice, although I’ve fallen a bit behind on the series.
I’m introducing Holmes and Watson to the kids in my school by using the graphic novel adaptations of Doyle’s stories that are published by Lerner’s Graphic Novel Universe.
Jeremy Brett, hands down. I never cared for Basil Rathbone (although XM satellite radio has a decent incarnation of the type), and none of of the new ones I’ve seen are to my taste. Haven’t watched Elementary, but I’m not really interested. I’m a bit of a purist and Brett’s Sherlock is the purest of any (also the best Watson, IMO).
I have enjoyed virtually every SH film or tv show I’ve ever seen (well, maybe not the Matt Frewer versions), and I’m especially fond of Robert Downey, Jr.’s interpretation as well as Jeremy Brett’s, but to me there’s no Sherlock Holmes like the one in my head, the ones that play when I re-read the original stories!
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Of course, the book is always better. But who can resist Robert Downey Jr.? I was surprised, and hooked by Downey’s and Jude Law’s chemistry in both films.
I’m a big fan also. Love the Basil Rathbone version. There is something charming about a man that is smart and cunning.
Ever since I was a kid I hated the Basil Rathbone Sherlock Holmes movies – because I totally detested Nigel Bruce’s Watson. He made Watson such a dithering old fool, probably to make Rathbone’s Holmes seem that much smarter – but it didn’t work with me. I started reading the stories at a pretty young age, and even back then, at age 10, I just knew Watson wasn’t supposed to be old and stupid.
I enjoyed Elementary. And I know this will get me stoned but I haven’t seen any of the other Sherlock Holmes you mentioned… nope not even the movies. Problem is I hate going to the movies and I need someone techy in my life to figure out how to hook up my DVD player and my Tivo on my ancient TV and well I don’t have that person. Or at least I don’t have that person that I feel comfortable asking right now… So no DVDs means no Sherlock Holmes.
Elementary was good and I will definitely be watching that again.
Have to give a shout out to Rupert Everett who did a fine job as Holmes.
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