JFF: Fave Sherlock Holmes

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Della said:
Who is your favorite Sherlock Holmes and which were your favorite movies/TV shows that depicted him, Watson and all?

As much as I appreciate various depictions my fave is and always will be Basil Rathbone. He gave the character both humor and gravitas. He nicely balanced Holmes’ cold nature with his innate sense of justice and compassion for the weaknesses of his fellow human beings.

My favorite Basil Rathbone is “The Hound of the Baskervilles.” While the other Holmes films were entertaining enough, this was the best of the lot, IMHO. It had it all–atmosphere, tension, and a Watson that wasn’t used merely for comic relief. Great little gem of a film.
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Has to be Jeremy Brett and his two Watsons.

Though I love Basil Rathbone, and his portrayal of Holmes, Nigel Bruce makes me want to hurl.

Watson was never an idiot in the books, but a soldier and physician, a smart, brave, tough man, and both Burke and Hardwicke brought out these qualities to a T.
 
He’s a British actor who does impressions of Ricardo Montalban. 😃

By the way, for me, it’s Jeremy Brett. He even looks like the drawings I’ve seen of Holmes from that era.
 
Sailor_Kenshin said:
Has to be Jeremy Brett and his two Watsons.

Though I love Basil Rathbone, and his portrayal of Holmes, Nigel Bruce makes me want to hurl.

Watson was never an idiot in the books, but a soldier and physician, a smart, brave, tough man, and both Burke and Hardwicke brought out these qualities to a T.
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Yes, they made poor Nigel Bruce into a comic fall guy–probably thinking that’s what American audiences wanted since the later films were geared towards the USA, largely to gain support for Britain during WWII. In THOTB he was better portrayed as a competent man, although even in that one he was used for comic relief.

As for the Jeremy Brett Watsons, I like the second Watson, Edward Hardwicke best. He just seemed to fit better. Although David Burke did a fine job, as well.
 
Della said:
Yes, they made poor Nigel Bruce into a comic fall guy–probably thinking that’s what American audiences wanted since the later films were geared towards the USA, largely to gain support for Britain during WWII. In THOTB he was better portrayed as a competent man, although even in that one he was used for comic relief.

As for the Jeremy Brett Watsons, I like the second Watson, Edward Hardwicke best. He just seemed to fit better. Although David Burke did a fine job, as well.
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Yes. Burke was a bit more two-fisted; Hardwicke a touch more thoughtful. Both good performers, though.

Have you seen this Rathbone fan site? Very interesting.
 
Being old, I am always partial to Rathbone although I find Downey Jr and Miller interesting. I’ve only seen Cumberbatch once. OK I guess though it may just have been a bad episode. ( All this written with a particularly snooty look on my face ) 😃
 
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