Jeremy Brett as Sherlock Holmes

[Miller1985]

I don't remember the thread, who started it, or seeing as since I was not a fan of Sherlock Holmes, why I chose to read it. Maybe it was because my wife so enjoys anything to do with Mr. Holmes. Regardless, her birthday is today and I bought her the complete Granada television series. I've watched Sherlock Holmes many times in trade for a football game, as we have only one TV, but never have I seen such a brilliant performance. Mr. Brett does a wonderful job of portraying the fabled detective. He has turned me into a fan. 

 

Whoever recommended this series... Thank you. You've made my wife very happy. 

[planetary]

I remember posting something about it a few months ago trying to see if folks could identify some of the cigars which appeared in the program.  It's a wonderful series, and I hope your wife enjoys it, in any case!

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[Miller1985]

3 minutes ago, planetary said:

I remember posting something about it a few months ago trying to see if folks could identify some of the cigars which appeared in the program.  It's a wonderful series, and I hope your wife enjoys it, in any case!

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Yes!! That's the thread! It really is wonderful! I'm only thirty, but I wish things were as they were in the past. Better movies, music, way of dress, etc. Hell, even the kids had some respect for parents and elderly folks. Oh well, I suppose it is what it is. One can dream, though. 

[NSXCIGAR]

As I mentioned in the above referenced thread, the Granada Holmes series is some of the best television ever made IMO. Extraordinary acting, locations and production values. You almost feel like you're really seeing Victorian England when watching it. And the screenplays are very true to the original Doyle stories.

For my money, Brett's version of Holmes is simply the best put on film keeping with the vision and spirit of the character as written by Doyle.

[Ken Gargett]

i remember watching through the series quite a while back. largely enjoyed them.

i suspect that the comment re keeping in the doyle spirit (by chance, just recently bought a book with a collection of the stories to re-read) is accurate.

that said, for me, i love the two modern versions - benedict cumberbatch's 'sherlock' -  and especially, without wishing to fire up the thread or cause offence, his rant during a best man speech at why religion was invented (largely a fantasy to give the idiot second sons a job, he says, looking squarely at the priest), and also the jonny lee miller and lucy lui 'elementary' series. both great fun. love the little digs that the miller character often has -  one where he was forced to read years of comics searching for clues, springs to mind - 'and can you believe that the author came up with some rubbish about the protagonist and his mortal enemy both falling to their deaths in a waterfall!' 

[TheGipper]

I still remember watching The Problem of Thor Bridge episode on A&E back in September 1995.  At the end of the episode, instead of the usual credit scroll, A&E inserted a picture of Brett with the subtitle: "Jeremy Brett 1933-1995" and a voice over saying, "A&E remembers Jeremy Brett".

That was how I heard that Brett had died suddenly that week.  I remember that vividly.

Brett's early death was especially unfortunate for us fans of the show, as Granada and the cast had intentions of completing all of Conan Doyle's original stories.

[Ken Gargett]

he was a really interesting character. 

also played dr watson at an earlier stage. and i remember reading that he had been strongly considered for the role of 007, though i presume that this was post connery? not sure. i remember that as when i first heard it, it struck me as absurd. then i thought about it and it made far more sense. 

he married anna massey - that always stuck with me as i remember seeing her in King Lear in London with Anthony Hopkins (saw it several times as Hopkins was so brilliant - she must have been good because i don't remember much else about it than Hopkins' performance). apparently he left her for the actor gary bond who died of aids a month after brett died. though no suggestion brett died of aids (and after he broke up with bond, he got remarrried). apparently had poor health for years - heavy smoker, needed oxygen on set and suffered very badly from depression. and a dodgy heart. not sure why i remember all this  - perhaps he had more of an impact than i recall. or perhaps i need more of a life. 

[dageshi]

I think that series ages incredibly well. The modern "Sherlock" with Cumberbatch isn't going to look good in 10 years time, it has a "quirky" style that's likely to fall out of fashion and grate. Whereas I think the Brett series is timeless, the props/actors involved are all of a really high standard, it's the best possible telling of those stories in my opinion.

[Miller1985]

29 minutes ago, dageshi said:

I think that series ages incredibly well. The modern "Sherlock" with Cumberbatch isn't going to look good in 10 years time, it has a "quirky" style that's likely to fall out of fashion and grate. Whereas I think the Brett series is timeless, the props/actors involved are all of a really high standard, it's the best possible telling of those stories in my opinion.

I agree wholeheartedly. 

[Drguano]

I was fortunate enough to see Mr. Brett and Edward Hardwicke perform as Holmes and Waston live in the West End back in 1989. Brilliant performers and, with a nod to Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman, the best performance as the great detective and associate to date. 

 

[planetary]

12 hours ago, Drguano said:

I was fortunate enough to see Mr. Brett and Edward Hardwicke perform as Holmes and Waston live in the West End back in 1989. Brilliant performers

Wow!  I would've loved to have seen that.

[NSXCIGAR]

15 hours ago, TheGipper said:

I still remember watching The Problem of Thor Bridge episode on A&E back in September 1995. 

I recall seeing the Musgrave Ritual episode in either late 1986 or early 87. They'd run them fairly freshly on PBS's Masterpiece Theater offshoot "Mysteries" in the mid-late 80s. I was young, but the visuals and the atmosphere of the show stuck with me. I didn't start watching it again as an adult until about 15 years ago, but I vividly remember that episode I watched that long ago.

4 hours ago, Drguano said:

I was fortunate enough to see Mr. Brett and Edward Hardwicke perform as Holmes and Waston live in the West End back in 1989. Brilliant performers...

You're very lucky to have seen them in that. I recall that they mentioned during interviews that they just loved doing the stage shows, and of course Brett and Hardwicke were very good friends in real life. I also recall they said they were amazed and inspired by how many children came to see the stage shows and loved the TV show despite it being quite dark and mature in their opinion. I believe Brett lobbied the producers to show Holmes quitting cocaine because he became aware of how many children were fans.