Top Ten Portrayals of Sherlock Holmes. No.10

Top Ten Portrayals of Sherlock Holmes

I was asked to contribute an article for the new and splendid Sherlock Holmes Lounge where Sherlockians, Holmesians, Cumberbitches, Baker Street Babes or whatever label you choose to adopt, can "meet" and indeed tweet together about a shared passion or obsession (delete as applicable). My remit was to write about my favourite actor in the role of the world's greatest consulting detective and explain why - simple right? Wrong! In attempting to choose just one, many problems immediately presented themselves. For example, some may consider Basil Rathbone to be the definitive and most iconic screen incarnation of Holmes but then one is reminded of the fact that he was lumbered with an imbecilic characterization of Watson as a partner and of the fourteen films in the series, only two were really faithful and set in the correct period. Another issue is that of availability because many of the actors who are frequently applauded for their outstanding performances as Holmes are hardly well represented on DVD or widely accessible in any other format. Indeed, as wonderful as Jeremy Brett is in the role, would it be fair to choose him rather than actors such as John Barrymore, Clive Brook, William Gillette, Eille Norwood, Douglas Wilmer or Arthur Wontner simply because their appearances on screen are more elusive?

Instead, it seemed to me that the only logical thing to do was compile a list of all my favourites, consider both their strengths and weaknesses, and then finally put them in order according to the amount of enjoyment they have afforded me over the years . The list is not objective and nor does it endeavour to be; rather it is an opportunity to share my passion and opinions on a subject that has divided fans for decades. So while contemporary audiences and new enthusiasts of the character debate the merits of Benedict Cumberbatch and Robert Downey Jr, and the more seasoned connoisseurs may contemplate their devotion to either Basil Rathbone or Jeremy Brett, I hope my choices will promote further discussion on the subject and perhaps even encourage some to seek out the less well known productions.

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10: Christopher Lee

Although it was his friend and colleague Peter Cushing who was more prolific and identifiable in the role of Sherlock Holmes, I would argue that Christopher Lee's imposing appearance was a far greater match to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's description of the character. Indeed, Lee’s aristocratic bluster and chutzpah combined with his imposing height and intense dark looks made him one of the most aesthetically pleasingly actors to have performed the role. There is just one problem however; the films in which he appears as Sherlock Holmes are bloody awful!

                              

Lee’s first stab at the role was in Sherlock Holmes und das Halsband des Todes/Sherlock Holmes and the Deadly Necklace in 1962 which was a German/Italian/French co-production  and resulted in having to filmed in multiple languages to accommodate its international audience and financers. Ironically and inexplicably, Lee who speaks various different languages was actually dubbed as was the rest of the cast which considerably undermines the performances.

Other issues with the film include a horrifically inappropriate jazz soundtrack and behind-the-scenes arguments and which resulted in the production been co-directed by the first assistant Frank Winterstein after the usually professional and reliable Terence Fisher (responsible for most of greatest Hammer Horror films including many with Lee himself) left the production.

Both screenplay and storyline are poor which is great shame and a wasted opportunity given some of the talent involved. Given the right script, the aforementioned Fisher is more than capable of crafting atmospheric period thrillers as is Curt Siodmak (most famous for the original Universal Wolfman (1941) starring Lon Chaney Jr) who also worked on the film.

However, there is still much to enjoy particularly Thorley Walters as Watson, an impressive 221b set and some stylish cinematography reminiscent of the German silent era.  It is a pity that the planned sequel never went into production, especially when one considers it would have seen Lee’s Holmes battling Jack the Ripper as hinted in the final scene.

Lee is clearly the film’s greatest asset and Sherlockians like myself will surely savor his likeness to the original Strand magazine illustrations by Sidney Paget. Perhaps the false nose was a bit much and they certainly got their money’s worth out of the prosthetic with copious profile shots for those in the cheap seats.

Returning to the role almost thirty years later, Lee embarked on two elephantine (originally planned as eight one-hour adventures under the title The Golden Years) TV movies which were filmed back-to-back. Both Sherlock Holmes and the Leading Lady (1991), and then The Incident at Victoria Falls (also 1991) suffer from meandering plots, questionable period detail and some shockingly amateurish supporting players.

Contrary to the frequent criticism leveled at the film, Lee is not too old for the role as he is clearly playing an elderly Holmes as Peter Cushing had done in The Masks of Death (1984)  and hence the alternate working title.

Like The Deadly Necklace however, few Sherlock Holmes films are without their redeeming features and these two TV movies boast an impressive cast of characters including Sigmund Freud, Elliot Ness, Emperor Franz Joseph, Teddy Roosevelt, Lord Roberts, Lillie Langtry and Edward VII. Additionally, Lee and Patrick MacNee as Watson (no stranger to the world of Arthur Conan Doyle*) enjoy a charming interplay and once again, enthusiasts may yearn for the opportunity to have seen them given a script that they deserve.

Christopher Lee also played Sir Henry Baskerville in the 1959 Hammer version of The Hound of the Baskervilles and Sherlock Holmes’ brother Mycroft in the 1970 pastiche, The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes. Lee is the only actor with the distinction of having played both Holmes siblings on screen.

*Patrick Macnee played a retired British agent who believes he is Sherlock Holmes in an 1984 episode of Magnum, P.I., Watson in Sherlock Holmes in New York (1976) and Holmes in The Hound of London (1993).