One of pop culture’s most beloved characters — and some say the most famous fictional character of all time — Sherlock Holmes has been portrayed on screens both large and small by dozens of men. Since I’m posting excerpts from my Sherlock Holmes book all week, I figured I’d make the leap from book to film and share some of my favorite Holmeses here.
John Barrymore played Sherlock Holmes in this 1922 silent film, Sherlock Holmes. He meets Moriarty for the first time in this scene.
Ten years later, Reginald Owen lent his likeness to the role in this film version of Arthur Conan Doyle’s first Holmes story, A Study in Scarlet.
Arthur Wontner played Holmes in this 1935 adaptation of The Valley of Fear.
Jumping forward a few hundred years, Brent Spiner as Commander Data channeled Sherlock Holmes in the episode “Lonely Among Us.”
Of course, Data wasn’t the only primetime television character inspired by Sherlock Holmes. There’s also Greg House, M.D., whose sour temperament, coldly rational mind, musical talent and weakness for drugs all echo Holmes’ character. Here’s an awesomely cheesy fan-made video set to Rihanna’s “Rehab” which compares House and Holmes’ respective addictions.
As long as we’re on the subject of unconventional Holmses, check out John Cleese’s Holmes in this bit from Comedy Playhouse:
How about a Russian Holmes? Vasily Livanov played the role to great acclaim in a number of Russian film and television adaptations in the 1970s and 80s.
Then, of course, there’s my favorite: the late, great Jeremy Brett, who played Holmes to a tee in Granada’s long-running series for British television. Here’s a great clip:
Will Robert Downey, Jr. make a good Sherlock Holmes? It’s hard to tell from the trailers, but I’ll certainly pony up ten bucks to find out. Holmes is due out Christmas day in theaters across the U.S.
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Loved the Jeremy Brett version when it aired on A&E..To me its the most exact version.
2 things though to me with the new movie.
Why not use on of the original stories and second, for all of the stories that I’ve read about Downey saying his version is the going to be the most “true”, why in the preview are they adding what looks to be the love interest?
I know it’s a standard movie requirement, but movies can and have been made without one…
posted by dbus on 10-26-2009 at 10:47 pm
What about Basil Rathbone? To me he is Sherlock Holmes.
posted by Lewis on 10-26-2009 at 10:52 pm
What about Young Sherlock Holmes. My favorite rendition growing up!
posted by Harland on 10-27-2009 at 10:49 am
Jeremy Brett was my favorite! Paired with David Suchet’s Hercule Poirot on PBS, that was one awesome hour of sleuthing!
posted by Tracie on 10-27-2009 at 12:10 pm
I was under the impression it was based on “a study in scarlet”
COurse I’ve never read the books.
awesome ReCatcha:
boasted The New York Times
posted by lewen on 10-27-2009 at 12:46 pm
The great Peter Cushing played him in Hammer films’ “Hound of the Baskervilles”. Of course, he nailed it.
posted by Dinosaur on 10-27-2009 at 1:37 pm
If you include Brent Spiner’s performance in Star Trek: the Next Generation, you ought also to include Tom Baker’s performance in Doctor Who. In the serial “The Talons of Weng Chiang”, set in late 19th Century London, the Doctor dons a costume deliberately reminiscent of Sherlock Holmes and winds up assisting Scotland Yard in their inquiries. This surely delighted Baker, who is a massive Holmes fan. Indeed, Baker apparently recently performed in an unusual adaptation, where he played both Holmes *and* Moriarity. I would’ve loved to have seen that.
posted by Calli Arcale on 10-27-2009 at 3:49 pm
House MD (starring Hugh Laurie) is based on Holmes because of his uncanny ability to diagnose. Not to mention he was shot by a man named Moriarty and his best friend is Wilson (Watson?).
I think at one point they were thinking of bringing in Stephen Fry as the doctor that House goes to when he can’t find the answer which parallels Holmes’ brother Mycroft who is even more intelligent than Holmes but can’t be bothered to use that.
posted by no day on 10-27-2009 at 4:07 pm
While I am excited to see a resurgence in interest in these classic stories, I am disappointed to see the departure from the canon.
The stories of Sherlock Holmes have intrigued readers for well over 100 years, so why do they feel like they have to change up the story so much?
Is the modern audience really that shallow that we need random explosions and a love interest to sell a movie?
Disappointing. I’d love to see a truly faithful modern adaptation.
posted by Josiah on 10-27-2009 at 4:42 pm
My favorite is They Might Be Giants with George C. Scott and Joanne Woodward. Great movie.
posted by Kate on 10-27-2009 at 5:48 pm
Basil Rathbone & Nigel Bruce. Holmes & Watson in the `40′s. At least 11 films.
posted by Ken on 10-27-2009 at 5:50 pm
Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce are the BEST Sherlock and Watson. They were wonderful in both the movies and radio shows. These others couldn’t even hold a candle to them!
posted by Lucas on 10-27-2009 at 6:40 pm
How could you miss Basil Rathbone? His is the best portrayal of Sherlock Holmes and the most accurate.
posted by Harlequin on 11-13-2009 at 8:22 pm