Holmes is Where the Heart Is: Old-School Adaptations

Last entry, I discussed the more “modern” Sherlock Holmes adaptations: Sherlock Holmes (2010), BBC’s Sherlock (2010) and CBS’s Elementary (2012.) Now, I’m going to discuss three older adaptations: The Great Mouse Detective (1986), The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes (1970) and Granada Television's The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes series (1984.)

#3. The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes

Image from Amazon.ca

Private Life is essentially a parody, featuring an idiotic, bumbling Watson (Colin Blakely) and a slightly more sensitive Holmes (Robert Stephens).

Holmes is given a case when a delirious woman named Gabrielle is brought to Baker Street. Together, Holmes, Watson, and Gabrielle work on her case, running into a cast of colourful characters–including  the Loch Ness monster.
It’s one of my favourite adaptations because of the dry humour, and I like that Gabrielle is not Holmes’s love-interest. Holmes doesn’t necessarily “win” in the end. As a Holmes adaptation, it shares some similarities to “The Bruce-Partington Plans” though it’s still rather removed  from the story, but it’s enjoyable nonetheless.

#2. The Great Mouse Detective

Don’t let the cartoon mice fool you. The Great Mouse Detective is, in fact, heavily based on Sherlock Holmes , though it started as a series of children’s novels by Eve Titus called Basil of Baker Street, which first came out in 1958.

Although the film isn’t exactly based on a Holmes story, there are several clever nods to the canon series: including Basil’s housekeeper, Mrs Judson; (originally Mrs Hudson) Basil’s canine companion, Toby; (Holmes often made use of a hound named Toby) and Basil’s upstairs neighbours, (who share an uncanny resemblance to Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson ).

The Great Mouse Detective was my first introduction to Holmes, and although I didn’t understand the references, I enjoyed it. Now that I’m older, I’m still able to enjoy the movie–maybe even moreso now that I understand the references. It’s cute, clever, and great  if you have children and don’t want to be subject to typical Disney-style musical numbers.

#1. The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes

If you’re looking for a television series that is the Sherlock Holmes stories come to life, Granada Television's The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (starring David Burke and Edward Hardwicke as Watson, and Jeremy Brett as Holmes) fits the bill. To me, Jeremy Brett is Sherlock Holmes; he’s who I picture when I read the original stories. He’s sharp, a little bit weird, a little bit grumpy, but has a sense of humour and is capable of expressing sympathy for others. The episodes are straight-up adaptions of the original stories, the first being A Scandal in Bohemia and, in my opinion, the best version of Irene Adler to date.

In my opinion, Granada is the best adaptation currently available. Jeremy Brett was a brilliant actor. He made Holmes his own while still staying committed to the original stories, and it shows.

Kora Burnham 

Kora is a self-proclaimed paper and book hoarder. She enjoys horseback riding and doing farm work. She was saved by a llama once. She likes to read, write, drink tea, listen to music, play video games, and watch television. Occasionally, she takes naps.  

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Holmes is Where the Heart Is: Recent Adaptations

Several lists are floating around the internet depicting which adaptation of Sherlock Holmes people think is best. Some I agree with, some I don't. The beauty of Holmes is that there are so many adaptations, even if you're not the biggest fan ever, you'll probably find one you like.

There's a difference between “favourite” and “best”. For this exercise I decided to split some of my favourite adaptations into two categories – recent and older – and from there sort them by what I think is the best.

#3. Elementary

Image from Amazon.com

Began 2012 on CBS, starring Jonny Lee Miller as Sherlock Holmes and Lucy Liu as Joan Watson.

Elementary is set in modern-day New York City. Sherlock Holmes is a scruffy, heavily-tattooed recovering heroin addict who consults with the NYPD. Joan Watson is an ex-surgeon who is hired by Holmes's father to be his sober companion. Their relationship begins purely out of business, but slowly a friendship buds, until eventually Watson decides to continue her work with Holmes, without pay.

Although it's far-removed from the canon, it's a unique twist on the character. Although I still sometimes find it hard to believe that I'm watching Holmes and Watson, I believe CBS took a daring move with Elementary, and I think it worked wonderfully and, out of the three, Elementary has the widest audience appeal.

#2. Sherlock Holmes

Released 2009 and 2012, starring Robert Downey Jr as Sherlock Holmes and Jude Law as Dr John Watson.

Sherlock Holmes was the film that really got me into Holmesmania, so I owe it my thanks (or blame, however you want to look at it). It's set in a gritty, steampunk Victorian London and features a messy, chaotic (and short) Holmes. Though it occasionally makes nods to the canon, it's pretty far from the original stories. Downey's Sherlock Holmes is more of a caricature of the original rather than a direct adaptation. When we enter the story, Watson is seemingly well beyond fed up with Holmes's antics, no longer starry-eyed and unable to hold back his enthusiasm for Holmes' deductions. Despite its departure from the original, Sherlock Holmes and its sequel are charming, funny, and heartwarming. 

#1. Sherlock

Began 2010 on BBC, starring Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock Holmes and Martin Freeman as John Watson.

I have to admit that, out of the three, Sherlock is my favourite adaptation. If you want canon-heavy episodes and a believable – if perhaps incredibly young – version of these characters, Sherlock is your best bet.

Each episode is laden with details right from the original stories. The episodes are over an hour long and play out like mini-movies, with beautiful scores and fantastic cinematography. Although this Holmes is perhaps colder, and a bit more harsh than the original, the fact that the show keeps canon close to its heart won me over, and is why I list it at #1. If you're looking for Sherlock Holmes in the twenty-first century, Sherlock delivers.

Kora Burnham 

Kora is a self-proclaimed paper and book hoarder. She enjoys horseback riding and farm work. She was saved by a llama once. She likes to read, write, drink tea, listen to music, play video games, and watch television. Occasionally, she takes naps.  

Links: Twitter || Blog || GoodReads