KC Podcast - Episode 117: Passing the Baton

Favorite Sherlock Holmes

In keeping with my Sherlock Holmes theme from yesterday, I thought that this week I would share my favorite portrayals of Sherlock Holmes in TV and film. Sherlock Holmes is a complicated guy and Arthur Conan Doyle certainly didn't help out by carefully creating a consistent character. Some of Holmes's traits are standard throughout stories, but some little details about him change over time. One could consider this character development, but, in light of the fact that Doyle tired of writing Sherlock Holmes stories, it could simply be inattentiveness on the part of the author. In any case, this leads to many interpretations of the character, from the more straightforward take of Peter Cushing to the sociopath with Aspberger's in the new BBC version. So, without further ado, here are my:

Top 5 Favorite Portrayals of Sherlock Holmes

1. Robert Downey, Jr. [Sherlock Holmes (2009); Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2011)]

2. Benedict Cumberbatch [Sherlock TV series (2010-present)]

3. Robert Stephens [The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes (1970) (This one was also great because Christopher Lee played Sherlock's brother Mycroft.)]

4. Jeremy Brett [The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes TV series (1984-1994) (Brett defined Holmes for many fans in the same way that David Suchet defined Hercule Poirot for fans of Agatha Christie.]

5. Peter Cushing [The Hound of the Baskervilles (1959); Sherlock Holmes TV Series (1965-1968); The Masks of Death (1984) (I've only seen Cushing as Holmes in videos available on YouTube, but he is surprisingly great.)]


For the record, the worst portrayal of Sherlock Holmes ever was Rupert Everett in Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Silk Stocking (2004). This is an objective fact. It is not up for debate.

Comments

WAB said…
No Basil Rathbone? Oh, the horror!
Rose said…
Robert Downey, Jr. is beast. :D
Rick Davis said…
@ Wayne
Rathbone never really did it for me. I'm not sure why.

@ Rose
RDJ is awesome. My wife tells me that I have a man crush on him. :)
Anonymous said…
GRAND MOFF TARKIN WAS SHERLOCK HOLMES!?!?!?!?!?!?!? You know who this is....
Rick Davis said…
Yep, Grand Moff Tarkin was Sherlock Holmes. So was Count Dooku, although he didn't play the part as well.

http://cinemavortex.tumblr.com/post/4389583353/christopher-lee-sherlock-holmes-and-the-deadly
Arun said…
Have you tried the Russian adaptation with Vasily Livanov as Sherlock Holmes...

Cheers!
Rick Davis said…
@buddy2blogger

I haven't seen the Russian adaptation, but I've heard good things about it. I should check it out.
Arun said…
Rick,

Here is the link for the Russian series (with English subtitles):

http://video.kylekeeton.com/2007/03/sherlock-holmes-and-dr-watson-on.html

I am sure you will enjoy it :)