1182 replies to this topic

[marktmurphy]

In the section on Empire's web site that is reporting on this, one of the posters suggests Timothy Dalton being cast as Holmes.

Maybe he's too old....

Actually, how old is Holmes supposed to be?

In the early stories, Holmes and Watson are not much beyond their mid-twenties. Holmes retires around 1901/1902 when he's in his mid to late forties. Surprising, eh?

[Loomis]

In the section on Empire's web site that is reporting on this, one of the posters suggests Timothy Dalton being cast as Holmes.

Maybe he's too old....

Actually, how old is Holmes supposed to be?

In the early stories, Holmes and Watson are not much beyond their mid-twenties. Holmes retires around 1901/1902 when he's in his mid to late forties. Surprising, eh?

!



Yes, very surprising. I was expecting someone to reply "Conan Doyle gives Holmes' age in the first book as 48", or something like that.

[marktmurphy]

No- it's a conceit of the films etc.; just as we all know he didn't always go around in a deerstalker and never said 'elementary my dear Watson'. Not that there's anything wrong with doing those in a film adaptation, but the age thing is quite interesting and it would be refreshing to see it done right. Doyle puts Holmes' age at about 60 in 'His Last Bow' which is set in 1914, and as they meet in 1881, it's assumed that Holmes is 27 or so at the time of 'Study in Scarlet' (although it was published in 1887).
There was a TV film called 'Sherlock: A Case of Evil' made fairly recently which had them at the right ages starring James D'Arcy as an arrogant young Holmes which I hear was rather good; I'd be keen on seeing that.

[alisonb]

I think Tobias Menzies would make a great Sherlock Holmes. He's a great actor (even if deplorably under used in Casino Royale)and looks the part.

[bill007]

I think Tobias Menzies would make a great Sherlock Holmes. He's a great actor (even if deplorably under used in Casino Royale)and looks the part.

Welcome to CBn and the Forums, alisonb. Like your avatar selection. Mumbles, the word.

[zencat]

Excellent review of Sherlock Holmes Goes to Washington (with some comparisons to James Bond) at what is rapidly becoming my favorite blog on the net, Double O Section.

[Jim]

Excellent review of Sherlock Holmes Goes to Washington (with some comparisons to James Bond) at what is rapidly becoming my favorite blog on the net, Double O Section.

Nice review, although I've always considered it one of the weaker films (despite the requisite Rathbone homily at the end being a particularly awful-but-wonderful one). That said, it's better than Terror by Night which, albeit mercifully brief, is godawful.

[marktmurphy]

That reminds me; was speaking to Bert Coules on another forum and he did say that, although it's been delayed, series three of The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes is going ahead. Which is great news- it's an excellent series.

[Jim]

That reminds me; was speaking to Bert Coules on another forum and he did say that, although it's been delayed, series three of The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes is going ahead. Which is great news- it's an excellent series.

Oh splendid; that one with the body in the snow was extremely effective. Top news.

[zencat]

That reminds me; was speaking to Bert Coules on another forum and he did say that, although it's been delayed, series three of The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes is going ahead. Which is great news- it's an excellent series.

Oh splendid; that one with the body in the snow was extremely effective. Top news.

Is this a new series in the UK. First I've heard of this.

[Jim]

That reminds me; was speaking to Bert Coules on another forum and he did say that, although it's been delayed, series three of The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes is going ahead. Which is great news- it's an excellent series.

Oh splendid; that one with the body in the snow was extremely effective. Top news.

Is this a new series in the UK. First I've heard of this.

New-ish; started about three or four years ago - it's the Clive Merrison as Holmes (he's fab) BBC Radio series, continuing on from having exhausted all the Conan Doyle stories; also, after Michael Williams' death, with Andrew Sachs as Watson.

I think there are two series available on CD.

The stories are the ones "mentioned in passing" but never expanded upon by Conan Doyle in his tales - albeit they have yet to get to The Giant Rat of Sumatra.

[zencat]

Thank you Master Jim. Clever idea for a series. You know, there was a pastiche book written of "The Giant Rat of Sumatra."

Speaking of pastiche. I'm currently reading "Sherlock Holmes The Adventure of The Frankenstein Monster" by Don Baranowski. It's a werid mix of the Shelly novel and Universal film with Holmes shoved in there. Pretty cheesy, but I'm a sucker for these Holmes vs classic monster books.

[Jim]

Thank you Master Jim. Clever idea for a series. You know, there was a pastiche book written of "The Giant Rat of Sumatra."

Really? Must have a hunt around for it.

That may prevent this new series doing it though - copyright problems etc. Shame.

[zencat]

Thank you Master Jim. Clever idea for a series. You know, there was a pastiche book written of "The Giant Rat of Sumatra."

Really? Must have a hunt around for it.

I have it, but I confess I've never read it. It's a paperback by Richard L. Boyer. Warner Books 1976.

[Jim]

Thank you Master Jim. Clever idea for a series. You know, there was a pastiche book written of "The Giant Rat of Sumatra."

Really? Must have a hunt around for it.

I have it, but I confess I've never read it. It's a paperback by Richard L. Boyer. Warner Books 1976.

Thanks. Time for a little treasure hunt.

[marktmurphy]

That reminds me; was speaking to Bert Coules on another forum and he did say that, although it's been delayed, series three of The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes is going ahead. Which is great news- it's an excellent series.

Oh splendid; that one with the body in the snow was extremely effective. Top news.

Is this a new series in the UK. First I've heard of this.

New-ish; started about three or four years ago - it's the Clive Merrison as Holmes (he's fab) BBC Radio series, continuing on from having exhausted all the Conan Doyle stories; also, after Michael Williams' death, with Andrew Sachs as Watson.

I think there are two series available on CD.

Although annoyingly the CDs available miss an episode from each series due to time constraints; Coules says that hopefully if they do a fourth series they'll be able to release the spare episodes all together!
They really are worth seeking out- my favourite is the Abergavenny Murder in which Holmes a crime in real time from nothing but a body lying in his study! Wonderful stuff.

Thank you Master Jim. Clever idea for a series. You know, there was a pastiche book written of "The Giant Rat of Sumatra."

Speaking of pastiche. I'm currently reading "Sherlock Holmes The Adventure of The Frankenstein Monster" by Don Baranowski. It's a werid mix of the Shelly novel and Universal film with Holmes shoved in there. Pretty cheesy, but I'm a sucker for these Holmes vs classic monster books.

Ah- you'll probably enjoy this story then:
Sherlock Holmes and the Adventure of the Lost World

It's a bit tongue in cheek, but the illustrations are lovely. There's four other Holmes stories there to read, plus a feature on the BBC Radio 4 series we've been talking about.

The stories are the ones "mentioned in passing" but never expanded upon by Conan Doyle in his tales - albeit they have yet to get to The Giant Rat of Sumatra.

In fact, in that link above, Coules answers a question on this very subject!

Well, it's such a wonderful title, that I strongly suspect that anything I could write could never possibly live up to it. Also, it's the case now that in the field of published Sherlock Holmes stories, there are more in existence by other people than there are by Conan Doyle. Loads of people over the years have taken up the challenge of writing them, and there are several Giant Rat of Sumatra stories already, some of which are better than others. No, some things should be left in the realms of imagination.

So there we are!

[zencat]

My Sherlock shelf was badly in need of a new up-to-date reference book, so I got Starring Sherlock Holmes. It just came out. Very up-to-date. Very excellent. Recommended.

[Binyamin]

Rupert Everett didn't do such a bad job in the Case of the Silk Stocking, anyone else see that?

Yes, I caught it on cable a few months back. Very very good, in my opinion. Holmes can be rather "dry" at times, they did a good job of keeping my short American attention.

I would love to get it on DVD. Everett was perfect.

[DLibrasnow]

My Sherlock shelf was badly in need of a new up-to-date reference book, so I got Starring Sherlock Holmes. It just came out. Very up-to-date. Very excellent. Recommended.

Ordered it though I am a little concerned at the review that claims that Murder By Decree was the last serious Holmes movie. I can think of several in the 1980s including one of my favorites (admittedly a TV movie) with Peter Cushing appearing one last time as Sherlock Holmes in "Masks of Death."

[pat006]

these are my favorite sherlocks
cushing ,lee and moore!
hope you like them
http://patart-pat.blogspot.com/

[zencat]

Remember this?

Gardner to Pen New Moriarty Novel

Well, it looks like Gardner's final Moriarty novel will be published in November - Amazon.

[clinkeroo]

Remember this?

Gardner to Pen New Moriarty Novel

Well, it looks like Gardner's final Moriarty novel will be published in November - Amazon.

Yes!!!!

Happy, happy! Joy, joy!

Edited by clinkeroo, 04 June 2008 - 08:55 PM.

[ACE]

I have a feeling the John Gardner Moriarty book is a reprint.

Has anyone else read Conan Doyle - The Man Who Created Sherlock Holmes by Andrew Lycett (the definitive biographer of Ian Fleming)? It is superb.

http://www.amazon.co...e...4083&sr=1-3

[Hitch]

Not sure if this has been mentioned already, but for fans of Conan Doyle and H.P. Lovecraft, the following, which is one of the best post-Conan Doyle Sherlock Holmes stories I've read, hits the spot. You know, that spot - the creepy one...

A Study In Emerald

[Agent 76]

The Trades reported today that Sacha Baron Cohen will star in an as yet untitled comedy playing the legendary Sherlock Holmes. Will Ferrell will be playing his sidekick Watson.


Etan Cohen is writing the script, and Judd Apatow and Jimmy Miller will produce. Which means this movie is no longer a Sacha or Will movie, it's now an "Apatow" movie. Seriously, anything he puts his name on suddenly makes the movie the funniest thing anyone will ever see according to news reports. I swear the guy could inside of a Blockbuster Video store and the name would have to change to Apatow Video.


Here's how the jackoffs on some entertainment news show will report it:

"This haha take on Sherlock Holmes may star two of Hollywood's funniest comedians, but with Judd Apatow producing, it now has the makings of becoming a 24 karat gold filled vagina that will have sex with you all night long. Judd Apatow is our modern day Jesus Christ and despite being a man, I want to have an experimental operation that will allow me to bear his children."

Perhaps I'm exaggerating. Judd knows I'd work for him for free and fold his laundry while licking his floor clean. Hey, everyone has to pay their dues.

http://www.latinorev...-as-watson-4954

[marktmurphy]

So it's Robert Downey Jr. apparently. Could be worse, but I'm not convinced he's quite right.

[Skudor]

I think Tobias Menzies would make a great Sherlock Holmes. He's a great actor (even if deplorably under used in Casino Royale)and looks the part.

Menzies would be good as a young Holmes.

Not sure I fancy this whole action orientation (some action, sure, but it shouldn't belong to the action genre in general).

[Agent 76]

Robert Downey Jr. is Sherlock Holmes!

Robert Downey Jr. (Iron Man) is set to star in Sherlock Holmes, the drama that Guy Ritchie will direct for Warner Bros. Pictures, says Variety.

Downey has committed to the film, which begins shooting in October, after Ritchie turned in a polish of the latest version of the script, written by Anthony Peckham.

Joel Silver, Lionel Wigram, Susan Downey and Dan Lin are producing.

The trade says that Sherlock Holmes will take advantage of Downey Jr.'s physical skills as the character displays brawn as well as brains.

The basis for the film is Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's classic tales, but also the comic book "Sherlock Holmes."

With Downey aboard, the film will go into production before a comedy that just coalesced at Columbia Pictures, with Sacha Baron Cohen playing Holmes, and Will Ferrell playing his crime-fighting partner Dr. Watson.

source: http://www.comingsoo...ws.php?id=46743

[marktmurphy]

Welll it's Downey Jr, as I said above. I'm not totally sold- he's very good, but doesn't seem the perfect Holmes to me. I don't want to sound like an anti-Craig person, but I can't get the idea that he's a little bit short out of my mind!

Not quite as excited about this as I was about him playing Iron Man, but he should be able to do it well.

[dinovelvet]

So it's Robert Downey Jr. apparently. Could be worse, but I'm not convinced he's quite right.

Ugh.

So, having declared this project irrelevant, we move on to the OTHER Sherlock film, a comedy starring Sacha Baron Cohen and Will Ferrell as Holmes and Watson :

http://news.yahoo.co...70rvSdy56LKOrgF

I'd actually prefer to see Sacha do a serious take on Holmes, but this could be great anyway. Or really really stupid!