maandag 28 september 2020

Best Portrayals of Sherlock Holmes

"Enola Holmes” can’t be seen on Netflix now and with that we have yet again an interpretations of the most famous detective we all love: Sherlock Holmes. He made his first appearance in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s novel “A Study in Scarlett” which was released in 1887. Since then, there have been a lot of movies, TV movies and TV series where this character appeared in. I decided to make a list of the best portrayals of Sherlock Holmes. I didn’t ranked them, I listed them in order of when they appeared first. 

Arthur Wontner (The Sleeping Cardinal, 1931, The Missing Rembrandt, 1932, The Sign of Four: Sherlock Holmes’ Greatest Case, 1932, The Triumph of Sherlock Holmes, 1935 and Silver Blaze, 1937)
Arthur Wontner played Sherlock Holmes in five movies between 1931 and 1937. At the time, reviewers found him a perfect Sherlock Holmes and fans claimed that no better Holmes than Arthur Wontner could be found.
 
Basil Rathbone (The Hound of the Baskervilles, 1939, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, 1939, Sherlock Holmes and the Voice of Terror, 1942, Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon, 1942, Sherlock Holmes in Washington, 1943, Sherlock Holmes Faces Death, 1943, Crazy House, 1943, The Spider Woman, 1943, The Scarlett Claw, 1944, The Pearl of Death, 1944, The House of Fear, 1945, The Woman in Green, 1945, Pursuit to Algiers, 1945, Terror By Night, 1946 and Dressed to Kill, 1946)
“The Hound of the Baskervilles” was a gamechanger in many ways: it was the first film set up in Victorian London and it was the first time the famous detective uniform was created. Basil had the charm of Sherlock like no other. No wonder he appeared in 15 films and over 200 radio shows as this character.
 
Peter Cushing (The Hound of the Baskervilles, 1959, Sherlock Holmes TV-series, 1968 and The Mask of Death, 1984)
Peter Cushing made his debut as Sherlock Holmes in “The Hound of the Baskervilles”. In 1968 he returned to the role for the BBC “Sherlock Holmes” television series, that aired for 16 episodes, taking over the role from Douglas Wilmer. Cushing later reprised his rol in the 1984 TV movie “The Mask of Death. The 60s series firmly established Peter Cushing as one of the best loved and memorable embodiments of Sherlock Holmes in the eyes of both an appreciative viewing public and the majority of critics alike.
 
Christopher Lee (Sherlock Holmes and the Deadly Necklace, 1962, Sherlock Holmes and the Leading Lady, 1991, and Incident at Victoria Falls, 1992)
Having previously played Sir Henry Baskerville alongside Peter Cushing in “The Hound of the Baskervilles (1959), Lee played the title character in the 1962 movie “Sherlock Holmes and the Deadly Necklace”. Then again in tow TV Movies in the early 90s; “Sherlock Holmes and the Leading Lady” and “Incident at Victoria Falls”. Christopher Lee also played Holmes’ brother Mycroft in the 1970s “The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes”. He might not be the best Sherlock Holmes to ever exist,  but  his cold delivery made him ideal for the role.
 
Christopher Plummer (Silver Blaze, 1977, Murder By Decree, 1977)
Christopher Plummer played Holmes in two films in the 1970s. His performance is viewed as the most emotional portrayal of Sherlock Holmes ever seen on screen. If you’ve ever wondered what the detective may have looked like of he cared about his victims, that’s what Plummer offered the audience.
 
Tom Baker (The Hound of the Baskervilles, 1982)
A year after stepping down as the star of “Doctor Who”, Tom Baker took on another iconic British character in a BBC adaptation of “The Hound of the Baskervilles”. The four part serial saw Baker reunite with his former producer on “Doctor Who”, Barry Letts. Baker was named a predictably larger-than-life Holmes.
 
Jeremy Brett (The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, 1984-1994)
Jeremy Brett did his research for the role, one that Sherlock himself would appreciate. The actor, who himself had bipolar disorder and depression, used his own life to understand the path from boredom to increased detective interest. And that resulted in a beautiful series that lasted ten years.
 
Rupert Everett (Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Silver Stocking, 2004)
Rupert Everett starred in the BBC’s “Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Silver Stocking” in 2004/ the TV movie was a follow-up to the same production company’s adaptation of “The Hound of the Baskervilles” in 2002, which starred Richard Roxburgh as Holmes. Everett was praised for his elegant and decidedly decadent interpretation and a portrayal rich in tortured silences and seasoned with touches of campy authority.
 
Benedict Cumberbatch (Sherlock, 2010 – 2017)
The only Sherlock Holmes with a Blackberry: Benedict Cumberbatch. He brings the fictional character from 1900 to life in 2012. And how! He knows better than anyone how to make an old boring man timeless. The detective in this series is smart, very stubborn and he is a little bit pf a psychopath. Reviews were universally positive, describing the show as a triumph, witty and knowing, without ever undercutting the flair and dazzle of the original. It understands that Holmes isn’t really about plot but about charisma.
 
Robert Downey Jr. (Sherlock Holmes, 2009 and Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, 2011)
Robert Downey Jr. plays the most extravagant version of Sherlock Holmes you can think of. Precisely because he brings so much of his own personality into the role, the film is entertaining. We’ve seen that old, boring version of Holmes often enough! At the same time he still remains charming and crazy, exactly how the detective should be.
 
Jonny Lee Miller (Elementary, 2012-2019)
Jonny Lee Miller played Sherlock Holmes in seven seasons of TV’s “Elementary”. Running for 154, this American procedural crime drama series aired from 2012 to 2019. It may not appeal to purists, but “Elementary” provides a fresh spin on Sherlock Holmes, and Jonny Lee Miller shines in the title role.
 
Ian McKellen (Mr. Holmes, 2015)
The endearing Ian McKellen, unlike all the other actors, portrays Sherlock Holmes during his older years. This twist makes the detective immediately interesting: the 93-year-old is retired and deals with amnesia. Director Bill Condon chooses to focus on Holmes as a person, not on the mystery. And no one can bear that better than Ian McKellen.
 
Henry Cavill (Enola Holmes, 2020)
Although Henry Cavill only has a supporting role in “Enola Holmes”, because the film focuses on the detectives younger sister Enola. But I had to include him, because Cavill plays Holmes in the charming and classic British way. Exactly how we know the actor. The strict brother, who secretly enjoys his sister’s rebelliousness, is well cast. And I can’t get over the fact how handsome Cavill looks in this film.  

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