Thank you and I meant to send you a commiseration but felt awkward as a complete stranger. You bring understated and unasked for pleasure to many - a fact of which you and your father can feel justifiably proud.
I get your point re the slightly uncomfortable dynamic of being a total stranger, yet feeling a wish to commiserate: it does have an awkward quality to it.
That's the weird thing about social media. You sort of 'know' the person you follow, but at the same time, 'dont'. I wasn't exactly sure how to handle my father's death on Substack, but obviously had to- especially for the people kind enough to pay for my writing.
Man, there’s a whole scene about that know/don’t know social media thing. Its title escapes me for the moment…something proximity. It is, no doubt, a weird dynamic. I guess the only way to manage it (and I am a firm believer in managing social media rather than the other way round) is to acknowledge it as an inevitable by-product, and then just get on with being yourself and not plotz about it. It’s not going anywhere soon…
Close friends gave me a copy of Baring Gould’s Annotated Holmes as a university graduation present alongside which I am keeping the first 3 Nicholas Meyer (I’m reading his later ones but personally I don’t think they’re as good). And I’m working my way through some other current pastiches- it occurs to me that Dr Watson was amazingly careless with his manuscripts - but mainly to make room on overcrowded shelves.
Of course, I’m one of those terrible types who rates the Bert Coules Radio 4 Holmes above all others, but I do love the Jeremy Brett. I particularly have a weakness for his hamminess in the role, as with his ludicrous disguises here, he really catches the brio of the character so gleefully
Welcome back. The Complete Collection sounds like an ideal Christmas present!
I remember most of this very well - it was essential viewing in the eighties and what I didn't catch first time around has popped up again several times. I have a suspicion I didn't see this episode first time around but on a subsequent occasion as the reputation of the series grew. Great stuff, very well made.
The whole thing is on ITVX. We're watching one episode a night. It gets better as it gets into its stride. Terrific stuff. Quality acting, lovely period detail. Superb soundtrack. Just watched The Solitary Cyclist. Probably the best so far... and a long way to go. The DVD would be better. ITV advertising is tiresome- and there's too much of it. That uber naff Range Rover ad.... arrrgh.
Lovely to have you back Luke. A cracking choice here, you've done it proud. As I mentioned, I have always had a soft spot for the Basil Rathbone Holmes, deadpan and. Nigel Bruce is..well he makes me smile as the perpetually mystified Watson.
For real die hards there is a podcast devoted to Jeremy and the Granada series. There is also an annual convention in England I believe. I found the podcast super interesting as it offered interviews with the leads as well as the host of little known actors who played small parts and later went on to become household names.
Jeremy Brett seems to have been a very a very highly esteemed colleague.
Hey, please see my reply below to @Curates Egg. And welcome back.
And thank you for a cool piece (interesting what you say re music…so often Radio 3 plays film or television scores that, away from their original purpose, are very good…there’s a long history of great composers working with film). Yes, I think you’re right re Brett as a near ideal Holmes, and yes wasn’t Gayle Hunnicutt beautiful.
In your original post telling us of your father’s death, you wrote about the way life was continuing around you, oblivious to your mourning. As indeed it does, and is. Man, we are as @Curate’s Egg points out, indeed strangers apart from our contact here (although I have an intimation that we may share certain aspects of background and life) but please know I’m not oblivious to what has happened in your family: losing a parent is hard, and I hope very much that you find writing here gives you one way of living with your loss. Good to have you back, man.
But I think film music is so often overlooked, don't you? Especially in film reviews. And it can help to make a film- Remove the music and Cinema Paradiso, Gone with the Wind and Halloween would be different beasts.
I think it can either be overlooked by both critics and public alike, or really taken in as part of the experience. I’m really into it.
Good to see you’re going to be looking at television stuff. There’s a lot of cool music there (The Good Fight being one of my stand-outs, along with Dickensian - why they axed that is beyond me…). And…credits…there’s another whole world of material there…(Good Fight again…).
One of my favourite memories Of viewing television as a child in Canada was enjoying back to back Lovejoy (Ian McShane) and Sherlock Holmes With Jeremy Brett on Public broadcasting every Wednesday evening with my mom. They remain among my favourite programs of all time.
Oh yes, a favorite Sherlock (Basil is also great but a tad stuffy...), and now I know what I'll want for Christmas! Thank you. Talking about TV series, I remember being gobsmacked by The Forsyte Saga, to the point that I inhaled the Galsworthy books - and even reread them 5 or 6 years ago in a creaky water-stained hard cover edition that was hard to find.
It would be a fabulous Christmas present wouldn't it? What do you think of Nigel Bruce as Watson? cf The two Watsons of the Granada series? There's a fab edition 60s? edition of The Forsyte Saga, which I have upstairs somewhere, illustrated I think by Phillipe Julian.
Nigel Bruce makes, as you said, a slightly dimwitted Watson which is not the character that emerges from the Conan Doyle stories. I like the Granada Watsons better, but my top Watson has to be Martin Freeman, down to his exasperation with SH - very understandable, lol!
Welcome back. So strange and weird around the registration of your Dad´s passing.
This is my favorite Sherlock Holmes too, thank you for the reminder to watch something comforting in these crazy times. This week has been God awful.
Thank you and I meant to send you a commiseration but felt awkward as a complete stranger. You bring understated and unasked for pleasure to many - a fact of which you and your father can feel justifiably proud.
The One remains, the many change and pass;
Heaven’s light forever shines, Earth’s shadows fly;
Life, like a dome of many-coloured glass,
Stains the white radiance of Eternity,
Until Death tramples it to fragments.
Too kind.
I get your point re the slightly uncomfortable dynamic of being a total stranger, yet feeling a wish to commiserate: it does have an awkward quality to it.
That's the weird thing about social media. You sort of 'know' the person you follow, but at the same time, 'dont'. I wasn't exactly sure how to handle my father's death on Substack, but obviously had to- especially for the people kind enough to pay for my writing.
Man, there’s a whole scene about that know/don’t know social media thing. Its title escapes me for the moment…something proximity. It is, no doubt, a weird dynamic. I guess the only way to manage it (and I am a firm believer in managing social media rather than the other way round) is to acknowledge it as an inevitable by-product, and then just get on with being yourself and not plotz about it. It’s not going anywhere soon…
For those interested the podcast is simply called The Jeremy Brett Sherlock Holmes Podcast.
Close friends gave me a copy of Baring Gould’s Annotated Holmes as a university graduation present alongside which I am keeping the first 3 Nicholas Meyer (I’m reading his later ones but personally I don’t think they’re as good). And I’m working my way through some other current pastiches- it occurs to me that Dr Watson was amazingly careless with his manuscripts - but mainly to make room on overcrowded shelves.
Of course, I’m one of those terrible types who rates the Bert Coules Radio 4 Holmes above all others, but I do love the Jeremy Brett. I particularly have a weakness for his hamminess in the role, as with his ludicrous disguises here, he really catches the brio of the character so gleefully
Love this comment. Completely get it... Brett's endearingly histrionic.
Welcome back. The Complete Collection sounds like an ideal Christmas present!
I remember most of this very well - it was essential viewing in the eighties and what I didn't catch first time around has popped up again several times. I have a suspicion I didn't see this episode first time around but on a subsequent occasion as the reputation of the series grew. Great stuff, very well made.
The whole thing is on ITVX. We're watching one episode a night. It gets better as it gets into its stride. Terrific stuff. Quality acting, lovely period detail. Superb soundtrack. Just watched The Solitary Cyclist. Probably the best so far... and a long way to go. The DVD would be better. ITV advertising is tiresome- and there's too much of it. That uber naff Range Rover ad.... arrrgh.
Lovely to have you back Luke. A cracking choice here, you've done it proud. As I mentioned, I have always had a soft spot for the Basil Rathbone Holmes, deadpan and. Nigel Bruce is..well he makes me smile as the perpetually mystified Watson.
For real die hards there is a podcast devoted to Jeremy and the Granada series. There is also an annual convention in England I believe. I found the podcast super interesting as it offered interviews with the leads as well as the host of little known actors who played small parts and later went on to become household names.
Jeremy Brett seems to have been a very a very highly esteemed colleague.
Excellent. I'll try this series as soon as I finish "The Vicar of Dibley."
Hey, please see my reply below to @Curates Egg. And welcome back.
And thank you for a cool piece (interesting what you say re music…so often Radio 3 plays film or television scores that, away from their original purpose, are very good…there’s a long history of great composers working with film). Yes, I think you’re right re Brett as a near ideal Holmes, and yes wasn’t Gayle Hunnicutt beautiful.
In your original post telling us of your father’s death, you wrote about the way life was continuing around you, oblivious to your mourning. As indeed it does, and is. Man, we are as @Curate’s Egg points out, indeed strangers apart from our contact here (although I have an intimation that we may share certain aspects of background and life) but please know I’m not oblivious to what has happened in your family: losing a parent is hard, and I hope very much that you find writing here gives you one way of living with your loss. Good to have you back, man.
But I think film music is so often overlooked, don't you? Especially in film reviews. And it can help to make a film- Remove the music and Cinema Paradiso, Gone with the Wind and Halloween would be different beasts.
I think it can either be overlooked by both critics and public alike, or really taken in as part of the experience. I’m really into it.
Good to see you’re going to be looking at television stuff. There’s a lot of cool music there (The Good Fight being one of my stand-outs, along with Dickensian - why they axed that is beyond me…). And…credits…there’s another whole world of material there…(Good Fight again…).
One of my favourite memories Of viewing television as a child in Canada was enjoying back to back Lovejoy (Ian McShane) and Sherlock Holmes With Jeremy Brett on Public broadcasting every Wednesday evening with my mom. They remain among my favourite programs of all time.
I do agree that Brett is the best Holmes, and I wish I could forget about Robert Downey Jr…
But I would be fascinated to see Benedict Cumberbatch play the original, as opposed to the 21st century re-imagining. Martin Freeman as Watson ditto.
Second Basil Rathbone as the definitive Holmes.
Indeed. Everyone goes nuts for Jeremy Brett- who is of course, fantastic. But Basil has that certain something. An authority?
Oh yes, a favorite Sherlock (Basil is also great but a tad stuffy...), and now I know what I'll want for Christmas! Thank you. Talking about TV series, I remember being gobsmacked by The Forsyte Saga, to the point that I inhaled the Galsworthy books - and even reread them 5 or 6 years ago in a creaky water-stained hard cover edition that was hard to find.
It would be a fabulous Christmas present wouldn't it? What do you think of Nigel Bruce as Watson? cf The two Watsons of the Granada series? There's a fab edition 60s? edition of The Forsyte Saga, which I have upstairs somewhere, illustrated I think by Phillipe Julian.
Nigel Bruce makes, as you said, a slightly dimwitted Watson which is not the character that emerges from the Conan Doyle stories. I like the Granada Watsons better, but my top Watson has to be Martin Freeman, down to his exasperation with SH - very understandable, lol!
It’s good to have you back, Luke. You have been missed.
For your American audience, it appears this series can be watched with a subscription to BritBox, a streaming platform I can personally recommend.
Useful info. Thank you...
Good to see you back Luke! Love this Sherlock Holmes series so much!