question of the day: Who’s your favorite Sherlock Holmes?I’m off to see Sherlock Holmes again today with my geek gang, so this seems like a good day to ask this question, which comes from reader DangerMom: Who’s your favorite Sherlock Holmes? TV or film, whichever. The IMDB has a loooong list of all the many actors who’ve played the world’s first consulting detective onscreen, and this is just a taste of the highlights among the names: Robert Downey Jr. The list goes back to 1905, when someone named Maurice Costello starred in a silent called Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. My favorite Holmes is still Jeremy Brett, in the Granada TV series of the 1980s and 90s, though we’ll see if that changes after another viewing of Robert Downey Jr. (If you have a suggestion for a QOTD, feel free to email me. Responses to this QOTD sent by email will be ignored; please post your responses here.) support
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Fri Jan 01 10, 11:10AM categories: talk amongst yourselves permalink 15 pre-Disqus comments Disqus comments tip jarshare
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Basil Rathbone
Charlton Heston Christopher Lee Christopher Plummer Frank Langella Ian Richardson Jeremy Brett John Barrymore John Cleese Jonathan Pryce Matt Frewer Maurice Costello Michael Caine Nicol Williamson Patrick Macnee Peter Cushing qotd Robert Downey Jr Roger Moore Rupert Everett Sherlock Holmes Tom Baker related· DVDs to give: ‘The Sherlock Holmes Collection’ and ‘Sherlock Holmes Double Feature: The Spider Woman/Sherlock Holmes and the Voice of Terror’ · name a seat for David Tennant in the new RSC theater in Stratford-upon-Avon · retro trailer: ‘The Hound of the Baskervilles’ · December 23-25: DVD alternatives to this weekend’s multiplex offerings · my week at the movies: ‘Bedtime Stories’ · Affairs of the Heart: Series One (review) · Tomorrow Never Dies (review) · question of the day: What movies are you most looking forward to in 2009? · Hugo (review) · ‘Doctor Who’ thing of the day: hilarious icons for all your avatar needs bloggyprevious post: watch it: “Miller Lite, 1970's Classic commercial” next post: ‘Doctor Who’ blogging: “The End of Time: Part One” |
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posted by laptop bag (Fri Jan 01 10, 11:23AM)
SIR ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE'S 19 FAVORITE is my favorite Sherlock Holmes because In 1927, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle selected what he regarded as his best Sherlock Holmes short stories for Strand Magazine of London. He set them down in descending order of merit with his all-time favorite listed as number one.
posted by judy (Fri Jan 01 10, 11:53AM)
Robert Downey jr first....Jeremy Brett second!and ok I will have to add in Basil Rathbone at third for sentimental reasons.
posted by Hank Graham (Fri Jan 01 10, 12:51PM)
Jeremy Brett!
Though I didn't think Robert Downey Jr was bad.
Also, I think Rathbone was very good as Holmes, but Nigel Bruce was absolutely the worst Watson by a fair reach.
posted by Ally (Fri Jan 01 10, 1:04PM)
I used to think Jeremy Brett would forever stay solidified a my best Sherlock Holmes ever, but after seeing Robert Downey Jr. take on the iconic detective, I no longer can say Mr. Brett is my favorite.
posted by allochthon (Fri Jan 01 10, 1:06PM)
Still Jeremy Brett. But Robert Downey Jr. is working on stealing my heart...
posted by H (Fri Jan 01 10, 1:16PM)
My favorite Sherlock Holmes is not on this list. It is russian actor Vasily Livanov. He was brilliant Sherlock. He really was. I will never forget his unique voice...
I think he was honored by her Majesty Elizabeth II as an Officer of the Order of the British Empire for portraing Sherlock Holmes on screen.
posted by Dani (Fri Jan 01 10, 2:21PM)
Basil Rathbone is without a doubt the greatest.
posted by Lexonas (Fri Jan 01 10, 2:31PM)
I really don't understand why Vasily Livanov is not on the list, he was brilliant as Holmes, bus i still give my vote to Robert Downey Jr, he was just amazing.
posted by LizeCK (Fri Jan 01 10, 6:53PM)
Nicholas Rowe, in 1985's "Young Sherlock Holmes" is a sentimental fave.
Charlton Heston? Really? This I gotta see...
posted by PaulW (Fri Jan 01 10, 7:04PM)
Top rankings, of the ones I've seen:
1) Jeremy Brett
2) Robert Downey Jr. (although this may be he's the current actor)
3) Ian Richardson (rather nice Baskersville movie)
4) Nicol Williamson (Seven Percent Solution)
Matt Frewer played him?! Which movie?
posted by misterb (Fri Jan 01 10, 8:46PM)
Well, since I haven't seen Robert Downey Jr, I will reinforce the crowd - Jeremy Brett captured my own personal vision of Holmes, and I've been reading and rereading the canon since 1965.
posted by Patti H. (Fri Jan 01 10, 10:49PM)
Basil Rathbone's always been on the top of my list, followed by Jeremy Brett, but I can't wait for Robert Downey, Jr. to play Holmes again!
I would have loved to see Ian Richardson in the role! But I also liked Christopher Plummer's interpretation in "Murder By Decree," and Nicol Williamson's portrayal in "The Seven-Percent Solution." BTW, Robert Duvall gets top marks for his Watson in that film.
(Paul, you don't want to see that Matt Frewer version...)
Thanks, MaryAnn, for using the question!
posted by Colonel Sebastian Moran (Retired) (Sat Jan 02 10, 1:05AM)
John Guilgud portrayed Holmes on the radio, and was fantastic. He would be my first choice.
On screen, Jeremy Brett will probably always be my favorite. his characterization was far richer than any I've seen. Plummer was fine in a great movie (though too old for the part at that time period). Downey was very entertaining, and much closer to the Doyle character than people give him credit for. He, the actor, is older than Holmes should be, but he plays him at the age that is appropriate.
Arthur Wontner should be on this list as well.
Clive Merrison and Carlton Hobbes are two other wonderful radio Holmes. I suggest you look for them if you're a fan.
posted by Barb (Sat Jan 02 10, 10:20AM)
Straight out Jeremy Brett. I believe he probable would have done more if not for his illness and then death.
posted by Ben (Sat Jan 02 10, 11:36PM)
Jeremy Brett can't help but come off well, as he had the most authentic material to work with - the Granada TV series being more directly based off Doyle's stories than most other adaptations
(though they weren't completely faithful to the canon)
I love Brett's Holmes for his energy and commanding presence - but someone forgot to tell him that he wasn't acting onstage, so often his performance seems pitched at the fat lady in the back row.
Ian Richardson probably comes closest to being the Holmes I imagine from Doyle's novels - his take on the character is similar to Brett's, but his acting technique is more subtle and camera friendly.... Richardson also did a wonderful job of playing Doyle's tutor Joseph Bell (the supposed inspiration for SH) in the "Murder Rooms" TV series!
Of all the various silly Hollywood reimaginings of the character, my fave is Nicholas Rowe in "Young Sherlock Holmes" - it is a movie suffering from a severe case of Spielbergitis, but it's still jolly good fun if you don't take it too seriously and Rowe has a surprising amount of charm and gravitas for such a young performer...