Rathbone, Cumberbatch, Brett, Plummer… Who’s the best Sherlock Holmes of them all?
Rathbone, Cumberbatch, Brett, Plummer…it was never going to be straightforward, was it?
As with all mysteries, theres a twist.
Sherlock Holmes and Dr John Watson arent merely a detective duo; theyrethedetective duo.
That means the good doctor, where he appears, will be a crucial part of the puzzle.
Not only that, but the many pastiches and loose reworkings of the character have had to go.
I know, that last one hurt.
Come, Watson the games afoot…
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12.
Henry Cavill inEnola Holmes(2020) andEnola Holmes 2(2022)
Too handsome for Holmes?
Still, theres fun to be had in the series fast-paced, feminist spin on Victorian England.
No surprise, then, that playing just one character from Arthur Conan Doyles stories wasnt sufficient.
Watsons written record of the case only blurs the picture further.
The magnificent Ian Richardson, star of the original BBC political thrillerHouse of Cards, is another example.
A belated third film this time helmed by Dexter Fletcher is expected later this year.
Will RDJ rise further up the rankings with an older, wiser Holmes?
Were looking forward to finding out.
Hes better known, however, for his second case: Bob Clarks 1979 original,Murder by Decree.
Its an atmospheric mystery, with righteous outrage at its heart.
Will it ever return?
Over to you, Moffat and Gatiss…
3.
Funnily enough, the world turned out to be big enough for more than one modern-day Sherlock.
CBSsElementarywas always a hairs breadth from true greatness, hindered by its procedural structure.
When it shone, though, we benefited from one of the finest interpretations of the character to date.
For many Holmes aficionados, hed top this list.
Over ten years, Granada Television adapted 43 of Doyles 60 stories to memorable effect.
In terms of the top spot, Bretts Holmes only has one true rival…
1.
Rathbone had unsuccessfully volunteered to fight in World War Two when conflict broke out in 1939.
In the end, he got the chance to do his bit for his country by another route.
As long as Sherlock Holmes is remembered, Rathbones evocation of the character will remain the one to beat.
And that, my dear Watson, will be forever.
