Sherlock Holmes

Sherlock Holmes

1965 - United Kingdom

The media's long love affair with Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's most iconic creation was already firmly established in the public consciousness world-wide when in 1964, as part of a prestige anthology series entitled The Detectives, the BBC presented an hour long version of one of the best known Sherlock Holmes stories. The Speckled Band featuring noted stage screen and film character actor Douglas Wilmer as the latest incarnation of Baker Street's most famous resident. The success of the one episode resulted in the commissioning of a fully-fledged series of twelve black and white episodes in 1965 under the directly simple Sherlock Holmes title,  produced by the experienced David Goddard.

These adaptations again featured Douglas Wilmer as Holmes, the ever-reliable Nigel Stock as Doctor John H. Watson, and rounding out the regular supporting cast was Mary Holder as the long-suffering Mrs. Hudson, Peter Madden as Scotland Yard's Inspector Lestrade and comedy actor Derek Francis as the intellectually brilliant older brother of Sherlock; Mycroft Holmes. 

Although somewhat lacking in dramatic impetus and slightly inclined towards the comedic, the series was nevertheless well received by both public and press alike, mainly thanks to Wilmer's intelligent portrayal of a notoriously difficult character, and, as was noted in the newspaper The Times, the actors "uncanny resemblance" to the sleuth in the original book illustrations by the great Sydney Paget. Ultimately, however, a combination of ever-decreasing rehearsal time and the ever-present wish to further extend his acting skills in other directions, prompted Wilmer to decline to renew his contract with the series. Questioned about his decision to quit and whether he had enjoyed working on the series during a later interview following the announcement that Peter Cushing was to replace him in the role, the actor commented tersely: "...I would rather sweep Paddington Station for a living than go through the experience again. He had my sympathies!" Nevertheless, Cushing starred in 16 further episodes in the 1968 series, which included all the original stories (with Stock continuing in the role of the good doctor) from A Study in Scarlet to the two-part Hound of the Baskervilles. The series was re-titled Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes.

Published on January 29th, 2019. Written by SRH (2000) for Television Heaven.

Read Next...

The Short Stories of Conan Doyle

13-part anthology series featuring Conan Doyle's non-Sherlock Holmes stories encompassing many genres, including comedy, romance, crime, medicine, and the supernatural.

Also tagged Sherlock Holmes

Three Sisters

Another 'lost' BBC play. Anton Chekov's celebrated play concerns the lives of an aristocratic family who struggle to search for meaning in the modern world.

Also starring Douglas Wilmer

The Roaring Twenties

Reporters search for big scoops in New York City in the 1920s

Also tagged Detective Series

Branded

An innocent man is branded a coward in this classic US Western series

Also released in 1965

Court Martial

Court Martial was a British made production co-funded by ITC (in the UK) and Roncom Productions (in the USA) which aired on ITV in 1965 and on ABC in 1966.

Also released in 1965

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes

A shining example of a near flawlessly faithful adaptation of a canon of classic literary genius, Granada television's stylishly lavish series redefined the established film and TV image of the world renowned inhabitants of 221B Baker Street.

Also tagged Sherlock Holmes

Gideon's Way

1960s detective series about a policeman with an enormous capacity for work and a strong self-discipline.

Also tagged Detective Series

Sherlock Holmes 1954

Low budget series of the master detective.

Also tagged Sherlock Holmes