Sherlock Holmes

phoenix · Mar 28, 2013

I noticed that there is not a thread on the world's greatest detective and decided to start one. I have been obsessed with Holmes for as long as I can remember. I even wear a deerstalker on a regular basis when out and about. I am always going to be partial to Basil Rathbone's portrayal of Holmes as BR was the first person I saw doing him, but I am gaining an appreciation for Jeremy Brett. I find the last two movies with Robert Downey, Jr. to be excellent and I think he brings out Holmes' bi-polar neuroticism in a way that surpasses all others (just my opinion). I'm curious as to what is your favorite Holmes actor and movie as well as the stories from Doyle. My personal favorite is "The Hound of the Baskervilles".

alex87 · Mar 28, 2013

Huge fan also. Got a hardback copy of the entire collection ages ago and the dust cover is only just hanging on to itself haha...
I like Jeremy Brett's character, but again this was the first one i saw many moons ago when living across the pond. The new movies i enjoy, but in a hollywood entertainment sort of way.
What really surprised me though, is the new series Elementary. Not true to form on any account, but if you are a fan of crime drama and can overlook the fact that they modernized the whole shebang then its a good watch. I always thought of myself as a purist and this series caught me off guard. I enjoy it thoroughly.

bikedoctor · Mar 28, 2013

Jeremy Brett will always be Sherlock to me. he was a true first class smoker and had a personal life as trying as sherlocks.

phoenix · Mar 28, 2013

Got my hardback cover as printed in The Strand years ago. Pages are falling out to the point that I can't read it anymore. Plus it is so big that it doesn't travel well. I heard about the series Elementary, but after hearing reports about this modernization with Holmes no longer smoking his pipe and not getting stoned anymore, I don't think I want them to show it here. I don't mind adaptations, but they DO need to retain the main characteristics of the characters. Love Rathbone, but They made Watson look like he graduated from the University of Duh. Can't wait for the next RD,Jr. movie.

dochudson · Mar 28, 2013

I have read the complete SH books many times.. the new book House of Silk is very good.

macthenife · Mar 28, 2013

I've enjoyed Brett as Sherlock Holmes but my favorite has always been Basil Rathbone. The new Sherlock series with Cumberbatch is excellent minus the pipe smoking. With our society today, he looks to nicotine patches for insight. I understand season 3 is currently filming. The name of the first episode will be The empty hearse. Interesting.

lordofthepiperings · Mar 28, 2013

Holmes never wore a deerstalker hat! I love how Benedict Cumberbatch's Holmes hates that hat lol. I have to say my favorite Holmes is definitely Jeremy Brett and my least favorite would be Basil Rathbone because of how bumbling Nigel Bruce's Watson was which is absolutely nothing like the character in the stories. I do enjoy Cumberbatch's portrayl of Holmes in the new Sherlock series. I think he's a close second to Brett. Downey's portrayl is done very well too and Jude Law is my favorite Watson. Not too into the Elementary one with Lucy Liu as Jane Watson. The Doyle estate didn't approve of it so they had to change alot of things in order to not infringe on copyrights. My favorite story is probably The Blue Carbuncle which I'm hoping will be the ceterpiece for the next Guy Ritchie offering.
Another interesting thing is the show Murdoch Mysteries has had Arthur Conan Doyle pop by for three or four episodes in the series. The latest one A Study In Sherlock was really good as they were dealing with a man who believed he truly was Sherlock Holmes.

pstlpkr · Mar 28, 2013

Jeremy Brett will always be Sherlock to me.

Yup... definitely top O' the modern heap...

But, his and Ronald Howard's (1940's TV) depictions were modeled after...

The first and (I might add) personally selected by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle himself...
:worship: William Gellette

teufelhund · Mar 28, 2013

Also a fan of the new british series; I watch it on netflix all the time. Although I do get a sort of House M.D. vibe from. As far as film I cast my lot with Rathbone. I have to agree with LOTPR Nigel Bruce is lame, but if you can ignore the films themselves and isolate the character of Holmes; Rathbone wins hands down.

4dotsasieni · Mar 28, 2013

Returning to pipe smoking after a long hiatus has also sparked a rebirth of Sherlockmania in me. First I re-read all the original Conan Doyle stories, then the Nicholas Meyers, then several collections of Holmes pastiches, both good and bad, and, most recently, House of Silk, Death on a Pale Horse (both highly recommended), The Case of the Edinburgh Haunting (see my review on Amazon) and Tales from the Deed Box. And all this since January - I am on a Sherlock tear! : puffy

:

phoenix · Mar 28, 2013

I haven't seen the Sherlock series yet. We can get BBC here, but I haven't had the chance yet. I know a lot of people like it. I've got the feeling that with Elementary, they wull marry off Holmes with Watson towards the end...just a feeling.

papipeguy · Mar 28, 2013

Holmes was the inspiration for me getting into pipes. At the time it was Basil Rathbone as Holmes in the movies. I must have read all of the stories 100 times and never find them dull.

zonomo · Mar 29, 2013

I read the books as an adult and was really fascinated by them. It seems like the good Sherlock was quite the druggie.....

pstlpkr · Mar 29, 2013

The recordings are ancient and not of the best quality.

But, a listening must for anyone who appreciates Sherlock Holmes.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38HgyxMThOw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfHaVFKSYGE
:puffpipe:

bullbriar · Mar 29, 2013

I, too, have been a Holmes fan for years. In fact the best part of my sophomore English class (years ago) was the Sherlock Holmes unit. These stories can be read over and over without tiring, and now that I've gotten back into pipe smoking, I have a newfound appreciation.

I don't smoke a lot of English tobacco, and I don't keep my tobacco in a Persian slipper, but I do feel a connection when I smoke a bowl and read a Holmes story.
Rathbone's,IMHO, is by far the most iconic actor, and his dry delivery and stature seem to fit the bill for me.
I do live 20 minutes from William Gillette's home, a castle which he had built and lived in from the early 1920's. It's a magnificent residence overlooking the Connecticut River. Has many secret mirrors, trap doors, etc., and even had a narrow gauge railway that would run the grounds with a trestle over the river! By the way, it's open to the public as it is a Connecticut state park.

bobby46 · Mar 29, 2013

Those thirsting for more Sherlock-like adventures can visit the site below for free audiobooks. The site has all the familiar originals, plus the non-Doyle authored extras linked below. You can also select the worded source to read them off your PC screen, instead.
https://catalog.librivox.org/search.php?title=rivals+of+sherlock+holmes&author=&status=complete&action=Search

captainbob · Mar 29, 2013

I am a strict fan of the original Basil Rathbone and Nigil Bruce actors in the original series! I own the complete re-Mastered series on DVD and treature them, greatly!

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

mustanggt · Mar 30, 2013

I have to go with Basil Rathbone as well. I watched him on Sat. morinings on TV. Read the books as well. I have to say that he inspired me to smoke a pipe as well.

keith929 · Mar 30, 2013

+1 on Basil Rathbone as Holmes.

htmn246 · Mar 30, 2013

I also am a Sherlock Holmes fan an have several copies of Watsons works along with the works of several other writers revealing more stories. And yes I do have and smoke a calabash even tho Holmes does not in the original stories. If you watch the Rathbone series when Holmes returns from the dead Watson gives Insp. Lastrade Holme's cabash.

Sherlock Holmes

Log in

SmokingPipes.com Updates

PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor

Site Sponsors

PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor

PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor

PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor

PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor

Lurker

Starting to Get Obsessed

Lurker

Lurker

Lifer

Lurker

Lifer

Lifer

Lifer

Part of the Furniture Now

Lurker

Lifer

Lifer

Lifer

Can't Leave

Starting to Get Obsessed

Part of the Furniture Now

Part of the Furniture Now

Lifer

Starting to Get Obsessed