Starring Sherlock Holmes
Review of Book Detailing the Film and TV History of the Detective
Over the years, several fine books on Sherlock Holmes movies have been published. Among the most recent best is David Stuart Davies' "Starring Sherlock Holmes."
British Holmesian scholar David Stuart Davies’ updated edition of his original 2001 book is one of two recent fine works that will satisfy Sherlockians and film buffs in general.
About the Author
Davies is a former English teacher who over the last twenty years has gained a reputation as one of the world’s foremost Sherlockian scholars. He is the author of five Holmes novels and a one man play, Sherlock Holmes: The Last Act! In addition, he has written several mysteries and was the former editor of Sherlock Holmes the Detective Magazine. His additional non-fiction work includes a biography of Jeremy Brett and Holmes of the Movies. He has also added commentaries to the DVD releases of the Basil Rathbone Sherlock Holmes films, and has also worked on DVDs of the Jeremy Brett Holmes series.
Starring Sherlock Holmes: A Century of the Master Detective on Screen
This 207 page book is an impressive book, richly illustrated with over 450 illustrations, photographs, movie posters, and press clippings, many of them in color. Helping with the authentic feel of the book is the knowledge that Davies had the opportunity to interview several people involved in the various movies including Brett, Christopher Lee, and Edward Hardwicke.
Davies arranges his book in chronological order, beginning with the first known Sherlock film, Sherlock Holmes Baffled (1900) to the latest, the British television production of Sherlock Holmes and the Baker Street Irregulars (2007). This can give the reader some problem if he is using the book as a reference source rather than as a cover-to-cover reading.
Along the way, he first gives a background on Arthur Conan Doyle and then intersperses his survey of the films with chapters on varying topics such as Dr. Watson, prominent actors in the Holmes role (most notably Rathbone and Brett), portrayals of Holmes on radio, stage and television, and Sherlock’s rivals.
Although he treats the early silent films in a cursory manner, Davies does devote sections to early Sherlock Holmes players William Gillette, Eille Norwood, and John Barrymore. He also devotes a page to Arthur Wotner, a fine early 1930s portrayer who is generally unknown today.
Davies’ book is broader in scope than another recent book, Alan Barnes’ Sherlock Holmes on Screen (2007). He devotes little time to plot synopses and the listing of cast members. Instead, he mainly offers a series of essays where he introduces interesting little known facts about the productions and offers his own insights, as well as those of other critics.
What Not to Like
Except for possibly the book's arrangement and one minor flaw, actually, nothing. Like the Barnes’ book, this one does not have a good index, only an alphabetical listing of the films and TV productions and their dates at the end. Fortunately, most listings do refer back to the corresponding pages in the book, which is helpful. Unfortunately, there is no listing of names which is not.
Summary
This book should be considered as a “must have” for serious fans of Sherlock Holmes. It is a nice complement to the Barnes book and they would look good side-by-side on any bookshelf.
- Starring Sherlock Holmes: A Century of the Master Detective on Screen
- London: Titan Books, October 2007 (revised edition)
- ISBN: 9781845765378
- U.S. $35.00
- Canada $44.00
