The Sign of Four (1983)

Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson try to track down the Great Mogul, the second-largest diamond in the world.

Director:

Desmond Davis

Writers:

Arthur Conan Doyle (novel), Charles Edward Pogue (screenplay)

Stars:

Ian Richardson, David Healy, Thorley Walters

1 win & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ian Richardson	...	Sherlock Holmes
David Healy	...	Dr. John Watson
Thorley Walters	...	Major John Sholto
Cherie Lunghi	...	Mary Morstan
Joe Melia	...	Jonathan Small
Terence Rigby	...	Inspector Layton
Clive Merrison	...	Bartholomew Sholto
Richard Heffer	...	Thaddeus Sholto
John Pedrick	...	Tonga
Michael O'Hagan	...	Mordecai Smith
Robert Russell	...	Williams
John Benfield	...	McMurdo
Moti Makan	...	Lal Rao
Kate Binchy	...	Maid
Gordon Rollings	...	Mr. Sherman

Storyline

Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson try to track down the Great Mogul, the second-largest diamond in the world.

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Plot Keywords:

sherlock holmes | based on novel | number in title

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Genres:

Mystery

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

7 December 1983 (USA)

Also Known As:

Im Zeichen der Vier

Company Credits

Production Co:

Mapleton Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

4:3

Did You Know?

Trivia

Thorley Walters, who had played Dr. Watson in several different projects, replaced Trevor Howard as Major John Sholto, marking the final time Walters would play a character in the Sherlock Holmes canon on screen.

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Goofs

The police inspector played by Terence Rigby is named "Layton", but was supposed to be the more famous Inspector Lestrade. You can clearly see Ian Richardson and the other actors mouthing the name "Lestrade" throughout the production, but for some reason they were all dubbed over with "Layton".

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Connections

Version of The Crucifer of Blood (1991)

User Reviews

Good adaptation

Although in some parts not too faithful to the original story this is a good Holmes adaptation. Everyone involved is making a good effort and the the finished product is solid enough.

One thing I did definitely not like is the way Tonga was presented. I am aware that he was portrayed as "so deeply marked with all bestiality and cruelty (and that) his small eyes glowed and burned with a sombre light, and his thick lips were writhed back from his teeth, which grinned and chattered at us with half animal fury" (quote from the original story). I'm sure I can't apply 21st century political correctness to a 19th century story but the scenes where Small fed his companion with raw meat in an earth hole were definitely not necessary in a 1983 production.

Still, this being the only thing that bothers me a bit, this is a great movie. Ian Richardson comes close to my idea of Holmes and is second in line for my favourite Holmes, Brett AND Rathbone being in the fist place.