"Sherlock Holmes" The Sign of Four (1968)

Director:

William Sterling

Writers:

Arthur Conan Doyle (novel) and
Michael Hardwick (co-writer)

TV Series:

"Sherlock Holmes" (1965)

Original Air Date:

16 December 1968 (Season 2, Episode 15)

Genre:

Horror | Crime | Drama | Mystery

Plot:

When a woman receives a series of valuable pearls from an unknown party after the disappearance of her father, Sherlock Holmes is hired to investigate.

Plot Keywords:

Sherlock Holmes | Pearl | Detective | Private Detective | Chase

Cast

Peter Cushing	...	Sherlock Holmes
Nigel Stock	...	Dr. Watson
Ann Bell	...	Mary Morstan
Paul Daneman	...	Thaddeus & Bartholomew Sholto
John Stratton	...	Inspector Athelney Jones
Ailsa Grahame	...	Mrs. Forrester
Grace Arnold	...	Mrs. Hudson
Howard Goorney	...	Jonathan Small
Ahmed Khalil	...	Lal Rao (as Ahmed Kahlil)
Syd Conabere	...	McMurdo (as Sydney Conabere)
Tony McLaren	...	Wiggins
Annabella Johnston	...	Mrs. Mordecai Smith
David Boliver	...	Mr. Mordecai Smith
Ann Way	...	Mrs. Bernstone
Sara Clee	...	Alice

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Quotes:

Athelney Jones: It's quite simple, really. The two brothers have a quarrel over the inheritance. Then, one kills the other so as to claim the whole of it for himself, leaving the body here! Quite simple!
Sherlock Holmes: And the dead man gets up to lock the door from the inside?
Athelney Jones: ...There's a flaw there... Somewhere...

Movie Connections:

Version of The Sign of Four (1923)

Top-notch Victorian sleuth Holmes-Jeremy Brett and well accompanied by Watson-Edward Hardwicke

While the uncanny Sherlock Holmes and the ever-faithful Watson encounter into 221 Baker Street are visited by a beautiful young woman and they're contracted to investigate why has been anonymously sent an precious stone. Holmes and Watson are involved in killing, poison darts, a fortune in Indian jewels original from palace of Agra and much suspect behavior by strange characters(Ronald Lacey, John Thaw).

The film packs suspense, intrigue, unanswered mysteries, thrills and excellent set decoration. This is a good Holmes mystery with gripping London setting. One of the most charming Holmes television pictures and with long runtime. Intriguing blend of suspense, thriller and fun. Well cast by the best TV Holmes, Jeremy Brett, along with Peter Cushing who starred the series in the 60s and in 1984 played ¨Sherlock Holmes and the masks of death¨. Brett, Cushing and Basil Rathbone in the cinema are the best history's Holmes. Brett(dead 1995) was usually secondary actor(Medusa touch ,My fair lady, War and Peace) but achieved fame and fortune with¨ Adventures of Holmes, The Return, The Case-Book and Memories Sherlock Holmes¨ series and four long time films . This story is finely adapted by John Hakesworth and professionally directed by Peter Hammond, both habitual of series. Another adaptations about this Arthur Conan Doyle's novel are realized by Desmond Davis(1984)with Ian Richardson , Rodney Gibbons(2001) with Matt Frewer and a Sui generis version by Fraser C. Heston titled ¨Crucifer of blood¨ and with his father Charlton Heston as Holmes.