The Master Blackmailer (6 May 1993)

Holmes and Watson attempt to break the grip of a ruthless blackmailer of their clients.

Director:

Peter Hammond

Writers:

Jeremy Paul (screenplay), Arthur Conan Doyle (short story "The Adventure of Charles Augustus Milverton" from volume "The Return of Sherlock Holmes")

Stars:

Jeremy Brett, Edward Hardwicke, Robert Hardy

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Jeremy Brett	...	Sherlock Holmes
Edward Hardwicke	...	Doctor Watson
Robert Hardy	...	Charles Augustus Milverton
Norma West	...	Lady Diana Swinstead
Gwen Ffrangcon Davies	...	The Dowager (as Gwen Ffrangcon-Davies)
Colin Jeavons	...	Inspector Lestrade
Nickolas Grace	...	Bertrand
Serena Gordon	...	Lady Eva Blackwell
Sarah McVicar	...	The Hon. Charlotte Miles
David Mallinson	...	Colonel Dorking
Brian Mitchell	...	Harry, Earl of Dovercourt
Hans Meyer	...	Hebworth (alias Veitch)
Sophie Thompson	...	Agatha
Stephen Simms	...	Stokes
Rosalie Williams	...	Mrs Hudson

Storyline

In Sherlock Holmes' latest case, the master sleuth must deal with the menace of Charles Augustus Milverton, an art dealer who has a profitable sideline as a blackmailer who has much of London's high society in his grip. Unfortunately, he is no amateur at his line of work and Holmes must use all his cunning and skill in some risky operations to foil this criminal.

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Plot Keywords:

sherlock holmes | private detective | 1900s | victorian era | 1890s | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Horror | Mystery | Thriller

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

6 May 1993 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Winstanley Hall, Wigan, Greater Manchester, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Granada Television, WGBH

Technical Specs

Runtime:

102 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Goofs

A Scotland Yard police detective is seen picking up a discarded weapon with a handkerchief which was not a common practice in 1890, when the film was set. Fingerprint detection was not adopted in Britain until 1901.

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Quotes

Sherlock Holmes: I've had to deal with fifty murderers in my career, but the worst of them never gave me this sense of revulsion I feel at this moment toward Mr Charles Augustus Milverton.

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Connections

Followed by The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes: The Last Vampyre (1993)

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Soundtracks

"Beau Soir"
(uncredited)
Music by Claude Debussy
Lyrics by Paul Bourget
Henry G. Chapman (translation)

User Reviews

Screen version of Sherlock Holmes reaches its zenith in Jeremy Brett's portrayal of master sleuth.

After seeing Jeremy Brett as Sherlock Holmes, no actor should ever display such conceit as to imagine that he could ever come close to Mr. Brett's portrayal of "one of the most interesting characters in literature". Jeremy Brett IS Sherlock Holmes and in my opinion there can be no other. The great actor Basil Rathbone is,I must admit, a close second but, is still second. One might make the argument that Mr. Rathbone's screenplays were inferior to the absolutely top notch productions afforded Mr. Brett and to this I would agree. However when all is said and done Jeremy Brett will always and forever be the only actor to truly "become" Sherlock Holmes. The book should be closed on this subject and we,the public,left to enjoy Mr.Brett's unique performances.

Bill Rogers

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