The Final Problem (29 Sep. 1985)

Holmes and Watson travel to Europe to escape Moriarty's vengeance.

Director:

Alan Grint

Writers:

John Hawkesworth (developed for television by), John Hawkesworth (dramatised by),

Stars:

Jeremy Brett, David Burke, Eric Porter

Cast

Episode complete credited cast:
Jeremy Brett	...	Sherlock Holmes
David Burke	...	Dr. Watson
Eric Porter	...	Professor Moriarty
Rosalie Williams	...	Mrs. Hudson
Olivier Pierre	...	Director of the Louvre
Claude Le Saché	...	Minister of the Interior (as Claude Le Sache)
Michael Goldie	...	The Artist
Robert Henderson	...	American Millionaire
Paul Sirr	...	Young Art Expert
Jim Dunk	...	Porter at Victoria
Paul Humpoletz	...	Herr Steiler
Simon Adams	...	Swiss Youth

Storyline

After a four month absence, Sherlock Holmes returns to Baker Street following several attempts on his life. Holmes had been away on an important assignment for the French government - recovering the Mona Lisa that had bee stolen from the Louvre. He was successful in his task and appropriately rewarded by the French but he raised the ire of the crime's perpetrator - Professor Moriarty. On the morning of his return, the Professor visited Holmes in his flat and warned him to cease or he would have no choice but to take extreme measures. With several attempts on his life having already taken place, Holmes and Watson head for Switzerland. Moriarty is a relentless pursuer however and he and Holmes have a fateful encounter at the Reichenbach Falls.

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery

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Details

Official Sites:

Official site [France]

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

29 September 1985 (UK)

Company Credits

Technical Specs

Runtime:

51 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

First episode in which Holmes swears.

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Goofs

When Holmes and Moriarty topple over the Reichenbach Falls, you can see both the stuntmen playing Holmes and Moriarty wearing safety lines which are soon blocked out by the camera. It is at the beginning when they start fall these lines are most prominent.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Dr. Watson: [voiceover] When I returned to Baker Street from a short holiday in the spring of 1891, I had seen little of Holmes for some time. I saw in the papers that he had been engaged by the French Government upon a matter of supreme importance, but I could hardly foresee that it would have so violent a consequence. It lies with me now to tell for the first time what took place between Mr. Sherlock Holmes and Professor Moriarty in that fateful year.

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Crazy Credits

Shows Reichenbach Falls during ending credits.

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Connections

Version of Standing Room Only: Sherlock Holmes (1981)

User Reviews

Most Excellent Dramatization of Sherlock Holmes! Perfection! Flawless!

Well, I just watched this 1984 Granada production in October 2007 having read the Adventures of Sherlock Holmes in the late 1990's. And I must say that not only was the screenplay as faithful to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's story as you could get - it was an absolutely faithful production. For anyone who has read "The Final Problem", you will know that this is a very special and perhaps the most significant Sherlock Holmes tale. To those who are unfamiliar with the story, I shall be careful not to convey spoilers which will diminish the key plot points for you. But let me say that this tale takes Holmes and Watson beyond the bounds of England to face a formidable enemy, and in doing so expresses the depths of the friendship between Holmes and Watson, while also showing some spectacular scenery. Every minute detail was vividly shown and expressed, and I ACTUALLY applauded Granada at the conclusion of this episode, because their standards of quality and faithfulness to every detail of the story and characters is absolutely flawless. Bravo Granada! Bravo!