The Norwood Builder (8 Sep. 1985)

When a notorious retired builder is found dead, his recently-named heir is the prime suspect.

Director:

Ken Grieve

Writers:

Arthur Conan Doyle (short story "The Adventure of the Norwood Builder" from volume "The Return of Sherlock Holmes"), John Hawkesworth (developer),

Stars:

Jeremy Brett, David Burke, Rosalie Crutchley

Cast

Episode complete credited cast:
Jeremy Brett	...	Sherlock Holmes
David Burke	...	Dr. Watson
Rosalie Crutchley	...	Mrs Lexington
Colin Jeavons	...	Inspector Lestrade
Matthew Solon	...	John Hector McFarlane
Jonathan Adams	...	Jonas Oldacre
Helen Ryan	...	Mrs McFarlane
Rosalie Williams	...	Mrs Hudson
Andy Rashleigh	...	Constable
Anthony Langdon	...	Tramp
Ted Carroll	...	Seafaring Tramp

Storyline

Knowing that he is about to be arrested for murder, John Hector McFarlane asks for Sherlock Holmes' assistance in establishing his innocence. McFarlane is a solicitor who was visited the previous day by Jonas Oldacre who wanted to draw up a will. McFarlane was astonished to learn that Oldacre was naming him as the beneficiary of his fortune. McFarlane had never met the man who claimed to have known his parents long ago and having no issue of his own, wanted to leave everything to him. McFarlane drew up the papers and called at Oldacre's home that evening to have everything signed but sometime in the night the man was killed and the body burned beyond all recognition. Inspector Lestrade of Scotland Yard thinks he has an open and shut case but after Holmes interviews McFarlane's mother, he thinks there is something else afoot.

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery

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Details

Official Sites:

Official site [Fr]

Release Date:

8 September 1985 (UK)

Company Credits

Did You Know?

Goofs

During Holmes and Watson's conversation with Mrs. McFarland, the mic briefly comes into frame on the top right of the screen.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Dr. John Watson: Thank you, George.
Sherlock Holmes: From the point of view of the criminal expert, London has become a singularly uninteresting city.
Dr. John Watson: Well, I hardly think you'll find many decent citizens to agree with you.
Sherlock Holmes: Well, well, well, one must not be selfish. The community's the gainer and no-one the loser, save the poor unfortunate specialist whose occupation has gone.

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Connections

Version of The Norwood Builder (1922)

User Reviews

Holmes the Magician: perhaps the best of the series

The Norwood Builder was a neat and intriguing story however in some ways - without extravagant settings, The Nation In Danger or grand international villains - a plain one. There appears to be less to work with. But this immaculate production instead so nicely takes us through a series of different moods as the story unfolds: Holme's restrained powerful dislike of Lestrade's provocative condescension, the latter's premature triumphalism, Holme's near despair and fear that his failure will result in an innocent man going to the gallows. But finally when all appears lost, a genuinely jaw-dropping ending when Holmes, the master magician, is able to once again summon all his powers and conjure up, to the amazement of Lestrade and viewer alike, the villain in a puff of smoke. Holmes' magnanimity in allowing Lestrade the entire credit is a stylish conclusion. The production gives us not just a clever Holmes but a completely masterly one.