The Solitary Cyclist (15 May 1984)

A strange man on a bicycle follows a young music teacher as she bicycles on a lonely road to and from the city.

Director:

Paul Annett

Writers:

Arthur Conan Doyle (by), John Hawkesworth (developed for television by),

Stars:

Jeremy Brett, David Burke, Barbara Wilshere

Cast

Episode complete credited cast:
Jeremy Brett	...	Sherlock Holmes
David Burke	...	Dr Watson
Barbara Wilshere	...	Violet Smith
John Castle	...	Carruthers
Michael Siberry	...	Woodley
Ellis Dale	...	Williamson
Sarah Aitchison	...	Sarah Carruthers
Simon Bleakley	...	Peter (as Simon Bleackley)
Penny Gowling	...	Mrs Dixon
Stafford Gordon	...	Landlord
Rosalie Williams	...	Mrs Hudson

Storyline

Holmes is approached by Miss Violet Smith with a most peculiar problem. She has recently accepted a position with Mr. Carruthers as a music teacher for his 10 year old daughter. On Saturdays, she returns to her home to he with her mother and returns to Chilton Grange Manor on Mondays. She cycles the several miles to the train station and recently she has noticed a man, also on a bicycle, following her. He is quite blatantly there, stopping when she stops and always keeping the same distance from her but making no attempt to to hide his presence. She is worried at least in part because she recently rejected the advances of a Mr. Woodley who became upset and violent at the rejection. As Holmes soon deduces, she has good reason to be fearful, though not necessarily from the cyclist.

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Plot Keywords:

bicycle | music teacher | pupil | forced marriage | boxing | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery

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Details

Official Sites:

Official site [Fr]

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 May 1984 (UK)

Filming Locations:

Adlington Hall, Adlington, Cheshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Technical Specs

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Goofs

Holmes says that Williamson was unfrocked, which is an incorrect term for the Anglican church. The actual terminology is "deposed".

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Quotes

[first lines]
Sherlock Holmes: Watson.
Dr Watson: Yes?
Sherlock Holmes: Watch.
[they move to his chemistry setup]
Sherlock Holmes: The chemical reaction you are about to witness will solve the mystery concerning the persecution of Mr John Vincent Harden.
Dr Watson: Oh. Excellent! The tobacco millionaire. Shall I take notes?
Sherlock Holmes: No, I will dictate in the fullness of time.

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Connections

Version of The Solitary Cyclist (1921)

User Reviews

Well done episode is less complicated than most Holmes adventures...

But having said that, it still keeps you baffled until Holmes clears up the whole mystery by deduction with just a little help from Watson. Jeremy Brett and David Burke are excellent as the sleuth and his doctor friend who are charmed by a young woman who tells them an intriguing story about being a solitary cyclist who is being followed by a strange man with a beard. She also tells them how she happened to meet two men, with a flashback showing how the younger man proposed marriage to her and became angry when she refused his advances.

John Castle and Michael Siberry are the gentlemen she describes as inviting her to teach Castle's daughter music lessons, but it turns out that there is an ulterior motive behind their seeking her to come and live in Castle's home. Some nice twists toward the end will keep the viewer engrossed in the story.

Nicely photographed in usual high style with lots of English countryside on display and some amusing banter between Holmes and Watson. One of the better entries in this series.