The Devil's Foot (6 Apr. 1988)

While convalescing in Cornwall, a depressive Holmes investigates the apparent death from apoplexy of a local woman and the unexplained sudden dementia of her two brothers.

Director:

Ken Hannam

Writers:

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

Stars:

Jeremy Brett, Edward Hardwicke, Denis Quilley

Cast

Episode complete credited cast:
Jeremy Brett	...	Sherlock Holmes
Edward Hardwicke	...	Dr Watson
Denis Quilley	...	Dr Leon Sterndale
Damien Thomas	...	Mortimer Tregennis
Michael Aitkens	...	Reverend Roundhay
Freda Dowie	...	Mrs Porter
Norman Bowler	...	Owen Tregennis
Peter Shaw	...	George Tregennis
Christine Collins	...	Brenda Tregennis
John Saunders	...	Dr Richards
Frank Moorey	...	Police Inspector

Storyline

Suffering from depression and nearing a breakdown, Holmes is accompanied by Watson to Cornwall for rest and recuperation as they tour the area's scenic coastal cliffs and Neolithic sites. The tranquility is interrupted by news that an unexplained tragedy has suddenly struck three siblings while playing cards in their home. The sister has apparently died from apoplexy, and her two brothers are suffering from acute dementia with expressions of fear and horror frozen on their faces. Showing great will power, Holmes discards his cocaine hypodermic and scrutinizes those involved in the case: an estranged third brother, the local vicar, and an enigmatic big game hunter and African explorer.

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Plot Keywords:

cornwall | dementia | apoplexy | explorer | neolithic | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

6 April 1988 (UK)

Filming Locations:

Cadgwith, Cornwall, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Granada Television

Technical Specs

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

After being rescued by Watson, Holmes calls watson by his first name, "John". This is the first time in the entire literary, cinematic and televised history of Sherlock Holmes that one of the two main characters addresses the other by his first name; in all other instances, the surname ("Holmes", "Watson") is used.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Dr Watson: Almost there.
Sherlock Holmes: What does a Harley Street specialist know about my health?
Dr Watson: Listen, Holmes, Dr Moore Agar insists you have a complete rest if you wish to avoid an absolute breakdown. The sea air will do you the world of good.

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Connections

Version of Sherlock Holmes: The Devil's Foot (1965)

User Reviews

Trippy

These Granada Holmes deals are hit and miss because of the way the creative teams were assigned. This is one of the bad ones, beyond remarking.

There are two mildly interesting things about the episode.

One is the continuing oscillation between supernatural forces and the mechanical logic of life that was popular in Victorian England. These forces pull extremes, even today. This version of the story plays that down. From the very first you know we are dealing with a powdered drug. From the very first you know who did it and why.

The other interesting thing is a continuing issue in film. How do you deal with distortions of reality, like dreams and hallucinations? There seems to be a sort of hack vocabulary for this that TeeVee imposes: some wavy images, threatening situations, blood from skin, short, confusing exposures, jittery camera.

Its done here in the clumsiest of ways. Five years later a more maddened Brett would be in "The Last Vampyre" that was equally bad as a Holmes, but much better in the hallucination department.

Oh and accompanying music that seems to come from only one source. This, my friends is why there will never be a decent Holmes produced for TeeVee. Whenever these choices have to be made, the TeeVee vocabulary is just too hackneyed and ordinary.

Ted's Evaluation -- 1 of 3: You can find something better to do with this part of your life.