The Sign of Four (1987) (TV)

User Rating:

8.0/10   

Director:

Peter Hammond

Writers:

Arthur Conan Doyle (novel) and
John Hawkesworth (developer)

Release Date:

27 October 1988 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

Plot:

A young lady, Miss Mary Morstan, contact Sherlock Holmes for his help regarding her father, captain Morstan...

Plot Keywords:

Boat Chase | British Empire | India | Murder | Prison

Cast

Jeremy Brett	...	Sherlock Holmes
Edward Hardwicke	...	Dr. John Watson
Robin Hunter	...	Major Sholto
Alf Joint	...	McMurdo
John Thaw	...	Jonathan Small
Kiran Shah	...	Tonga
Jenny Seagrove	...	Miss Mary Morstan
Rosalie Williams	...	Mrs. Hudson
Derek Deadman	...	William
Ronald Lacey	...	Thaddeus Sholto / Bartholomew Sholto
Ishaq Bux	...	Lal Chowder
Terence Skelton	...	Captain Morstan
Marjorie Sudell	...	Mrs. Bernstone
Emrys James	...	Athelney Jones
Gordon Gostelow	...	Sherman

Runtime:

103 min

Country:

UK

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

UK:PG

Filming Locations:

Burgh Castle, Breydon Water, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England, UK

Company:

Granada Television

Goofs:

Anachronisms: As Holmes scrambles over the roof of the Sholto house in Norwood, a modern multi element TV aerial is in clear view.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Time Shift: A Study in Sherlock" (2007)

Shows How Great Stories Can Be Told Without Tampering

Of all the Granada Sherlock Holmes presentations, I believe this to be the best. It has an intricate plot with an amazing story behind it. It is full of unforgettable characters. It has action. It has the Baker Street Irregulars. It has a dog named Toby. Mostly, it is full of life. Jeremy Brett is never better than in this presentation. The British imperialists in India must have been an interesting lot. There's that whole thing with entitlement through domination and power. The four men who become embroiled in the plot are dedicated to each other, even unto death. The two brothers, whose father turns out to be the fly in the ointment, are incredible, both physically and in terms of character. What is the revenge about? It's betrayal, but what is it based on? Where is the treasure? What is the treasure? Where did those strange footprints come from? It all unfolds with hardly a wasted moment in the almost two hour feature. There's also the romantic intentions of Watson who marries the young woman later, if you read the books. This is the young woman he leaves behind constantly as he and Holmes run off on their adventures. If you have an opportunity, see this.