I now have 3 different film adaptations of "THE SPECKLED BAND"-- the 1984 version with Jeremy Brett, the 1965 version with Douglas Wilmer, and now the 1949 version starring Alan Napier!
"YOUR SHOW TIME" is listed as the very first dramatic TV series that was done on film. That might explain the good quality of the DVD. It was hosted by Arthur Sheidls-- lookalike and soundalike brother of Barry Fitzgerald, who apparently had twice as many film credits as his more-famous brother (go figure).
As happens with some classic adaptations, they left out some bits and added some new ones. Dr. Roylott's famous tirade is missing, where he yells, "I know you! Holmes the MEDDLER! Holmes the BUSYBODY! Holmes the SCOTLAND YARD JACKANAPES!" In the Wilmer version, Wilmer (who re-wrote the scripts to improve them) added a bit not in the original short story. "Imagine him confusing me with Scotland Yard, I'LL HAVE HIM for that, Watson!" I thought that was hilarious, as it made it seem Holmes thought that was a worse crime than murder. They also left out the bit at the end where Holmes admits he was directly responsible for Roylott's death, but then adds, "I can't say it will pray heavily on my conscience."
Oddly enough, Miss Stoner's fiance played a much-bigger part in this version, showing him suspicious of Holmes & Watson's presence & actions, and possibly suggesting he might be responsible for the previous murder and the currently-planned one. An amusing bit is when, without any urging whatsoever from Holmes, Watson CLUBS the guy unconscious. "We can't have him going to the police." Another amusing addition was the monkey that three times jumped onto Watson's shoulder. At the end, we heard... "Confound it! Why does he keep picking on me?" "Elementary, Watson. It's romance."
In this, Watson was played by Mellville Cooper, who I most recognize as The Sheriff of Nottingham in the classic 1938 film "THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD". Miss Stoner was Evelyn Ankers, who I've seen in "THE WOLF MAN", "THE GHOST OF FRANKENSTEIN", "SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE VOICE OF TERROR", "SON OF DRACULA" and "THE LONE WOLF IN LONDON". Dr. Grimesby Roylott (who was not as imposing or scary here as in other versions) was played by Edgar Barrier, who was also in "SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE VOICE OF TERROR", as the Voice Of Terror (unseen, only on recording). He also played a scientist in the 1953 "WAR OF THE WORLDS".
This early TV show was directed by Sobey Martin. There was a familiar name. Get this: he did 14 episodes of "VOYAGE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA", 14 of "LOST IN SPACE", 14 of "THE TIME TUNNEL" and then (God help us) 21 of "LAND OF THE GIANTS", before retiring. That should qualify him to be thought of as one of Irwin Allen's sidekicks.
This turned out to be one of several early attempts to do Sherlock Holmes on televison. Alan Napier, Basil Rathbone (lost), John Longden, Alan Wheatley (6 live episodes, never recorded). It took an American producer working in France to finally manage a full series (with Ronald Howard). Still, I liked Napier in this, and would probably have enjoyed a stand-alone series with a slightly-bigger budget.
"YOUR SHOW TIME" is listed as the very first dramatic TV series that was done on film. That might explain the good quality of the DVD. It was hosted by Arthur Sheidls-- lookalike and soundalike brother of Barry Fitzgerald, who apparently had twice as many film credits as his more-famous brother (go figure).
As happens with some classic adaptations, they left out some bits and added some new ones. Dr. Roylott's famous tirade is missing, where he yells, "I know you! Holmes the MEDDLER! Holmes the BUSYBODY! Holmes the SCOTLAND YARD JACKANAPES!" In the Wilmer version, Wilmer (who re-wrote the scripts to improve them) added a bit not in the original short story. "Imagine him confusing me with Scotland Yard, I'LL HAVE HIM for that, Watson!" I thought that was hilarious, as it made it seem Holmes thought that was a worse crime than murder. They also left out the bit at the end where Holmes admits he was directly responsible for Roylott's death, but then adds, "I can't say it will pray heavily on my conscience."
Oddly enough, Miss Stoner's fiance played a much-bigger part in this version, showing him suspicious of Holmes & Watson's presence & actions, and possibly suggesting he might be responsible for the previous murder and the currently-planned one. An amusing bit is when, without any urging whatsoever from Holmes, Watson CLUBS the guy unconscious. "We can't have him going to the police." Another amusing addition was the monkey that three times jumped onto Watson's shoulder. At the end, we heard... "Confound it! Why does he keep picking on me?" "Elementary, Watson. It's romance."
In this, Watson was played by Mellville Cooper, who I most recognize as The Sheriff of Nottingham in the classic 1938 film "THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD". Miss Stoner was Evelyn Ankers, who I've seen in "THE WOLF MAN", "THE GHOST OF FRANKENSTEIN", "SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE VOICE OF TERROR", "SON OF DRACULA" and "THE LONE WOLF IN LONDON". Dr. Grimesby Roylott (who was not as imposing or scary here as in other versions) was played by Edgar Barrier, who was also in "SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE VOICE OF TERROR", as the Voice Of Terror (unseen, only on recording). He also played a scientist in the 1953 "WAR OF THE WORLDS".
This early TV show was directed by Sobey Martin. There was a familiar name. Get this: he did 14 episodes of "VOYAGE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA", 14 of "LOST IN SPACE", 14 of "THE TIME TUNNEL" and then (God help us) 21 of "LAND OF THE GIANTS", before retiring. That should qualify him to be thought of as one of Irwin Allen's sidekicks.
This turned out to be one of several early attempts to do Sherlock Holmes on televison. Alan Napier, Basil Rathbone (lost), John Longden, Alan Wheatley (6 live episodes, never recorded). It took an American producer working in France to finally manage a full series (with Ronald Howard). Still, I liked Napier in this, and would probably have enjoyed a stand-alone series with a slightly-bigger budget.
