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The Sign of Four

  • TV Movie
  • 19831983
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 37m
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
728
YOUR RATING
Ian Richardson, David Healy, Cherie Lunghi, and Terence Rigby in The Sign of Four (1983)
  • Crime
  • Mystery
Hired by a young lady, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson investigate the strange recent deaths of her missing father's friends from the army, as well as the whereabouts of the Great Mogul, the ... Read allHired by a young lady, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson investigate the strange recent deaths of her missing father's friends from the army, as well as the whereabouts of the Great Mogul, the second-largest diamond in the world.Hired by a young lady, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson investigate the strange recent deaths of her missing father's friends from the army, as well as the whereabouts of the Great Mogul, the second-largest diamond in the world.
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
728
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Desmond Davis
  • Writers
    • Arthur Conan Doyle(novel "The Sign of Four")
    • Charles Edward Pogue(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Ian Richardson
    • David Healy
    • Thorley Walters
Top credits
  • Director
    • Desmond Davis
  • Writers
    • Arthur Conan Doyle(novel "The Sign of Four")
    • Charles Edward Pogue(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Ian Richardson
    • David Healy
    • Thorley Walters
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 22User reviews
    • 5Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 2 nominations

    Photos14

    Ian Richardson, David Healy, and Cherie Lunghi in The Sign of Four (1983)
    The Sign of Four (1983)
    Ian Richardson and David Healy in The Sign of Four (1983)
    Ian Richardson and Richard Heffer in The Sign of Four (1983)
    David Healy and Cherie Lunghi in The Sign of Four (1983)
    Cherie Lunghi in The Sign of Four (1983)
    Ian Richardson in The Sign of Four (1983)
    David Healy in The Sign of Four (1983)
    The Sign of Four (1983)
    Ian Richardson and David Healy in The Sign of Four (1983)
    Ian Richardson in The Sign of Four (1983)
    Ian Richardson in The Sign of Four (1983)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Ian Richardson
    Ian Richardson
    • Sherlock Holmes
    David Healy
    David Healy
    • Dr. John Watson
    Thorley Walters
    Thorley Walters
    • Maj. John Sholto
    Cherie Lunghi
    Cherie Lunghi
    • Mary Morstan
    Joe Melia
    Joe Melia
    • Jonathan Small
    Terence Rigby
    Terence Rigby
    • Inspector Layton
    Clive Merrison
    Clive Merrison
    • Bartholomew Sholto
    Richard Heffer
    Richard Heffer
    • Thaddeus Sholto
    John Pedrick
    • Tonga
    Michael O'Hagan
    • Mordecai Smith
    Robert Russell
    Robert Russell
    • Williams
    John Benfield
    John Benfield
    • McMurdo
    Moti Makan
    • Lal Rao
    Kate Binchy
    • Maid
    Gordon Rollings
    Gordon Rollings
    • Mr. Sherman
    Merelina Kendall
    Merelina Kendall
    • Mrs. Smith
    Darren Michael
    • Wiggins
    Peter J. Cassell
      • Director
        • Desmond Davis
      • Writers
        • Arthur Conan Doyle(novel "The Sign of Four")
        • Charles Edward Pogue(screenplay)
      • All cast & crew
      • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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      Storyline

      Edit

      Did you know

      Edit
      • Trivia
        A brief establishing shot of Baker Street, with a street-cleaning cart passing by, is actually a piece of footage from The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes (1970).
      • Goofs
        Holmes is chasing Jonathan Small down the Thames. He passes under Tower Bridge towards the sea but in a subsequent shot he is seen passing the Royal Naval College at Greenwich traveling away from the sea as the college is on the south bank of the Thames.
      • Connections
        Follows The Hound of the Baskervilles (1983)

      User reviews22

      Review
      Top review
      8/10
      Good adaptation
      Although in some parts not too faithful to the original story this is a good Holmes adaptation. Everyone involved is making a good effort and the the finished product is solid enough.

      One thing I did definitely not like is the way Tonga was presented. I am aware that he was portrayed as "so deeply marked with all bestiality and cruelty (and that) his small eyes glowed and burned with a sombre light, and his thick lips were writhed back from his teeth, which grinned and chattered at us with half animal fury" (quote from the original story). I'm sure I can't apply 21st century political correctness to a 19th century story but the scenes where Small fed his companion with raw meat in an earth hole were definitely not necessary in a 1983 production.

      Still, this being the only thing that bothers me a bit, this is a great movie. Ian Richardson comes close to my idea of Holmes and is second in line for my favourite Holmes, Brett AND Rathbone being in the fist place.
      helpful•6
      1
      • klingon-attack
      • Jan 3, 2007

      Details

      Edit
      • Release date
        • December 7, 1983 (United States)
      • Country of origin
        • United Kingdom
      • Language
        • English
      • Also known as
        • Sherlock Holmes: The Sign of Four
      • Filming locations
        • London, England, UK
      • Production company
        • Mapleton Films
      • See more company credits at IMDbPro

      Technical specs

      Edit
      • Runtime
        1 hour 37 minutes
      • Color
        • Color
      • Sound mix
        • Mono
      • Aspect ratio
        • 4:3

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      Ian Richardson, David Healy, Cherie Lunghi, and Terence Rigby in The Sign of Four (1983)
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