The Dark Beginnings of Sherlock Holmes: Part 1 

Arthur Conan Doyle reveals the story behind Sherlock Holmes and his mysteries by telling about Dr. Joseph Bell.

Director:

Paul Seed

Writer:

David Pirie

Stars:

Ian Richardson, Sean Wightman, Robin Laing

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Ian Richardson	...	Dr. Joseph Bell
Sean Wightman	...	Mortuary Clerk
Robin Laing	...	Arthur Conan Doyle
Dolly Wells	...	Elspeth Scott
Charles Dance	...	Sir Henry Carlyle
Ralph Riach	...	The Strand Editor
Aly Bain	...	The Fiddler
Andrew John Tait	...	Eustace Stark
Alan Sinclair	...	Medical Lecturer
Alec Newman	...	Thomas Neill
Tamsin Pike	...	Sophia
Joel Strachan	...	Crawford
David Walker	...	Baxter (as David MacDowell)
Sarah Collier	...	Mary Doyle
John Bett	...	Charles Doyle

Storyline

In the tumult that follows his killing off his fictional character Sherlock Holmes, Arthur Conan Doyle reflects on the man who influenced and provided the prototype for the great detective, Dr. Joseph Bell. A professor at the University of Edinburgh medical school where Doyle is a student, Bell is unconventional in his quest for knowledge and uses his skills of perception and observation to interpret events. He also believes that crimes can be solved in the same way as disease can be diagnosed if the same techniques are used. Having solved the murder of a young woman, Bell grants Doyle greater access to his research. This is also a time when women are being admitted to the Medical School for the first time and Doyle has become attracted to a fellow student, Elspeth Scott. Not all of the students and staff are as accepting as Doyle and someone is trying to frighten her and perhaps even do her harm. When Elpseth's sister Lady Sarah Carlisle takes ill, Doyle comes to believe that her ...

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Plot Keywords:

medical school | university of edinburgh | murder | dead sheep | murder investigation | 

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Taglines:

He taught him the finer points...of murder!

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Details

Official Sites:

murder-rooms.com [UK]

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 May 2000 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

The Television Production Company, British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), WGBH

Technical Specs

Runtime:

104 min (2 parts)

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In Doyle's first conversation with Elspeth, she tells him that she's from South Africa. In real life, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's first published work of fiction, "The Mystery of Sasassa Valley", was set in South Africa. Citation: Owen Dudley Edwards, "Doyle, Sir Arthur Ignatius Conan (1859-1930)", Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004.

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Goofs

When Sir Henry is confronted about the pills that he gave to Lady Sarah, he takes the box of pills from her. In the next moment, from a different camera angle, Dr. Bell takes the box from Inspector Beecher.

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Quotes

Arthur Conan Doyle: There must be someone who can help.
Dr. Joseph Bell: At the moment there is only us. Our crusade is personal now, Doyle. Here the line is drawn. And if we have to fight the future, so be it - we will. And on, and on unto the next century.
[Bell walks away, and then turns]
Dr. Joseph Bell: Will you come?
Arthur Conan Doyle: [pauses] Aye.

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Connections

Followed by Murder Rooms: Mysteries of the Real Sherlock Holmes: The White Knight Stratagem (2001)

User Reviews

Outstanding.

Excellent production. Sir Ian Richardson does his usual exceptional performance. Dolly Wells, a truly beautiful woman, steals the show! She should become a superstar. We'd like to see more of her on this side of the Pond.