Favourite Sherlock moment.

[peteshimmon]

I have been looking in my Holmes volumes,
complete long and short purchased over 40
years ago. I devoured all the stories in my
teenage years and these became reference.

That Conan Doyle was such a tease with his
references to many many other cases. And his
introductions could be so cozy with them both
round the fire in Baker Street. Hundreds of
authors have shamelessly feasted on all this
stuff and I have my own small collection of
Sherlockiana. And I find snippets.

At the beginning of Greek Interpreter, a
desultory discussion mentioned causes of
the change in the obliquity of the
ecliptic. I thought Sherlock was not into
astronomy? And what was the problem?

Any other interesting moments?

[Paul Beardsley]

I've read all the novels, and a fair few of the stories, not in any particular order. I've also listened to a lot of audio adaptations, and seen most of the Rathbone films and Brett TV episodes. So I'm familiar with most of Holmes' life, but there's a lot I don't know about their order, and there are a few moments that I'm not sure if they're Doyle or not. For instance, in the "Charles Augustus Milverton" radio adaptation (I think) there's a moment where Watson reflects on the fact that he and Holmes have been on the wrong side of the law - and he, Watson, is horrified to discover how much he enjoyed it!

Reading Adventures on the Kindle recently, I was pleasantly surprised at how often Irene Adler gets a mention.

One favourite moment is the moment in "Copper Beeches" when Violet Hunter realises she is being watched by some unknown observer. I also really like the idea that her employer's funny stories actually are funny. In fact this is one of my favourites.

If I remember one I like more, I'll be back.

[peteshimmon]

I have a favourite moment in a Rathbone
film that I have never been able to catch
again. They are in Washington conferring.
Holmes and Watson leave. Everyone goes
rhubarb-rhubarb-rhubarb... The door opens
and all are silent, Watson gets his umbrella.
Then...rhubarb-rhubarb...

Sure they've removed that bit

[Paul Beardsley]

Watson often comes across badly in the Rathbone films, but there's one set on a cruise ship which makes enjoyable watching because of how well he is treated as a character. At one point he sings "Take The High Road", not realising he has an audience until he gets to the end and his singing is received with rapturous applause. Soon after, sat at table, he amuses the other diners by his account of the adventure of the giant rat of Sumatra (!).

But I much preferred the Watson of the Brett series. You can well believe Holmes would value him, often for his skills at dealing with the mundane matters.

[KaiYeves]

I have to say I'm partial to the solution to "The Adventure of the Speckled Band"-- I didn't see it coming at all when I first read the story, and it totally took me by suprise!

[grapes]

My favorite Holmes story is about one of those long volumes. Many years ago I was reading an article by Jared Diamond in the magazine Natural History. He quoted Holmes, to the effect, that Holmes never had to memorize something if he could look it up, I think. I got hold of the Complete Sherlock Holmes, and realized it'd take me weeks to find it--so I called up Diamond. He said he'd actually read it in the same compilation, but he couldn't remember the story title. I was about to give up, when he sheepishly suggested that it had to be very near the front of the book! :)

I think it was around page five.

[Hlafordlaes]

"Silver Blaze," by a long shot. Opened my eyes to another side of SH's method (the dog didn't bark).

Loved the Jeremy Brett adaptations; best film/TV version of the stories. As for "unfaithful" adaptations, I am really enjoying the new BBC "Sherlock" films.

[Paul Beardsley]

"Silver Blaze," by a long shot. Opened my eyes to another side of SH's method (the dog didn't bark).

Good though the story is, I've always had a problem with that. In my experience, dogs get very excited when they see or scent someone they know. The idea of me going round to my parents' house when Emmy the Cairn was still alive and her not barking seems ludicrous.

Loved the Jeremy Brett adaptations; best film/TV version of the stories.

By far.

As for "unfaithful" adaptations, I am really enjoying the new BBC "Sherlock" films.

They have their moments but they strike me as nowhere near as clever as they think they are, and occasionally have me screaming for a "proper" Sherlock Holmes story - enough of the "Look Mum, I'm doing postmodernism on TV!" already. However, I did enjoy Benedict Cumberbatch's reading on a CD set of some quite excellent traditional Sherlock stories written by John Taylor: "The Rediscovered Railway".

[HenrikOlsen]

My favorite Holmes story is about one of those long volumes. Many years ago I was reading an article by Jared Diamond in the magazine Natural History. He quoted Holmes, to the effect, that Holmes never had to memorize something if he could look it up, I think. I got hold of the Complete Sherlock Holmes, and realized it'd take me weeks to find it--so I called up Diamond. He said he'd actually read it in the same compilation, but he couldn't remember the story title. I was about to give up, when he sheepishly suggested that it had to be very near the front of the book! :)

I think it was around page five.

I could have told you that, it was in the very first story A Study in Scarlet, where it's part of establishing the character.
And it's not that he wouldn't memorize things, but that he would only memorize things he considered relevant to his field.
For example he mentioned that not only had he no idea whether the Sun goes around the Earth or the other way around but if told would do his level best to forget it immediately.

[peteshimmon]

There was a time when Conan Doyle put an
outrageous plug for a book into the words
of Holmes. The Martyrdom of Man by Winwood
Reade. I spent a good few hours trying to
locate this in the short stories but dammit,
it was in The Sign of Four.

[publiusr]

I also love the new BBC series. Nothing to do with clues, but the phrase about.."you with your....high cheekbones." was wonderful

And here I thought Sherlock was all about the nose.

[mike alexander]

The current series quickly got on my nerves, although Martin Freeman's interpretation of Watson is quite appealing. Too much running around.

I cannot think of a particular favorite moment. The appeal to me is the milieu, the encapsulation of a place and time. Like the introduction to "The October Country", in Holmes (the best ones) it is always turning a bit late in the year. Hansom cabs clatter through the fog across cobblestones, visitors present their cards, and the coming smashup of the world is held in abeyance a few more years by class, propriety and tea.

[DonM435]

“How do you know that?”

“I followed you.”

“I saw no one.”

“That is what you may expect to see when I follow you."

-- "The Adventure of the Devil's Foot"

[publiusr]

My least favorite moment was towards the end of the BBC series. Sherlock's blind spot in terms of computers when his foe reminded him that there is and can be no one master program to break all other systems. I could just feel the humiliation of a bright man when something so obvious to some was pointed out. I could feel that burn right through the screen--being guilty of that on occasion myself--it isn't a good feeling. But that's how we learn.

Worst was how he had to play along with being discredited at the last.

[peteshimmon]

Conan Doyle put generous words from Holmes
at times. Perhaps this week is the time to
recall the story, The Missing Three-quarter.
A big sportsman is surprised Sherlock has
never heard of him. "Why Mr Holmes, I thought
you knew things!" Holmes replies "You belong
to a sweeter more healthier world than mine."

Huh! Those glory seeking ego-centrics in a
healthier world? Well I suppose he has a point.
(grudging grudging).

"Amateur sport is the best and soundest thing
in England!" And in the World nowadays.

[DonM435]

"Hardly that, Watson. You will, I am sure, agree with me that if
the page be given, the number of the chapter is immaterial. Also
that if page 534 finds us only in the second chapter, the length
of the first one must have been really intolerable."

-- The Valley of Fear