Jeremy Brett's portrayal of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's famous detective is widely recognized as the best yet seen. Before his untimely death in 1995, Brett had made the part his own, all the time battling against the manic depression which had plagued him for many years. Bending the Willow examines how this brilliant actor channelled the demons of his debilitating illness into his iridescent portrayal of Sherlock Holmes. In this fascinating and perceptive study, David Stuart Davies draws on the many conversations he had with Jeremy Brett and key people involved with the Granada Television series and the stage play The Secret of Sherlock Holmes. The result is the first detailed assessment of all of Jeremy Brett's performances as Sherlock Holmes. It's a great book and belongs in the collection of every Jeremy Brett or Granada Sherlock Holmes fan.
BENDING THE WILLOW: Jeremy Brett as Sherlock Holmes
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
98 of 98 people found the following review helpful
By "abfabber"
Format:Paperback
If you're a fan of both Jeremy Brett and Granada's Sherlock Holmes series, then this book is a must-read.
As the author stresses, this book is not a biography. Only about a page is spared to very briefly give on overview of Jeremy Brett's life before he became the definitive Holmes.
The book is a WONDERFUL behind-the-scenes look at the Granada Holmes production. It talks about each of the 40+ productions and gives interesting tidbits about what went on during the filming of certain episodes. If you like learning about those type of things, this book will certainly hold your interest.
One of the best things about the book is that the author himself had met and interviewed Jeremy Brett several times. This allows for many long direct quotes from Brett himself.
Thankfully, Jeremy Brett turned out to be a nice person in real life, seems to have gotten along well with co-stars, and cared greatly about his role of Holmes. Unfortunately, as Jeremy Brett became more ill with heart failure and manic depression, things with the Granada productions began to sour. This book does a good job of discussing those years in Brett's life.
Overall, it is a caring tribute to a genius of an actor, the Granada series, and provides a lot of interesting tidbits.
60 of 60 people found the following review helpful
By trismi
Format:Paperback
For anyone who appreciates Jeremy Brett, free from sensationalism and determined by fact and friendship, this book is for you. The pages document what life was like during production of the Granada series, and first hand situations are recounted by those who worked side by side with Mr. Jeremy Brett to help create a masterpiece for television.
Especially satisfying to read are the accounts of Edward Hardwicke, who provides anecdotes and thoughts for every chapter. A real cameraderie existed off camera between these two men, enhancing their performance for the world to see.
Mr. David Stuart Davies presents us with a simplified version of the fluctuating madness of Jeremy Brett's affliction, and the reader cannot help but hold up their hands and applaud the strength and courage of this dearly missed actor.
Especially satisfying to read are the accounts of Edward Hardwicke, who provides anecdotes and thoughts for every chapter. A real cameraderie existed off camera between these two men, enhancing their performance for the world to see.
Mr. David Stuart Davies presents us with a simplified version of the fluctuating madness of Jeremy Brett's affliction, and the reader cannot help but hold up their hands and applaud the strength and courage of this dearly missed actor.
52 of 52 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
For many of us, the late Jeremy Brett supplanted Basil Rathbone as the definitive Sherlock Holmes. Whereas Rathbone faithfully represented - in a somewhat Jack Webb/Joe Friday manner - Holmes as the master detective, Brett added nuances to the character that were both faithful to the original yet bold and contemporary. That he did this while struggling with manic-depression and degenerative heart disease is a tribute both to his skill as an actor and to his courage as a human being.
Is love possible from a distance, without ever having actually known or met the object of one's love? The worlds of literature and film answer "yes" to this question, and many of us do indeed love both Sherlock Holmes and Jeremy Brett, along with Dr. Watson and his eminent portrayers, David Burke and Edward Hardwicke. David Stuart Davies' tribute to Brett, Burke, Hardwicke and all those associated with the Granada TV series is truly a labor of love.
Based on personal interviews with Brett and many others associated with the series, this book gives insight into Jeremy Brett the actor and the man, as well as his co-stars and supporting actors. There is much substance here, as well as the delightful "trivia" of how and why things were done or not done, and of the contributions of the actors to various nuances of the stories. This book is thus - for me - the Bible of the Granada Holmes series.
But it is not an uncritical, fawning tribute. Errors are acknowledged and lamented, as in the less-than-sterling version of "The Hound of the Baskervilles," or the questionable decision to film the later episodes when Brett's health was in serious decline.
But if you are a fan of Brett's Sherlock Holmes, this book is a must, even if somewhat pricey and hard to find.... Read more ›
Is love possible from a distance, without ever having actually known or met the object of one's love? The worlds of literature and film answer "yes" to this question, and many of us do indeed love both Sherlock Holmes and Jeremy Brett, along with Dr. Watson and his eminent portrayers, David Burke and Edward Hardwicke. David Stuart Davies' tribute to Brett, Burke, Hardwicke and all those associated with the Granada TV series is truly a labor of love.
Based on personal interviews with Brett and many others associated with the series, this book gives insight into Jeremy Brett the actor and the man, as well as his co-stars and supporting actors. There is much substance here, as well as the delightful "trivia" of how and why things were done or not done, and of the contributions of the actors to various nuances of the stories. This book is thus - for me - the Bible of the Granada Holmes series.
But it is not an uncritical, fawning tribute. Errors are acknowledged and lamented, as in the less-than-sterling version of "The Hound of the Baskervilles," or the questionable decision to film the later episodes when Brett's health was in serious decline.
But if you are a fan of Brett's Sherlock Holmes, this book is a must, even if somewhat pricey and hard to find.... Read more ›
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I can still remember the first time I watched Jeremy Brett as Sherlock Holmes. "At last" I said, "we finally have an actor who plays Holmes as Conan Doyle wrote him!"
I had been a fan of the Great Detective since I was a boy, reading and re-reading the adventures as much for the details of Victorian London as for the thrill of the chase, which, after the third or fourth reading, fails to create any real suspense. No, it was Holmes, Holmes all Holmes! What man does not aspire to be a "reasoning machine" free of distracting emotional entanglements? This is the Holmes I loved, and this is the Holmes that finally found its true expression on the little screen, the Granada series staring Jeremy Brett. Here, I thought, they had got it right.
My affection for the program is what let me to purchase this marvelous little book, "Bending the Willow" by David Stuart Davies. Unfortunately, it's now out of print; I hope they print it again soon.
As stated in its first chapter, this is not a biography of Jeremy Brett, but rather a portrait of an actor at work, pushing against the boundaries of a fictional character without its losing its shape, or, as Brett said, "Bending the willow without breaking it." There is much of Brett in his Holmes, but I never knew until I read this book just how much of a convergence there was between the actor and the character. It was Brett's struggle with Bi-Polar Disorder (then known as Manic-Depression) that illuminated much of the character of Holmes, for although Brett bristled at the notion, Holmes also was probably a Manic-Depressive. That, of course, is open for debate. What is obvious, though, is the energy that it gave to Brett's interpretation of the role.... Read more ›
I had been a fan of the Great Detective since I was a boy, reading and re-reading the adventures as much for the details of Victorian London as for the thrill of the chase, which, after the third or fourth reading, fails to create any real suspense. No, it was Holmes, Holmes all Holmes! What man does not aspire to be a "reasoning machine" free of distracting emotional entanglements? This is the Holmes I loved, and this is the Holmes that finally found its true expression on the little screen, the Granada series staring Jeremy Brett. Here, I thought, they had got it right.
My affection for the program is what let me to purchase this marvelous little book, "Bending the Willow" by David Stuart Davies. Unfortunately, it's now out of print; I hope they print it again soon.
As stated in its first chapter, this is not a biography of Jeremy Brett, but rather a portrait of an actor at work, pushing against the boundaries of a fictional character without its losing its shape, or, as Brett said, "Bending the willow without breaking it." There is much of Brett in his Holmes, but I never knew until I read this book just how much of a convergence there was between the actor and the character. It was Brett's struggle with Bi-Polar Disorder (then known as Manic-Depression) that illuminated much of the character of Holmes, for although Brett bristled at the notion, Holmes also was probably a Manic-Depressive. That, of course, is open for debate. What is obvious, though, is the energy that it gave to Brett's interpretation of the role.... Read more ›
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Jeremy Brett
Jeremy Brett was such a brilliant man. I haven't read the whole book yet but what I have read so far has just made me love him more. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Binx
5.0 out of 5 stars
Sherlock fan
I found this book truly enjoyable. As a big Jeremy Brett fan, I found this book very helpful as a key to understanding both the actor and the character. Read more
Published 2 months ago by S. Clevenger
5.0 out of 5 stars
Bending the Willow, a must have
A must read for all of the millions of Brett fans. Done with taste and élan, not tackiness! The Master is gone, but never forgotten!
Published 3 months ago by Jackie Leonard
5.0 out of 5 stars
Should be required reading for Brett fans
Davies' account of actor Jeremy Brett in his most famous role is short but dense. The book focuses squarely on Brett's work as Holmes in the justly lauded Granada television series... Read more
Published 6 months ago by Merri-Todd Webster
5.0 out of 5 stars
The inside story of the Sherlock Holmes Series from Granada
It is a excellent book on the Granada S.H. Series. Jeremy Brettt really comes alive in this book by Mr. Read more
Published 6 months ago by john watson bruce
5.0 out of 5 stars
More Than You Bargain For
I purchased this book thinking it would provide some interesting information on what Jeremy Brett brought to the role of Sherlock Holmes in the Grenada TV series. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Calvin
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fabulous Biography
By far the best Sherlock Holmes ever. What a great book to celebrate his accomplishment. Relevant and fun details with some tough details at the end.
Published 9 months ago by Matthew Cook
5.0 out of 5 stars
Definitive Victorian Sherlock
This book is excellent for those who are familiar with the Granada series of the 80's-90's staring Jeremy Brett and will encourage those who have never seen the series to give it a... Read more
Published 11 months ago by Mary
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Must Read For Any Jeremy Brett Sherlcok fans!
A great book that tell all that the actors and people behind the scenes of Granada's Sherlock Holmes series had to do. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Sherlock Fan
5.0 out of 5 stars
EVEN BETTER THAN I HAD HOPED FOR!
I cannot express strongly enough how much I'm enjoying this book! Bending the Willow: Jeremy Brett As Sherlock Holmes However, I can honestly tell you that this is absolutely one... Read more
Published 15 months ago by Eva Jean
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