Customer Reviews

Sherlock Holmes: Bruce Partington Plan [VHS]

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I'd seen some episodes of Granada's Sherlock Holmes series years ago, on Mystery! or A&E, but had almost forgetten all about it when I came across a copy of The Bruce-Partington Plans in a local store. Watching it made me very keenly regret not having taped the series back when it was regularly aired.

Jeremy Brett, though aging and with a not-very-flattering haircut here, carries the show. There's a longstanding dispute over who is the better Holmes, Basil Rathbone or Jeremy Brett. Personally, my vote is entirely with Brett--his Holmes is brilliant and eccentric, and not always an entirely sympathetic character, just as the Holmes of the original stories was. He's moody, self-superior, and full of dramatic gestures sometimes at the expense of others, not much like Rathbone's much smoother and calmer portrayal, and though it makes him harder to like, it makes him worlds more interesting a character.

Charles Gray as Mycroft very nearly steals a few scenes from Brett. They play off each other with marvelously entertaining results, right from Mycroft's entrance into the episode ("Sherlock!" "MY-croft!").

Kudos go as well to Edward Hardwicke, who plays a solid and dependable Watson, frequently several steps behind Holmes but, for once, not portrayed as a total idiot to further glorify Holmes' intellect, as frequently happens in other portrayals.

The episode stays very close to the original story, with whole blocks of dialogue used nearly verbatim. The careful period detail makes everything that much more believable, and fascinating to look at if you have an interest in the Victorian period. I'm a big fan of Patrick Gowers' musical compositions, which are judiciously used throughout the series, as well.

Jeremy Brett is one of those people who I would cheerfully pay to hear read the phone book; he has a wonderfully dramatic voice, rising and falling from a gentle murmur to a commanding shout and through a whole range of moods and tones between. He really does capture Holmes' genius beautifully, and the Bruce-Partington Plans is a solid story in its own right, intellectually engaging and wholly believable.

Some favorite moments:

Holmes waxing passionate over Mycroft's unusual visit, and pretty much any interaction between the two of them.

Holmes' vaguely superior reaction to being mistaken for a mortician--so much conveyed just by looking aside and leaving Watson to clear up the mistake.

Harassing the longsuffering Mrs. Hudson while trying to spread out the city map--he's really awful, and it gets me giggling every time. In a similar vein, his sudden snort of mirth and abrupt, excessively cheerful departure, leaving Watson bemused in his wake.

Convincing Watson to come house-breaking ("We're BOUND to go.") and Watson reluctantly caving in--AGAIN.

And Watson being the one to pick up on a clue that Holmes nearly dismisses. He even has the grace not to gloat. :)

The dreary London fog creates an excellent setting for this tale of espionage. Stolen submarine plans along with a dead body are just what the doctor ordered for this "somber stage". Another successful re-enactment of a Doyle classic. Does anyone know of a bad one? I surely don't.

A great mystery, involving trains and the agony column of the newspaper. Another fine performance from Brett in his prime. One of my favorites of this series.

"The Bruce Partington Plans" was one of Arthur Conan Doyle's finest Sherlock Holmes stories, a ripping yarn that is well-paced and creatively plotted. Little adaption was needed to turn this superb mystery into another fine Holmes film starring Jeremy Brett. From the loftiest government officials to the lowliest train conductors, all the actors here do a splendid job, and the foggy, moody London atmosphere has been captured wonderfully, as has the period detail. What's not to like? The mysterious body found thrown from a train, the high stakes government papers, the messages sent through the agony column of the daily telegraph, the murky burgled house... great stuff for mystery buffs!

I love this series, but this one is definately not the best! The preformances, once again are superb but the plot and story goes so slow! It bored me! This is one of my least favorites. Most people that I know don't like the actor who plays Mycroft, but he's perfect for the role. The beginning was interresting, but from there it got boring.

+++++

This movie is based on the story "The Adventure of the Bruce-Partington Plans" (1908) written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859 to 1930).

Sherlock's smarter brother and government worker Mycroft (Charles Gray) tells Sherlock about a young man found murdered and beaten on a railway line leading from the underground. What makes this murdered man so special is that he had seven pages of stolen plans for a government secret submarine in one of his pockets. Three pages of these plans are still missing.

Mycroft asks Sherlock (Jeremy Brett) to find out the real truth behind this murder, determine if the murdered man was a traitor, and to find the rest of the missing government submarine plans. Holmes' agrees to take on this most challenging case.

To find the truth, Sherlock and Watson (Edward Hardwicke) have to break the law!

Brett (as usual) does a good job in capturing the essence of the famous gumshoe in his performance.

Finally, the costumes, background music, attention to detail, and cinematography are quite well done. A highlight of this movie is the creation of the foggy streets of London.

In conclusion, this is a good movie to watch even if you have read the story it's based on!!

(1988; 55 min.; British drama; made for TV; full screen)

+++++

This is one of the best of the Granada series. It has a fascinating chain of events that will keep you scratching your head, even though it's all very obvious to Holmes. But the best part of the story is meeting Mycroft, or as Watson calls him, "Jupiter himself." While Holmes is rarely impressed with anyone, he is obviously in awe of his older sibling. The dynamic between them and their exchanges of dialogue are the highlight of the video.