13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Dark, Violent, Brilliant!, July 27, 2000
By A Customer
This review is from: Sherlock Holmes: Wisteria Lodge [VHS] (VHS Tape)
Granda Television's adaption of Wisteria Lodge is a dark, violent story. It is also one of the most beautifully acted and filmed of the Jeremy Brett productions. Every reviewer before me has said it before: Jeremy Brett is the most fascinating and complete protrayal of Sherlock Holmes that our world as seen. As much as I loved watching Basil Rathbone, he really only scratched the surface of the most famous detective in the world. I guess it depends on who you grew up with. Many older viewers may still prefer Rathbone just because he was the first they saw in the role.
In Wisteria Lodge, we get a multi-faceted Holmes from Brett. His obvious affection for Watson shines through. Also, one needs to mention the wonderful acting of Hardwicke, Donald Churchill, and especially Freddie Jones. As Inspector Baynes, Jones literally leaps off the screen with his vibrant personality. His brief time on screen is perfect proof that a truly great actor makes the most of what time he is given.
This is a beautiful film, lush and exciting. The last minute of the program will leave you breathless. There is little television, past or present, that has been produced with such loving care. You can tell that everyone involved loved the material before they even started! I hope that viewers will enjoy this episode as much as I did.
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9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Arty, February 23, 1999
By A Customer
This review is from: Sherlock Holmes: Wisteria Lodge [VHS] (VHS Tape)
This is a marvelous and arty look (check out some of these shots) at a rather obscure Holmes mystery, done when Jeremy Brett was in his prime and the filmmakers hadn't yet gotten overwrought and pretentious. Very fine.
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1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
What is the Secret of Wisteria Lodge??, May 21, 2005
This review is from: Sherlock Holmes: Wisteria Lodge [VHS] (VHS Tape)
+++++
This movie is based on the story "The Adventure of Wisteria Lodge" (1908) written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859 to 1930).
Sherlock (Jeremy Brett) receives a simple telegram from a Scott Eccles (Don Churchill):
"I've had the most incredible and grotesque experience. May I consult with you?"
When Eccles does consult with Sherlock, he tells him that he was invited to stay at a villa called "Wisteria Lodge." He spent the night at this lodge and the next day when he got up his "foreign host [Garcia (played by Arturo Venegas)], foreign footman, [and] foreign cook all vanished in the
night."
That same day, Inspector Baynes (Freddie Jones) informs Eccles and Holmes that the foreign host Garcia has been found brutally murdered and that Eccles is a suspect.
The only clue to the murder was a note, found at Wisteria Lodge, addressed to Garcia:
"Our own colors green and white, green open, white shut, main stairs, first corridor, seventh right, green baize, Godspeed." The note was signed with the initial "D."
A competition to solve this case now ensues between Baynes and Sherlock. Both detectives uncover a complicated story involving a mansion called "High Gable," dueling pistols, people with dual identities, and "the Tiger of San Pedro."
Brett (as usual) does a good job in capturing the essence of the famous gumshoe in his performance. Also look for the fine performance of Freddie Jones as the inspector.
Finally, the costumes, background music, attention to detail, and cinematography are quite well done.
In conclusion, this is a good movie to watch even if you have read the story it's based on!!
(1988; 50 min; British drama; made for TV; full screen)
+++++
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