sherlock holmes:wilmer vs brett

[jaycad]

it's obvious to me that these two actors offer the best represention of conan doyles sleuth,both have their pros and cons and both the BBC and Granada have their own takes on each tale, i would be interested in other forum members opinions-not of who is the best holmes but which adaptation of each story covered by both series is the best representation of the original tale?

[batman]

The Granada series is superior IMHO. Not only are the production values and casting better, but any Holmes production stands or falls by it's leading performance. Brett edges it for me because it is him who I visualise when I read the stories. His performances (especially in the first three series) are absolutely perfect and capture the literary Holmes exactly as he is written. He sucks you into his world by sheer personality and the viewer becomes completely involved by what is happening. His later performances suffered due to his very poor health (and some dodgy scripts). Wilmer runs him close, but he is a little too dour to be the perfect Holmes and I also think that his series is hampered by a lack of budget. The cramped sets do not draw one in like the setting in the Granada series and I have found myself admiring the acting rather than simply enjoying the stories, as you can with Brett. Also, Holmes in the books is mostly full of life and energy, Wilmer simply does not fully bring this to the screen and the pace sometimes grinds to a halt. Wilmer's episodes are good, I prefer his version of 'The Specked Band' to Brett's, but overall IMHO the Brett series is the superior version.

[didi-5]

I would say the Brett series has the edge. However I prefer the Wilmer version of Devil's Foot and also like his Frances Carfax. I couldn't do without the Brett Speckled Band though and his Illustrious Client is better than Wilmer's.

[jaycad]

great post bats- i was going to mention the wilmer version of 'the speckled band' being better than the brett version! i'd add 'the six napoleons' to the list for the reason that the granada version makes too much of the mafia connection-also present in 'the red circle' (but not covered by the wilmer series AFAIK) i personally don't count the quality of the set unless it doesn't reflect the relevant era-especially given the difference in budget/progression which is one of the points of my post,in terms of authenticity,both series have there faults and i'd imagine the brett series will come out on top but the wilmer series is a great contribution!

[Gerald Lovell]

I think there are elements of both to be admired. Wilmer's portrayal is more straitlaced and "down-the-middle". There is a twinkle in his eye, though. Brett is certainly livelier and his tics and twitches are perhaps more interesting to watch, but all in all his is a far more theatrical and "acted" performance.



It's probably unfair to compare the mounting of the two sets of productions, as the Wilmer series was standard for its time, whereas the Brett series (at least to begin with) was fairly lavishly made with far more location work involved.



It's interesting to note that the original plan was for the Brett series to be a videotaped programme with filmed inserts, but producer Michael Cox was determined to have it all on film, because otherwise he thought it would just look like the Wilmer series.



And Wilmer does have much hairier ears than Brett . . .

[jaycad]

name='didi-5' timestamp='1287872631' post='485490']

I would say the Brett series has the edge. However I prefer the Wilmer version of Devil's Foot and also like his Frances Carfax. I couldn't do without the Brett Speckled Band though and his Illustrious Client is better than Wilmer's.

interesting post as i preferred the brett version of 'the devils foot' but that was mostly down to the performance of denis quilley! i agree with your opinion of 'the disappearance of lady frances carfax'-cheryl campbell was too neurotic for my liking!

[jaycad]

name='Gerald Lovell' timestamp='1287873683' post='485500']





It's probably unfair to compare the mounting of the two sets of productions, as the Wilmer series was standard for its time, whereas the Brett series (at least to begin with)was fairly lavishly made with far more location work involved.







And Wilmer does have much hairier ears than Brett . . .

i'm hoping that the quality of each series can be judged ignoring the difference in budget!

wilmer also has gozzier eyes than brett! ha ha!

[will.15]

As for performances only, Brett is too mannered for my taste. You can see him acting and too cold. Wilmer is more like Rathbone and I grew up with Rathbone.

[jaycad]

name='will.15' timestamp='1287880032' post='485519']

As for performances only, Brett is too mannered for my taste. You can see him acting and too cold. Wilmer is more like Rathbone and I grew up with Rathbone.

'the coldness and the artist' is what i like about bretts performance,other holmes tend to be collected and assured and correct at all times,bretts holmes has a suggestiveness of weakness and fallibility despite his arrogance which works for me! anyway this thread isn't about the actors but the adaptations they're in! (is 'fallibilty' a real word?)

[didi-5]

name='will.15' timestamp='1287880032' post='485519']

As for performances only, Brett is too mannered for my taste. You can see him acting and too cold. Wilmer is more like Rathbone and I grew up with Rathbone.

Interesting. I find the Brett Holmes a much warmer one than the Wilmer one. Wilmer is much more clinical and sardonic. Brett - and I think this is one of only a few times where he wasn't acting in a mannered way - caught the awkwardness and aloofness as well as the humour in the character and did an all-round good job, even in the poorer scripts of later episodes.



The Six Napoleons: I can see what you mean jaycad about the Mafia connection being played up in the Brett version, but for me it has far more to recommend it than the Wilmer version. Plus Colin Jeavons as Lestrade is especially good in the episode.

[batman]

name='didi-5' timestamp='1287907079' post='485545']

I find the Brett Holmes a much warmer one than the Wilmer one. Wilmer is much more clinical and sardonic. Brett - and I think this is one of only a few times where he wasn't acting in a mannered way - caught the awkwardness and aloofness as well as the humour in the character and did an all-round good job, even in the poorer scripts of later episodes.

I agree with all of that. There is definitely a twinkle is Wilmer's eye at times (as stated earlier) but that is often accompanied by an element of overt smugness (which Rathbone also fell victim too) which Brett largely managed to avoid. His moments of smugness were caught by the cameras in small private moments with the other characters mostly unaware of it. Taking out the issue of budgets, I still feel the Brett series is as definitive a Holmes series as we have had up to this point in time. Although Benedict Cumberbatch was excellent in the role, there are no currently working actors I can think of who would be able to do as good a job as Brett. I still see only Brett when I read the stories and IMHO that has to be down the overall effect the series has had on me. I think the Wilmer series is excellent as well but, for me, it just lacks the element of 'magic' that makes Brett's episodes truly special.



My favourite Brett episode is 'The Solitary Cyclist'. Unfortunately Wilmer didn't do that one so no comparison can be made.



My favourite Wilmer episode is 'The Speckled Band' which I think is superior to the Brett version.

[jaycad]

it's a shame that granada chose to make certain stories into feature lengths rather than covering ALL of the short stories and both 'a study in scarlet' and 'the valley of fear'-this decision irks me as the collection will always feel incomplete,i think ITV have become wise to this as they are slowly completing the 'poirot' series.

[Gerald Lovell]

name='will.15' timestamp='1287880032' post='485519']

As for performances only, Brett is too mannered for my taste. You can see him acting and too cold. Wilmer is more like Rathbone and I grew up with Rathbone.

There's a location shot of Wilmer in the garden for "The Beryl Coronet" and you'd swear it was in fact Basil Rathbone.



And here it is:

[batman]

name='jaycad' timestamp='1287924490' post='485639']

it's a shame that granada chose to make certain stories into feature lengths rather than covering ALL of the short stories and both 'a study in scarlet' and 'the valley of fear'-this decision irks me as the collection will always feel incomplete,i think ITV have become wise to this as they are slowly completing the 'poirot' series.

Yes, it is a shame. IIRC they only started to produce the feature length episodes because of the success of Inspector Morse. The Sign of Four is excellent, but the rest of the long episodes aren't up to much IMHO, although I do enjoy The Master Blackmailer.



Granada wanted to do more of their Maigret series, but Michael Gambon declined to continue in the role so that series was scrapped.

[Gerald Lovell]

name='batman' timestamp='1287926901' post='485650']

Yes, it is a shame. IIRC they only started to produce the feature length episodes because of the success of Inspector Morse. The Sign of Four is excellent, but the rest of the long episodes aren't up to much IMHO, although I do enjoy The Master Blackmailer.



Granada wanted to do more of their Maigret series, but Michael Gambon declined to continue in the role so that series was scrapped.

I think there were money issues too.



But even 50 minutes can be too long: I felt "The Retired Colourman" in the Wilmer series was padded out quite a bit. Interesting that there had apparently been hopes for Boris Karloff to appear in this one. Alan Barnes in his Sherlock Holmes on Screen suggests Karloff would have played the role of Barker, but surely he would have played the title role?



Barnes also thinks it's "The Disappearance of Lady Frances Carfax" that's disappeared, whereas it's "The Abbey Grange", with just bits of "The Bruce Partington Plans" remaining.

[didi-5]

name='jaycad' timestamp='1287924490' post='485639']

it's a shame that granada chose to make certain stories into feature lengths rather than covering ALL of the short stories and both 'a study in scarlet' and 'the valley of fear'-this decision irks me as the collection will always feel incomplete,i think ITV have become wise to this as they are slowly completing the 'poirot' series.

I think the only 'padded' story stretched to feature-length which worked was 'The Master Blackmailer' (orig. Charles Augustus Milverton). However the Wilmer version of this is also very good. But because the Brett version had Robert Hardy as the blackmailer it edges ahead for me.



'The Eligible Bacheloe' and 'The Last Vampyre' in the Brett series were atrocious, really, as Holmes stories. But still, I get something out of watching them.



What about 'The Red-Headed League'? There are enough differences between the Wilmer and Brett versions to make them both fascinating and entertaining to watch.

[jaycad]

name='didi-5' timestamp='1287928397' post='485656']









What about 'The Red-Headed League'? There are enough differences between the Wilmer and Brett versions to make them both fascinating and entertaining to watch.

'the red headed league' was the episode which inspired me to start this thread as it is so different from the brett version!

i waa confused as to the casting of the actor who plays jabez wilson in the brett version-surely there was an actor available who had a full head of red hair to play the part of a character whose selection for the hoax was down to his crowning glory?

[jaycad]

name='Gerald Lovell' timestamp='1287927406' post='485654']





But even 50 minutes can be too long: I felt "The Retired Colourman" in the Wilmer series was padded out quite a bit.

i agree with you! 'the retired colourman' is a small story as it is but i was happy to see a story which hadn't been covered before!

'the beryl coronet' is interesting too for the casting of future 'dr watson' david burke in the role of villain!

[DrAlecHarvey]

name='jaycad' timestamp='1287867529' post='485475']

it's obvious to me that these two actors offer the best represention of conan doyles sleuth,both have their pros and cons and both the BBC and Granada have their own takes on each tale, i would be interested in other forum members opinions-not of who is the best holmes but which adaptation of each story covered by both series is the best representation of the original tale?

Basil Rathbone - end of..........

[jaycad]

the brett version of 'the man with the twisted lip' is vastly superior to the wilmer version,even though the latter features an early performance from anna cropper,this particular episode from the wilmer series is probably the dullest.