Worth watching just for the comedy aspect of Martin Shaw (as so often in other films) being totally out of his depth, this time with a ludicrous attempt at an American accent. And why any casting director thinks he can act is beyond me.
Also worth seeing for Brian Blessed chewing the scenery yet again.
I agree, some of the actors are terrible -- but I love Ian Richardson as Holmes; he manages to capture the character as I envision him very well.
shareHe's a much better Holmes in my estimation than the over-praised Jeremy Brett, who started the Granada series of Holmes films at about the same time (thus quite possibly ending Richardson's possible run as Holmes, as only one other film was made with him in the role, though at least a third was planned but abandoned).
His portrayal reminds me a bit of what is my favorite latter-day depiction of Holmes, the actor Vassily Livanov in a wonderful series of adaptations made for Russian television in the Eighties. Livanov is handily my top pick for Holmes of that era, but Richardson runs a very close second. My chief complaint with both of his films is the depiction of Watson, who comes just a little too close to skirting the Nigel Bruce 'Watson-as-buffoon' caricature. Richardson deserved a better partner than he was given in that rendering.
Some of the supporting players aren't top-notch, but I can easily overlook their flaws just in really liking Richardson's performance.
Agreed.
shareThat wasn't Shaw's voice. He was overdubbed by another actor. Get your facts straight.
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