MovieChat Forums > The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes (1994) Discussion > Edward Hardwicke/Dr. Watson

Edward Hardwicke/Dr. Watson

posted 21 years ago by kathy5353853
25 replies | jump to latest

I have to totally disagree with the reviewer that did not care for Edward Hardwicke as Dr. Watson. Have you ever read any of the stories by Conan Doyle??? Somebody, somewhere, got the idea to have Watson as a bumbler to Holmes' great detective work. But Hardwicke plays him much closer to the character that Conan Doyle wrote. Watson was not an idiot. He was, after all, a medical doctor, who possessed invaluable knowledge of his profession in general, and imparticular to those illnesses from India, and to the injuries from the service. He had been a regimental doctor in the British army in India after all!! With Brett playing Holmes as he did, and we all seem to agree that he was spot on, why would his Sherlock Holmes have bothered to hang out with a bumbling idiot who called himself a doctor??? Well, the answer is simple. He would not have. Doctor Watson recorded the cases that Holmes took on too, so he must have been a pretty good writer, as well as a doctor. Holmes took him with him on all those cases, and asked plenty of him in those stories. "Bring your revolver, will you?", came up plenty of times. Why? Because Watson had a service revolver, and knew how to use it. Hardwicke was the first and only real Watson that we ever saw. Hardwicke played Watson as a man who was no amateur in his own right. Yes, he tried to learn from Holmes, because of his brilliant detective work. But Holmes RELIED on Watson. Depended on him. And when it came time to get off of the morphia, it was Watson who knew what to do to help him. And Watson never was an addict. Edward Hardwicke played Watson JUST RIGHT!!!

[–] quaddo 20 years ago

I could not agree more... spot on!

:)

[–] willson_x 14 years ago

Yes, while I have always preferred the Watson from "Adventures" It was Hardwicke's Watson with which I grew up with, watching on T.V, seeing the return, the casebook and finally the memoirs, all before I saw adventures, so it was his character who I was used to, and for me, that characterised the Watson I know and love. He seemed like a very kind, older, wise, compassionate balance to Holmes' analytical, brash personality. But the other Watson from "Adventures" seemed very different, but ultimately, I warmed to him very quickly. As for having a favorite Watson, it's very hard, because they both bring something unique to their Watson's and play them both to perfection, but they are very different characters. It depends what kind of person you warm to in real life, I just preferred Adventure's Watson for his sharpness and humour.
As for Jeremy Brett, he is just perfect in every way. I would never miss even a rerun just to see his face again

[–] nicoledesapio 13 years ago

I love both Watsons but prefer David Burke just slightly to Edward Hardwicke (may he rest in peace). However, I think Burke was just right for the (thirteen) episodes he was in and Hardwicke was just right for the episodes he was in. I wouldn't have changed the arrangement.

[–] Prismark10 13 years ago

I preferred Burke's Watson who left the template for Hardwicke to follow.

Its that man again!!

[–] Dracoaurora 19 years ago

Bravo! I agree totally.

[–] night_is_silent 19 years ago

Well said!!! Hardwicke was the best Watson!

Although I would add that David Burke, who played Watson in the beginning of the series, was also quite good.

[–] ingrouille 18 years ago

Absolutely!

[–] beefman22 18 years ago

Splendid!

[–] Armand1880 18 years ago

I definately enjoyed Edward Harwicke, and David Burke was good too.
I will give Hardwicke my top vote, as I think he did a better job. Where Burke often had a look of, "Oh, Holmes, you sly devil!" Hardwicke acted more laid back, and was more taken aback to Holmes at time, rather than a sort of goofy, finger wagging suprise that Burke had.
Burke was great, but Hardwicke aced the role for me.

[–] Leahcurry 18 years ago

I immediately noticed the different reactions David Burke and Edward Hardwicke had toward Holmes, and Hardwicke is far better. In fact, I only saw one of Burke's episodes (as of now) and saw that even he made Watson courteous, gentle, and caring, what I feel makes every Dr. Watson great cohorts to Holmes.
It wasn't only the more appropriate reaction that Hardwicke gave that makes him my favorite. Burke seemed too young and not nearly as intelligent, but his overreactions killed his chances of being better. Maturity in age and behavior are important but not essential. See how Jeremy Brett defies the age trappings by being so brilliant? Edward Hardwicke does it, too!

[–] jnnfrbryc 18 years ago

I love both Edward Hardewich and David Burke as Watson, in my view they were both brilliant in different ways. If you look at the original drawings of Watson that appeared in the Strand Burke certainly looks more the part and his performance at the end of the Final Problem brought tears to my eyes the first time I saw it. The desperation and pain in both his face and voice were simply captivating and I just didn't get that from the shorter (and albeit at a distance) performance Harewick gave in the Empty House.
However Hardewick had an even more difficult job in the Empty House. He had to create an instant chemistry between his Watson and an already established Holmes. It is greatly to his credit as an actor that you completely believe his performance in the scene where Holmes reveals himself to his old friend.
I think it's a shame that Burke didn't do more episodes but hey ho. For me the Final Problem and the Empty House are the two best showcases for the two different Watsons.

[–] woodkmw 17 years ago

I enjoyed both of them but I must say I think Edward Hardwicke was very good at playing Watson. I still enjoy every episode.

[–] kitsilanoca-1 17 years ago

I enjoyed both Burke and Hardwicke as Dr. Watson. I think David Burke's Watson was supposed to be a younger version of Holmes' friend, and after the several years that passed after the incident at Reichenbach Falls, Hardwicke's was a more seasoned, care-worn Watson. What I wondered is why we were never introduced to Mrs. Watson. She did make her appearance as the unmarried Mary Marston who hires Holmes in The Sign of Four, but Watson never goes beyond doing anything but admiring her and commenting on her attractiveness. That was the only thing that disappointed me in the series.

[–] The_Necronoir 17 years ago

I think that was a smart move on the part of the writers. There are an awful lot of problems relating to Watson's wives in the original tales, indeed it's never entirely clear whether he had two or three wives during the course of the series. By side-stepping the issue altogether they also released themselves from the arduous task of figuring out the chronological sequence of the tales and having to do them in that order. There are vary few other things which dictate the order of these tales after all (besides Moriarty's demise).

[–] k.m.bunting 8 years ago

What I wondered is why we were never introduced to Mrs. Watson. She did make her appearance as the unmarried Mary Marston who hires Holmes in The Sign of Four, but Watson never goes beyond doing anything but admiring her and commenting on her attractiveness.

Presumably this was because all 3 leading actors were in their 50s - too old to play Holmes and Watson's first meeting or Watson's courtship of Mary Morstan convincingly. There was a nod towards the romance in the book when Mary says "Goodbye, dear Dr. Watson".

[–] metalwolf-1 17 years ago

I agree whole heartedly. I know David Burke also played Watson opposite Jeremy Brett, but I did not care for his portrayal as well. I believe that Edward Hardwicke is the best Watson that has even been seen on either film or television. It is refreshing to see Hardwicke get the credit he so richly deserves.

[–] trevfran-1 11 years ago

Agreed,Hardwickes the best.

[–] Troll_Dahl 11 years ago

Yes, I enjoyed both portrayals of Watson in this series but even though David Burke grew on me immensely, I have to give Hardwicke the edge if asked to choose between the two. As someone else touched on, Burke was much goofier and sillier at times. He did pull some great faces but overall, I think I prefer Edward Hardwicke's subtler performance. Hardwicke's Watson is gentle, kind, and sensitive, but he's also totally solid and committed. You know he's there for Holmes and for other people in need. That's what makes him a great companion. I think Hardwicke brings across the sensitive strength of Watson very well. And you can take him seriously! Which I can't say of Nigel Bruce's Watson in the old Rathbone films.

I should note, I actually saw Hardwicke before Burke. Silver Blaze was the first Jeremy Brett Sherlock Holmes episode that I saw as a child.

"Sometimes it's right to feel a fool"- Cleggy

[–] 11 years ago

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