Ten Favorite SHERLOCK HOLMES Movies
Below is a list of my favorite movies featuring Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's famous fictional detective, Sherlock Holmes:
TEN FAVORITE SHERLOCK HOLMES MOVIES
1. "Without a Clue" (1988) - I still love this spoof of the Sherlock Holmes stories in which the real detective is Dr. John Watson, who has hired an unemployed alcoholic actor named Reginal Kincaid to satisfy the public's demand for a real Sherlock Holmes. In this film, the pair investigate the disappearance of Bank of England banknote plates and a printing supervisor. Michael Caine and Ben Kingsley are magic under Thom Eberhardt's direction.
2. "Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows" (2011) - Guy Richie made this second film about the Sherlock Holmes character and the latter's conflict with his worst nemesis, Professor James Moriraty and his attempt to stop a major assassination. I loved it even more than Ritchie's 2009 film. Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law starred as Holmes and Watson.
3. "Sherlock Holmes" (2009) - Guy Ritchie's adaptation of Doyle's character about Holmes' conflict against a nefarious aristocratic with plans to assume political control of the British Empire has become a major favorite of mine. Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law, along with Rachel McAdams and Mark Strong star.
4. "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes" (1939) - I am a big fan of this adaptation of William Gillette's play about Sherlock Holmes' investigation of a series of death threats against a well-to-do London family. This is the second film to feature Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce as Holmes and Dr. Watson. Directed by Alfred L. Werker, the movie co-starred Ida Lupino and George Zucco.
5. The Seven-Per-Cent Solution" (1976) - I have always enjoyed Herbert Ross' adaptation of Nicholas Meyer's 1974 novel about Holmes and Watson recruiting Dr. Sigmund Freud to guide the detective in overcoming his cocaine habit and investigate a nefarious kidnapping plot. Nicol Williamson, Robert Duvall, Alan Arkin, Vanessa Redgrave and Laurence Olivier starred.
6. "The Hound of the Baskervilles" (1939) - This is my favorite adaptation of Doyle's novel about Holmes' investigation of an English family's connection to a "demon" hound and a Candandian heir to the family's fortunes. This is the first film to feature Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce as Holmes and Dr. Watson. Sidney Lanfield directed.
7. "Young Sherlock Holmes" (1985) - Steven Spielberg produced and Barry Levinson directed this fanciful imagining of Holmes and Watson's first meeting as adolescents at a prestigious boys school, as they investigate a series of suspicious suicide deaths. Nicholas Rowe, Alan Cox, Anthony Higgins and Sophie Ward starred.
8. "The Hound of the Baskervilles" (1988) - This is one of my favorite adaptations of Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes novels featuring Jeremy Brett as the detective. Edward Hardwicke co-starred as Dr. Watson. The movie was directed by Brian Mills.
9. "Murder By Decree" (1979) - Directed by Bob Clark, Holmes and Watson investigate the Jack the Ripper murders. Excellent, although a bit bloody for my tastes. Christopher Plummer and James Mason co-starred as Holmes and Watson.
10. "The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes" (1970) - Billy Wilder directed this tale about a bored Sherlock Holmes, who eagerly decides to investigate the attempt on the life of a woman with a missing identity. Robert Stephens and Colin Blakely starred in this entertaining, yet flawed movie.