The eNotes Blog The Many Faces of SherlockHolmes

The Many Faces of SherlockHolmes In honor of the Mr. Holmes movie release this weekend, starring Gandalf Sir Ian McKellen, we wanted to look back at the various faces of Sir Arthur Conan Doyles infamous detective. The original text describes Holmes as â€Å"over six feet† tall and â€Å"excessively lean†, with sharp, piercing eyes and a â€Å"hawk-like nose† (A Study in Scarlet). But his incarnation on screen has run the gamut from young to old, bookish to brawny. No other character has been portrayed more often on the big screen- over 250 times, according to the Guinness Book of World Records. Id love to know your favorite iteration, and if youre planning on seeing the film this weekend, so share your thoughts in the comments below! Basil Rathbone The Hound of the Baskervilles, etc. movies (1939-1946) Image via basilrathbone.net Rathbone’s gentlemanly portrayal is the classic that defined Sherlock Holmes for generations to come. Rathbone’s character was the first to don the stereotypical Holmes getup: deerstalker (the hat with bills in the front and back) and cape. Jeremy Brett Sherlock Holmes TV series (1984-1994) Image via steampunk.wonderhowto.com More arrogant than the Rathbone portrayal, Jeremy Brett’s Sherlock Holmes is also more dramatic. This iteration of the famous detective emphasizes Holmes’ friendship with Watson. Nicholas Rowe Young Sherlock Holmes  movie (1985) Image via denofgeek.com Rowe is cast as the teenage Sherlock Holmes who gives us insight into his early years of solving mysteries. His teacher describes him as â€Å"too precocious, too egotistical, for his own good†, and the mature, intense portrayal may have you wondering if Holmes was always a grownup. Michael Caine Without a Clue movie  (1988) Image via top10films.co.uk Caines Holmes is a bit more, er, bumbling than classic. If youve always secretly rooted for Robin over Batman,   or Tonto over the Lone Ranger, then this flick is for you. Without a Clues Dr. Watson, portrayed by the great Ben Kingsley, is revealed  to be the real mystery-solving mastermind. Robert Downey, Jr. Sherlock Holmes (2009)   Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2011) movies Image via clothesonfilm.com Perhaps one of the flashiest  takes on Holmes is Downeys  big screen version. Purists to Conans original works might snub RDJ, but others might like the fast-talking, even faster-thinking sleuth. Benedict Cumberbatch Sherlock  TV series (2010- ) Image via BBC/Hartswood Cumberbatch is the Sherlock of the 2000s. He has the beloved characteristics  of the 1880s Holmes, placed in  modern London with a few dramatic quirks (such as storing everything in his Mind Palace). A bit arrogant, a bit high-functioning sociopathic, and a whole lot of brilliant. Jonny Lee Miller Elementary  TV series (2012-  ) Image via cbswatchmagazine.com Millers portrayal is another contemporary take on Holmes. A  recovering drug addict, assisting the NYPD in solving crimes,  will all the Holmes-y eccentricities. Sir Ian McKellen Mr. Holmes movie (2015) Image via eonline.com Is it possible for McKellen to disappoint? Scientifically speakingno. As for his version of Holmes, well find out!