The Sign of Four

Not a very cinematic story. After about 50 minutes of investigation, it has a drawn out, slow, boat chase and then half an hour of a character explaining what happened in the past.

This film is completely absorbing, from start to finish, just as a Mr Holmes/Dr Watson story ought to be. I could watch it again right away! There is not an ounce of fat on it, as they say (by they, I mean cinephiles with a penchant for such metaphors). Much of this has to do with the brilliant performances - I don't think that is an exaggeration - of Brett and Hardwicke as they avoid any semblance of caricature. Lacey as Thaddeus/ Bartholomew Sholto is a revelation (he's creepy and endearing).

Had nice sets and costumes as you'd expect, but was hard to get into. Jeremy Brett as Sherlock Holmes was also quite unlikable. Add to that an unsatisfying conclusion and a running time that seemed longer than it was.

This TV movie is a lot of fun and is full of energy until the finale that is. The extended flash back made the pacing screech to a halt.

Its made-for-TV origins show clearly in everything from the sets to the film stock it's shot on, but it's a fun little mystery. It's bizarre but interesting how pretty much the entire final third of the film is just an extended flashback / origin story from the villain's point of view. I think I prefer Jeremy Brett's Sherlock to Basil Rathbone's.