Sherlock Holmes Movie Double Feature

I love mysteries, and Sherlock Holmes is of course, one of my favorites. I stumbled across the following two movies due to NetFlix recommendations. They were both worthwhile for any Arthur Conan Doyle fan to see.

Dr. Bell and Mr. Doyle: The Dark Beginnings of Sherlock Holmes

Dr. Bell and Mr. Doyle (also known as Murder Rooms) tells the story of how Arthur Conan Doyle created the character of Sherlock Holmes. Doyle was in medical school when women were first being admitted. Amongst the hubbub of the young men protesting this intrusion, Doyle meets his mentor, Dr. Bell (Ian Richardson), an unusual teacher who believes in new methods of detection and treating illness. His newfangled ways work to his advantage, in that he moonlights as a consultant to the police and test out his theories. The police aren’t very sure in his methods, of course, but he eventually proves himself to his doubtful student, and that’s all that really matters. Soon, the two are drawn into the cases of a few murdered women, and the woman Doyle has fallen for, who is a medical student along side him, is being threatened. Dr. Bell and his student rush to solve the mystery and save the girl. In doing so, Doyle finds the influence he needs to create the indomitable character of Sherlock Holmes.

Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Silk Stocking

Rupert Everett plays Sherlock Holmes and Ian Hart plays Dr. Watson in this Holmes tale. Here, Holmes is lured out of semi-retirement by Dr. Watson. Young debutantes are being stalked and killed by a serial killer, and Holmes is on the case to stop the madness. Introduced is Dr. Watson’s fiancée, Mrs. Vandeleur, who is a psychologist in her own right, and points Holmes into the general direction in which he must go to solve the crimes. Rachael Hurd Wood (Wendy from Peter Pan) has a small part as one of the debutantes.

The acting in both movies was well done. Ian Richardson was wonderful as Dr. Bell. He felt like an aged Sherlock Holmes. Dolly Wells was excellent as Elspeth Scott, the girl who captures Doyle’s affections. She is smart, pretty, and very serious. Rupert Everett was a wonderful Sherlock Holmes. Jeremy Brett is probably my favorite Holmes rep in the actors list of those who have played the great detective, but Rupert Everett was good at making the role his own. Everyone’s favorite demon from Hex, Michael Fassbender, had a small part and was appropriately attractive and creepy all in the same moment.

Overall, I thought both movies were worthwhile if you like the great detective. If I had to rate one over the other, I’d go with Dr. Bell and Mr. Doyle first. It felt like a better production and had a more interesting plot.

Rating: 4 Purrs