THE RETURN OF SHERLOCK HOLMES

US, 1987, 100 minutes, Colour.
Margaret Colin, Michael Pennington, Connie Booth.
Directed by Kenneth Connor.

The Return of Sherlock Holmes is an enjoyable fantasy written by Bob Shayne and directed by Kevin Connor (Land That Time Forgot, People That Time Forgot, Trial By Combat). Margaret Collin (True Believers, Travelling Man) is a vigorous Dr Watson in present-day Boston. She returns to England to claim her inheritance and finds the body of Sherlock Holmes preserved by cryogenics with instructions of how to thaw him. He comes into the late 20th century with all his aplomb - as well as his being bewildered by the changes in technology as well as in the status of men and women. (The film is reminiscent of Nicholas Mayer's Time After Time, when H.G. Wells pursues Jack the Ripper into the 1970s in San Francisco). There is a murder mystery with various complexities, an attempt to solve things by Dr Watson - and, of course, the ultimate solution from Holmes himself. The film's final credits have an apology to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle - but the film, light as it is, is in the vein of the Sherlock Holmes movies. Other movie speculations about Holmes include Nicholas Meyer's The Seven Percent Solution where Freud meets Holmes and Without a Clue where the chief detective is Dr Watson, who hires an actor to impersonate Holmes.

1. An enjoyable murder mystery? Sherlock Holmes in the present? In the tradition of Conan Doyle's stories?

2. The film for a telemovie audience? Knowledge of Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson or not? Boston settings, English settings? Musical score?

3. The title, Sherlock Holmes in his period? The contrivance of cryogenics to bring him into the present? How credible - in the context of the film?

4. Jane Watson, her detective investigation bureau, her secretary? The need for money? Shadowing people - and forfeiting the fee? The inheritance and her going to England? The house, the discovery, following the instructions, bringing Sherlock Holmes back to life? In England, his awkwardness, manner? Getting him new clothes? Cars, etc? The flight to Boston? His being installed in Boston?

5. The background of the murder, the initial killing, the burning of the corpse? Audience assumptions? The note about Small? The daughter and the note, coming to see Dr Watson and Holmes? The truth about the threats? The unravelling of the plot, the FBI, the robberies, the parachuting, the counterfeit money? The tracking down of the victims, the murders? The unravelling of the truth - the final set-up, the daughter, her father appearing, assumed dead? The solution - and Holmes' explanation?

6. Jane and her investigations, taking Holmes along? Watching him at work with his clues? His big mistake with the secretary? Suspicions of Toby and acting like a father? His having to learn computer language, etc? Travel? His driving, the seeming hallucination of London Bridge? The final clues? The solution?

7. Jane, admiration for Holmes, concern about him? The meeting with Toby, his not telling the truth? FBI, working together?

8. The FBI, personnel, the cover-up? Toby and the information? The collaboration with Holmes?

9. The criminals, their plan, the double deals? Dangers and murder?

10. The murder mystery in the spirit of Conan Doyle's stories? Michael Pennington's interpretation of Holmes, especially coping with the latter part of the 20th century? Jane as the descendant of Dr Watson - and the observer-chronicler of Holmes's exploits?