SHERLOCK HOLMES RETURNS
UK/US, 1993, 96 minutes, Colour.
Anthony Higgins, Debrah Farentino, Mark Adair- Rios, Ken Pogue.
Directed by Kenneth Johnson.
Sherlock Holmes Returns was a pilot for a series – resurrecting, literally, the acclaimed Conan Doyle detective.
The plot presupposes that Holmes had himself cryogenically preserved to come back to life in 2000, but arrives seven years earlier. He had the help of H.G. Wells in this.
The screenplay parallels the Sherlock Holmes stories, this time with a woman as the Doctor Watson figure, Doctor Amy Winslow (Debra Farentino). A descendant of Moriarty (Ken Pogue) is once again the villain that Holmes, played by Anthony Higgins who had been Moriarty in Young Sherlock Holmes, must confront.
The film has some extraordinary killings – with tigers and piranhas. However, Holmes with his continued explanations of what had happened by his powers of observation, is able to solve the case, despite making many mistakes about the 20th century. But he does take to the computer very quickly and adapts himself to the customs, clothing, language.
The film is slight – but amusing for those who like variations on the Sherlock Holmes stories.
1.The popularity of Sherlock Holmes? The stories? The film versions over the decades? This film taking its place in the more imaginative list of Holmes films?
2.The presuppositions about cryogenics? Holmes and his being woken forty-five years later, coming to life in the 1990s? His adaptation to San Francisco, to the language, to the inventions, his making mistakes and misinterpreting?
3.The San Francisco locations? The jaunty musical score – in the vein of Murder, She Wrote and other series?
4.Sherlock Holmes’ personality, adapting to the late 20th century, his arrogance, self-assuredness, not using his imagination but observing? His understanding Doctor Winslow? The memories about James Moriarty Booth? Dealings with Mrs Hudson? His decision to help the San Francisco police, Griffin and his not wanting Holmes’ help? His decision to confront Moriarty Booth? The visit to the house, his escape? His organising of the evidence against Booth – acting as the waiter, the fingerprints, getting Zapper to help him with the bottles of wine? On the boat, the tiger? His decision to stay in San Francisco and help the police?
5.Doctor Winslow, her work at the hospital, her personality, Holmes’ description of her personality, her background, interests, husband? Her phone calls to him – thinking that Holmes was a joke? Her gradually understanding him, participating in the activities, saving him by pretending that he was escaped from the asylum? With the police? Holmes moving into her house with Mrs Hudson? A Doctor Watson equivalent?
6.Zapper and the gang, trying to steal Amy Winslow’s car? Holmes and his skills with boxing and martial arts? Meeting Zapper, the library, getting his help? Computer literate? Helping to frame Moriarty Booth? The decision to keep him on as his helper?
7.Mrs Hudson, the exact equivalent of Mrs Hudson in the stories? The background of forty-five years earlier, her husband, the intruders? The burial of the body? The boy with his wounded hand, the escape?
8.Moriarty Booth, gangster, the diamonds from Holmes? His henchmen? Arranging the murders? The deals? The police unable to touch him? Self-assured? The confrontation with Holmes in his house? On the docks, his being exposed and arrested?
9.The San Francisco police, personalities, difficulties? The initial murder with the tiger, the piranha murder?
10.The ingredients for a Sherlock Holmes story brought into the late 20th century?
