I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere: #G2B4

Showing posts with label #G2B4. Show all posts

From Gillette to Brett IV - Something for Everyone

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<br /><b><i>The third in our <a href="http://www.ihearofsherlock.com/search/label/%23G2B4" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">series of recaps</a> of #G2B4</i></b><div>
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By Ray Betzner, BSI</div>
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There is a memorable moment in “The Red-Headed League,” where Holmes sits in St. James's Hall listening to Sarasate and “wrapped in the most perfect happiness.”<br /><br />Such was the case in the Indiana University Cinema when a theater packed with Sherlock Holmes enthusiasts and a few dozen college students were enraptured by a 75th anniversary screening of <i>The Hound of the Baskervilles</i> starring Richard Green, Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce.  To be in a real movie theater, have the lights dimmed, the curtain raised and the familiar story unfold as it was designed to do would have been enough; but to be with fellow devotees who mouthed “Mr. Holmes, there were the footprints of a gigantic hound” along with the scene chewing Lionel Atwill was a “most perfect happiness" indeed.<br /><br />And that is really the point of a gathering like <a href="http://wessexpress.com/html/g2b4main.html" target="_blank">From Gillette to Brett IV</a>, which was held Sept. 12-14 at the University of Indiana under auspices of Steve Doyle and Mark Gagen's <a href="http://www.wessexpress.com/">Wessex Press</a>  While we all acknowledge the primacy of the original Canon, so many of us interact with Holmes through film, television, radio and digital media today that a weekend devoted to its explication is entirely appropriate.<br /><br />The primacy of the originals was certainly acknowledged early on, as we toured the treasures of the university’s Lilly Library. Have you ever picked up an incredibly good copy of <a href="http://www.indiana.edu/~liblilly/holmes/pages/pr4622-s9-1887_00001.shtml"><i>Beeton’s Christmas Annual</i> for 1887</a>?  I have. I had to give it back, of course, but Lilly Director Joel Silver was enormously generous, offering up opportunities to see treasures that a collector might take a lifetime to view. Of particular interest was the hand-written note Sherlock Holmes left at the Reichenbach and acquired by David A. Randall, the library’s first director. To have such a treasure before you brings goose-bumps.<div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Holmes letter to Watson from "The Final Problem" - Conan Doyle Manuscript at the Lilly Library</td></tr>
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<br /><br />I won’t recount in detail each presentation from Saturday, except to say there were insights and delights galore: Bonnie MacBird, the screenwriter behind such films as the original “Tron,” thoughtfully drew parallels between the BBC <i>Sherlock</i> series and the Canon; Kristina Manente, founder of <a href="http://bakerstreetbabes.com/" target="_blank">The Baker Street Babes</a>, educated us old Sherlockians into the ways of “headcanon” and other path of the newest generation of enthusiasts; David Stuart Davies left us crying with laughter as he showed that Sherlaugh Holmes was not a misprint; and Burt Coules walked through more than 80 years of Holmes on the radio with particular attention to the BBC radio adaptations of the complete Canon starring Clive Merrison. It made me sad that radio drama no longer flourishes on U.S. airwaves. <br /><br />Finally, Paul Annett discussed his involvement in the early years of the Granada television series starring Jeremy Brett. The early adaptations were lovingly recreated from both Arthur Conan Doyle’s words and Sidney Paget’s illustrations. Which makes it strange that Brett, who so looked the part when he started, wanted to wear a putty nose and use a funny walk as Holmes. Annett wisely talked him out of those notions and the series has gone on to become a beloved touchstone. <br /><br />The huckster’s room had a nice selection of wallet-depleting treats, including <a href="http://www.wessexpress.com/html/g2b4exhibit.html">treasures</a> from the collection of Steve Doyle, which were not for sale. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Basil Rathbone's tweed hat</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paxton Whitehead's hat from "The Crucifer of Blood"</td></tr>
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<br />In all, it was the kind of event that blended old-school Sherlockians with new breed “Sherlock”-ians in a warm and welcoming atmosphere. <br /><br />We all hope that a fifth act of this long-running show will come along in three years or so.<div>
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<i>Photos courtesy of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.729258210500479.1073741833.487420994684203&type=1" target="_blank">Wessex Press (Facebook)</a></i></div>
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From Gillette to Brett IV - Something for Everyone

The third in our series of recaps of #G2B4 By Ray Betzner, BSI There is a memorable moment in “The Red-Headed League,” where Holmes...

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by Scott Monty

From Gillette to Brett IV — Sherlock Holmes in Media and "Meta"

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<b><i>The second in our <a href="http://www.ihearofsherlock.com/search/label/%23G2B4" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">series of recaps</a> of #G2B4</i></b><br />
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This past weekend, September 12-14, 2014, I had the honor of
joining a group of almost 200 Sherlockians in Bloomington, Indiana at From Gillette
to Brett IV: "Basil, Benedict, and Beyond” — a  conference to celebrate Sherlock Holmes in film,
radio, television.</div>
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The event began Friday afternoon with a specially-arranged
exhibit at the renowned Lilly Library on Indiana University’s campus.<br />
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Library Director
Joel Silver gave a presentation on David A. Randall, BSI, the first Director of
the Lilly Library, who was responsible for finding many of the Lilly’s unique
treasures. At this presentation, Joel shared several of the awe-inspiring
valuables the Lilly has in its collection, among them: a Shakespeare First
Folio, a pristine copy of Edgar Allen Poe’s first publication, the epic poem “Tamerlane,” a signed copy of the first edition Mark Twain’s <i>The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn</i>, and one of the few surviving
copies of <i>Pilgrim’s Progress</i> (all of these
we could touch and even sniff in some cases). Then, of course, he showed us items
that would make any Sherlockian shiver with glee—the<i> Beeton’s Christmas Annual</i> of 1887, and a portion of Sir Arthur
Conan Doyle’s manuscript from “The Final Problem” (specifically, Holmes’ letter
to Watson  at Reichenbach falls).<br />
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The Lilly staff also provided presentations on
bookbinding, how to preserve one’s book collection, and standing displays of medieval
manuscripts, Victorian crime and horror fiction, the original manuscript of “The
Adventure of the Red Circle,” movie screenplay manuscripts (<i>Hound of the Baskervilles</i>, <i>Citizen Kane</i>), John Ford’s Academy Award
for <i>How Green Was My Valley</i> (which
you could hold and pose with) and more.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Author and artist Charles Prepolec<br />
"Would like to thank the Academy"<br />
that he's holding John Ford's "Oscar."</td></tr>
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The group then gathered to watch the 75<sup>th</sup>
Anniversary screening of <i>The Hound of the
Baskervilles</i> (1939) starring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce. Seeing this
classic on the big screen was a thrill, especially in an audience of
enthusiastic Sherlockians.<o:p></o:p><br />
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The next morning (and during breaks) attendees visited the
dealers room to search for treasurers, while short Sherlock Holmes films showed
in the main presentation room. The dealer’s room was especially interesting in
that it held a special exhibit of Sherlockian movie and literary memorabilia provided
by Wessex Press co-owner and Gillette to Brett organizer, Steven Doyle</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Movie memorabilia from the Steven Doyle collection (left to right):<br />
Jeremy Brett's frock coat, Holmes costume worn by Captain Kangaroo, and<br />
a shirt worn by Sir Hugo Baskerville  in 1939's <i>Hound of the Baskervilles.</i></td></tr>
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The first speaker of the day was Bonnie MacBird, former
Development Executive from Universal and the original screenwriter of the film <i>Tron</i> (among other high-profile projects).
Bonnie explained how the screenwriting of the BBC <i>Sherlock</i> series is what makes it unique, special, and uniquely
canonical. She said specifically that the series maintained the essential
character of Holmes from the canon, that it made the relationship important between
Holmes and Watson, that “creed” or a “code of honor” was important to the
series (as it was in the canon) and that it thrilled us with “the ride,” or
entertained us as the original canon does. The series, she said, was also
written for the actors and for the collaborators (i.e. special effects), making
its transition to film a seamless one. Her only disagreement with the writing
on the series was the end of the last episode of season three, in which (SPOILER)
Holmes kills Magnusson, as it seemed to go away from the “code of honor”
introduced in earlier episodes.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bonnie MacBird</td></tr>
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The second speaker of the day, Kristina Manente, host of the
podcast<a href="http://bakerstreetbabes.com/" target="_blank"> <i>The Baker Street Babes</i></a>, discussed “How Fandom Plays the Game.” In her presentation, Kristina explained to “classic Sherlockains” how the new wave of Holmes fans, who primarily follow the BBC <i>Sherlock</i> series, convey their enthusiasm for
the characters. The “grand game” as played in this universe of fandom is
expressed primarily through social media: tumblr, Livejournal, and Ao3. She
explained new terms such as “headcanon,” “meta,” and “fancasting.” It became clear
that the new wave of Sherlockian fandom runs in tandem, and in some ways
tangentially, to the traditional activities of classic Holmes enthusiasts.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kristina Manente</td></tr>
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Prominent Sherlockian writer, editor, and playwright David
Stuart Davies then made us laugh with his talk on the comic
moments of Sherlock Holmes in the canon, on stage, film, and TV. He
discussed the silliness of the “untold tales,” how Gillette included humor in
his original play, Holmes’ creative put downs of Watson, his insults of
Lestrade, and how BBC’s <i>Sherlock</i> in “The
Empty Hearse” was using what was already implied in the canon itself. His
unique selection of clips kept us rolling with mirth.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">David Stuart Davies</td></tr>
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Fellow Brit Bert Coules, radio dramatist for the BBC Radio <i>Sherlock Holmes</i> series (among other wonderful BBC adaptations), followed Davies with a talk on the history of Sherlock Holmes on radio in Britain. As  the writer of the only production to bring to life the entire canon, Bert first acknowledged the American contribution to Holmes on radio, then expounded on the many British adaptions of Holmes to radio throughout the 20th century. The highlight his presentation was video of a recording session with Clive Merrison and Michael Williams, demonstrating how physical the actors were in their performances, as well as how the sound effects team did their jobs.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bert Coules</td></tr>
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After a group viewing of Granada Television premiere episode
<i>A Scandal in Bohemia</i> directed by Paul
Annett, Steven Doyle interviewed Paul about the monumental series. After
revealing tidbits about how the opening sequence was thrust upon him (quite
happily, Paul added), the creation of the music, and how Jeremy Brett received
guidance on his interpretation of Holmes, Paul shared an unseen video of the
makeup screen test for Jeremy Brett and David Burke.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM9Hf7tybNb4fBx5fPTysCC3H0sxUlt7aog0bYI7wQoqFfVLNi7opOexpjdqEH54XuKdp0Dr7ogkovgz8R9Dth1M6gkPia2E8uoLly0ah5nigTPHX51HsBOYNb65hV2QXaLjYump2lyucT/s1600/paul2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM9Hf7tybNb4fBx5fPTysCC3H0sxUlt7aog0bYI7wQoqFfVLNi7opOexpjdqEH54XuKdp0Dr7ogkovgz8R9Dth1M6gkPia2E8uoLly0ah5nigTPHX51HsBOYNb65hV2QXaLjYump2lyucT/s1600/paul2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paul Annett discusses the similarities of his directing choices to the Paget illustrations</td></tr>
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At the banquet that followed Paul’s talk, Steve Doyle and
Mark Gagen paid tribute to the late Michael Hoey, the son of Dennis Hoey
(Lestrade of the Rathbone films), who was slotted to speak at the event. Michael’s
book about his father’s screenplay. <i>The
Drury Lane Theatre Mystery,</i> was released posthumously at the conference.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVlF-OYgjlLVTHhMgGinC01ziCW3M-vYOkzIGL_ZqozP3O07vW9eWHRQ4lHCKrAsSlgVhjh0_OXU0dAHK9WbqKdgs2xmuhELV-nyaEtddP0xul7v-q3eo8qmFkXYkErHODFh7epqL0YOWH/s1600/cinema.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVlF-OYgjlLVTHhMgGinC01ziCW3M-vYOkzIGL_ZqozP3O07vW9eWHRQ4lHCKrAsSlgVhjh0_OXU0dAHK9WbqKdgs2xmuhELV-nyaEtddP0xul7v-q3eo8qmFkXYkErHODFh7epqL0YOWH/s1600/cinema.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Gillette to Brett IV then wound up with the 75<sup>th</sup>
Anniversary showing of <i>The Adventures of
Sherlock Holmes</i> (1939) which was enjoyed by all. Seeing this fabulous film
on the big screen with a crowd of fans was the ultimate ending of a truly
enjoyable weekend of Sherlockian media mania. Mucho kudos to the boys from Wessex Press, Steve Doyle and Mark Gagen, who made it all possible!<br />
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<i>Photos courtesy of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.729258210500479.1073741833.487420994684203&type=1" target="_blank">Wessex Press</a> (Facebook). </i><o:p></o:p></div>
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From Gillette to Brett IV — Sherlock Holmes in Media and "Meta"

The second in our series of recaps of #G2B4 This past weekend, September 12-14, 2014, I had the honor of joining a group of almost ...

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by Ann Margaret Lewis

From Gillette to Brett IV - Suspiring in Indianapolis

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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy4C2gDvVO2s0tKwA8wdk1oeKHhumJl_59DFvHO5grb5Y-0dpiRNDzFN7KtAEMdaL2WRbDJuapDGHxC4N9_a4w4WxEh_c9PND_J2FqWqycJ44dblXIinFPCwVQ5kNXlCYndYTQVDPudbe0/s1600/G2B4header.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy4C2gDvVO2s0tKwA8wdk1oeKHhumJl_59DFvHO5grb5Y-0dpiRNDzFN7KtAEMdaL2WRbDJuapDGHxC4N9_a4w4WxEh_c9PND_J2FqWqycJ44dblXIinFPCwVQ5kNXlCYndYTQVDPudbe0/s1600/G2B4header.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b><i>The first in our <a href="http://www.ihearofsherlock.com/search/label/%23G2B4" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">series of recaps</a> of #G2B4</i></b><br />
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How many events would one be obliged to attend should he want to examine famous first editions of Shakespeare and Poe; dine with the Baker Street Babes; and experience the dash and panache of Basil Rathbone on the big screen? And what if he also wanted to handle an 1887 edition <i>Beeton's Christmas Annual</i>; behold the original manuscript of "The Red Circle"; and cast a misty eye over the very letter that Dr. Watson found at the head of the Reichenbach Falls?<br />
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Shall we throw moderation to the winds, and add to his list the desire to size up Jeremy Brett's frock coat; to meet Brett's first Sherlockian director; and to look behind the scenes of the faithfully adapted BBC audio Sherlock Holmes, with the adapter himself as guide? But above all must come that most canonical of objectives: the renewing of old friendships and the making of new ones. How many events would one have to attend to accomplish all these objectives? Unlikely though it may seem, the answer is one, provided that the one in question was <a href="http://wessexpress.com/html/g2b4main.html" target="_blank">From Gillette to Brett IV: Basil, Benedict, and Beyond</a>, hosted by the <a href="http://wessexpress.com/" target="_blank">Wessex Press</a>.<br />
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Held on the handsome campus of Indiana University at Bloomington, the conference began on Friday, September 12, in the Lilly Library, with an exhibition of treasures from the Lilly's rare book, manuscript, and special collections library, hosted by Joel Silver. Conference attendees received an up-close look at some of the most rare and valuable books in the world, including <i>First Folio of 1623</i>, <i>Tamerlane and Other Poems</i>, and many more, filled with lovely and underused English words like "suspire." Suspire, a verb meaning "to sigh" and "to yearn deeply for," describes both a sound and an emotion. It is what happened when Mr. Silver unveiled a pristine copy of <i>Beeton's Christmas Annual</i> for 1887 in a room full of Sherlockians – everyone suspired. Further wonders of the Lilly Library, from Basil Rathbone screenplays to George Washington letters, just kept on coming, but attendees eventually had to move on, as their agenda was positively filled with delights.<br />
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Following a meet-and-greet reception in the Indiana Memorial Union, the locale shifted to IU Cinema, a jewel of a film theater sporting vintage flair and contemporary technology. Here a combined audience of conference attendees and local film buffs wrapped up the evening with the 75th anniversary screening of <i>The Hound of the Baskervilles</i> (1939), starring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce. The classic film was well-received as ever, with Rathbone receiving strong support from Chief, in the title role.<br />
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On Saturday morning, the vendor space was in full swing by 8:00 a.m., and for the next two hours buying and selling ran simultaneously with film screenings next door, first of "The Adventure of the Speckled Band," starring the superb <a href="http://amzn.to/YR0iNI" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Douglas Wilmer as Sherlock Holmes</a>, then of <i><a href="http://amzn.to/1wBUwNG" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Man with the Twisted Lip</a></i>, with Eille Norwood as the great detective.<br />
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At 10:00 a.m. the conference lectures began, after introductory remarks by Steven Doyle and Mark Gagen of the Wessex Press. The first lecture session was author Bonnie MacBird's insightful discussion of screenwriting in the BBC series <i>Sherlock</i>, a presentation that made artful connections between Benedict Cumberbatch's portrayal of the character Sherlock Holmes and the archetype of the Byronic hero and its namesake, Lord Byron. MacBird's presentation was a skillful reiteration of the importance of the written word to the success of any drama, even one as visually driven as <i>Sherlock</i>.<br />
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MacBird was followed by podcaster and Wessex Press author Kristina Manente of <a href="http://bakerstreetbabes.com/" target="_blank">The Baker Street Babes</a>, whose presentation, "How Fandom Plays the Game," offered an introduction to the enormous fan following of the BBC's <i>Sherlock</i>, a program whose record-breaking popularity has led many to discover the Canon for the first time. This fan base – often young, Internet-savvy, and passionate – is a group for whom Manente is uniquely qualified to speak (her Baker Street Babes podcast has over 40,000 followers on Twitter alone), and she expertly defined such phenomena as "headcanon" and "fancasting." Such explication is crucial for those who may be unfamiliar with the terms, though quite familiar with the practices, since most Sherlockians have probably engaged in a bit of mental fancasting. (In one interview, Leslie S. Klinger was asked who he would like to see as Holmes and Watson in a film; he speedily replied with Daniel Day-Lewis as Holmes and Kenneth Branagh as Watson, a brilliant bit of fancasting if ever there was one.) Manente's lecture, elevated by her infectious enthusiasm, did much to reveal that, call them what names they will, Sherlockians of all ages tend to play – and love – many of the same games.<br />
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During the session break, the excellent television production <i><a href="http://amzn.to/XzSYF1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Man Who Disappeared</a></i> (1951), with John Longden as Holmes, was scheduled to receive a rare public screening, after which lectures resumed with the scintillating David Stuart Davies and his reflections on humor in the Canon. This session, a perfect mating of speaker and subject, was a crowd favorite, and Mr. Davies' insights, witticisms, sound effects, and general savoir faire were such that attendees seemed inclined even to forgive his use of an excerpt of Matt Frewer as Sherlock Holmes. (In all candor, the clip was a humorous one, though for reasons other than the filmmakers intended; nevertheless, it served the purpose of the discussion. Advantage: Davies.) In the present high-tide of Sherlockian interest and adaptation, it was well-befitting for someone to remind us that endless portrayals of Sherlock Holmes as Tortured Soul, Man Without a Heart, or Humorless Social Misfit are at best only telling part of the story, and Davies' refresher on the Canon's many comic delights was just the ticket.<br />
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