Robert Downey Jr.'s Sherlock Holmes — An Early Review

<br /> <h4 style="text-align: center;"> "I reviewed the whole extraordinary sequence of events" [SIGN]</h4> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2625/4165374098_a8f42bc9c3_m.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2625/4165374098_a8f42bc9c3_m.jpg" style="float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 143px;" /></a></div> <br /> There's been a lot of chatter about the new <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0988045/">Sherlock Holmes</a> film lately. The general public seems to be pretty excited about it - of that there is no doubt. The Sherlockian community has alternatively greeted the whole affair with trepidation and a wait-and-see attitude.<br /> <div> <br /></div> <div> But we can begin to set aside some of our worries, as the first official review of the movie is in. In this case, it comes from John Rabe, whose father was W. T. Rabe, BSI ("Colonel Warburton's Madness"), a dedicated Sherlockian from the 1940s until the early 1990s. John has <a href="http://scpr.org/blogs/johnrabe/2009/12/05/jrblog-shmovie/">written it up</a> on his blog on the 89.3 Southern California Public Radio site.<br /> <div> <br /></div> <div> Here are the pertinent bits:</div> <blockquote> I saw a preview of “Sherlock Holmes” last night on the Warner Brothers lot.<br /> <br /> Yes, the score and the sound design are bombastic. Note to Guy Ritchie:<br /> <br /> Just because you have Dolby-9.11-Superrumble-Extrabada** doesn’t mean you have to crank the mid- and high-end on every door that closes and every locket that snaps shut. You might be surprised to learn that people – even kids today – can hear okay with the volume at 6 instead of 11, and since we can see the door closing, we can develop our own emotions about it without the sound design telling us what to feel about it. And the camerawork is far too busy. Again, I’m pretty sure kids can enjoy a 30-second scene without 90 cuts, ten zooms, and three flashbacks.<br /> <br /> Overall, I was relieved and pleasantly surprised.<br /> <br /> Both Holmes and Watson are rather more physical than is commonly understood from the Canon, and they spend a lot more time fighting baddies. But, one could say Watson was a former soldier in Doyle’s stories, and Holmes was an expert in "baritsu" and something of a boxer, so their being active is not illogical. Irene Adler is not quite the Victorian lady of the Canon ... since she is an accomplished kickboxer and thief. That said, I'm rather tired of the Victorian ladies who are always fainting or screaming and letting themselves get tied to railroad tracks while the men have all the fun. No ladies scream in this movie.<br /> <br /> Inspector Lestrade is very nicely played by Eddie Marsan (the driver’s ed teacher in "Happy-Go-Lucky" and the evil dude in "Hancock"), and he’s much less the bumbler than Doyle depicts him.<br /> <br /> Speaking of bumblers, other movies have already corrected Nigel Bruce’s moronic Watson...but Jude Law’s Watson is very nearly Holmes’ equal in most areas, and better in some. This is good because, as other commentators have pointed out, it makes no sense that a man like Holmes would hang out with the idiot that Doyle (and Bruce) make of Watson. In the new movie, Holmes and Watson have a very nice intimate relationship, much more like brothers than master and apprentice, which I also find refreshing.<br /> <br /> The plot also takes some nice jabs at the Da Vinci Code movies, and there’s a very funny joke about a certain modern device.<br /> <br /> For all the action and loud music, there are many nice subtleties in plot, script, acting, and the design of the film. To name just one, Her Majesty does not appear.<br /> <br /> The only true blunder/liberty I spotted is that in the movie, Watson is engaged to Mary Morstan before Holmes meets her, when of course, in Doyle, they got engaged after a case Holmes solved.<br /> <br /> Using the Leonard Maltin BOMB-4 stars scale, I'd give it 3.5 stars.</blockquote> <br /> You can read <a href="http://scpr.org/blogs/johnrabe/2009/12/05/jrblog-shmovie/">John's entire review on his blog</a>, and you can check out his weekly show <a href="http://www.scpr.org/programs/offramp/"><i>Off Ramp</i></a>.<br /> <br /> <div> And if you'd like to pre-order a copy of the bombastic score he mentioned, you can do so <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002WTUBNS?ie=UTF8&tag=thebakerstree-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B002WTUBNS"><b>here</b></a>:</div> <div> <br /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiceGlgvsQUX5nv-ID83O7CS6erlLJNAK2Wed0lD9XazRPcxurEOXCi2c_u8_y3hZMIU2ZxRoFmBGiVXZbHQAYJvReDJeIKA5xWXX5TlswaaNhQMuH6DOaAMkUV0JWKuonbt_pX_2gT4I3s/s1600-h/SH_score.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412343800748165442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiceGlgvsQUX5nv-ID83O7CS6erlLJNAK2Wed0lD9XazRPcxurEOXCi2c_u8_y3hZMIU2ZxRoFmBGiVXZbHQAYJvReDJeIKA5xWXX5TlswaaNhQMuH6DOaAMkUV0JWKuonbt_pX_2gT4I3s/s200/SH_score.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 156px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 160px;" /></a>The original soundtrack score to "Sherlock Holmes" is by Hans Zimmer, who is also known for his musical work on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fs%3Fie%3DUTF8%26x%3D0%26ref_%3Dnb%255Fss%255F0%255F16%26y%3D0%26field-keywords%3Dhans%2520zimmer%2520pirates%2520of%2520the%2520carribean%26url%3Dsearch-alias%253Dpopular%26sprefix%3Dhans%2520zimmer%2520pira&tag=thebakerstree-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=390957">The Pirates of the Caribbean</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thebakerstree-20&l=ur2&o=1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fs%3Fie%3DUTF8%26x%3D0%26ref_%3Dnb%255Fss%26y%3D0%26field-keywords%3Dhans%2520zimmer%2520batman%26url%3Dsearch-alias%253Dpopular&tag=thebakerstree-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=390957">The Dark Knight, Batman Begins</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thebakerstree-20&l=ur2&o=1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00004STPT?ie=UTF8&tag=thebakerstree-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00004STPT">Gladiator</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thebakerstree-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00004STPT" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> and many others.</div> <div> <br /></div> <div> If you're interested in other soundtracks related to Sherlock Holmes, please check my review of the original soundtrack of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fs%3Fie%3DUTF8%26x%3D0%26ref_%3Dnb%255Fss%26y%3D0%26field-keywords%3Dprivate%2520life%2520sherlock%26url%3Dsearch-alias%253Dpopular&tag=thebakerstree-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=390957">The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thebakerstree-20&l=ur2&o=1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />: <b><a href="http://www.bakerstreetblog.com/2007/04/composer-of-no-ordinary-merit-redh.html">"A Composer of No Ordinary Merit" [REDH]</a>.</b><br /> <br /> <br /></div> <div> <div> Has anyone else seen a screening of the movie yet? Please leave a comment below and share your impressions with us. Or let us know if the Rabe review encourages you or not.</div> <div> <br /> --<br /> <br /></div> </div> <div> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></div> </div>

Robert Downey Jr.'s Sherlock Holmes — An Early Review

"I reviewed the whole extraordinary sequence of events" [SIGN] There's been a lot of chatter about the new Sherlock Hol...

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by Scott Monty

When Sherlock Holmes Meets LEGO

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <h4 style="text-align: center;"> "in square blocks highly polished" [SECO] </h4> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh__X42zmvps8WflI21hV0zdVYTTnpOM9wwBhcYIrXZnuYfJ9biktKLvMR2GGGnJ2fXEXfbVp5gS-ah0KxKAmc-RKrQ3RQbniqpynI8KfJNzs5BaW1f7SZlZiMZOd8Q3LjMP1EnIOqXsP53/s1600/Lego+Minifig+Sherlock+Holmes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="751" data-original-width="1024" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh__X42zmvps8WflI21hV0zdVYTTnpOM9wwBhcYIrXZnuYfJ9biktKLvMR2GGGnJ2fXEXfbVp5gS-ah0KxKAmc-RKrQ3RQbniqpynI8KfJNzs5BaW1f7SZlZiMZOd8Q3LjMP1EnIOqXsP53/s640/Lego+Minifig+Sherlock+Holmes.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> <div> One of the interesting things about Sherlockians is that we find ways to incorporate our other interests into Sherlock Holmes. You'll find <a href="https://amzn.to/2ZzNoSS">Titanic enthusiasts</a> as well as fans of <a href="https://amzn.to/2MRkQ5N" target="_blank">Jeeves and Wooster</a>, Tarzan and others weaving their interest into books. You'll find railroad enthusiasts, stamp collectors, musicians, oenophiles, and many others finding connections of their other hobbies in the original Canon.</div> <div> <br /></div> <div> It would seem that LEGO fans also have this tendency. All around the world, you'll find LEGOs crafted into every shape, building, vehicle and interest imaginable. So it's not surprising that Sherlock Holmes works his way into the LEGO fanbase.<br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIYGFtINvakRfnc6b1WqefCBILJj3ixRfsYVFeP_bMiv-J2GHk7gOuF4Yq7TEKtmAwF3yyVQSmfS7JugWwhgIW3GMo2y9tYkUi41ADXczHOWu6zX5ozmG3_OFlBS0rf5tJAj9uc4ka8uzg/s1600/Lego+Baker+Street.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIYGFtINvakRfnc6b1WqefCBILJj3ixRfsYVFeP_bMiv-J2GHk7gOuF4Yq7TEKtmAwF3yyVQSmfS7JugWwhgIW3GMo2y9tYkUi41ADXczHOWu6zX5ozmG3_OFlBS0rf5tJAj9uc4ka8uzg/s640/Lego+Baker+Street.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> <br /></div> <div> </div> <div> Above is a street scene of <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/legohaulic/3142330292/">221B Baker Street by Legohaulic</a> on Flickr, entitled "Sherblock Holmes." You can check out his <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/legohaulic/">entire LEGO photostream here</a>.</div> <div> <br /></div> <div> In addition, the user <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/minifig/3174009125/">minifig</a> has crafted a series of character sketches in his LEGO set on Flickr, including <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/minifig/75325881/in/set-1718116/">Jack the Ripper</a>, <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/minifig/75325880/in/set-1718116/">a Christmas Carol</a>, and others. Obviously, Sherlockians would be most interested in what he's done with Holmes and Watson (seen in the first photo above).</div> <div> <br /></div> <div> Have you seen any instances of hobbies or interests crossing over and finding common interest? Consider leaving a comment below.<br /> <br /> --<br /> <br /></div>

When Sherlock Holmes Meets LEGO

"in square blocks highly polished" [SECO]  One of the interesting things about Sherlockians is that we find ways to incorp...

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by Scott Monty

"With Every Nerve in a Twitter" [TWIS]

<div>By now most of you have probably heard of Twitter. Between the likes of CNN, Ashton Kutcher, Oprah Winfrey and others using the online service, it's finally made its way into mainstream culture, along with Facebook. Yes, the era of online social networks for Sherlockians is clearly here to stay.</div><div><br /></div><div>I've mentioned Twitter previously on the blog - as early as <a href="https://www.ihearofsherlock.com/2007/03/sherlock-holmes-was-very-busy-man-soli_20.html">March 2007</a> - but it probably didn't mean anything then. Over the past two and a half years, I've used the service here on the blog and on the <a href="http://www.bsiweekend.com/">BSI Weekend site</a> to provide short, real-time updates of what's gone on during the festivities (and I'll continue to do so).</div><div><br /></div><div>Here's an interesting phenomenon: as part of the mainstreaming of Twitter, the service becomes a barometer of what's being done and said in popular culture at any given moment. There are "trending topics" that are the most popular, but you can also search the service for pretty much any phrase. As you can imagine, with the advent of the new film, the public's awareness of Sherlock Holmes is greater than ever, and services like Twitter are helping to play a part of the dissemination of conversation.</div><div><br /></div><div>You may have noticed that the right rail of this site has a section called "Every Nerve in a Twitter." This is a widget I've set up that captures every mention of Sherlock Holmes on Twitter. Watch it for a few moments as it continuously updates. Much as the Canon has never been out of print, it seems that "Sherlock Holmes" never leaves the collective conversation of millions of people around the world.</div><div><br />If you'd like to set up a similar widget on your site, just go to http://twitter.com and click on "Goodies" at the bottom. From there, select "Widgets" and select the option that works for you. I used the "Search" widget. From there, you can build and customize your own to share information about the corner of the world that's important to you.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Oh, and if you're interested in following related people, entities and characters on Twitter, you might check out these folks: <a href="http://twitter.com/S_Holmes">@S_Holmes</a>, <a href="http://twitter.com/Dr_Watson">@Dr_Watson</a>, <a href="http://twitter.com/Prof_Moriarty">@Prof_Moriarty</a>, <a href="http://twitter.com/JohnHWatsonMD">@JohnHWatsonMD</a>, <a href="http://twitter.com/mary_russell">@MaryRussell</a>, <a href="http://twitter.com/221BBakerTweet">@221BBakerTweet</a>, <a href="http://twitter.com/holmesnews">@holmesnews</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>Do you know of any other characters or fun entities to follow? Drop their names in the comment section and I'll gladly <a href="http://twitter.com/#/list/S_Holmes/london1895">add them to a list</a>.</div><div><br /><br /></div>

"With Every Nerve in a Twitter" [TWIS]

By now most of you have probably heard of Twitter. Between the likes of CNN, Ashton Kutcher, Oprah Winfrey and others using the online servi...

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by Scott Monty

New App: Sherlock Holmes Guide to London

<h4 style="text-align: center;"> "Now that shows real application" [STOC] </h4> <img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408693183623426610" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifwmGIVj_cuibfAiguyfSv8GEQECP5s7u20Zh5BHbCik_M2YNoz5rj47AsS8ZAsdin9VHX6KJ7LZstiO1uDjfcfL0P6MW7bSLxQRz0-jS5oesdavLDPixQwcMc0E8T1MEwqYxUfLAnvOO9/s200/iphone-appli-guide3.jpg" style="float: left; height: 200px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 134px;" /><br /> <div> The latest multimedia news related to Sherlock Holmes to cross our inbox is that of a new iPhone application called <a href="https://search.itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZContentLink.woa/wa/link?path=app%2fTheSherlockHolmesGuidetoLondon"><b>The Sherlock Holmes Guide to London</b></a>.</div> <div> <br /></div> <div> For those unaware of the technology, Apple's iPhone and iPod Touch both allow downloads of applications (which users call "apps") to add to the functionality of the devices. Apps can range from the sublime to the ridiculous, but many have practical uses. There are a variety of Sherlock Holmes iPhone apps, but most are simply electronic versions of the stories. In this case, the Sherlock Holmes Guide to London app provides tours of landmarks that would be of interest to Sherlockians, including Canonical locations. </div> <div> <br /></div> <div> There are plenty of photographs of the locations and attractions. For example, the first 40 locations from Leicester Square to Baker Street cover four miles and include walking directions as well as Tube stops and other transportation.</div> <div> <br /></div> <div> I highly recommend this app for anyone who has a passing interest in Holmes, whether or not you plan to be in London. The $2.99 download price is a little higher than the entry-level free or $0.99 app, but in my opinion, it's worth the extra money for the practicality, if not the novelty of the program.</div> <div> <br /></div> <div> <b><a href="https://search.itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZContentLink.woa/wa/link?path=app%2fTheSherlockHolmesGuidetoLondon">Download the Sherlock Holmes iPhone application here</a></b><br /> <br /></div> <div> <br /> A tip of the old deerstalker to <a href="http://www.sherlocknews.com/2009/11/tech-sherlock-holmes-london-locations.html">Charles Prepolec</a> and the <a href="http://www.sshf.com/index.php3?file=news&num=712">Societe Sherlock Holmes de France</a>.<br /> <br /></div> --<br /> <br />

New App: Sherlock Holmes Guide to London

"Now that shows real application" [STOC]  The latest multimedia news related to Sherlock Holmes to cross our inbox is that of ...

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by Scott Monty

New Peter Cushing Episodes Available on DVD

<div> <h4 style="text-align: center;"> "What remains for you?" [SIGN]</h4> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmo0xRM57WWQtnD61lZe6qx7h0_brvew8GEmxFyKB0q6PbKe4sBgKi7AFKlXiEynXl4HaDeCRSURiDLrtL93MEdfwBBqOvCnMe7Vubi_w3XtRdtE5h34NHvnGR_TBGrbCwYCQp52Y_WWwW/s1600/Cushing+BBC+DVD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="759" data-original-width="960" height="506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmo0xRM57WWQtnD61lZe6qx7h0_brvew8GEmxFyKB0q6PbKe4sBgKi7AFKlXiEynXl4HaDeCRSURiDLrtL93MEdfwBBqOvCnMe7Vubi_w3XtRdtE5h34NHvnGR_TBGrbCwYCQp52Y_WWwW/s640/Cushing+BBC+DVD.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> For those of you who remember the 1960s, you may recall a television series produced by the BBC that starred Douglas Wilmer, BSI ("The Lyceum Theatre") and then Peter Cushing, each with Nigel Stock as their Watson.</div> <div> <br /></div> <div> Unfortunately, only five episodes remain for us, as the BBC eliminated the originals some years ago. However, there seems to be a silver lining. A few years ago, these were made available on video. Now it seems that they're available on DVD. You can <a href="https://amzn.to/35F7RsR" target="_blank"><b>order your set from Amazon right now</b></a> and save 25%.</div> <div> <br /></div> <div> The episodes you'll find on this 3-DVD set include:</div> <div> <ul> <li><i>The Hound of the Baskervilles</i></li> <li><i>The Sign of Four</i></li> <li><i>A Study in Scarlet</i></li> <li>The Blue Carbuncle</li> <li>The Boscombe Valley Mystery</li> </ul> </div> <div> <br /></div> <div> The DVD is due to be released on December 15. Hopefully they'll expedite shipping in time for Christmas. Other Sherlock Holmes DVDs can be found there as well.</div> <div> <br /></div> <div> <br /></div> <div> Hat-tip: <a href="http://www.sherlocknews.com/2009/10/dvd-1968-bbc-sherlock-holmes-series.html">Charles Prepolec, of Sherlock Holmes News</a> - another blog worthy of checking out (and incidentally listed in the "This Is a Case for Langdale Pike" section of the Resources section of this site).</div> <div> <br /></div> <i>--</i><br /> <script type="text/javascript"> amzn_assoc_tracking_id = "scottmonty-20"; amzn_assoc_ad_mode = "manual"; amzn_assoc_ad_type = "smart"; amzn_assoc_marketplace = "amazon"; amzn_assoc_region = "US"; amzn_assoc_design = "enhanced_links"; amzn_assoc_asins = "B001TE6P78"; amzn_assoc_placement = "adunit"; amzn_assoc_linkid = "bdd1be5de9f5a48d537c2229a46d2e62"; </script><br /> <script src="//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US"></script><br />

New Peter Cushing Episodes Available on DVD

"What remains for you?" [SIGN] For those of you who remember the 1960s, you may recall a television series produced by the B...

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by Scott Monty

New Sherlock Holmes Wax Figure

<br /> <div> <h4 style="text-align: center;"> "It is a bust in wax" [EMPT] </h4> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioulDaqe1jnMZihnMWuYI-Za9CkGRC_38qnbwcbX5awutsz5_q1ObGJJ-gNw_JKxjW6BwOGijPVamPnP4hugRc_KrHIbBhDgB8xSQ-glYsiGXGdfQOvUYJFV18xVUbTBtpnFh3yi8tZCoC/s1600/Sherlock+Holmes+Wax.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioulDaqe1jnMZihnMWuYI-Za9CkGRC_38qnbwcbX5awutsz5_q1ObGJJ-gNw_JKxjW6BwOGijPVamPnP4hugRc_KrHIbBhDgB8xSQ-glYsiGXGdfQOvUYJFV18xVUbTBtpnFh3yi8tZCoC/s640/Sherlock+Holmes+Wax.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> News today comes from London that <a href="http://www.madametussauds.com/"><b>Madam Tussaud's</b></a>, the famous emporium of wax figures that is just steps away from Sherlock Holmes' residence on Baker Street, will unveil a statue of Robert Downey, Jr. as Holmes this holiday season to coincide with the release of <a href="http://www.bakerstreetblog.com/search/label/movie">the new film</a>.</div> <div> <br /></div> <div> Madame Tussauds Studios London has been making wax figures for over 150 years. Each masterpiece takes four months, and a team of 20 dedicated sculptors, to create. According to the release, the wax figure will be revealed on Boxing Day. The creative team used information and over 300 precise measurements gathered at a sitting with Downey Jr. in Los Angeles and cost £150,000 to create.</div> <div> <br /></div> <div> This updated Holmes, according to Madam Tussaud's, is a "strikingly modern image created for the film, with a penetrating stare, tousled hair and dapper black and grey suit, waistcoat and cravat." Because we all know how Holmes is known for his tousled hair. ;-)</div> <div> <br /></div> <div> For those of you in London for the holidays, you can pre-order your tickets. Prices to Madame Tussauds are from £12.50 for adults and children (4-15 inclusive) when you pre-book at <a href="http://www.madametussauds.com/London">www.madametussauds.com/London</a>. Priority access tickets can also be booked on 0871 894 3000.</div> <div> <br /></div> <div> For a range of photos of the figure out and about, <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wsmonty/sets/72157622968847844/">see our Flickr album</a>.</div> <div> <br /></div> --<br /> <br /> <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></i>

New Sherlock Holmes Wax Figure

"It is a bust in wax" [EMPT]  News today comes from London that Madam Tussaud's , the famous emporium of wax figures th...

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by Scott Monty

Thank You, Dear Reader

<br /> <div> <h4 style="text-align: center;"> "many thanks to you" [NAVA] </h4> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1hTYj_s_1zQQHXluZelJRipIq1aRHwM5FrA8iaQj6C1yHfIQkoOFSKErsK98d1u-4WV2ayy4CGwHfPZXbhsi2K5mM_O1vIAKjCz2dvLdDS3CnmVFY88V6GfRJV5EfVA5Y9NAbGm0kGTIV/s1600/NAVA+surprise.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="811" data-original-width="1280" height="405" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1hTYj_s_1zQQHXluZelJRipIq1aRHwM5FrA8iaQj6C1yHfIQkoOFSKErsK98d1u-4WV2ayy4CGwHfPZXbhsi2K5mM_O1vIAKjCz2dvLdDS3CnmVFY88V6GfRJV5EfVA5Y9NAbGm0kGTIV/s640/NAVA+surprise.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> Today was the Thanksgiving holiday in the United States, and accordingly, many of us spent time with family, friends and other loved ones sharing a meal and giving thanks for what has been afforded us.</div> <div> <br /> We were listening to a simple, yet moving piece: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000003FHI?ie=UTF8&tag=thebakerstree-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=1789&creativeASIN=B000003FHI">Aaron Copland's suite from the film <i>Our Town</i></a>. The 1940 movie brought to life Thornton Wilder's classic play, which highlighted the importance of appreciating the little things in life and demonstrated that even a small town isn't completely immune from the influence of the rest of the world.<br /> <br /> <div style="text-align: center;"> <b>"It goes so fast. We don't have time to look at one another." </b></div> <div> <br /></div> The quote is from "Our Town," but it can apply to our busy lives today just the same. With so much happening, we should remember to take stock of who we are, where we came from, and who helps us be the people we are in our respective communities. And to recognize that our communities are far-reaching - well beyond our geographic location.</div> <div> <br /></div> <div> So thank you to all of our faithful readers. The last year or so has seen us occasionally neglect this blog for a while. We're hoping to return to our roots and spend more time here, as well as to make a return to <a href="http://www.ihearofsherlock.com/">the podcasting world</a>.</div> <div> <br /></div> <div> --<br /> <br /></div>

Thank You, Dear Reader

"many thanks to you" [NAVA]  Today was the Thanksgiving holiday in the United States, and accordingly, many of us spent tim...

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by Scott Monty

Auction Items to Support the Watson Fund

<br /> <div> <h4 style="text-align: center;"> "funds of the society were raised" [REDC] </h4> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheYwQDgxZr_HJ-XDKrgSavxTLK6KO11pDadcycw3I97f6t5S9GHw-fPXbGbinxVrfz6BfArKSXvQ9_oWxwD18IaoBmdDVl60uUTpc7xT3uziBSDXLINed1jHxFXVqiJd2YYz5Z5PAgd3ys/s1600/reti-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="254" data-original-width="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheYwQDgxZr_HJ-XDKrgSavxTLK6KO11pDadcycw3I97f6t5S9GHw-fPXbGbinxVrfz6BfArKSXvQ9_oWxwD18IaoBmdDVl60uUTpc7xT3uziBSDXLINed1jHxFXVqiJd2YYz5Z5PAgd3ys/s1600/reti-01.jpg" /></a></div> <br /> For some years now, the Baker Street Irregulars have made the <a href="http://www.ihearofsherlock.com/2016/11/the-watson-fund-provides-financial.html">Dr. John H. Watson Fund</a> available to all Sherlockians (BSI membership is not required) who wish to travel to New York for the annual <a href="http://www.bsiweekend.com/">Baker Street Irregulars weekend</a> but who may not be able to afford to otherwise attend.</div> <div> <br /></div> <div> The Watson Fund is a self-exhausting fund - that is, each year the fund is depleted and kindly souls make cash donations in order to replenish it for the following year. Outright cash donations are collected, but there's also an annual raffle as well. Usually a high-value item is donated as the raffle prize and money is raised in that fashion. In addition, there's an auction held on Saturday afternoon at the BSI Annual Reception each year. It's always lively and includes a live auction of many additional items, with the proceeds going to the Watson Fund.</div> <div> <br /></div> <div> This year, in order to pique some interest early, the BSI is previewing some of the items up for auction. Please have a look at the <a href="http://bakerstreetjournal.com/bsiweekend/auction.html"><b><i>Baker Street Journal</i> page with the featured auction items</b></a>. There you'll find the following:</div> <div> <ol> <li><a href="http://bakerstreetjournal.com/watsonfund1.html">Five medals from the Curious Collectors of Baker Street</a> </li> <li><a href="http://bakerstreetjournal.com/watsonfund2.html">A medical school diploma signed by Joseph Bell's father</a> </li> <li><a href="http://bakerstreetjournal.com/watsonfund3.html">Pillow commemorating "The Abbey Grange"</a></li> <li><a href="http://bakerstreetjournal.com/watsonfund4.html">A fine Madeira with glasses and a book on wine</a></li> </ol> </div> <div> The significance of each of these items, as well as photographs of them can be found on the BSJ site. You must be present to bid on the items in New York, or you may send a proxy in your place.</div> <div> <br /></div> <div> Happy bidding!<br /> <br /> --<br /> <br /></div>

Auction Items to Support the Watson Fund

"funds of the society were raised" [REDC]  For some years now, the Baker Street Irregulars have made the Dr. John H. Watson...

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by Scott Monty

The Case of Sherlockian Links

<br /> <div> <h4 style="text-align: center;"> "The irregulars are useful sometimes" [RETI] </h4> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjepgzLj9AW3k-0FLzMUZqoY-lWSwWhOCFdV6TLgKaUZFo2neDW6wSOHJKdqy8RQVh6mhhtgwztlu3RVs6h8zdmwTKgxfBuiTH7C-lND_LZ3HhKtKtApBRl0N1-QqdXf-_xGG6HmrMU3Wv8/s1600/Peter+Blau+and+Bob+Thomalen%252C+Shaw+Workshop+1980.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjepgzLj9AW3k-0FLzMUZqoY-lWSwWhOCFdV6TLgKaUZFo2neDW6wSOHJKdqy8RQVh6mhhtgwztlu3RVs6h8zdmwTKgxfBuiTH7C-lND_LZ3HhKtKtApBRl0N1-QqdXf-_xGG6HmrMU3Wv8/s640/Peter+Blau+and+Bob+Thomalen%252C+Shaw+Workshop+1980.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> <a href="http://ihose.co/ihose06">Peter Blau</a> always has his finger on the pulse of what's happening in the Sherlockian world. Indeed, it has been said that "If Peter doesn't know about it, it isn't happening." With the proliferation of online content thanks to self-service blogs, social networks and the like, it's easier than ever for the multitude to create their own homage to the Great Detective. Of course, it's also more difficult to track.<br /> <br /></div> <div> Indeed, Holmes himself realized the folly of trying to track the steam launch <i>Aurora</i> when we was on the trail of Jonathan Small and Tonga in <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0938501380?ie=UTF8&tag=thebakerstree-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0938501380"><b><i>The Sign of Four</i></b></a><b><i><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thebakerstree-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0938501380" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></i></b>:<br /> <blockquote> <i>"My dear fellow, it would be a colossal task. She may have touched at any wharf on either side of the stream between here and Greenwich. Below the bridge there is a perfect labyrinth of landing-places for miles. It would take you days and days to exhaust them if you set about it alone."</i></blockquote> </div> <div> As in <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0938501321?ie=UTF8&tag=thebakerstree-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0938501321"><b><i>A Study in Scarlet</i></b></a><b><i><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thebakerstree-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0938501321" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></i></b>, his solution was to employ the "Baker Street division of the detective police force" - the irregulars:</div> <div> <blockquote> <i>"There's more work to be got out of one of those little beggars than out of a dozen of the force," Holmes remarked. "The mere sight of an official-looking person seals men's lips. These youngsters, however, go everywhere, and hear everything. They are as sharp as needles, too; all they want is organization."</i></blockquote> </div> <div> Peter's role within the Baker Street Irregulars is as its secretary, but as part of his own initiatives, he publishes the monthly <a href="http://redcircledc.org/index.php?id=39">Scuttlebutt from the Spermaceti Press</a>, which contains all the information, gossip and current events that he finds interesting. [Side note: in the past, <a href="http://www.ihearofsherlock.com/search/label/scuttlebutt">we've included a summary of links</a> that he produces in his newsletter (I haven't quite had the time of late).] It's worth at least following online, if not subscribing to via mail.<br /> <br /></div> <div> One of the items that Peter has kindly passed on is information about a new blog for the Sherlock Holmes movie, appropriately called the <a href="http://www.thesherlockholmesmovie.com/">Sherlock Holmes Movie Blog</a>. There are some interesting links there worth checking out - including a <a href="http://sherlockholmesmovie.ning.com/">Sherlock Holmes movie online community</a>, created in the Ning platform. This is the same platform that is behind the <a href="http://sherlockholmes.ning.com/"><b>Sherlock Holmes Social Network</b></a>, which is flourishing with over 350 members at last count.</div> <div> <br /></div> <div> --<br /> <br /></div>

The Case of Sherlockian Links

"The irregulars are useful sometimes" [RETI]  Peter Blau always has his finger on the pulse of what's happening in the...

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by Scott Monty

"Back to London Again!" [HOUN]

<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio7d-rL2t6Oc4DYWTB4ZOzARjSR6WWf1yE4pCXPjo5_-Zgb3TosbDYSdMTFhazOk0gVo6eaAbO1og3tBV1aX_z47FNGXbQrULtmq6OyJzHSVQ9ZLbxe_iklMpzae-PYh0eLDACg8UoMEOc/s1600/fina-06.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405692458849854946" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio7d-rL2t6Oc4DYWTB4ZOzARjSR6WWf1yE4pCXPjo5_-Zgb3TosbDYSdMTFhazOk0gVo6eaAbO1og3tBV1aX_z47FNGXbQrULtmq6OyJzHSVQ9ZLbxe_iklMpzae-PYh0eLDACg8UoMEOc/s200/fina-06.jpg" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 160px; height: 200px;" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">Part of the allure of the Sherlock Holmes stories is how Conan Doyle managed to fuse his writings with the city and countryside that was familiar to his readers. More than creating real, sympathetic, and heroic characters that <i>Strand Magazine</i> readers could envision, Doyle placed them in locations that were well known and familiar, thus setting the stage for a melding of reality and fiction that's sometimes <a href="http://www.bakerstreetblog.com/2009/11/for-which-my-friend-existed-vall.html">difficult to discern</a> even to this day.</div></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvr1zecr7xRBBmb_Fh8VxhwWkRFZz4qQt0sqIMukUMeAOglKxJxDuirujuu6pki9tPWEFjD0V2TPw9zFrEGmhDvz2ArSw8r3zjcn3rfLNUrGXZEGa7tHVKKexM8QrZX4poyH4DiGJB9Fl0/s1600/fina-06.jpg"></a><div><br /></div><div>Over at the Londonist, they've <a href="http://londonist.com/2009/11/the_london_of_sherlock_holmesmapped.php">mapped out all of the London locations</a> in the stories and created a custom map to show and describe each one. According to the map, there are 206 locations marked, including:</div><div>- 3 Pinchin Lane - where Watson collected Tobey [SIGN]</div><div>- 7 Pope's Court - the location of the Red-Headed League [REDH]</div><div>- Alpha Inn - the location of the "goose club" [BLUE]</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405692201976375954" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmIJDO727wGNspR4sxGUZni-QZVDn9Q2E0SQ-Q4K_FQUXE-DE8U0pQviPOm_c43UV5U3ismFRW6lByZzBK65-Y8bt3mxz8dK3O1MCdj48nihO_JIKOXjJN24t-IMUC6MoRWzm1nsRF75X7/s400/Londonist.jpg" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 188px; " /></span></div><div>And they note what each marker signifies:</div><div>Key: Green = precise location; red = imprecise location; purple = real-world Holmes-related sites; blue line = route taken by Holmes. Page numbers refer to those in the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000RA7XN0?ie=UTF8&tag=thebakerstree-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000RA7XN0">Folio Society edition</a>. </div><div><br /></div><div>Another interesting resource is from Google Books, which has taken the locations mentioned in <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001FGB8FO?ie=UTF8&tag=thebakerstree-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001FGB8FO">The Complete Sherlock Holmes (Volume 1)</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thebakerstree-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B001FGB8FO" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" width="1" />and created a worldwide Google map at the bottom of the page.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>For other reading related to this subject, you might check out <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0425030474?ie=UTF8&tag=thebakerstree-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0425030474">In the Footsteps of Sherlock Holmes</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thebakerstree-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0425030474" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" width="1" /> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1902678044?ie=UTF8&tag=thebakerstree-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1902678044">The Sherlock Holmes Walk</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thebakerstree-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1902678044" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" width="1" />.<br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><a href="http://www.sherlockpeoria.net/Who_is_Sherlock/Christabbrev.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><i>What are those four-letter abbreviations in the headlines?</i></span></a>

"Back to London Again!" [HOUN]

Part of the allure of the Sherlock Holmes stories is how Conan Doyle managed to fuse his writings with the city and countryside that was fam...

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by Scott Monty

"An Exact Knowledge of London" [REDH]

<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2500/4109091911_911d2e4ea3_o.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2500/4109091911_911d2e4ea3_o.jpg" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 272px; height: 365px;" /></a>Everyone seems to be capitalizing on the press around the new Sherlock Holmes film. There's nothing wrong with that; as Holmes himself once said, "The Press, Watson, is a most valuable institution, if you only know how to use it." [SIXN]<div><br /></div><div>In that case, Holmes and Watson turned to the very victim of a crime for coverage - Horace Harker was a member of the Central Press Syndicate, and a murder was committed on his very doorstep. Holmes used that opportunity to have Mr. Harker write up a sensational piece about the murder, instructing Lestrade:</div><blockquote>"Tell him from me that I have quite made up my mind, and that it is certain that a dangerous homicidal lunatic with Napoleonic delusions was in his house last night. It will be useful for his article."</blockquote><div><div>The result was a piece that ran exactly as Holmes predicted, giving the suspect a false sense of security and thus luring him into striking again.</div><div><br /></div><div>This time around, it's <a href="http://www.visitbritain.org/">VisitBritain</a>, Britain's national tourism agency. They've cleverly designed <a href="http://www.visitbritain.us/campaigns/sherlock-holmes/index.aspx"><b>a </b></a><i><a href="http://www.visitbritain.us/campaigns/sherlock-holmes/index.aspx"><b>really nice</b></a></i><a href="http://www.visitbritain.us/campaigns/sherlock-holmes/index.aspx"><b> site</b></a> that highlights locations around the U.K. which were used in the filming of Guy Ritchie's soon to be released cinematic marvel. </div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHdLYHhD1XUKji4xqjuRJf_wD2N_nSoRH47POMHOmSJDscQXoc1TWi16dBblRp4duq-Pgc6mPuUCZZ-CUdg2hGSJsh3LQeuvoAZg54AmkBGSl12t9uSUtM1QOUpMiV7J40xtR1IRvICldW/s1600/VisitBritain.PNG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404759597746082354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHdLYHhD1XUKji4xqjuRJf_wD2N_nSoRH47POMHOmSJDscQXoc1TWi16dBblRp4duq-Pgc6mPuUCZZ-CUdg2hGSJsh3LQeuvoAZg54AmkBGSl12t9uSUtM1QOUpMiV7J40xtR1IRvICldW/s400/VisitBritain.PNG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 283px;" /></a><br /></div><div>The sites that are on the list include: St. Paul's Cathedral, Albert Docks, Manchester Town Hall, Brompton Cemetery, Freemasons Hall, and the Royal Naval dockyard. In addition to those locations, there are <a href="http://www.visitbritain.us/campaigns/sherlock-holmes/Locations-itineraries/film-locations.aspx">a number of other locations that have Canonical connections</a> as well - including filming locations of "The Greek Interpreter," "The Abbey Grange," "The Speckled Band," and more (can you match the manor house / estate to the TV film?). The site is definitely worth checking out.</div><div><br /></div><div>And you can even book yourself at the <a href="http://www.visitbritain.us/campaigns/sherlock-holmes/sherlock-holmes-experience.aspx">Radisson Edwardian Hotel</a> - although I'm sure you get more modern amenities as part of the experience.</div><div><br /></div><div>In addition to providing a little extra attention to our literary interests, this movie may spur some additional tourism money being spread around. Not bad, given the current state of the economy. And bravo to VisitBritain for being so on top of things!</div><div><br /><div><div><br /><a href="http://www.sherlockpeoria.net/Who_is_Sherlock/Christabbrev.html">What are those four-letter abbreviations in the headlines?</a></div></div></div></div>

"An Exact Knowledge of London" [REDH]

Everyone seems to be capitalizing on the press around the new Sherlock Holmes film. There's nothing wrong with that; as Holmes himself o...

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by Scott Monty

"A Great Convenience" [COPP]

<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJj5GwcqFpBanYT-cnoHGAKJf8kucYxoeqZc3XW22nKS65ObgVWkbBZq08xMLiJ1TsfrOBB0teRHiNKxKwTpZMySWDjncPhsR1kvhti3lm9Q2OZq98bJG_9z5tv0bKjxjuHXDcEPWEVkPv/s1600/711.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404962989878573890" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJj5GwcqFpBanYT-cnoHGAKJf8kucYxoeqZc3XW22nKS65ObgVWkbBZq08xMLiJ1TsfrOBB0teRHiNKxKwTpZMySWDjncPhsR1kvhti3lm9Q2OZq98bJG_9z5tv0bKjxjuHXDcEPWEVkPv/s200/711.jpg" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" /></a>Just when you thought the marketing of the new Sherlock Holmes film couldn't get any more deeply woven into our daily grid, comes news of another tie-in, but this time from an unlikely source: the chain of 7-Eleven convenience stores.<div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.mediapost.com/publications/?art_aid=117456&fa=Articles.showArticle">Karl Greenberg of MediaPost's <i>MarketingDaily</i> reports</a> on the 'elementary' cross-promotion, including in-store elements and a social media portion - the Facebook game mentioned previously here.</div><div><br /></div><div>From the food and beverage area inside the stores to the fuel pumps outside, the images of Robert Downey Jr. as Holmes and Jude Law as Watson will be watching patrons' every step. Clever (ahem) phrases will be strewn about, such as "Hunger Solved," "Killer Duo," "It's No Mystery," "Grab Our Killer Deal" and "Get a Clue," will promote various food and beverage sales.<br /><br />According to Greenberg, "the branded coffee-cup sleeves contain a clue and the URL to the 7-Eleven microsite, wherein players who successfully complete a fingerprint-matching game will get clues to a mystery, the solution of which offers up the film's opening scene and a hint to the 7-Eleven promotional partnership with Warner Bros. Pictures."</div><div><br /></div><div>One interesting side-note: one of the clues to the game is a vintage newspaper that features a front-page ad for "Joe C. Thompson's Coffee Emporium - Open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m." One Mr. Joe C. Thompson Jr. founded The Southland Ice Company in 1927, which later went on to become none other than 7-Eleven.</div><div><br /></div><div>You can see my other posts on the interactive game here:</div><div><a href="http://www.bakerstreetblog.com/2009/11/games-afoot-abbe.html">"The Game's Afoot" [ABBE]</a></div><div><a href="http://www.bakerstreetblog.com/2009/11/i-knew-game-was-in-my-own-hands-stud.html">"I Knew the Game Was in My Own Hands" [STUD]</a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.bakerstreetblog.com/2009/11/i-knew-game-was-in-my-own-hands-stud.html"></a>And all coverage of the movie on this blog can be <a href="http://www.bakerstreetblog.com/search/label/movie">found by clicking here</a>.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.sherlockpeoria.net/Who_is_Sherlock/Christabbrev.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><i>What are those four-letter abbreviations in the headlines?</i></span></a></div>

"A Great Convenience" [COPP]

Just when you thought the marketing of the new Sherlock Holmes film couldn't get any more deeply woven into our daily grid, comes news o...

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by Scott Monty

New Game and Trailer Promote Sherlock Holmes Movie

<h4 style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> "The game's afoot" [ABBE]</h4> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhby4p4Lb0sVvF6J3dwSa7laGc-nus7w_hFozgTVJvvh3hGsj6IN_lOedCB9qIJ94e-sJ5CE6E_DKjcQ1E1K6GinwWBRXv1kaVDDUZEQrbiHEH3tPCbL2Q5zKldMxQxLXU4CQZ9a6dPAAzv/s1600/SH+Movie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhby4p4Lb0sVvF6J3dwSa7laGc-nus7w_hFozgTVJvvh3hGsj6IN_lOedCB9qIJ94e-sJ5CE6E_DKjcQ1E1K6GinwWBRXv1kaVDDUZEQrbiHEH3tPCbL2Q5zKldMxQxLXU4CQZ9a6dPAAzv/s1600/SH+Movie.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> You may recall that <a href="http://www.bakerstreetblog.com/2009/11/i-knew-game-was-in-my-own-hands-stud.html">we recently wrote about the new online game</a> that supports the new <span style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://www.bakerstreetblog.com/search/label/movie">Sherlock Holmes</a></span> movie.<br /> <br /> Here's a trailer that helps tease it a little more:<br /> <br /> <center> <object height="349" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Mrl8fxMq7dI&border=1&color1=0xd6d6d6&color2=0xf0f0f0&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Mrl8fxMq7dI&border=1&color1=0xd6d6d6&color2=0xf0f0f0&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="425" height="349"></embed></object></center> <br /> Have you joined yet? <a href="http://221b.sh/">Click here to get started</a>.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.sherlockpeoria.net/Who_is_Sherlock/Christabbrev.html"><i>What are those four-letter abbreviations in the headlines?</i></a><br /> <br />

New Game and Trailer Promote Sherlock Holmes Movie

"The game's afoot" [ABBE] You may recall that we recently wrote about the new online game that supports the new Sherlock...

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by Scott Monty

"Equal to the Task" [SHOS]

<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bit.ly/3jaF1L"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/5147HN7P8HL._SL500_AA240_.jpg" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 240px;" /></a>News today <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8362367.stm">via the BBC</a> indicates that veteran actor Edward Woodward has died in Cornwall. <div><br /></div>He was known on the small screen for secret agent <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001V7YZH0?ie=UTF8&tag=thebakerstree-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001V7YZH0"><i>Callan</i></a><i><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thebakerstree-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B001V7YZH0" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" width="1" /></i>and later the cult classic <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000YENUOK?ie=UTF8&tag=thebakerstree-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000YENUOK"><i>The Equalizer</i></a><i><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thebakerstree-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B000YENUOK" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" width="1" /></i>, Woodward brought a grittiness and panache to the roles he inhabited in the spy and mystery worlds. Sherlockians may remember Woodward (and his intrepid toupee) as he took a turn as Sherlock Holmes in the 1990 made-for-television movie <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000BRBABK?ie=UTF8&tag=thebakerstree-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000BRBABK"><i><b>Hands Of A Murderer</b></i></a>, with John Hillerman as his Watson and Anthony Andrews as Professor Moriarty. Interesting casting, to be sure.<div><br /></div><div>The plot revolved around Moriarty escaping the gallows and kidnapping Mycroft Holmes in order to discern some state secrets. Add to that a femme fatale who specialized in hypnotism and, well... you've got a CBS television movie. It actually did quite well in the ratings when it first aired, achieving a 9.5 rating with a 15 share, according to the <a href="http://members.cox.net/sherlock1/1994.txt">January 1994 issue of Scuttlebutt from the Spermaceti Press</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>Of note was that it was written by Charles Edward Pogue, who also penned the television movies <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/6305609330?ie=UTF8&tag=thebakerstree-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=6305609330"><i>The Hound of the Baskervilles</i></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thebakerstree-20&l=as2&o=1&a=6305609330" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" width="1" /> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/6305871396?ie=UTF8&tag=thebakerstree-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=6305871396"><i>Sherlock Holmes - The Sign of Four</i></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thebakerstree-20&l=as2&o=1&a=6305871396" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" width="1" /> which starred Ian Richardson. Both of those are highly recommended.<br /><br />Whether or not his time beneath the deerstalker was a success or a failure, we do have to hand it to Woodward for passing away in a Canonical fashion, "in peaceful Cornwall." [DEVI]</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><a href="http://www.sherlockpeoria.net/Who_is_Sherlock/Christabbrev.html">What are those four-letter abbreviations in the headlines?</a></div>

"Equal to the Task" [SHOS]

News today via the BBC indicates that veteran actor Edward Woodward has died in Cornwall. He was known on the small screen for secret agent...

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by Scott Monty

"For Which My Friend Existed" [VALL]

<div>You know your hobby is more than a hobby when the general public is interested. The fact that 221B Baker Street has been receiving letters since Conan Doyle's time and that children today still ask the same question is testament to the longevity and realism of Sherlock Holmes.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.straightdope.com/">The Straight Dope</a>, a myth-busting website whose motto is "Fighting Ingorance Since 1973 (It's taking longer than we thought)" <a href="http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/2088/did-sherlock-holmes-really-exist">published this question on April 8, 2008</a>:</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><b>Did Sherlock Holmes really exist?</b></span></div><div><br /></div><div>The author goes on to answer the question <a href="http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/2088/did-sherlock-holmes-really-exist">in great detail</a>, examining how the stories came about and the cult that grew around them, including the seminal work on Sherlockian scholarship, Father Ronald Knox's "Studies in the Literature of Sherlock Holmes," which is embedded here for your benefit. Feel free to browse, download, print or otherwise share this document.</div><div><br /><center><a title="View Studies in the Literature of Sherlock Holmes - Ronald Knox on Scribd" href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/22524182/Studies-in-the-Literature-of-Sherlock-Holmes-Ronald-Knox" style="margin: 12px auto 6px auto; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; -x-system-font: none; display: block; text-decoration: underline;">Studies in the Literature of Sherlock Holmes - Ronald Knox</a> <object align="middle" classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,0,0" height="500" id="doc_525544424112753" name="doc_525544424112753" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="http://d1.scribdassets.com/ScribdViewer.swf?document_id=22524182&access_key=key-1bh4g15nvpqp8c4c955&page=1&version=1&viewMode=list"> <param name="quality" value="high"> <param name="play" value="true"> <param name="loop" value="true"> <param name="scale" value="showall"> <param name="wmode" value="opaque"> <param name="devicefont" value="false"> <param name="bgcolor" value="#ffffff"> <param name="menu" value="true"> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"> <param name="salign" value=""> <param name="mode" value="list"> <embed src="http://d1.scribdassets.com/ScribdViewer.swf?document_id=22524182&access_key=key-1bh4g15nvpqp8c4c955&page=1&version=1&viewMode=list" quality="high" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" play="true" loop="true" scale="showall" wmode="opaque" devicefont="false" bgcolor="#ffffff" name="doc_525544424112753_object" menu="true" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" salign="" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" align="middle" mode="list" height="500" width="100%"></embed> </object></center> </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Along the way the columnis heartily recommends some reading, namely: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0099529939?ie=UTF8&tag=thebakerstree-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0099529939"><i>The Complete Sherlock Holmes</i></a><i><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thebakerstree-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0099529939" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" width="1" /></i>, which contains all of the original Canonical stories and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0517502917?ie=UTF8&tag=thebakerstree-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0517502917"><i>The Annotated Sherlock Holmes</i></a><i><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thebakerstree-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0517502917" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" width="1" /></i> by William S. Baring Gould. Of course, these days, we'd recommend <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0393059162?ie=UTF8&tag=thebakerstree-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0393059162"><i>The New Annotated Sherlock Holmes</i></a><i><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thebakerstree-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0393059162" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" width="1" /></i> by Leslie Klinger instead.</div><div><br /></div><div>Feel free to make some of these selections below from Amazon - make it a very Sherlockian Christmas or other winter holiday for yourself or those you love.</div><div><br /><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/get/flashplayer/current/swflash.cab" height="200px" id="Player_25c9de6b-9b4d-47e6-8b99-109f54428af3" width="600px"> <param name="movie" value="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fthebakerstree-20%2F8010%2F25c9de6b-9b4d-47e6-8b99-109f54428af3&Operation=GetDisplayTemplate"><param name="quality" value="high"><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fthebakerstree-20%2F8010%2F25c9de6b-9b4d-47e6-8b99-109f54428af3&Operation=GetDisplayTemplate" id="Player_25c9de6b-9b4d-47e6-8b99-109f54428af3" quality="high" bgcolor="#ffffff" name="Player_25c9de6b-9b4d-47e6-8b99-109f54428af3" allowscriptaccess="always" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" align="middle" height="200px" width="600px"></embed></object> <noscript><a href="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fthebakerstree-20%2F8010%2F25c9de6b-9b4d-47e6-8b99-109f54428af3&Operation=NoScript">Amazon.com Widgets</a></noscript><br /></div><div><br /><br /><br /></div><a href="http://www.sherlockpeoria.net/Who_is_Sherlock/Christabbrev.html">What are those four-letter abbreviations in the headlines?</a>

"For Which My Friend Existed" [VALL]

You know your hobby is more than a hobby when the general public is interested. The fact that 221B Baker Street has been receiving letters s...

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by Scott Monty

Early Footage of London in Colour

<div> <h4 style="text-align: center;"> "passed along the London road" [SIGN]</h4> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYkEVqSo0zY2-u7FSp6z7YfTm4EuznLiFfyaCSLddYbXiJeMUSV7IF_0XralK4TKWQ52fNb_cWa9RSx6iEDvxDzhndJ2uBon_GXQKCoyPunLpA6-iWGsjpD-Uufgs8aHXBzrLmLu5KSJvf/s1600/London+in+Colour+-+1927.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Screenshot from footage of London in full color in 1927" border="0" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYkEVqSo0zY2-u7FSp6z7YfTm4EuznLiFfyaCSLddYbXiJeMUSV7IF_0XralK4TKWQ52fNb_cWa9RSx6iEDvxDzhndJ2uBon_GXQKCoyPunLpA6-iWGsjpD-Uufgs8aHXBzrLmLu5KSJvf/s1600/London+in+Colour+-+1927.PNG" title="London in colour - 1927" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> One of our favorite phrases as it relates to the Sherlock Holmes stories is from Edgar Smith's <a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/203991035/The-Implicit-Holmes" target="_blank">Editor's Gas-Lamp</a> in an early issue of the <a href="http://www.bakerstreetjournal.com/" target="_blank"><b><i>Baker Street Journal</i></b></a> in which he wrote:</div> <div> <blockquote> We love the times in which he lived, of course, the half-remembered, half-forgotten times of snug Victorian illusion, of gaslit comfort and contentment, of perfect dignity and grace. And we love the place: the England of those times, fat with the fruits of her achievements, but strong and daring still with the spirit of imperial adventure.</blockquote> </div> Here then is a remarkable piece of video footage from 1927 - the year the last Sherlock Holmes story was first published - taking us on a tour through London <b><i>in colour</i></b>. What's particularly striking to me is that despite the obviously dated vehicles in the film, this is footage that could have been shot yesterday, as the buildings, uniforms, and daily activities of its inhabitants are all very much the same.<br /> <br /> From the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwahIQz0o-M&" target="_blank">YouTube posting</a>:<br /> <div> <blockquote> London is the last stop in an epic trip across Britain filmed in remarkable early colour.<br /> <br /> London was the final stop in a marathon journey around Britain filmed as a series of cinema travelogues. Pioneering filmmaker Claude Friese-Greene brought these picture-postcard scenes to life with a specially-devised colour film process.</blockquote> <br /> <center> <object height="525" width="660"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/TwahIQz0o-M&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6&border=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/TwahIQz0o-M&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="660" height="525"></embed></object></center> <br /> Is there anything that strikes you about this video? Leave a comment and share your impressions.<br /> <div> <br /> --<br /> <br /> <br /></div> </div>

Early Footage of London in Colour

"passed along the London road" [SIGN] One of our favorite phrases as it relates to the Sherlock Holmes stories is from Edgar...

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by Scott Monty

The Year 2009 Was an Eventful One for the BSI

<br /> <div> <h4 style="text-align: center;"> "a certain annual sum" [SPEC] </h4> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL1d_DbXRFZyJnZut051MWpFdKk31VAoInR7QfPEwp9NxPtk7sJ9wsA7akFmQiZdDhn8Q_7Zn5dkYBzAP42yaFOC__rLXHdMow_FXKyIQhIBADjj79yts9T-w9p1h_n_Oc6Bzwx5lcmO7u/s1600/empt-02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="365" data-original-width="300" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL1d_DbXRFZyJnZut051MWpFdKk31VAoInR7QfPEwp9NxPtk7sJ9wsA7akFmQiZdDhn8Q_7Zn5dkYBzAP42yaFOC__rLXHdMow_FXKyIQhIBADjj79yts9T-w9p1h_n_Oc6Bzwx5lcmO7u/s640/empt-02.jpg" width="526" /></a></div> <br /> It's hard to believe that it's been nearly a year since the last Baker Street Irregulars Weekend. An 2009 has been quite a year, for those not following along. From "Wiggins" annual letter:</div> <div> <blockquote> "The BSI Weekend was followed in early May by "<a href="http://www.bakerstreetblog.com/2009/05/man-of-excellent-birth-and-education.html">Arthur Conan Doyle: A Sesquicentennial Assessment</a>", a conference at Harvard University honoring ACD's 150th birthday and an exhibition "Ever Westward" at Harvard's Houghton Library which displayed unique items pertaining to Doyle, the BSI and the Speckled Band scion society whose own archives have resided at the Houghton for many decades. The occasion was also a celebration of The Baker Street Irregulars' Archives and the exhibition displayed rare BSI material never before seen by most of the participants. Springtime in Cambridge was a memorable venue and the participants enjoyed superior speakers and a highly entertaining wrap-up banquet with a lively musical program consisting of early 20th-century Sherlockian sheet music loaned by Dan Posnansky, organized by the Al and Julie Rosenblatt with Henry Boote, the BSI's Musical Director, and performed by Henry, Betsy Rosenblatt, Jim Saunders and Scott Monty.<br /> <br /> "On September 25th a symposium, "The Remarkable Characters of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle", was held and filled to capacity, with attendees from coast to coast, at Indiana University's Lilly Library. The symposium was jointly sponsored by the Friends of the Lilly Library and The Illustrious Clients of Indianapolis. This was an event focused on Sherlock Holmes and other major and minor characters in the Doyle Canon to make the case that ACD's characters compared very favorably to those of his more acclaimed contemporaries. Paired with the conference was a fine exhibition of material from the Lilly's Sherlockian and Doylean collections, including the manuscript of The Red Circle and The Final Problem fragment. The speakers were outstanding and scholarly, and impressed our Lilly hosts and other academicians in attendance.<br /> <br /> "The last major event in the U. S. in this anniversary year was the running of the Silver Blaze in Chicago on October 31st to celebrate the BSI's 75th anniversary year and the 50th running of the Chicago Silver Blaze. The race day was followed by the traditional BSI brunch and program the next day. 2009 has been quite a celebratory year to savor.... enjoy it while it lasts!"</blockquote> When you add to that the new movie that debuts later this year, it may well signify a resurgence in our little hobby.</div> <div> <br /></div> <div> But, with the annual letter from our leader comes the announcement of the BSI Weekend festivities which occur in New York in January of each year. If you've never attended, it's the highlight of the year for many Sherlock Holmes enthusiasts - an opportunity for about 300 of us to gather in one place, rekindle old friendships, create new ones, and celebrate our common interest.</div> <div> <br /></div> <div> As with the past few years, you'll be able to find all of the information relevant to the BSI Weekend available at <a href="http://www.bsiweekend.com/"><b>http://www.bsiweekend.com</b></a>, from maps to a reservation form, to details on every single event.<br /> <br /></div> <div> We hope to be able to see you there!</div> <div> <br /></div> <div> <br /></div> <a href="http://ihose.co/ABREV"><i>What are those four-letter abbreviations in the headlines?</i></a><br /> <br /> ---

The Year 2009 Was an Eventful One for the BSI

"a certain annual sum" [SPEC]  It's hard to believe that it's been nearly a year since the last Baker Street Irregu...

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by Scott Monty

"His Latest Exploit" [HOUN]

<div>As Christmas Day closes in, we're seeing additional trailers for the new movie. Warner Bros. is getting very aggressive in their approach and advertising it in very prominent places, such as on television during the World Series and even during a "Family Guy" special.</div><div><br /></div><div>Here's the latest version of the trailer:</div><div><br /><center><br /><object height="295" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/cBFF8xuJugQ&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/cBFF8xuJugQ&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="295"></embed></object><br /></center></div><div><br /></div><a href="http://www.sherlockpeoria.net/Who_is_Sherlock/Christabbrev.html">What are those four-letter abbreviations in the headlines?</a>

"His Latest Exploit" [HOUN]

As Christmas Day closes in, we're seeing additional trailers for the new movie. Warner Bros. is getting very aggressive in their approac...

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by Scott Monty

"I Knew the Game Was in My Own Hands" [STUD]

<div style="text-align: left;">I was recently notified of a new promotion for the upcoming film <a href="http://www.bakerstreetblog.com/search/label/movie"><i>Sherlock Holmes</i></a>, which integrates the social networking site Facebook as part of a game. Hey, while we're at it, please consider becoming <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Baker-Street-Blog/19866177712"><b>a fan of the Baker Street Blog</b></a> on Facebook.</div><div><br /></div><div>According to <a href="http://www.adverblog.com/archives/004113.htm">Adverblog</a>, if you go to <b><a href="http://www.221b.sh/">the game website</a> </b>(the conveniently chosen URL is<a href="http://www.221b.sh/"> www.221b.sh</a>), you'll have an opportunity to sign up and "hire" a Facebook friend to help you out as Watson and start playing. The underlying text reads:</div><div><i><blockquote>"When the game begins, every Holmes needs his Watson - who will be yours? Sign up today to play 221B and unravel the mystery to play the most exciting game this year."</blockquote></i></div><div><br /></div><div>Presumably, it looks something like this:</div><div><br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399894026731172482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglSp_Nc1ZTAaA6k6Mlyr3BPAflvqnqc2D0ffvaOjN33Lsv4mPVXmbntY4ZZgnZzmZkI-WwJ7DaHRtw71efUMEcEx9aNbB9F8j716qXBV_OUR55lXaQ6KdPYF5O669yW5Lb1qnpvTmganEJ/s400/watsonmovie01.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 301px;" /></div><div><br /></div><div>However, I just visited the site and discovered that they must still be working out the final details, as I get the message: "We are readying ourselves. We suggest you follow a similar course of action and return here shortly."</div><div><br /></div><div>Should be pretty interesting. I'll try to keep up with the developments. In the meantime, you might consider becoming a fan of the movie on Facebook as well: <b><a href="http://facebook.com/SherlockHolmes">http://facebook.com/SherlockHolmes</a></b>.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i>UPDATE: </i></b></div><div>Since publishing the post this morning, the site has gone live. Here's a shot of what it looks like now:</div><div><br /></div><div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399976315730329074" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_81JdSUjxhDf0hFHYlpwZN3t0v1ZAK0qG3wFxB-xR8jakePvfn3WeHknDYVRVZO7Cn_wjw0pIiEe9bczLVPuxQnXm8xhIF12nXF_1Lhxm4yaQfhakDwu3y3jqpQJWTupQZy_VhPKuMqtk/s400/221b-1.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 273px;" /></div><div><br /></div><div><br />You're then asked to choose which character you'd like to be:<br /></div><div><br /></div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399976919994940978" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXucgJWHTRI-PJnpzKtOVBFQl47niOTZGhIW3AWRsnVs8VDJTVgihJOXVpTDaOqwRuxuZt6gau6yE4XZOAMek8eqa7vKtV778A2gBH3m-gKe3bJGPewjGkZmlbZmcQXDLl9g_-ZaVRdW1D/s400/221b-1.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 242px;" />In order to determine whether you're Holmes or Watson, you'll need to answer these qusetions:<div><div><b></b></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><b></b></div><blockquote><div style="text-align: left;"><b>1. When solving problems, I prefer to:</b></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>a) Go with my instinct.</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>b) Analyze the facts.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><b>2. In a fight, I am more likely to:</b></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>a) Punch you. Hard.</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>b) Punch you. Scientifically.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>3. I prefer to spend my time:</b></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>a) Learning new things.</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>b) Socializing with friends.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><b>4. If a lady burst into tears in my presence I would...</b></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>a) Try to comfort her.</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>b) Leave.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>5. When something confuses me, I</b></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>a) Seek further information.</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>b) I am never confused.</div></blockquote><div></div><div><br /></div><div>Here's my result:</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKcganKUe5eeyKPDTnrjPWPnRuWzKw7kPcHqTUaW5OnW1yUOG-LqSef0eiPmDj-A7mgQAekSyl6XixR7X6b4ESgd6nKSx85af_4Vh3IydGFqXb-FP5_oFYGUfVjkbhbU_r5PKsLrTJL8UC/s1600-h/221b-1.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399979236671808258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKcganKUe5eeyKPDTnrjPWPnRuWzKw7kPcHqTUaW5OnW1yUOG-LqSef0eiPmDj-A7mgQAekSyl6XixR7X6b4ESgd6nKSx85af_4Vh3IydGFqXb-FP5_oFYGUfVjkbhbU_r5PKsLrTJL8UC/s400/221b-1.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 245px;" /></a><br /></div><div>Then you're given an opportunity to choose your partner - for Watson, the site suggestions "someone on whom you can thoroughly rely."</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ZHVQy7fEcagtRnwhNAgrIe3YoSwjicNSpnjlzdqgOjYmjBaq0-0f7inzSMBGvEEc4VSrqLZXG7VhYot4YAUFUkqVAPe9mxq3J73L06CRHvrfqkeUKZYt5h8XS1JtFA8IerkMpimUlmYc/s1600-h/221b-1.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399980235722287394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ZHVQy7fEcagtRnwhNAgrIe3YoSwjicNSpnjlzdqgOjYmjBaq0-0f7inzSMBGvEEc4VSrqLZXG7VhYot4YAUFUkqVAPe9mxq3J73L06CRHvrfqkeUKZYt5h8XS1JtFA8IerkMpimUlmYc/s400/221b-1.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 246px;" /></a><br /></div><div>There is an FAQ about the game <a href="http://www.221b.sh/about">available here</a> and reprinted below for your convenience:</div><div><i></i></div><blockquote><div><i>What is 221b?<br /></i>221B is a two-player game immersing you into the world of Sherlock Holmes and Dr.John Watson. 221B takes you through the events leading up to the very first scene of the new Sherlock Holmes film.<br /><br /><i>How do I play?</i><br />You can play with a friend, one as Holmes, one as Watson, or you can even play alone if you like, taking on the role of both characters. Just as in the stories, you and your friend will investigate crimes, sift through evidence and solve mysteries. You'll also have to stake your reputation as detectives on your deductions. Get them right and you'll soon be the envy of Scotland Yard.<br /><br /><i>What does the game look like?</i><br />The game is played through an ordinary internet browser, which we recommend setting to full screen(F11 will toggle fullscreen on and off). It's no ordinary web game - as you'll discover when you sign up, it's a rich audiovisual experience. There are two main areas: an interactive window, and a casebook, which stores all the evidence that you discover as you progress.<br /><br /><i>How do I sign up?</i><br />You'll need a Facebook account to play the game. There is a registration process which uses the Facebook Connect system to link you with a friend, so that you can start playing.<br /><br /><i>What will I have to do?</i><br />The most important thing you have to do is work together. You can't solve the mysteries unless you and your partner share information and ideas. Practically speaking, you'll be...<br />- reading evidence - witness statements, newspaper reports, letters - that unfold the mystery<br />- observing key characters - Inspector Lestrade and others appear at the start and end of each chapter, to share important things with you<br />- investigating locations in the game and collecting evidence you find there<br />- interviewing characters who you meet in the game<br />- chasing suspects, breaking into secure locations, and following trails.<br /><br /></div><div><i>Will I have time to do all of this?</i><br />221B is designed for busy people so the game fits around your life, not the other way around. If you get stuck, or if you just want to hurry up and find out what happens next, then there is always a way to take a shortcut and move on. Much of the game is designed in bite-size chunks, so you'll always be able to play on a little, even if you only have a short break.<br /><br /><i>How long does the whole thing take?</i><br />The game is played out in a prologue and eight chapters, each with its own mystery to solve. You will be notified by email when each new chapter is available. Once a chapter has launched, you can complete it as fast or as slow as you like. How long it takes depends on how serious you are as detectives. If you read every piece of evidence carefully, sift through all the options, and talk a lot, it might take you a couple of hours to play through the most complex chapter. If you get the game to help you a lot, and bust through everything at high speed, then around half an hour.<br /><br /><i>Does it matter if I miss a week?</i><br />Not at all! The game remembers how far you've got so that if you take a break from the game you can just pick up where you left off. If you start later than other people or fall behind, you can play through all the chapters that have been released until you catch up with the group.<br /><br /><i>Should I play as Holmes or Watson?</i><br />In the original stories by Arthur Conan Doyle - and in the movie - Watson is a man of action and intelligence. Holmes relies on him for many things. The game reflects Holmes and Watson's magnificent partnership; both players have a great deal to accomplish, and one cannot succeed without the other.<br /><br />There are different journeys for both detectives - when you sign up to the game, you'll be quizzed as to which one we think you should play. But don't take our word for it - read the stories, talk to your partner, and decide for yourself.<br /><br /><i>Who should I choose to play this game with?</i><br />Someone who you like talking to, preferably, as you're going to need to share a lot with your partner to solve the mysteries. As the game is played online, they can be from anywhere in world.<br /><br /><i>The friend I signed up to play is out of contact for a week or two. What can I do?</i><br />You can either:<br />- wait for them to come back and pick up where you left off,<br />- kick them out of the partnership and carry on alone or,<br />- sign up another friend to play on with. It's up to you.<br /><br /></div><div><i>What technology do I need to play this game?</i><br />To complete the 221B experience you'll need: Microsoft Silverlight, Facebook Connect and Flash. When you sign up to the game, we'll offer you a one-off download for everything you need.<br /><br /><i>Are you going to spam my Facebook status updates like certain other games I've played before?</i><br />No. You will be able to share your sleuthing exploits with your Facebook friends, but it's always your choice. We will never automatically update your newsfeed from the game.</div></blockquote><div>Personally, I think this is an extremely creative and engaging way to promote the movie - and more importantly - to welcome Mr. Sherlock Holmes to the 21st century. I hope those who are connected via the Web get a chance to see what we bibliophilic Sherlockians have been raving about for many years.</div><div><br /></div><div>Oh, and my Watson? <a href="http://www.cc-chapman.com/">Thoroughly reliable</a>. And he's got a mustache - even if it does make him look more like <a href="http://michaelmay.us/08blog/awesomelist/0724n_poirot.jpg">Poirot</a>. :-)</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVmpwUqkfMU-IlTEtTQZ0DXtpuq_So_aCVR_-Ek3vxwl8yCYMSHDzsiokY2DiXouRnIdBMxOwATr85KPhy53JWPVq6uW5F-4LJ6o_HnrhmzDj5eTwnVjU_xhGEO8Zh_5-98b8qzrOndF60/s1600-h/221b-1.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399982843280877506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVmpwUqkfMU-IlTEtTQZ0DXtpuq_So_aCVR_-Ek3vxwl8yCYMSHDzsiokY2DiXouRnIdBMxOwATr85KPhy53JWPVq6uW5F-4LJ6o_HnrhmzDj5eTwnVjU_xhGEO8Zh_5-98b8qzrOndF60/s400/221b-1.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 250px;" /></a></div><div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div><br /></div><a href="http://www.sherlockpeoria.net/Who_is_Sherlock/Christabbrev.html">What are those four-letter abbreviations in the headlines?</a></div></div>

"I Knew the Game Was in My Own Hands" [STUD]

I was recently notified of a new promotion for the upcoming film Sherlock Holmes , which integrates the social networking site Facebook as p...

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by Scott Monty

"Shown By the Increased Length" [STUD]

<div>If you're following this closely, you might recall that in May, <a href="http://www.bakerstreetblog.com/2009/05/i-was-sure-you-would-pick-up-trail-veil.html">I shared the original trailer</a> for the new Guy Ritchie film "Sherlock Holmes."</div><div><br /></div><div>As you're no doubt aware, Christmas Day (literally and figuratively) is approaching for Sherlockians and non-Sherlockians alike. There is new footage available in this full-length television trailer - rest assured, it's going to be as action-packed as the previous.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><center><object height="376" width="598"><param name="movie" value="http://media2.firstshowing.net/firstshowing/flv-embed/flvplayer.swf"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"><param name="flashvars" value="width=598&height=376&file=http://media2.firstshowing.net/firstshowing/sherlock-holmes-tvtrailer-full.flv&image=http://media2.firstshowing.net/firstshowing/sherlock-holmes-tvtrailer-full.jpg&logo=http://media2.firstshowing.net/firstshowing/img/FSnet-Video-Logo.png&link=http://www.firstshowing.net&stretching=fill&quality=false&bufferlength=6&volume=90"><br /> <embed src="http://media2.firstshowing.net/firstshowing/flv-embed/flvplayer.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="598" height="376" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" flashvars="width=598&height=376&file=http://media2.firstshowing.net/firstshowing/sherlock-holmes-tvtrailer-full.flv&image=http://media2.firstshowing.net/firstshowing/sherlock-holmes-tvtrailer-full.jpg&logo=http://media2.firstshowing.net/firstshowing/img/FSnet-Video-Logo.png&link=http://www.firstshowing.net&stretching=fill&quality=false&bufferlength=6&volume=90"></embed><br /></object></center></div><div><br /></div><div>What do you think? While it's certainly not Canonical, this could be just the thing that the Sherlock Holmes enthusiast world needs to get a little more attention to our foremost heroes. And in a time when superhero franchises abound in both television and film, it may be an opportunity to become relevant again.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a href="http://www.sherlockpeoria.net/Who_is_Sherlock/Christabbrev.html">What are those four-letter abbreviations in the headlines?</a>

"Shown By the Increased Length" [STUD]

If you're following this closely, you might recall that in May, I shared the original trailer for the new Guy Ritchie film "Sherlo...

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by Scott Monty

"A Sheet of Stamps" [SIGN]

<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBjgA-DjsPeTKxOEwBvUooNbeJL6FaAfrWdWksyl9z8Fx5qpIDswdevRqfbeT90mxivNBVKJEuytKbxwbNlL6ZCtTgA6kLdgpX0xoaKaF6S9TRcyH-KE_2LlxmYcr_ZhvVfdIdtOBRAnDw/s1600-h/ACD_stamp.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391380535020329058" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBjgA-DjsPeTKxOEwBvUooNbeJL6FaAfrWdWksyl9z8Fx5qpIDswdevRqfbeT90mxivNBVKJEuytKbxwbNlL6ZCtTgA6kLdgpX0xoaKaF6S9TRcyH-KE_2LlxmYcr_ZhvVfdIdtOBRAnDw/s200/ACD_stamp.jpg" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 197px; height: 200px;" /></a><div>In <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/glasgow_and_west/8295098.stm">recent news</a> Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, noted author and creator of Sherlock Holmes - and a Scot, no less! - has been given the honor of his own stamp. The stamp, pictured left, is part of a series from the Royal Mail called "Eminent Britons."</div><div><br /></div><div>For Sherlockians, the association of philately and the great detective should be nothing new. Holmes and Watson were inveterate users of the communications methods of their day - particularly the post and telegrams. For those who are interested, Hernry Lauritzen, BSI ("The Royal Family of Scandinavia") wrote a landmark piece called <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001QQH4EW?ie=UTF8&tag=thebakerstree-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001QQH4EW"><b><i>The Philatelic Holmes</i></b></a>, which is available on Amazon.com (just click the link).<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Or for more web-minded folks, you can find a comprehensive site called Detective Fiction on Stamps, on which Holmes has his own section, aptly enough called <a href="http://www.trussel.com/detfic/sholmes.htm">The Philatelic Sherlock Holmes</a>. There you'll find examples of Sherlock Holmes stamps and Arthur Conan Doyle stamps from Nicaragua, San Marino, Great Britain, Canada, Monaco and many other countries around the world.</div><div><br /></div><div>I guess you could say that with his creation, Conan Doyle put his own stamp on the world. Sorry, I couldn't resist.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a href="http://www.sherlockpeoria.net/Who_is_Sherlock/Christabbrev.html"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">What are those four-letter abbreviations in the headlines?</span></i></a>

"A Sheet of Stamps" [SIGN]

In recent news Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, noted author and creator of Sherlock Holmes - and a Scot, no less! - has been given the honor of his...

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by Scott Monty

"Extending the Franchise" [FIVE]

<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg46zxdYH98CZ7OmIzBhVdiKov-okPgVUHtUsTKKy1HSW5kY0ZI8PWMEE4Sti4lX256crjKEXk5N-ZSkApxG-_w4zwah8XJWNqrYl99IkSwAlPRx3S54rgxn-P4DXbE07PruvqqJPl0P-8I/s1600-h/scan-05.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384437050545087794" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg46zxdYH98CZ7OmIzBhVdiKov-okPgVUHtUsTKKy1HSW5kY0ZI8PWMEE4Sti4lX256crjKEXk5N-ZSkApxG-_w4zwah8XJWNqrYl99IkSwAlPRx3S54rgxn-P4DXbE07PruvqqJPl0P-8I/s200/scan-05.jpg" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 105px; height: 200px;" /></a><div>You know Sherlock Holmes has really gone Hollywood when there's talk of a sequel before the first movie even hits the theaters.</div><div><br /></div><div>The new Guy Richie-directed film starring Robert Downey, Jr. won't hit theaters until December 25th, but there's already chatter that <a href="http://www.riskybusinessblog.com/2009/09/a-sherlock-homes-sequel-for-warners-its-elementary.html">the game's afoot with regard to a follow-on film</a>. According to the Risky Biz Blog:</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><i>"Warners is keen on developing new franchises, with Holmes -- with its broad fan base and rich source material -- considered a very appealing candidate."</i></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>That should please Sherlockians to no end. But we're months and months away from casting and script development, which is usually where our hopes are dashed.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Courtesy of </i><a href="http://www.sshf.com/index.php3?file=news&num=705"><i>Societe Sherlock Holmes de France</i></a><i>.</i></div><div><br /></div><a href="http://www.sherlockpeoria.net/Who_is_Sherlock/Christabbrev.html">What are those four-letter abbreviations in the headlines?</a>

"Extending the Franchise" [FIVE]

You know Sherlock Holmes has really gone Hollywood when there's talk of a sequel before the first movie even hits the theaters. The new ...

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by Scott Monty

"Going Back to Pitt" [SIXN]

<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Clk-UCl7luyudYVMign3rfUjqQPHZyaQ87ptWmV2jZq_jyTkkamSJKYn5TnAq-GVZNDGv3rgze4n4IfASqKsj_asa-7yI0EYys_J5Gvvf_e-FuTmzUlmcf1CF2_LpdJM5_6TdsRHlUMZ/s1600-h/Professor_Pitt.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381175487291881634" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Clk-UCl7luyudYVMign3rfUjqQPHZyaQ87ptWmV2jZq_jyTkkamSJKYn5TnAq-GVZNDGv3rgze4n4IfASqKsj_asa-7yI0EYys_J5Gvvf_e-FuTmzUlmcf1CF2_LpdJM5_6TdsRHlUMZ/s200/Professor_Pitt.jpg" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 100px; height: 200px;" /></a>Rumor (or is that rumour?) has it that the rough cut of Guy Ritchie's <i><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0988045/">Sherlock Holmes</a></i> didn't sit too well with executives, and they've asked him to make some changes.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/sns-200908171554tmslizsmittr--x-a20090818aug18,0,573509.story" target="_blank">According to Hollywood columnist Liz Smith</a>, Ritchie is turning to his old friend and colleague Brad Pitt to step in and save the day. His role? If the rumors are correct, we'll be seeing Mr. Angelina Jolie as the next Professor Moriarty. Yes, you read that correctly.<br /><br />Ms. Smith quotes this sequence from "The Crooked Man" to sum up her reaction:<br /> <blockquote>"Excellent!" I cried.<br /> "Elementary," said he.</blockquote><br />Mine is something more along the lines of:<br /><blockquote>"You appear to be astonished," he said, smiling at my expression of surprise. "Now that I do know it I shall do my best to forget it." [<i>A Study in Scarlet</i>]</blockquote><br />I'd say we should hope that the Hollywood executives know what they're talking about. But then again...<br /><div><br /></div><div><br /><br /><center><iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=thebakerstree-20&o=1&p=13&l=st1&mode=books&search=Sherlock&fc1=000000&lt1=&lc1=3366FF&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" width="468" height="60" border="0" frameborder="0" style="border:none;" scrolling="no"></iframe></center><br /><br /><a href="http://www.sherlockpeoria.net/Who_is_Sherlock/Christabbrev.html">What are those four-letter abbreviations in the headlines?</a></div>

"Going Back to Pitt" [SIXN]

Rumor (or is that rumour?) has it that the rough cut of Guy Ritchie's Sherlock Holmes didn't sit too well with executives, and they...

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by Scott Monty

"Firm, Peaty Soil" [HOUN]

<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Lyj1JcN9_t593IgzM5PaqaKaEpAz4IjIefIjNcYu6vIGJ3xTLauW140HR3JfQBd76QYUdtjZSMuUk6JjPoewQt9IRuAOe077xIWYRbR3Dbj74GDcSnn3jareDL4YP5s-1xtuVMZnG2PF/s1600-h/houn-57.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373306791877704322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Lyj1JcN9_t593IgzM5PaqaKaEpAz4IjIefIjNcYu6vIGJ3xTLauW140HR3JfQBd76QYUdtjZSMuUk6JjPoewQt9IRuAOe077xIWYRbR3Dbj74GDcSnn3jareDL4YP5s-1xtuVMZnG2PF/s200/houn-57.jpg" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 152px; height: 200px;" /></a><div><i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0451528018?ie=UTF8&tag=thebakerstree-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0451528018">The Hound of the Baskervilles</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thebakerstree-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0451528018" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" width="1" /> </i>is probably one of the most widely read and well-known of all of the Sherlock Holmes stories. Of all 56 short stories and four novellas, it has the unique position of being a mystery that happens to have Sherlock Holmes in it, rather than being a Sherlock Holmes tale - due to the fact that Holmes doesn't appear as frequently as he does in other stories.</div><div><br /></div><div>While it can be argued that the main characters are Dr. Watson, Sir Henry and even the Stapletons to a certain extent, there is another major player in <i>The Hound of the Baskervilles</i> that bears some thought: Grimpen Mire, a deadly part of Dartmoor, which claimed life on a regular basis:</div><div><blockquote>Stapleton laughed. "That is the great Grimpen Mire," said he. "A false step yonder means death to man or beast. Only yesterday I saw one of the moor ponies wander into it. He never came out. I saw his head for quite a long time craning out of the bog-hole, but it sucked him down at last. Even in dry seasons it is a danger to cross it, but after these autumn rains it is an awful place. And yet I can find my way to the very heart of it and return alive. <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>- <i><a href="http://www.ignisart.com/camdenhouse/canon/houn-07.htm">The Hound of the Baskervilles</a></i></blockquote>This is not just fiction for the sake of good storytelling, though. A recent article from Wired notes that <a href="http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2009/08/bogosphere/">there's lots of life in the "bogosphere</a>," as they investigate some of the strangest things pulled out of bogs. These include nearly 300 kegs of butter, weapons and yes, bodies. Evidently, the chemical and biological composition of the peat in the bogs acts as a natural preservative. </div><div><br /></div><div>If you're into this kind of thing, you can also check out the exhibition <a href="http://www.civilization.ca/media/docs/fsbog01e.html">The Mysterious Bog People</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>For peat's sake!</div><div> </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a href="http://www.sherlockpeoria.net/Who_is_Sherlock/Christabbrev.html">What are those four-letter abbreviations in the headlines?</a>

"Firm, Peaty Soil" [HOUN]

The Hound of the Baskervilles is probably one of the most widely read and well-known of all of the Sherlock Holmes stories. Of all 56 short...

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by Scott Monty

The Great Unrecorded Cases in Watson's Tin Box

<div> <h4 style="text-align: center;"> "Somewhere in the vaults" [THOR]</h4> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4yFHNx_fQe5n0mnbj9HoDpWKzxwUlqBI-8QlFRlORMwMD_19z-DCOkwhwj_LRCMo9VvJzCLWHerl6wIXV3lWHSbKTRelb1Ikn3LR7eLEzRJ_WLB4NR1cvNAyxDns-wkuXAxslsOHNB-HM/s1600/Cox+and+Co.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cox and Co., at Charing Cross" border="0" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4yFHNx_fQe5n0mnbj9HoDpWKzxwUlqBI-8QlFRlORMwMD_19z-DCOkwhwj_LRCMo9VvJzCLWHerl6wIXV3lWHSbKTRelb1Ikn3LR7eLEzRJ_WLB4NR1cvNAyxDns-wkuXAxslsOHNB-HM/s1600/Cox+and+Co.png" title="Sherlock Holmes's bank" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> For students of the Sherlock Holmes Canon, the opening to "The Problem of Thor Bridge" offers a tantalizing glimpse into some of the unwritten cases of the great detective, of which Dr. Watson had notes, but didn't write for publication. The opening runs:</div> <div> <blockquote> Somewhere in the vaults of the bank of Cox and Co., at Charing Cross, there is a travel-worn and battered tin despatch-box with my name, John H. Watson, M.D., Late Indian Army, painted upon the lid. It is crammed with papers, nearly all of which are records of cases to illustrate the curious problems which Mr. Sherlock Holmes had at various times to examine. Some, and not the least interesting, were complete failures, and as such will hardly bear narrating, since no final explanation is forthcoming. A problem without a solution may interest the student, but can hardly fail to annoy the casual reader. Among these unfinished tales is that of Mr. James Phillimore, who, stepping back into his own house to get his umbrella, was never more seen in this world. No less remarkable is that of the cutter Alicia, which sailed one spring morning into a small patch of mist from which she never again emerged, nor was anything further ever heard of herself and her crew. A third case worthy of note is that of Isadora Persano, the well-known journalist and duellist, who was found stark staring mad with a matchbox in front of him which contained a remarkable worm, said to be unknown to science. Apart from these unfathomed cases, there are some which involve the secrets of private families to an extent which would mean consternation in many exalted quarters if it were thought possible that they might find their way into print. </blockquote> As you can imagine, such fantastical references (and others peppered throughout the Canon) have inspired a number of dramatizations, pastiches and take-offs that have been quite popular in their own right.</div> <div> <br /></div> <div> Our friend and fellow Irregular John Baesch, BSI ("Cardinal Tosca") shared a couple of poems that he read at a recent gathering called <a href="http://www.scintillation.org/" target="_blank">A Scintillation of Scions II</a> put on by <a href="http://www.watsonstinbox.org/" target="_blank">Watson's Tin Box</a> in Maryland. Both are related to that long sought-after box, which features prominently in the opening of Billy Wilder's <i><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0066249/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1">The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes</a></i>.</div> <div> <br /> <br /> <center> <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/va8IOOVPQj8?rel=0" width="560"></iframe></center> <br /> <br /></div> <div> One was written in 1946 by Jay Finlay Christ, BSI ("The Final Problem") an early member of the Baker Street Irregulars:<br /> <br /> <h3> <b>The Old Tin Box</b></h3> </div> <blockquote> <div> In the vaults of Cox was an old tin box</div> <div> With Watson's name on its lid.</div> <div> What wouldn't we pay for that box today</div> <div> And the secret notes there hid?</div> <div> <br /></div> <div> Old Russian dame, Ricoletti the lame.</div> <div> The famous aluminum crutch;</div> <div> For Alicia, the cutter, the parsley in butter,</div> <div> What would you give for such?</div> <div> <br /></div> <div> Story of Randall, the Darlington scandal,</div> <div> The coptic patriarchs.</div> <div> The opal tiara, the Addleton barrow -- </div> <div> Dollars? or francs? or marks?</div> <div> <br /></div> <div> The tale of the pinch of Victor Lynch,</div> <div> The furniture warehouse mob,</div> <div> The case at the Hague, the murder at Prague</div> <div> The powderless Margate job.</div> <div> <br /></div> <div> The giant rat, the cardinal's hat,</div> <div> The Patersons (first name Grice),</div> <div> The cormorant's bill, the Hammerford will -- </div> <div> We'd take 'em at any price.</div> <div> <br /></div> <div> The Phillimore fella who sought an umbrella,</div> <div> The steamer <i>Friesland </i>(Dutch);</div> <div> For Col. Carruthers or Atkinson brothers</div> <div> One never could give too much.</div> <div> <br /></div> <div> The Vatican case and its cameo face,</div> <div> The slithering, unknown worm,</div> <div> The Abergavenny were none too many -- </div> <div> Where is this Cox's firm?</div> <div> <br /></div> <div> Oh, wonderful box in the vaults of Cox!</div> <div> You come with a touch of salt!</div> <div> But I offer two blocks of the choicest stocks</div> <div> For the treasure of Cox's vault.</div> </blockquote> <div> </div> <div> <br /> <br /></div> <div> The other was penned in 1981 by the late Jim Duval, BSI ("The Battered Tin Dispatch Box"), whom we knew personally:<br /> <br /> <h3> <b>At Charing Cross</b></h3> </div> <blockquote> <div> There at Charing Cross once stood grand old Cox</div> <div> With its bright brass plate 'Army Agents'.</div> <div> In strong vaults hard locked laid a dispatch box</div> <div> Filled with cases long been aging.</div> <div> <br /></div> <div> The repulsive red leech, Major Prendergast the cheat,</div> <div> The watch prematurely wound;</div> <div> Of Crosby, the banker, <i>Sophy Anderson</i> and who sank her,</div> <div> Not a locksmith to be found?</div> <div> <br /></div> <div> Baron Dowson the critic, the coiner who filled it,</div> <div> Aldridge's bogus laundry bill,</div> <div> The death of young Perkins, Vamberry the wine merchant -- </div> <div> Hammers? and Bars? and Drills?</div> <div> <br /></div> <div> The Majestic bow sweep of Charlie Peace,</div> <div> The Conk-Singleton forgery case,</div> <div> Mr. Hobb's affair, Bert Stevens' death lair,</div> <div> John V. Harden's tobacco -- laced?</div> <div> <br /></div> <div> The captain who yawned, Merridew who's gone,</div> <div> This Vanderbilt (Yeggman and all),</div> <div> The arrest of Huret, Wilson the bird purist -- </div> <div> Try dynamite on that wall!</div> <div> <br /></div> <div> Mr. Dundas' meal stoppers in hurling his choppers,</div> <div> Old Abe's mortal terror plea;</div> <div> Of the Paradol Chamber or the Tarleton murders</div> <div> Can no one find the key?</div> <div> <br /></div> <div> The Harley Street physician and his dramatic admission</div> <div> The Bishopgate jewel hoard,</div> <div> The Arnsworth Castle business was none too pleasant -- </div> <div> Call Cox's Chairman of the Board!</div> <div> <br /></div> <div> This military band with the look of swank</div> <div> Is the guardian of the box.</div> <div> But I need a kid who can crack a crib</div> <div> Say, the vaults at Charing Cross.</div> </blockquote> <br /> --<br /> <br />

The Great Unrecorded Cases in Watson's Tin Box

"Somewhere in the vaults" [THOR] For students of the Sherlock Holmes Canon, the opening to "The Problem of Thor Bridge...

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by Scott Monty

"The Two Hard-Boiled Eggs" [THOR]

<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-V8wRvvUM4MoNgfY8qaBGU7B1xlaQev9OxNXb9Eat1edGJtC_XjR5LuVJnjizh6UE25wfYmb1TgTSJZK3q7aYDFpjYl6BPlx3gDPb3AjsmJVBUHtMarUYPrBl9pp9xOw52oxD4n9-0ic-/s1600-h/valL_cover_big.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368198458229373346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-V8wRvvUM4MoNgfY8qaBGU7B1xlaQev9OxNXb9Eat1edGJtC_XjR5LuVJnjizh6UE25wfYmb1TgTSJZK3q7aYDFpjYl6BPlx3gDPb3AjsmJVBUHtMarUYPrBl9pp9xOw52oxD4n9-0ic-/s400/valL_cover_big.jpg" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 248px; height: 400px;" /></a><div>This has to be one of the funniest interpretations of a Sherlock Holmes story I've seen in a while. Fellow Irregular Tom Francis ("The Imperial Opera at Warsaw") passed along the link to <a href="http://www.hardcasecrime.com/books_bios.cgi?entry=bk63">the new <i>Valley of Fear</i>, classified as a hard-boiled novel</a>: </div><div><br /></div><div><blockquote>YEARS AGO, A P.I. OUT OF CHICAGO BROUGHT JUSTICE TO A DIRTY TOWN.<br /><br />NOW HE’S GOING TO PAY.<br /><br />A sawed-off shotgun blast to the face leaves one man dead—and reveals a secret that has pursued another across an ocean and set the world’s most ruthless criminal on his trail. The man needs the help of a great detective...but could even Sherlock Holmes save him now?<br /><ul><li>The legendary classic re-presented, Hard Case Crime style</li><li>Edgar Award winner Leslie Klinger on THE VALLEY OF FEAR: "The first real hardboiled detective story." [<i>our own Leslie Klinger, BSI ("The Abbey Grange") -ed.</i>]</li><li>By the best-selling author of THE LOST WORLD</li><li>Inspired by a true story!</li></ul></blockquote><br /></div><div>While the original story does have some seedy and lurid details (at least compared to other Holmes stories and for the early 1900s, when it was written), I can't say I've ever considered it "hard-boiled" before. To paraphrase an email exchange on the topic (the author will remain anonymous, unless he wants to "out" himself):</div><div><i>"LOL - 'they all answered to the BODYMASTER!' Good to know A.C. Doyle's career is off to a good start. What's next? 'My shag is good...'"</i></div><div><br /></div><div>I wonder what other classic Holmes tales could be creatively classified in different genres, with a humorous twist?</div><div><br /></div><a href="http://www.sherlockpeoria.net/Who_is_Sherlock/Christabbrev.html">What are those four-letter abbreviations in the headlines?</a>

"The Two Hard-Boiled Eggs" [THOR]

This has to be one of the funniest interpretations of a Sherlock Holmes story I've seen in a while. Fellow Irregular Tom Francis ("...

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by Scott Monty

Gay Subplot for New Sherlock Holmes Film?

<h4 style="text-align: center;"> "Was he the gay Lothario one would expect?" [RETI] </h4> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPB4QyPsN71GgkyvwLW8jDOYc1n2hpSVmImbamxB3qqSiT8FK63F1WkHFuBpxL7UtKs1ZWwgaEp2tQMb-wTOWTN8XrcMoz_Dhoc293IQQThyphenhyphenAG1skcBo7ITuzIcwgzYpv_jVjqEphly_fc/s1600/NOBL-cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="674" data-original-width="733" height="586" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPB4QyPsN71GgkyvwLW8jDOYc1n2hpSVmImbamxB3qqSiT8FK63F1WkHFuBpxL7UtKs1ZWwgaEp2tQMb-wTOWTN8XrcMoz_Dhoc293IQQThyphenhyphenAG1skcBo7ITuzIcwgzYpv_jVjqEphly_fc/s640/NOBL-cropped.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> Recently, there has been a lot of noise around the forthcoming film, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0988045/"><i>Sherlock Holmes</i></a>, due out in December and starring Robert Downey, Jr. and Jude Law as Holmes and Watson, respectively. <a href="https://www.ihearofsherlock.com/2009/05/was-sure-you-would-pick-up-trail-veil_18.html">The trailer is of high quality</a> and hints at the level of action to be expected in the film.<br /> <br /> Recent posters of the <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wsmonty/sets/72157621834808645/">the four major principle characters</a> - Holmes, Watson, Irene Adler, and the villainous Blackwood - have made their appearance. See the embedded slideshow below for the handsome renderings of our heroes.<br /> <br /> So far, so good. And while Downey doesn't necessarily match up with many Sherlockians' perception of the ideal Holmes impersonator, and the explosions seem a little to James Bond-like for some, the notion that the great detective is getting a major Hollywood treatment has been satisfying. But the latest news is the most shocking yet.<br /> <br /> News outlets have been reporting that the director of the film, Guy Ritchie, plans to put a gay spin on the relationship between Holmes and Watson. See <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,536643,00.html">New Sherlock Holmes Film to Explore Homoerotic Relationship Between Lead Characters</a> for more. The noted film critic Michael Medved chimed in and suggested that it's just a publicity ploy at the moment.<br /> <br /> Astute Sherlockians will realize that this was hinted at previously in Billy Wilder's <a href="https://amzn.to/2ZxKa2k"><i>The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes</i></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thebakerstree-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00005JKHF" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important;" width="1" />. Whether or not it will be willingly accepted this time around - by moviegoers and Holmes fans like - remains to be seen.<br /> <br /> Assuming, of course, that the news reports are valid. As Holmes himself said, "The Press, Watson, is a most valuable institution if you only know how to use it." [SIXN]<br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: small;"><i><a href="http://ihose.co/ABREV">What are those four-letter abbreviations in the headlines?</a></i></span><br /> <span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span> <span style="font-size: small;">--</span><br /> <span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>

Gay Subplot for New Sherlock Holmes Film?

"Was he the gay Lothario one would expect?" [RETI]  Recently, there has been a lot of noise around the forthcoming film, Sher...

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by Scott Monty