Sherlock Holmes - The Sign of Four

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This 1987 feature version of the second Sherlock Holmes novel written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is faithful to the original story except in one important detail: Dr. Watson (Edward Hardwicke) does not get the girl. Otherwise, the familiar tale of the death of Bartholomew Sholto and the theft of the Agra treasure is all here, featuring a snappy performance by Jeremy Brett as Holmes doing some of the finest investigative work of his career. The famous climax, a chase on the Thames in which Holmes is almost struck dead by an exotic weapon, is handled very well. Sherlockians may have a hard time not seeing Watson's romantic pursuit of Mary Morstan (Lila Kaye), his first wife according to Doyle's book, but it would hardly have been practical in the context of the long-running Granada Television series. The rest is to be enjoyed, however. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

We love it!.......2006-06-10

Every once in a while, an actor comes along who not only plays the role of Sherlock Holmes, but actually redefines the role. In 1984, veteran actor Jeremy Brett (1933-95) actually did it yet again! And now, these wonderful Granada Television episodes are available on DVD.

This wonderful DVD has a feature length (running time of 1:42) edition of The Sign of Four, which was originally aired in December 1987 as two episodes. In this story, Sherlock Holmes is called upon by a young lady who needs the great detective's help with a mystery. However, when this mystery leads to murder, Holmes must seek to uncover secrets that have lain hidden for many years, and have their roots in treacheries upon treacheries in far-off India. There's a one-legged man who is at the center of this mystery, and he has a murderous friend who may just be the end of Sherlock Holmes!

My family and I loved this DVD, and think that any fan of Sherlock Holmes, or just plain fan of mysteries, will love it, too! By the way, you'll notice Dr. Watson staring out the window at Miss Morstan, later on in the Holmes stories, she and Watson were married!

Sherlock gets Hit by a Poisonous Dart!!.......2005-05-05

+++++

This movie is based on the novel "The Sign of Four" (1890) by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859 to 1930).

This movie begins simply enough with a Mary Morstan (contrary to the editorial review above, this part is played by Jenny Seagrove) who, after the mysterious disappearance of her father, starts receiving each year as a present a rare pearl. Who is the person sending her this gift and why? Mary consults with Sherlock (Jeremy Brett) because all of a sudden the person sending her the gift wants to meet her. Dr. Watson (Edward Hardwicke) also finds this case intriguing and, as well, is smitten with the beautiful Miss Morstan.

As Sherlock and Watson investigate, they uncover an even bigger case involving a hidden treasure and a murderer whose calling card is "the sign of four."

Holmes and Watson also uncover a host of odd characters. They also encounter an odd couple: sailor John Small (John Thaw) and Little Tonga (Kiran Shaw).

This is one of the few stories where Sherlock enlists the help of others to help him solve the case. Specifically, these are Toby and "The Irregulars."

There is also an exciting boat chase where Sherlock gets shot with a poisonous dart.

My favorite Sherlock Holmes' line from Conan Doyle's works is included in this movie:

"Once you have eliminated the impossible, then whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth."

Brett, as ususal, does a good job of capturing the essence of the famous gumshoe in his performance. Also look for the fine performance of John Thaw as the sailor.

Finally, the costumes, background music, and cinematography are quite well done.

In conclusion, this is a good movie to watch even if you have read the novel it's based on!!

(1987; 2 hr; British drama; made for TV; full screen)

+++++

Disappointing..........2004-12-31

This is baed on one of 4 Novels that Sir Conan Doyle wrote in his Sherlock Holmes series. Since the book has a lot of details and a lot of exposition that can really go wrong in a feature film length movie, I had expected that a reasonable change & corresponding adaptation were made to translate this into a movie. Alas! The constant mediocre suspense throughout the movie added on by Sherlock Holmes' very rude attitude toward Miss. Morstan were appalling. The book says that Sherlock Holmes said "state your case" in a brisk manner. "Brisk" is nothing close to being rude in its meaning of the word. Dr. Watson in numerous accounts describes Sherlock Holmes as having a gentleness towards women. He may not express any fondness for women but was chivalrous nonetheless. Granted the character of Sherlock Holmes is not an easy one to portray for any actors, and so far Jeremy Brett captures it the best. However, this one was surely disappointing. Holmes' keen nature and energy was well demonstrated but his good professional mannerism was surely lacking & compromised. I blame the script more than the actors really. This adapation just doesn't capture the tone & flow of the original book. I highly recommend short story adaptations like Adventures of Sherlock Holmes & the Return of Sherlock Holmes series in Granada Series intead of any feature length installment. Short story adaptations were much better than feature length ones.

Compared to the rest- this was a major disappointment........2004-06-03

Those two stars out of five go to the brilliant acting abilities of Mr. Brett and Mr. Hardwicke, the only things next to the dog that kept this film from being more disappointing that it already was. But before I start, please remember, Grenada may have soiled the Sign of Four, but this is truly their only blunder. They do great justice to the rest of the series.

First of all, the film's beginning. Next to the murder and mystery, The Sign of Four is most well known for the introduction to our favorite detective's rather surprising vice. The occasional (I say occasional because throughout the majority of the Sherlock Holmes stories it is indeed on occasion. In The Sign of Four, Watson says something of "three times a day for a month.") use of the narcotic, cocaine. They exclude that completely. I have been told that they do infact include it somewhere in the Grenada television series, but I was exceedingly disappointed to not see it in this film. On the note of cocaine, the last few lines of the novel were very clever. After Inspector Jones takes all the credit for the work of Holmes and Watson, Mr. Watson says something along the lines of, "You have done all the work in this business. I get a wife out of it, Jones gets the credit, pray what remains for you?" For me, said Sherlock Holmes, "there still remains the cocaine-bottle." Instead, Mr. Holmes simply falls asleep.

Besides that let down, this film manages to make one of the, if not THE most suspenseful chase scenes in all of English literature very, very boring. No, "Pile it on, men, pile it on!" cried Holmes, looking down into the engine-room, while the fierce glow from below beat upon his eager, aquiline face. "Get every pound of steam you can." or, "See here," said Holmes, pointing to the wooden hatchway. "We were hardly quick enough with our pistols." There, sure enough, just behind where we had been standing, stuck one of those murderous darts which we knew so well." Just a slow, average boat chase for this film.

Another great, and extremely important part left out by the film version of the Sign of Four, was the Watson/Mary Morstan subplot. This is absolutely, and I say this without a doubt in my mind, the most adorable scenes in the entire Sherlock Holmes collection, yet they left it our for fear of getting the amount of wives Watson had incorrect. Watson himself admits to being un connoisseur des femmes. Or, they could simply have NOT killed her off in their series instead of adding to the ruin of film adaptation of the greatest Holmes novel in existence. (After the Valley of Fear, of course. And not including the short stories, which in my mind, are far superior to the novels.)

If you want finer examples of the exceptional Grenada series, go with 'The Master Blackmailer,' 'The Hound of the Baskervilles' or any of the series episodes from Return or Adventures. I assure you, you will not be disappointed with those. And please, do not bother with Rathbone's Sherlock Holmes. I'll say what I said in the beginning of this rant, Grenada may have soiled the Sign of Four, but this is truly their only blunder. They do great justice to the rest of the series.

Masterpiece.......2003-04-04

What a treat! This two-hour film for television gives us even more fun than the many fine one-hour Holmes mysteries that Granada television made with Jeremy Brett. There is a delicious air of the bizarre that hangs over this tale, in which a young woman seeks Holmes' help to discover who has been sending her valuable pearls in the mail since the disappearance of her father. Throughout, we are treated to an almost Dickensian cast of odd characters, including a slightly incompetent police inspector, a wooden-legged sailor, a hookah-smoking fop, a keen-nosed dog, and the beloved Baker Street Irregulars (street boys who act as Holmes' eyes and ears.) Filmed with panache and period detail, this version sweeps us away in the adventure and remains overall quite true to the Conan Doyle novel upon which it is based. (True, in the novel Watson ends up marrying the client, but this film does not rule out the possibility.)Brett is brilliant as Holmes, whose powers of deduction (and disguise) are razor sharp.

Average customer rating:

Sherlock Holmes
Wonter is amazing!
Really not too bad.
old and lousy print, but it's the best available thus far
Chinese water torture

Sherlock Holmes: The Sign of Four
Starring: Arthur Wontner , Isla Bevan , Ian Hunter , Graham Soutten , and Miles Malleson
Director: Graham Cutts
Manufacturer: Alpha Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000098ZSG
Release Date: 2003-06-24

Customer Reviews:

Sherlock Holmes.......2006-08-30

The Sign Of the Four was not the best of the Sherlock Holmes stories with Arthur Wonter. From the start of the movie you knew who the criminal was. Ian Hunter was not a very good Watson. And Johnathan Small was a Master of Disguise not a evil genius. But this was a pretty good film.

Wonter is amazing!.......2006-04-14

I've recently discovered Arthur Wonter as Sherlock Holmes thanks to DVDs such as this one. Some of these old movies are in rough shape. Im just happy they exist. Wonter is superb. All of his Holmes films are well worth purchasing. GREAT STUFF!

Really not too bad........2005-04-16

I watched this as part of the 50 movie mystery pack. The quality was pretty awfull, but the movie is from 1932, and you probably aren't going to get any better. Wontner is great as Holmes. The story is more or less based on the Sign of Four, but if you haven't read the original, you will have a tough time trying to figure out the beginning of the movie, since the story has been compressed to the point that it's almost impossible to figure out. Once things get going and the hissing sound can be ignored, it's pretty good, although not completly faithfull. Enjoyable as a whole. Get the 50 movie pack.

old and lousy print, but it's the best available thus far.......2004-05-25

This isn't the best quality print, but Wonter is a damn fine Holmes. Perhaps ths will be restored one day. Maybe it's not possible. It's an old print with quite some static, but Wonter is a five star actor.

Chinese water torture.......2003-08-16

There is a background noise throughout the film that sounds like a convention of space aliens. It is loud enough to distract from the story. This is caused by a defect in the audio compression method used on DVDs. This method changes constant background hiss into warbling tones.

The cover of the DVD claims that this version is closer to the original story than any other version. This is an outright lie. One example is the captain being killed while retrieving the treasure and not while visiting the major in England.

Average customer rating:

Sign of Four (Sherlock Holmes)

Manufacturer: Synergy Ent
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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This one's a dud also
Richardson leads the way in another solid Holmes tale.
Richardson great as Holmes, but...
Brilliant, thrilling and amazing
Elementary!

Sherlock Holmes - The Sign of Four
Starring: Ian Richardson , David Healy , Thorley Walters , Cherie Lunghi , and Joe Melia
Director: Desmond Davis
Manufacturer: Image Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: 6305871396
Release Date: 2000-06-27

Description

Ian Richardson stars as Sherlock Holmes, the World's Greatest Detective, in a spine-tingling murder mystery filled to the bloody brim with peg-legged killers, poisonous pygmies, boat chases, carnivals and sudden merciless extinction, all tied to a king's ransom in jewels known as the Great Agra Treasure! With the faithful and resourceful Dr. Watson by his side and the beautiful Miss Mary Morstan, a delectable damsel in distress, it's up to the human bloodhound known as Sherlock Holmes, with the help of a remarkable canine called Toby, to unravel the puzzle and find the stolen fortune before The Sign of Four claims yet another victim!

Customer Reviews:

This one's a dud also.......2002-06-08

I don't know what these other reviewers are thinking of. I'm a fan of Ian Richardson but he's awful in this and this version of the story is likewise awful. Save your money because it'll be a waste if you buy this tape. I know, I know, you'd think he'd be great at this role but it's a big disappointment.

Richardson leads the way in another solid Holmes tale........2001-09-05

SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE SIGN OF FOUR was the 2nd of 2 films that Ian Richardson starred in as the Great Detective, after HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES. Once again, the production values, and Richardson's warm and impeccable performance carry this flick. Cheri Lunghi (Queen Guenevere in EXCALIBUR)is a winning and winsome damsel-in-distress and David Healy's Dr. Watson is a great improvement on his HOUND counterpart, being much more realistic in the role. Of course, there are a couple liberties taken with the original tale, and the culprits are revealed rather early in the film for my taste, but it doesn't get in the way of a solid and entertaining thriller. If you're a Sherlock Holmes fan, I would definitely recommend this film.

Richardson great as Holmes, but..........2000-07-14

the DVD is grainy, and the story does deviate from the text somewhat. The packaging is nicer than the one for the Richardson "Hound of the Baskervilles," but I would still say that the Granada version with Jeremy Brett is the better of the two.

Brilliant, thrilling and amazing.......2000-03-19

Of course it is always said but for the hundreth time: Ian Richardson is perhaps the best of all Holmses on screen. The film shows a very colourful and amazing version of the classic by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. But no more talking - watch it. The game is afoot!

Elementary!.......2000-01-18

Brilliant! Ian Richardson really does bring Holmes to life in this entertaining and clever adaption of 'The Sign of Four'. A brilliant story of pygmies, jewels and wooden legs, plus the usual amazing deductions made by Holmes with the help of Dr.Watson. Great viewing!

Suspense Classics 4-Movie Pack - Sign of Four, Triumph of Sherlock Holmes, Murder at the Baskervilles, Woman in Green

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Suspense Classics 4-Movie Pack - Sign of Four, Triumph of Sherlock Holmes, Murder at the Baskervilles, Woman in Green
Starring: Suspense Classics 4 Movie Pak
Manufacturer: Mill Creek Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000EMSOB6
Release Date: 2006-02-07

Sherlock Holmes: The Sign of Four/Triumph of Sherlock Holmes/Murder at the Baskervilles

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Sherlock Holmes: The Sign of Four/Triumph of Sherlock Holmes/Murder at the Baskervilles
Starring: Sherlock Holmes
Manufacturer: Pop Flix
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000GH3Q94
Release Date: 2006-08-08

Description

SUPERSLEUTH SHERLOCK HOLMES IN THREE THRILLING MYSTERIES!

The Sign of Four (1932) 63 min B&W
Starring: Arthur Wontner, Isla Bevan; Director: Graham Cutts, Rowland V. Lee Escaped killer Jonathan Small is out to retrieve a treasure cheated from him long ago and will let nothing stand in his way. Threatened by the killer, the innocent Mary Morstan runs to Sherlock Holmes for help. Holmes' impeccable detective skills lead him to the seedy world of carnival life, where Small and his distasteful friends live and work.

Triumph of Sherlock Holmes (1935) 84 min B&W
Starring: Arthur Wontner, Ian Fleming, Lyn Harding; Director: Leslie Hiscott Holmes and Watson receive a cryptic note that draws them out of their "official" retirement. They become entangled in a complex murder mystery involving an ex-member of the Scowlers, an American secret society of tough, murderous coal miners. Will Holmes find the murderer before more bodies drop?

Murder at the Baskervilles (1937) 76 min B&W
Starring: Arthur Wontner, Ian Fleming, Lyn Harding; Director: Thomas Bentley Shortly after his arrival at Sir Henry Baskerville's estate, Holmes is asked to help solve the mysterious disappearance of a prize racehorse favored to win the Barchester Cup. Holmes suspects that his archenemy Professor Moriarty is involved. Fortunately, Holmes finds the horse safe and sound, but Moriarty swears revenge. Hang on for the chilly ending when Holmes and Moriarty meet face to face!

Average customer rating:

This one's a dud also

Richardson leads the way in another solid Holmes tale.

Richardson great as Holmes, but...

Brilliant, thrilling and amazing

Elementary!

Sherlock Holmes and the Sign of Four
Starring: Peter O'Toole
Director: Ian Mackenzie , and Alex Nicholas
Manufacturer: Goldhil Home Media
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Sherlock Holmes - The Hound of the Baskervilles

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

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Murder Rooms - The Dark Beginnings of Sherlock Holmes

ASIN: B000O5B4B0
Release Date: 2007-05-08

Customer Reviews:

This one's a dud also.......2002-06-08

Richardson leads the way in another solid Holmes tale........2001-09-05

Richardson great as Holmes, but..........2000-07-14

Brilliant, thrilling and amazing.......2000-03-19

Elementary!.......2000-01-18

Average customer rating:

Sherlock Holmes The Sign of the Four

ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Product Description

Animated version of Doyle's classic.

Sherlock Holmes: The Sign Of The Four And The Blue Carbuncle [Region 2]

Average customer rating:

Cushing as Holmes, impressive DVD quality

Sherlock Holmes: The Sign Of The Four And The Blue Carbuncle [Region 2]
Starring: George Howell , Nigel Stock , Douglas Wilmer , Phillip Bond , and Enid Lindsay
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0001P1B98

Customer Reviews:

Cushing as Holmes, impressive DVD quality.......2006-04-29

I just viewed the 3 disc set from the BBC containing this disc of classic Sherlock Holmes stories and was pleasantly surprised by the quality of both the video and the performances (my expectations were low for a series this old). Many film or video versions of Holmes stories or "Holmes-inspired" videos take considerable liberties with the characters, plots and dialogue created by Conan Doyle. This series is essentially true to the original written word, with much of the dialogue exactly quoting Doyle. Having seen Cushing previously only in Dracula and Frankenstein-type horror roles, I was impressed by his restrained but authentic portrayal of Holmes in this series. Less quirky and exhuberant than Jeremy Brett's benchmark performances, he never the less conveyed the idiosyncratic detectives character well. These films were made 30 years prior to the BBC series starring Brett, and the interiors are what we have seen in the past from TV series or films from the BBC at this time period - a bit stagey, theatrical and just slightly unrealistic, although there is nice complementary exterior work for many scenes. What was really surprising was the excellent quality of the video source and digital transfer - sharp images with bright vibrant colors that looked like a modern filming of the older BBC play on tape style - definitely the best BBC release quality-wise I have seen from this period (there are scenes with motion-artifacts typical of digital transfers, but the DVD images are generally sharp). Too many of their releases of series from this time period have been fuzzy and dark. Audio is good here too. The Sign of Four is the less authentic and less enjoyable of the two stories on this disc, considerably abbreviated to fit the story into 50 minutes. The Blue Carbuncle is quite similar to the staging of the Brett version. One caveat - I own the PAL discs of this series - often the NTSC versions of PAL films are significantly poorer quality wise - any real J. Brett fan knows what poor NTSC DVDs Granada released and obtained the much brighter, sharper, artifact-free PAL versions of his Holmes. Definitely recommended for Holmes fans, an interesting comaprison to the Brett versions, and quite entertaining. Of interest in the Blue Carbuncle, the character of the commissionaire is played by the actor who plays Henry Baker in the Brett version!

Mystery Classics Volume 4: Sherlock Holmes: The Sign of Four, The Triumph of Sherlock Holmes, Sherlock Holmes: Murder of the Baskervilles, Sherlock Holmes: The Woman in Green

Average customer rating:

Mystery Classics Volume 4: Sherlock Holmes: The Sign of Four, The Triumph of Sherlock Holmes, Sherlock Holmes: Murder of the Baskervilles, Sherlock Holmes: The Woman in Green
Starring: Mystery Classics
Manufacturer: Digital 1 Stop
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0002MQG5O
Release Date: 2004-02-02

DVD:

DVD

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