Midweek Sherlock Links Roundup (June 9 - June 13, 2012)

LA Review of Books published a refreshingly provocative piece entitled ‘Whither Holmes?’ by Nicholas Meyer, author of The Seven-Per-Cent Solution, the infamous Holmes novel which did for Sherlock in the 1970s what BBC Sherlock is doing for Sherlock in the 21st century (ie. for better or for worse, an insane upswing in interest in all things Sherlock Holmes is afoot). Mr Meyer appears to have thought long and hard about the state of the current resurgence we find ourselves awash. He then found a semi-popular but literate media outlet (LA Review of Books) to unleash his rather grim conclusions: “Which brings us to the dilemma of Holmes in a postliterate age, and the larger question of how one adapts literature for the movies, for an audience that has never read the original.” Wasting no time softening the blow, Meyer proclaims: “The answer, I fear, is a depressing one — depressing, at any rate, to those of us who grew up reading and loving the original, written incarnation…” The gist of the rest of the piece is that due to an unholy alliance of Hollywood producers (worse than marauding cannibal philistines), well-intentioned ‘up-daters’ (why do we need to always update everything all the time?) and attention deficient audiences (“who cannot tolerate a shot that lasts more than four seconds, who has no use or interest in narrative coherence” oh, snap!), the Sherlockian culture that we know and love is slowly rotting from the inside out. It’s clear that this article is going to make A LOT of people very angry/defensive (cf. see just the comments so far), but I think that Meyer’s essay might just be one of the most insightful, brave and relevant pieces written about the current state of Sherlock Holmes published thus far. For all intents and purposes (and I admit being guilty of this as well), the majority of general ‘Sherlock Holmes and contemporary culture’ articles/blogs/talks are at best naively optimistic and self-aggrandizing ‘love fests’, and at worst, highly delusional and ultimately destructive ‘sell outs’ to the lowest common denominator. Which in turn slowly succumbs to and even approves of that great Culture destroying pestilence known as ‘watering down’ - watering/dumbing down the intellectual, the cerebral and, most devastatingly, the source (i.e. the Canon). Banished to the historical curiosities section, the source or original text become less and less important until it ceases to matter at all (I think we’re beyond kidding ourselves at this point that CBS’s Elementary is anything other than this state of affairs writ large.). More passionate then I would have ever imagined or assumed, Meyer has noticed something rotten in the street of Baker, and ‘Whither Holmes’ is a wake-up call (or call to arms) to all those whom the Great Detective means more than simply the ‘latest adaptation’ spoon-fed to us by “second-rate minds”. If you read/share one article I post this week, please let it be Nicholas Meyer’s ‘Whither Holmes?’

[I feel like I just had a ‘Network Moment’ based on how worked-up Meyer’s essay just made me. Wish Dr Watson was around to give me some brandy to calm my nerves!]

Baker Street Babes, to commemorate what would have been Basil Rathbone’s 120th birthday this week (Wednesday, June 13, 2012), created a very special Rathbone birthday card; and it’s truly a thing of beauty! For those of you who have seen the Christopher Morley birthday cards I’ve created in the past, you know the Babes’ card is a design after my own heart. Let’s all raise a glass to Sir Basil Rathbone! P.S. I woke up early this morning and watched Rathbone/Bruce in The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1939) and was, as usual, completely blown away by the garden party ‘singing and dancing’ scene which a disguised Sherlock Holmes features so prominently. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, Rathbone probably dons the second greatest (non-canonical) Sherlock Holmes disguise of all time. (First place of course going to Douglas Wilmer for his disguise towards the very end of The Disappearance of Lady Francis Carfax - 1965.)

[Click on the image to see Rathbone in all his birthday glory!]

Sherlock_NYC is putting together a trip to the hollowed grounds of Gillette Castle in Connecticut. For those unfamiliar, Gillette Castle (also known as Gillette’s Folly) is the former home of William Gillette, perhaps the most important actor to have ever donned the role of the Great Detective and for all intents and purposes the Cumberbatch of his day in both popularity and sexiness. “Sherlock NYC presents a very special outing in Connecticut! Join us Saturday, June 23rd, [2012] for a day of exploring the breathtaking Gillette Castle and learning all about the life and career of William Gillette, one of the ultimate Sherlockians of his time. Our day starts at Gillette Castle in East Haddam, CT, where we’ll be having a private tour of the Castle and grounds. We’ll also be learning about William Gillette himself – architect, playwright and Sherlockian. We’ll then be heading to the Gelston House for a three course meal and reader’s theater of Ken Ludwig’s ‘Postmortem’, with your fellow Sherlockians as the stars.” I hear things are filling up quickly so act fast!

[Gillette’s Castle or Gillette’s Folly? Either way, Gillette had a sweet place to call home.]

SherloCon 2012 (not to be confused with 221BCon, set for April 13/14 2013 in Atlanta, GA, which I’l be posting more about during this Friday’s Links) is a recently announced Sherlock Holmes convention set for the weekend of August 24-26, 2012 in the “crime capital of Germany” in the Rhineland city of Hillesheim (not sure what makes it the “crime capital” or why attending an event in a crime capital is a good thing). If Google Translate can be believed, this is the “first Sherlock Holmes convention in Germany” (ever?) and the producers appear to have a very organized weekend planned for Sherlock fans of all stripes and allegiances (The Canon to the BBC and everything in between from what I can glean). 

[SherloCon 2012 - taking place in Hillesheim, Germany.]

Mirror, that UK stalwart publication known for it’s integrity and hard-hitting journalism, ran an interview with BC: “Why do women go nuts for me? Benedict Cumberbatch on his weird life as a sex symbol.” The interview is pretty standard stuff but my favorite line has to be: “he says the part of his body he dislikes the most is “the size and shape of my head,” adding, “I’ve been likened to Sid the sloth from Ice Age”.” Celebrities, they’re just like us…and they have disproportionately sized skulls too!

[Bobblehead Sherlock.]

The Well-Read Sherlockian reviews Joe Riggs’ forthcoming The Real Sherlock Holmes: The Mysterious Method and Curious History of a True Mental Specialist (London: MX, 2012). “It’s essentially a monograph, only on mental techniques rather than 140 types of tobacco ash. Riggs begins with a thorough dissection of psychic methods” and from there explores connections between what a mentalist does and what tricks, methods and techniques Sherlock Holmes used to investigate and fight crime in Victorian London. Leah Guinn, author of The Well-Read Sherlockian, approaches what is sure to be a somewhat controversial book in an even-handed and open minded way allowing the reader to decide what to make of Mr Riggs’ unorthodox yet original take on The Master and his methods.

[“Get ready to see everyone and everything in a way you never thought possible. These skills and techniques will catapult you into the world of literal mind reading and mental acuity.” - MX]

Quick Sherlock Links:

Tea at 221B shows off some vintage Sherlock Holmes-themed collectors cards. “Included in select boxes from The Jamie Boix Chocolate Company, Barcelona Spain.  Twenty one cards were released depicting scenes from The Speckled Band.” I love rare and/or obscure Sherlockian items like this and I’m happy to see more and more of this stuff is being documented online.

[Really stunning pieces.]

Lyndsay Faye was interviewed by mystery writer Michael Connelly (winner of the Edgar and Nero Awards, among a myriad of others).

Kieran McMullen posted two reviews this week: The Secret Journal of Dr Watson by Phil Growick & Holmes Sweet Holmes by Dan Andriacco. 

I’m Boldly Going posted an excellent Granada still from “The Final Problem” that I don’t think I have ever seen: Jeremy Brett and David Burke (in his final outing as the good doctor before Edward Hardwicke took over) posing in front of the rather impressive backdrop of that deadly cauldron which was soon to become the sepulchral of Professor Moriarty.

[Still from Granada’s “The Final Problem”.]

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