The Sign of Four(1983 film)
The Sign of Four | |
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Genre |
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Based on | The Sign of the FourbyArthur Conan Doyle |
Screenplay by | Charles Edward Pogue |
Directed by | Desmond Davis |
Starring | Ian Richardson David Healy Thorley Walters Cherie Lunghi |
Music by | Harry Rabinowitz |
Country of origin | United Kingdom |
Original language | English |
Production | |
Executive producer | Sy Weintraub |
Producer | Otto Plaschkes |
Cinematography | Dennis C. Lewiston |
Editor | Timothy Gee |
Running time | 103 minutes |
Production company | Mapleton Films |
Original release | |
Network | HBO |
Release | 7 December 1983 |
The Sign of Four(a.k.a.Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's The Sign of Four[1]) is a 1983 Britishmade-for-televisionmystery filmdirected byDesmond Davisand starringIan RichardsonandDavid Healy.The film is based on SirArthur Conan Doyle's 1890 novelof the same name,the second novel to featureSherlock HolmesandDoctor Watson.
Production[edit]
In 1982, American producerSy Weintraubpartnered with English producerOtto Plaschkesto make six television films of Sherlock Holmes stories.[2]Charles Edward Poguewas enlisted to pen the screenplays[2]but onlyThe Sign of the FourandThe Hound of the Baskervilleswere ultimately filmed asGranada Television'sSherlock Holmesseries premiered in 1984.[2]
In an interview withScarlet Street,Ian Richardson explained:
"That was the fly in our ointment. Initially, an unseen fly. You see, when Sy Weintraub was planning the films, he was unaware that the copyright on the Holmes stories was about to expire in England and he had to go through a great deal of legal negotiations with the Conan Doyle estate in order to gain permission to use them. However, he was totally ignorant of Granada's plans to film a series withJeremy Brett...Weintraub was furious, because he'd paid a lot of money to get permission from the estate and here was Granada saying, 'Thank you - but we're going to do it.' So Weintraub took them to court. He had a very good case, apparently; but eventually there was an out of court settlement for an extraordinary sum of money - something like two million pounds - which was enough for Weintraub to cover his costs on bothThe Sign of FourandThe Hound of the Baskervilles,and make a profit, too. And so he wrapped the project up. "[2]
The Sign of Fourwas shot simultaneously withThe Hound of the Baskervilles[3]but the schedule precluded havingDavid Healyportray Watson in both films soDonald Churchillwas enlisted to play the role inThe Hound of the Baskervilles.[3]Two previous Watsons appear in the film:Terence Rigbywho played Watson toTom Baker's Holmes in 1982sThe Hound of the BaskervillesandThorley Walterswho played Watson three times previously; withChristopher Leeas Holmes inSherlock Holmes and the Deadly Necklace,withDouglas Wilmeras Holmes inThe Adventure of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brotherand withChristopher Plummeras Holmes inSilver Blaze.[1]Clive Merrison,who plays Bartholomew Sholto, would go on to played Holmes in the long runningradio series.
Cast[edit]
- Ian RichardsonasSherlock Holmes
- David HealyasDr. John H. Watson
- Thorley Waltersas Major John Sholto
- Cherie LunghiasMary Morstan
- Joe Meliaas Jonathan Small
- John Pedrickas Tonga[4]
- Clive Merrisonas Bartholomew Sholto
- Richard Hefferas Thaddeus Sholto
- Terence Rigbyas Inspector Layton
- Michael O'Haganas Mordecai Smith
- Robert Russellas Williams
Differences from novel[edit]
- The plot includes the recovery of the Agra treasure, which here was hidden in Small's wooden leg as he attempts to claim he disposed of it in the Thames.[1]After Holmes realises what has happened due to the wooden leg's suspicious weight in the water, the treasure is claimed by the police (although its most precious piece, a large diamond called theGreat Mogul,is given to Mary by Holmes).[5]In the novel, Small disposes of the entire treasure into the Thames.
- Unlike the source novel, the movie features the murder of Thaddeus Sholto, where Small returns to the house to try and intimidate him into revealing the location of the treasure, beating Sholto to death in a rage when Sholto claims that it was given away long ago.[5]
- While Watson expresses a strong attraction for Miss Morstan, a romantic development between the two characters is not implied in the movie, being displayed only in slight "romantic touches".[5]
- The original novel features a local detective named Athelney Jones working in tandem with Holmes and Watson. In this version, the detective's name has been changed to "Layton".[1]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^abcdBarnes, Alan(2011).Sherlock Holmes on Screen.Titan Books.pp. 259–261.ISBN9780857687760.
- ^abcdSherlock Holmes Society of LondonArchived29 September 2011 at theWayback Machine
- ^abBarnes, Alan(2011).Sherlock Holmes on Screen.Titan Books.p. 256.ISBN9780857687760.
- ^"The Sign of Four (TV movie 1983) - The Arthur Conan Doyle Encyclopedia".www.arthur-conan-doyle.com.Retrieved25 April2023.
- ^abcThe Sign of Four (1983)