Line #35 Creator/JeremyBrett


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7	->''"The provocation with Holmes is the fact that he's described by Doyle as a man without a heart - all brain... and that's very difficult to play, or even indicate."''
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9	Jeremy Brett (born Peter Jeremy William Huggins; 3 November 1933 – 12 September 1995) ''was'' Series/SherlockHolmes. Even now, decades later, he is still remembered as [[TruerToTheText the most faithful adaptation]] of the GreatDetective.
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11	Brett was an English actor who appeared on both stage and screen. He worked with Creator/LaurenceOlivier at the National Theatre and in a film production of ''Theatre/TheMerchantOfVenice'', he starred as Creator/AudreyHepburn[='=]s brother in ''Film/WarAndPeace1956'', he starred as Creator/AudreyHepburn[='=]s LoveInterest in ''Film/MyFairLady'', he played d'Artagnan in a television series of ''Literature/TheThreeMusketeers'', he played Basil Hallward in a television series of ''Literature/ThePictureOfDorianGray'', but it is for Series/SherlockHolmes that he will be remembered.
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13	Between 1984 and 1994, Granada produced adaptations of Creator/ArthurConanDoyle's famous stories with Brett in the title role. They were:
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15	* ''Series/TheAdventuresOfSherlockHolmes'': where he was joined by David Burke as a capable [[TheWatson Dr Watson]] more in keeping with Doyle's depiction of him;
16	* ''Series/TheReturnOfSherlockHolmes'': Edward Hardwicke replaced Burke as Watson continuing the faithful portrayal of Holmes's sidekick. Included two feature length adaptations of the novels ''The Sign of Four'' and ''The Hound of the Baskervilles'';
17	* ''Series/TheCasebookOfSherlockHolmes'';
18	* ''Film/TheMasterBlackmailer'': a feature-length adaptation of ''The Adventure of Charles Augustus Milverton'';
19	* ''Film/TheLastVampyre'': a feature-length adaptation of ''The Adventure of the Sussex Vampire'';
20	* ''Film/TheEligibleBachelor'': a feature-length adaptation of ''The Adventure of the Noble Bachelor'' (with bits of ''The Veiled Lodger'' thrown in);
21	* ''Series/TheMemoirsOfSherlockHolmes'': Brett's last series, which was marked by his drastically failing health;
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23	Brett and Hardwicke continued their roles on the stage for ''Theatre/TheSecretOfSherlockHolmes'', written by Granada script-writer Jeremy Paul. The play ran from '88 to '89 at the Wyndham Theatre.
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25	Brett saw playing Sherlock Holmes as a challenge and was determined to produce the best portrayal of him that had been seen (his most prized possession was a 77-page book that he compiled himself documenting everything from Holmes's eating habits to the character's eccentric mannerisms). "Some actors fear if they play Sherlock Holmes for a very long run the character will steal their soul, leave no corner for the original inhabitant", he once said, but: "Holmes has become the dark side of the moon for me. He is moody and solitary and underneath I am really sociable and gregarious. It has all got too dangerous". David Burke originally played Dr. Watson but left after the filming of ''The Final Problem'' in order to join the Royal Shakespeare Company and spend more time with his family (his wife Anna was also a member of the company). He was replaced, on Burke's own recommendation, with Edward Hardwicke who played him from ''The Empty House'' onward. In Brett's opinion, Hardwicke was the nicest man he ever knew.
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27	Unfortunately Brett suffered from manic depression after the death of his wife not long after filming Sherlock Holmes's own faked death in ''The Final Problem''. In an act of incredible bravery, he went public with his condition, urging people to seek help - in fact, one of his last interviews features him talking about his illness and encouraging people to talk to their doctors about it. During the production of the remaining series, Brett's health declined, and he even collapsed on set and had to be admitted to hospital. When he was finally discharged, he was picked up from the hospital by Edward Hardwicke who took him out to lunch.
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29	Not long after filming ''The Cardboard Box'', Jeremy Brett died at the age of sixty-one from heart failure. Edward Hardwicke spoke at his funeral where he called him his "dear friend" and said he was "greatly missed". The ''New York Times'' in their report of his death said that "Mr. Brett was regarded as the quintessential Holmes: breathtakingly analytical, given to outrageous disguises and the blackest moods and relentless in his enthusiasm for solving the most intricate crimes."
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31	Even now, he is and will always be '''''Sherlock Holmes'''''.
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33	!! Tropes relating to Jeremy Brett:
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35	* MilkingTheGiantCow: One of the trademarks of his Holmes, [[ShownTheirWork with a basis in the canon]].
36	* NonSingingVoice: As Freddy Eynsford-Hill in ''Film/MyFairLady'', which is an especially weird example considering that Brett could actually sing.
37	* SignatureLaugh: He had a very distinct and infectious laugh. Seriously, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYh5VUE_2TE listen to it.]] Edward Hardwicke said it was the thing he would most remember and miss about him.
38	* TallDarkAndHandsome: Just look at him.
39	* TheCastShowOff: Many of his roles would provide at least a taste of his excellent singing voice, excluding ''My Fair Lady'', which bafflingly dubbed him. Even the Holmes producers made use of it: ''The Bruce-Partington Plans'' opens with him crooning in Latin.
40	* RealitySubtext: Jeremy and Edward were [[HeterosexualLifePartners best friends in real life]], and it really showed in their performances.
41	* WhatCouldHaveBeen: Was once considered for the part of Film/JamesBond.
42	** Which also crosses into HilariousInHindsight when you remember that Creator/CharlesGray who played [[AloofBigBrother Mycroft]] [[BrilliantButLazy Holmes]] also played Blofeld in ''Film/DiamondsAreForever''.
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Context Creator / JeremyBrett