The Return of Sherlock Holmes is a 2016 independent film written and directed by, and starring Joshua Kennedy.
The Return of Sherlock Holmes adapts the Sherlock Holmes stories "The Empty House" and "The Six Napoleons". Weeks after seemingly perishing at the hands of Professor Moriarty at Reichenbach Falls, the Great Detective miraculously reappears at 221B Baker Street to Doctor Watson's surprise. But Holmes has little time to rest, as baffling series of crimes leads to the most perilous case of all...
The Return of Sherlock Holmes provides examples of:
- Bad to the Last Drop: Mrs. Hudson serves Holmes a cup of tea he can only describe as disgusting.
- Bald of Evil: Colonel Moran, The Dragon to Professor Moriarty, is completely bald in this adaptation.
- Blow Gun: Colonel Moran's weapon of choice is some kind of sophisticated blowgun, rather than an air rifle as it was in the original story.
- Cardboard Pal: Mrs. Hudson moves a cutout of Holmes back and forth behind the window to draw Colonel Moran's fire.
- Eiffel Tower Effect: Opens (and closes) with a shot of Big Ben to establish that the film is set in London (despite being shot in New York). No other London landmark is ever seen.
- Faking the Dead: In keeping with the original story, Holmes reveals that he faked his death at Reichenbach Falls.
- Faint in Shock: Mrs. Hudson faints in shock when Holmes returns from Faking the Dead.
- Gender Flip: Doctor Watson is a woman, played by actress Bessie Nellis.
- Minor Crime Reveals Major Plot: An investigation into the seemingly motiveless crime of someone smashing plaster busts of Napoleon uncovers a case of grand theft and murder.
- Miss Kitty: Mrs. Burrows is shown to be a very indulgent madam, even hand feeding her girls treats.
- Mistaken for Romance: The antiques dealer Hudson mistakes Holmes and Watson (who is female in this adaptation) for a newlywed couple he was expecting. Holmes and Watson take advantage of his error and play along, allowing them to question him without divulging their true identities.
- One-Steve Limit: Averted. The film contains two unrelated characters named Hudson: Holmes' housekeeper Mrs. Hudson, and antiques dealer Morse Hudson.
- Sassy Black Woman: Investigating a stolen bust of Napoleon, and a murder, Holmes and Watson visit Burrows Bordello, run by sassy black woman Mrs. Burrows. Initially assuming they are reporters, she delivers a long spiel about how she doesn't have time to indulge them, before Holmes manages to get a word in edgeways to tell her they are not reporters.
- Sherlock Can Read: When Holmes buys the last Napoleon bust off Mr. Sandeford, Sandeford asks him how he deduced that he possessed the bust and his address. Holmes replies that after the sculptor provided the names of the purchasers, he glanced at the sculptor's records and copied Sandeford's address down.
- Sinister Switchblade: Beppo is an expert with the switchblade he carries.
- Story Book Opening: The film opens with a shot of The Return of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, which opens to display the cast list for the film.
- They Call Me MISTER Tibbs!: When Holmes describes Moran as "Mr. Sebastian Moran of Her Majesty's Indian Army", Moran replies:Moran: Colonel Sebastian Moran, if you please.
