SHERLOCK HOLMES ON SCREEN: THE COMPLETE FILM AND TV HISTORY
By Alan Barnes
Softcover; 320 pages; B/W
Printings: 2002, 2004, 2011
"The sheer breadth of coverage is staggering. Any fan of Holmes is going to get their money's worth and casual fans may find themselves becoming more dedicated disciples to the famous Bakers Street sleuth after reading this revised, updated and definitive book."
Sherlock Holmes has been around for over a century and in that time he's solved innumerable crimes, squared off against a variety of villains (including Baskervillian hounds, Fu Manchu and Jack the Ripper), battled a drug problem, been parodied and received a stature of super heroic proportions in recent years. For decades the adventures of this dignified eccentric bearing the ability to solve the most difficult of crimes with an uncanny sense of deduction has entertained readers and viewers all around the world. Barnes' book is undoubtedly the last word on the subject. Within these 320 pages, readers will find the full spectrum of Holmesian iconography as presented on the big and small screen.
Many big name stars have donned the famous deerstalker hat and capecoat including Basil Rathbone, John Cleese, Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee among numerous others. Barnes' book goes to great lengths to deliver every aspect of these productions down to the most trivial pieces of minutiae and as many bits of behind the scenes information as can be allowed. They're all here from the very earliest of the silent film interpretations all the way up to the newest incarnation starring Robert Downey Jr. as well as the popular, award winning 2010 British series starring Benedict Cumberbatch. The numerous cartoons that featured the character are also included such as appearances on SCOOBY DOO, BRAVE STARR, THE NEW GHOSTBUSTERS and even TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES.
Barnes obviously has great affection for the famous Victorian detective and this is glaringly apparent in every paragraph. Many rare stills, posters and other assorted photographic memorabilia accompanies the dozens of entries and Chronology that closes the book. For years now, the UK has proven time and time again to be the front-runner in the field of film reference publications and SHERLOCK HOLMES ON SCREEN is yet another exhaustive example. The sheer breadth of coverage is staggering. Any fan of Holmes is going to get their money's worth and casual fans may find themselves becoming more dedicated disciples to the famous Bakers Street sleuth after reading this revised, updated and definitive book. If the subject matter is of any interest to you, then solving the query of whether you should buy this book or not is "elementary", my dear reader.
This revised and updated edition comes out January 31st, 2012. It can be pre-ordered at amazon HERE.
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