Silver Blaze (1977 film)
Encyclopedia
Silver Blaze is a British/Canadian television film directed by John Davies
and starring Christopher Plummer
and Thorley Walters
. The movie is based on Arthur Conan Doyle
's story of the same name
.
co-produced a series of half-hour television films under the umbrella title of Classics Dark and Dangerous. For the 1977 adaptation of Conan Doyle's Silver Blaze
, Canadian actor Christopher Plummer
was chosen for the role of Sherlock Holmes
and British actor Thorley Walters
portrayed Dr. John H. Watson. This was Walters' third appearance in the role of Watson, having previously appeared in 1962's Sherlock Holmes and the Deadly Necklace
and 1975's The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother
. Plummer would go on to portray Holmes once more in 1979's Murder by Decree
.
Plummer's interpretation of Holmes is notable for playing up Holmes' drug addiction. Plummer stated at the time:
The film was an ambitious production with locations including the recently reopened Severn Valley Railway
(later to be used in the film adaptation of The Seven-Per-Cent Solution
). Plummer hoped the film would be successful and spawn a series of Holmes adaptations, telling Photoplay
magazine he hoped it would be "the first of a mini-series of six of the best stories which have not been done before". Unfortunately, by the time the film finally aired 18 months after production the idea of continuing the series had been shelved.
John Davies
-Politicians:*John Davies , British businessman and Conservative MP and cabinet minister*John S. Davies , Pennsylvania politician...
and starring Christopher Plummer
Christopher Plummer
Arthur Christopher Orne Plummer, CC is a Canadian theatre, film and television actor. He made his film debut in 1957's Stage Struck, and notable early film performances include Night of the Generals, The Return of the Pink Panther and The Man Who Would Be King.In a career that spans over five...
and Thorley Walters
Thorley Walters
Thorley Walters was an English character actor.He is probably best remembered for his comedy film roles such as in Two-Way Stretch and Carlton-Browne of the FO...
. The movie is based on Arthur Conan Doyle
Arthur Conan Doyle
Sir Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle DL was a Scottish physician and writer, most noted for his stories about the detective Sherlock Holmes, generally considered a milestone in the field of crime fiction, and for the adventures of Professor Challenger...
's story of the same name
Silver Blaze
"Silver Blaze", one of the 56 Sherlock Holmes short stories written by British author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, is one of 12 in the cycle collected as The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes. It was adapted in 1937 to a film starring Arthur Wontner, and an ITV drama starring Christopher Plummer which was...
.
Production
In the late 1970's, Harlech Television and OECATVOntario
TVOntario, often referred to only as TVO , is a publicly funded, educational English-language television station and media organization in the Canadian province of Ontario. It is operated by the Ontario Educational Communications Authority, a Crown corporation owned by the Government of Ontario...
co-produced a series of half-hour television films under the umbrella title of Classics Dark and Dangerous. For the 1977 adaptation of Conan Doyle's Silver Blaze
Silver Blaze
"Silver Blaze", one of the 56 Sherlock Holmes short stories written by British author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, is one of 12 in the cycle collected as The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes. It was adapted in 1937 to a film starring Arthur Wontner, and an ITV drama starring Christopher Plummer which was...
, Canadian actor Christopher Plummer
Christopher Plummer
Arthur Christopher Orne Plummer, CC is a Canadian theatre, film and television actor. He made his film debut in 1957's Stage Struck, and notable early film performances include Night of the Generals, The Return of the Pink Panther and The Man Who Would Be King.In a career that spans over five...
was chosen for the role of Sherlock Holmes
Sherlock Holmes
Sherlock Holmes is a fictional detective created by Scottish author and physician Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The fantastic London-based "consulting detective", Holmes is famous for his astute logical reasoning, his ability to take almost any disguise, and his use of forensic science skills to solve...
and British actor Thorley Walters
Thorley Walters
Thorley Walters was an English character actor.He is probably best remembered for his comedy film roles such as in Two-Way Stretch and Carlton-Browne of the FO...
portrayed Dr. John H. Watson. This was Walters' third appearance in the role of Watson, having previously appeared in 1962's Sherlock Holmes and the Deadly Necklace
Sherlock Holmes and the Deadly Necklace
Sherlock Holmes and the Deadly Necklace is a 1962 black-and-white film directed by Terence Fisher and Frank Winterstein. It was a German-French-Italian co-production. It stars Christopher Lee as Sherlock Holmes and Thorley Walters as Dr. Watson...
and 1975's The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother
The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother
The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother is a 1975 English/American comedy film with Gene Wilder, Marty Feldman, Madeline Kahn, Dom DeLuise, Roy Kinnear and Leo McKern. The film was Wilder's directorial debut....
. Plummer would go on to portray Holmes once more in 1979's Murder by Decree
Murder by Decree
Murder by Decree is an Anglo-Canadian thriller film involving Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson in the case of the serial murderer Jack the Ripper...
.
Plummer's interpretation of Holmes is notable for playing up Holmes' drug addiction. Plummer stated at the time:
The film was an ambitious production with locations including the recently reopened Severn Valley Railway
Severn Valley Railway
The Severn Valley Railway is a heritage railway in Shropshire and Worcestershire, England. The line runs along the Severn Valley from Bridgnorth to Kidderminster, following the course of the River Severn for much of its route...
(later to be used in the film adaptation of The Seven-Per-Cent Solution
The Seven-Per-Cent Solution
The Seven-Per-Cent Solution: Being a Reprint from the Reminiscences of John H. Watson, M.D. is a 1974 novel by American writer Nicholas Meyer. It is written as a pastiche of a Sherlock Holmes adventure, and was made into a film of the same name in 1976....
). Plummer hoped the film would be successful and spawn a series of Holmes adaptations, telling Photoplay
Photoplay
Photoplay was one of the first American film fan magazines. It was founded in 1911 in Chicago, the same year that J. Stuart Blackton founded a similar magazine entitled Motion Picture Story...
magazine he hoped it would be "the first of a mini-series of six of the best stories which have not been done before". Unfortunately, by the time the film finally aired 18 months after production the idea of continuing the series had been shelved.
Cast
- Christopher PlummerChristopher PlummerArthur Christopher Orne Plummer, CC is a Canadian theatre, film and television actor. He made his film debut in 1957's Stage Struck, and notable early film performances include Night of the Generals, The Return of the Pink Panther and The Man Who Would Be King.In a career that spans over five...
- Sherlock HolmesSherlock HolmesSherlock Holmes is a fictional detective created by Scottish author and physician Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The fantastic London-based "consulting detective", Holmes is famous for his astute logical reasoning, his ability to take almost any disguise, and his use of forensic science skills to solve... - Thorley WaltersThorley WaltersThorley Walters was an English character actor.He is probably best remembered for his comedy film roles such as in Two-Way Stretch and Carlton-Browne of the FO...
- Dr. John H. Watson - Basil HensonBasil HensonBasil Henson was a British actor. Henson had a lengthy career on stage and television. His stage performances included a number of parts in Shakespeare productions, including once opposite Dustin Hoffman...
- Colonel Ross - Gary WatsonGary WatsonGary Watson is a retired British television actor who started out as a stage actor most notably acting in Friedrich Hebbel's 1962 play Judith at Her Majesty's Theatre in London, England with Sean Connery...
- Inspector Gregory - Richard BealeRichard BealeRichard Beale is a British actor. He has had a long career in television, stage and film, stemming back to the 1950s.Beale served as a lieutenant in the Royal Navy during the Second World War.Selected filmography:*Compact...
- Straker - Donald BurtonDonald BurtonDonald Burton was an English theatre and television actor. Burton was the husband of actress Carroll Baker....
- Fitzroy-Simpson - Barry Linehan - Silas Brown
- Josie Kidd - Mrs. Straker