The Dancing Men

I have always loved the Granada Sherlock Holmes adaptations, because they are so well-made and always interesting story-wise. Not to mention Jeremy Brett as my favourite Holmes(and I do have a lot of fondness for Basil Rathbone). Of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes series, I do consider The Dancing Men one of the standouts of the series alongside The Final Problem, The Crooked Man, The Blue Carbuncle, The Speckled Band and The Norwood Builder. Once again it is incredibly well-made, with the atmosphere as meticulous as you'd expect and the costumes and sets authentic and looking absolutely splendid. The music is of the hauntingly beautiful kind, the story is as clever and compelling as ever and the script thought-provoking and sophisticated. Jeremy Brett as always gives a commanding performance as Holmes(I just love how methodical he was at the crime scene), and while I just prefer Edward Hardwicke as Watson David Burke is still a composed contrast. Tenniel Evans, Betsy Brantley, Eugene Lipinski and David Ross match them just as effectively. All in all, a superb episode and adaptation and one of the standouts of Adventures. 10/10 Bethany Cox

Sherlock Holmes is hired by a wealthy landowner, Hilton Cubitt. His wife has been receiving strange notes with all the contents in the form of dancing men. She is clearly shaken by these messages but won't be drawn on what they mean. Could these be related to her American past?

After the sedate, not-violent, hardly-a crime-involved opener, A Scandal in Bohemia, The Dancing Men steps up the tension in a big way. Quite riveting and thrilling as Holmes and Watson try to figure out what the dancing men mean and how this affects the Cubitts.

Once intriguing at the end too as Holmes unravels the mystery and sets out to catch the person responsible.

Excellent episode.

Taking a break from "filler" loaded Endeavor. Jeremy Brett's Sherlock Holmes is no "filler" to the point. No need to sillily stretch stories out to fill time. "Dancing Men" was truly satisfying. Brett displays his keen powers of observation in a quick paced pure old fashioned mystery. I'll only watch Sherlock Holmes if it's Jeremy Brett. Marvelous way to spend an hour. Vito S 9-5-20

Looking back it is wonderful to see a fit and healthy Jeremy Brett at full flow as Holmes. The way he pronounces 'Eldridges' or the theatrical way he rushes around in his room with his dressing gown on.

Hilton Cubitt visits Sherlock Holmes when a mysterious message in the form of drawings of little men in various positions that disturbs his younger American wife.

She receives further messages and Hilton knows that her wife might have had a murky past in America. Hilton will do anything to protect his wife.

Holmes manages to crack the code but is unable to prevent a tragedy.

Inspector Martin is grateful for any assistance that Holmes is able to provide.

The Dancing Men is just a very good but sad mystery.

The story of The Dancing Men is one of my favorites - OK,as I am a huge fan of Jeremy Brett,I love all the episodes,but I like this one especially.The story is exciting and as time passes, the viewers may try to put together the meaning of the drawings themselves. But I like it mostly because of the excellent acting - Jeremy just looks gorgeous in that sexy dressing gown in the scene where he deduces that Watson did not invest in goldmines. His gestures and mimic are awesome, not to mention his wonderful diction. During the Adventures series he still was thin and quick and healthy - later, due to his illnesses and the loss of his wife his appearance changed, but his performance remained larger than life.And if I consider the fact that he was 50 when he first appeared as Sherlock Holmes, he made a miracle - for me at least, because he is absolutely convincing as Holmes somewhere in his thirties. David Burke is always great as Watson and the supporting cast did a fine job too.I recommend this episode to everyone as a fantastic introducing into the realm of my one and only Sherlock Holmes, the unforgettable Jeremy Brett.