The Greek Interpreter

In The Greek Interpreter Sherlock Holmes finds his next client at the Diogenes Club where Sir Arthur Conan Doyle introduces the character of Mycroft Holmes, Sherlock's older brother. As played by Charles Gray, Mycroft has every bit of Sherlock's deductive reasoning powers, but has chosen to use that in a different though honest field of endeavor. He's a career civil servant, but THE civil servant in the United Kingdom, much like Nigel Hawthorne a century later in Yes Minister.

Much like the other tales that Conan Doyle has written, Jeremy Brett as Holmes gets a client with an unusual tale. A very mysterious man played by George Costigan with a unique foreign accent kidnaps Alkis Kritikos and brings him to a house where his talents as an interpreter are needed. Costigan and Nicholas Field are holding Anton Alexander captive and are torturing him. But since he only speaks Greek they need an interpreter to convey to him to sign some important document so that they will stop. Alexander's sister Victoria Harwood is also involved, but I can't say more than that.

Since the villains are identified right away this particular Conan Doyle story is not any kind of whodunit, but rather almost an action adventure as the brothers Holmes and David Burke as Dr. Watson race against time to affect a rescue. Their efforts are considerably hampered by Scotland Yard Inspector Oliver Maguire and their own respect for due process UK style.

George Costigan was extremely interesting as the villain. Since I'm not familiar with him over on this side of the pond, I was wondering whether he was imitating Peter Lorre or that was his natural voice. Either way he was one sinister dude.

Not too bad an entry in the Conan Doyle catalog of Sherlock Holmes stories.

Jeremy Brett was brilliant as Holmes. I've just caught up with this episode, which I don't think I saw when it was originally screened. The team get so much right - creating tableaux from lovingly recreated interiors (including police stations). But the direction and editing lack a sense of timing - there are filler shots of people standing in halls, or gazing in puzzlement, or at the camera. I love to gaze on the face of Sherlock Holmes, but I also want to get on with the story. The dialogue needs to be faster, faster, faster, and they need to cut in on the end of each others' lines! They should have watched the Maltese Falcon, as did George Costigan as one of the villains. Or Rathbone and Bruce! Perhaps it was a current acting style (I'm looking back to my brief theatrical career).

Dr Watson is surprised to discover that Sherlock has a brother, Mycroft, and gets to meet him. At this meeting Mycroft introduces a Greek interpreter, Mr Melas, who is anxious that Sherlock take on his case. He was hired to interpret for a shadowy individual who it appears to be holding a man and his sister hostage.

A reasonably interesting Sherlock Holmes case. We get to meet Mycroft Holmes for the first time and have a decent mystery on our hands.

Not entirely satisfactory though. Little is explained in the end in terms of why this kidnapping took place. Also I found it implausible that a man willing to kidnap and potentially murder two people would allow a witness, the Greek interpreter, to go free.

Still, it's interesting enough and, as always, Jeremy Brett is fantastic as Sherlock Holmes. His performances are a highlight of the series.

Watson is shocked to learn Sherlock has a brother, that brother comes in handy during the case of Mr Melas, and his strange story.

A strong story and the first appearance of Mycroft make for a particularly good episode. As a story I've always found this one particularly nasty, it's one of my favourites. Particularly fine production values, it looks wonderful, the music also is excellent. The scenes on board the train in particular look excellent.

I love how evil George Costigan is as Kemp, one of the most memorable from the show, he's thoroughly evil and sinister. Charles Gray was very memorable in the part, and a terrific contrast to Brett.

Excellent. 9/10

The story while interesting and well paced and constructed is a somewhat weird one this time around. Not in the story itself but in some scenes such the interrogation scene. However, The Greek Interpreter is fascinating, and worth seeing for the introduction of Mycroft, who is a shrewd and very intelligent character and just seeing him with Holmes is what makes the episode well worth watching. The acting is very good as is expected, Jeremy Brett and David Burke are both brilliant, and Charles Gray is also excellent. There is also George Costigan and Nicholas Field, who make a sinister pair. The production values are wonderful, the music is at its most beautiful and haunting and there is some strong writing throughout. All in all, fascinating episode. 8/10 Bethany Cox