The Problem of Thor Bridge

Neil Gibson (Daniel Massey) is an American tycoon who made his fortune in Brazil.

He asks Holmes to investigate the murder of his estranged Brazilian wife Maria. The accused is his children's governess, Grace Dunbar, a woman Gibson has fallen in love with.

Holmes dislikes the volatile Gibson. However he does want to help Miss Dunbar. The marriage to Maria was an unhappy one for him. Gibson had simply ceased to lover her and he treated her badly. Maria always loved him passionately and still hoped to be reconciled.

There is some intense hostility between Brett and Massey. It could be good acting or the fact that Brett was once married to Massey's sister.

What makes this mystery a good one is the solution. A variation of this has been repeated since in other books and crime adaptations. The viewer is left with a small band of suspects with the cruel Gibson being the likely murderer if it is not Muss Dunbar.

Yet Miss Dunbar describes Gibson as someone who has shown kindness and has done good things. Eventually Holmes deduces that their can only be one person responsible for Maria's death.

I am a huge Sherlock Holmes fan from childhood. I even used to think Holmes & Watson were as real as my own family.

Jeremy Brett's Sherlock was brilliant. The Problem of Thor Bridge was an excellent example of how well the producers, directors & all involved created the world of Sherlock Holmes to perfection. Edward Hardwicke as Dr. Watson plays the part with seriousness & humor. Lots of twists & turns & red herrings.

In this episode a grouchy American who looks like Mark Twain having a rough day, tries to bully Holmes while wanting to free his governess. This is a great episode. It has everything from the hot blooded Brazilian wife to the young beautiful innocent governess accused of killing the wife. The only thing unbelievable is that the two women would fall so hard for such a rude grouch. Of course he is the gold king so I guess that has something to do with his magnetism.

I also found it humorous that the ugly American had been a senator of some western state. I guess those states out west aren't very discriminating when it comes to electing senators. Present day Missouri comes to mind.

Sherlock Holmes is approached by Mr. J. Neil Gibson, an American mining magnate. His wife has been murdered and the governess, Grace Dunbar, arrested for her murder. There is a large weight of evidence against Ms Dunbar but Mr Gibson is convinced of her innocence and wants Holmes to ensure that she is exonerated.

A very intriguing episode. The evidence against Ms Dunbar is too substantial to ignore but she does not appear to be the murderer. What is the connection between Mr Gibson and Ms Dunbar? If Ms Dunbar didn't do it then surely Mr Gibson did? But why would he hire Holmes then as if he is guilty surely Holmes will figure that out, and Gibson knows this?

The solution is one of the more original ones in the Sherlock Holmes canon.

The story is a fine adaptation of the original story, but the best part is the background music in the opening. It's an excellent reworking of the theme, giving an additional air of suspense. Patrick Gowers surpassed himself on this episode!