Silver Blaze

I would have been bored if this turned out to be a racetrack story, but SILVER BLAZE is a very clever mystery about a missing horse who disappears from his stable and goes somewhere on the moors. It takes Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson to solve the mystery of his disappearance.

Not overly complicated with baffling clues, it's one of the better Holmes stories. Little by little Holmes puts together pieces of what might have happened by questioning servants and stable boys and dealing with the owner of a nearby estate who knows something about the whole episode.

The usual good photography, especially for the outdoor settings on the moors and a nice performance by PETER BARKWORTH as the owner of Silver Blaze.

A horse has disappeared. Not just any horse, one of the top thoroughbreds in the nation. How do you hide a horse and why would someone horsenap one that would be easily recognized by anyone in the business. The story involves a series of clues that lead to the arrest of a man who is the only convenient suspect. Holmes, who some experts thinks is a compulsive gambler (just speculation, of course), never takes anything for granted. The thing gets really far fetched at the end. That is to say that there seems to be little oversight in the racing business. Still, it is a new locale and a subject important to the people of England and the British Isles.

One of the best episodes from "The Return of Sherlock Holmes" volume of the Granada series. Holmes and Watson visit Dartmoor (the setting of "The Hound of the Baskervilles") to investigate the disappearance of a missing horse with a winning streak named Silver Blaze. Along the way the Horse's keeper is brutally killed. The story manages to be really clever as it is fun to watch as Holmes is able to little by little piece together all of what happened. The solution to it all is satisfying as well. Jeremy Brett as usual reminds us yet again as to why he is the perfect actor to play Arthur Conan Doyle's legendary sleuth and Edward Hardwicke makes for a Dr. Watson of equal perfection. The photography and location work is excellent here too. I definitely recommend it.

Peter Barkworth appeared in several episodes of The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes as Martin Hewitt. He elevates this episode as Colonel Ross the owner of the race horse Silver Blaze who has gone missing in the eve of a famous horse race. The trainer is found dead, thought to have been stabbed when fighting with the abductors of the horse.

Colonel Ross has no time for Sherlock Holmes but reluctantly accepts his aid as the police are getting nowhere.

Holmes and Watson go off to Dartmoor. Suspicion lies with the neighbouring race horse breeder. Colonel Ross blames the gypsies.

The short story starts off slowly but then races ahead. It is cleverly put together and Sherlock even has a flutter at the race course. The episode is very atmospherically shot.

I think both Brett and Hardwicke were delighted to have Barkworth among the cast.

Silver Blaze is a very clever mystery, it holds a fair amount of intrigue and has an excellent, unexpected conclusion. If I'm honest it's not one of my favourites, I definitely think the story benefits from being produced during a purple patch for the Granada show, having just put out The Devil's Foot, the show was very much on form. I feel the story is elevated by the superb production values, and the excellent performances, particularly from Peter Barkworth, a much missed, tremendous actor.

I like the story, I just prefer most of the others from The Return series. It's clever, well made, and definitely worth a watch. 7/10