Silver Blaze

The Granada Holmes episodes are hit and miss. This is a hit.

For this to work, you have to have a backbone that's strong. In this case, it is because Holmes is depicted here as an actual detective, someone who figures things out. No tricking, no undercover work, just thinking.

On that, you hope the adapter hangs appropriate cinematic storytelling. This isn't great, but compared to other episodes is refreshing.

This is the famous episode where an important clue is that the dog didn't bark.

This is the series where Holmes is depicted as the detective that does bark. It works, after a fashion.

Ted's Evaluation -- 3 of 3: Worth watching.

Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson head out to horse training stables in the country, hired by wealthy horse owner Colonel Ross. His trainer has been murdered and his prize racehorse Silver Blaze has disappeared just days before the prestigious Wessex Cup.

An intriguing episode of Sherlock Holmes with a fairly original setting of country stables. A reasonably clever and watertight plot, complete with very good twists in terms of both crimes involved. A good ending too that closes off the story well.

As always, Jeremy Brett is in great form as Sherlock Holmes and Edward Hardwicke lends solid support as Dr Watson.

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

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.