The Musgrave Ritual

A faithful adaptation of one of the best of the Holmes stories. It has to do with a butler who gets wind of a document that is actually a kind of treasure map. Unfortunately for him, he hooks up with an unstable maid who gets in the way of his realizing an end to all this. The butler is caught in Musgrave's study, rifling through important papers, and is summarily fired. Despite pleading for a couple days to prepare (and do whatever it is he is going to do), Musgrave give him till the next day. This sets up a series of events based on a set of statements that have come to be known as "The Musgrave Ritual." They have to do with locations and positions, but are also threatening in their own way. Holmes and Watson begin to sort out the craziness, involving the disappearance of the butler and the crazy chambermaid, and in the process begin to decipher the Ritual. Clothing has been found indicating that people may have drowned, but that makes no sense. It leads to a cellar and a series of discoveries. It is kind of like Poe's "The Gold Bug" in some ways. Holmes always has a great sense of spatial relationships and this is his top asset here. There is atmosphere and suspense and a wonderful conclusion to this. Brett and Hardwicke really do themselves proud here. One might compare this to one of the Basil Rathbone Holmes efforts.

David Carson directs another atmospheric and cinematic adaptation of Conan Doyle's short stories.

Holmes and Watson attend a shooting weekend at the mansion of Sir Reginald Musgrave, an old university friend of Holmes.

Holmes behaviour is erratic because he has been on cocaine. He has been entertained by the learned butler Brunton (James Hazeldine.)

Brunton's recent reputation has been erratic. Since the death of his wife he has been a womaniser. Sir Reginald is forced to fire Brunton when he catches him looking at some private papers. He got a week's notice but the next day he disappears. Later on the maid Rachel, engaged to Brunton also goes missing.

All of a sudden the shooting weekend comes alive for Holmes. He examines the Musgrave Ritual the document that Brunton was caught examining.

Holmes surmises that this ritual could lead to a treasure hunt, exactly what Brunton was always after.

Brett is in full flourish in this episode, there are some nicely shot scenes such as Holmes on the hunt standing on the boat in the moat. Hazeldine is very good as the butler Brunton. The only bum note is probably Sir Reginald could recall the exact measurements of an old tree from childhood.

A servant at the Musgrave Manor disappears after one them finds out an obscure written document that has been in the family history for generations, whose meaning remains unknown. This episode is stylish and atmospheric. The final minute at the closing credits is especially creepy. Patrick Gowers music in this one is quite unique and helps pack the punch. Jeremy Brett as usual continues prove why he is the definitive Holmes, Edward Hardwicke as expected makes an excellent Watson, and Michael Culver is a standout as Reginald Musgrave. Also, worth noting is that Jeremy Paul (who wrote many of the Granada episodes) won an Edgar Award for his adapted script.

Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson are invited to the estate of a university acquaintance of Holmes, Sir Reginald Musgrave. Holmes isn't exactly enthusiastic about the holiday but things get interesting when the butler disappears. Due to the circumstances surrounding his departure Sir Reginald relates to Holmes the contents of a cryptic document that has been in his family's possession since the mid-17th century, the Musgrave Ritual.

An excellent episode, the best of the series thus far. Like many of the recent episodes, and in contrast to The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, it is not necessarily about a murder. In this case it is essentially a treasure hunt.

The cryptic document, Holmes' decoding of it and the treasure hunt it leads him on make for engaging and intriguing viewing. The disappearance of the butler adds a fair bit of intrigue too...and tragedy.

This was the worst I've seen in the Brett series which has been excellent so far. This is an awful version of the Rathbone version and nothing like the Doyle story. Really bad.