Sherlock Hollywood History

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Having been depicted on screen 254 times; Sherlock Holmes is the most portrayed character in literary history, it is possible for one to study the development of cinema simply through the many interpretations of Sherlock Holmes, with the original stories at the heart Mark Gatiss and Stephen Moffatt created a modern adaption of the classic 1900’s series based in central London. This essay will focus on the final episode in the BBC’s production of Sherlock Holmes ‘The Great Game’, which was inspired by Sr. Arthur Conan Doyle’s short story ‘The Adventures of the Bruce Parrington Plans’ and contains elements of the story ‘The Five Orange Pips’. The episode focuses on two separate cases; the first being the search for the murder of a civil servant …show more content…

Although these theories where mostly based around Russian folk tales “Propp’s broad theory, around much earlier narratives, can still be applied” (MSG) in this episode of ‘Sherlock’ there are not all characters fit into these roles for example there is no princess, as a reward for the hero or her father who rewards him. Yet there is in fact a villain in the form of Moriarty, a hero in the shape of Sherlock and a helper in the appearance of John Watson. Sherlock Holmes is a well known, complex and unique fictional hero whose “greatness as characterized by Dr. John Watson speaks to Victorian notions of leadership embodied in the Carlylian hero”(pg. 65) Although the character of Sherlock is known to be heartless and self righteous, the BBC’s adaption and Benedict Cumberbatch’s portrayal of the character is sharp, intelligent and sensitive. As discussed in Lynnette Porter’s essay “The BBC portrayal of a 21st century Holmes in the television series Sherlock introduces a younger, edgier character than the Canonical Holmes, but this contemporary character is also information literate, although he has some very interesting

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