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The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - The Solitary Cyclist
episode 4
UK 1984
produced by Michael Cox for Granada Television/ITV
directed by Paul Annett
starring Jeremy Brett, David Burke, Barbara Wilshere, John Castle, Michael Siberry, Ellis Dale, Sarah Aitchison, Simon Bleakley, Penny Gowling, Stafford Gordon, Rosalie Williams
screenplay by Alan Plater, based on the story by Arthur Conan Doyle, music by Patrick Gowers
TV-series Sherlock Holmes, Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, Sherlock Holmes (Jeremy Brett)
review by Mike Haberfelner
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Violet Smith (Barbara Wilshere) has lived in hope to inherit a fortune
from her uncle, who has left for South Africa years ago, but now she
learns the uncle has died and has left her nothing. But at least the man
bringing her the news, Carruthers (John Castle), shows some sympathy with
the girl, and employs her as music teacher for his daughter (Srah
Aitchison). Then one day, another man shows up at Carruthers' house,
Woodley (Michael Siberry), a man with no manners who nevertheless proposes
to Violet, and when she turns him down, he almost rapes her. Carruthers
comes to her rescue only in the nick of time. Carruthers throws Woodley
out soon afterwards, but from then on, Violet notices she is followed by
another, obviously disguised cyclist every time she goes for a bicycle
ride. Unsure what to make of it, she calls in Holmes (Jeremy Brett) and
Watson (David Burke) to investigate - and not a moment too soon, either,
because soon enough, Violet is abducted by Woodley and brought to a priest
fallen from grace who marries them. Holmes and Watson come to her rescue
though, and so does the mysterious cyclist, who now turns out to be
Carruthers himself. And the solution to the case: Carruthers and Woodley
both knew Violet's uncle in South Africa, and he was dying and indeed
leaving a vast fortune to his niece, so they figured one of them has to
marry the girl then kill her so they could inherit in her stead. So
Carruthers lured her to his place to gradually hook her up with Woodley
... but then Carruthers himself fell in love with Violet for real and
wanted to call the deal off. Woodley wouldn't accept it though, so
Carruthers donned his stupid disguise to follow cycling Violet every time
she left the house ... Like with many Sherlock Holmes-mysteries,
the basic plot of this one is pretty far-fetched and strains the
suspension of disbelief almost beyond breaking point, but on the other
hand the whole thing is very light-footedly written, which helps gloss
over quite a few plotholes, and Jeremy Brett and David Burke show amazing
chemistry here, especially when their relationship gets almost abusive. Fun.
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