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Sherlock Holmes Decade by Decade: Films, TV, Stage Plays

A comprehensive list of Sherlock Holmes adaptations by decade is challenging due to the sheer volume of material, but here’s a detailed breakdown of many of the most significant and well-known films, TV shows, and staged plays, decade by decade.

1890s-1910s

The earliest known Sherlock Holmes film was produced in 1900, but many early silent films have been lost to time.

Films:

  • Sherlock Holmes Baffled (1900): A 30-second silent film that’s considered the first Sherlock Holmes film, featuring an early use of special effects.
  • Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1905): A one-reel film that is now lost.
  • Sherlock Holmes (1916): A silent film starring William Gillette, who famously portrayed Holmes on stage.

Live Action Staged Plays:

  • Sherlock Holmes (1899): Written by William Gillette and Arthur Conan Doyle, this play was a smash hit and ran for decades with Gillette in the lead role.

1920s

The silent film era continued to produce many Holmes adaptations, with Eille Norwood becoming a popular face for the character.

Films:

  • The Eille Norwood Series (1921-1923): A series of 47 short silent films produced by Stoll Picture Productions, with Norwood in the title role.

1930s

The advent of sound revolutionized the adaptations, with Basil Rathbone defining the character for a generation.

Films:

  • The Speckled Band (1931): The first sound film adaptation of the story, starring Raymond Massey.
  • The Hound of the Baskervilles (1939): The first of 14 films starring Basil Rathbone as Holmes and Nigel Bruce as Dr. Watson, a duo that would become iconic.
  • The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1939): The second Rathbone/Bruce film, which firmly established the franchise.

1940s

The Rathbone and Bruce partnership continued, with films often updated to a more contemporary, World War II setting.

Films:

  • The Basil Rathbone Series (1942-1946): This series included 12 films, such as Sherlock Holmes and the Voice of Terror (1942) and The Woman in Green (1945), which often pitted Holmes against Nazi spies.

1950s

The decade saw new actors take on the roles, often with a return to the Victorian-era setting.

Films:

  • The Hound of the Baskervilles (1959): A vibrant, gothic-horror take on the story from Hammer Film Productions, starring Peter Cushing as Holmes and André Morell as Watson.

TV Shows:

  • Sherlock Holmes (1954-1955): An American television series starring Ronald Howard as Holmes.

1960s

The character was reinterpreted in a variety of styles, from comedy to historical drama.

Films:

  • A Study in Terror (1965): A film that imagines Holmes pursuing Jack the Ripper.
  • The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes (1970): Directed by Billy Wilder, this film explores the more vulnerable, human side of Holmes, starring Robert Stephens.

TV Shows:

  • Sherlock Holmes (1965-1968): A BBC series starring Douglas Wilmer and later Peter Cushing as Holmes, known for its faithfulness to the original stories.

1970s

New cinematic takes on the character, often with famous actors in the lead roles.

Films:

  • The Seven-Per-Cent Solution (1976): A film that sends Holmes to see Sigmund Freud, starring Nicol Williamson as Holmes and Robert Duvall as Watson.
  • Murder by Decree (1979): A dark and serious take on the Jack the Ripper case, with Christopher Plummer as Holmes.
  • The Hound of the Baskervilles (1978): A comedic parody starring Peter Cook and Dudley Moore.

1980s

The definitive television series for many viewers, with Jeremy Brett becoming the quintessential Holmes.

TV Shows:

  • The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1984-1994): The Granada Television series starring Jeremy Brett as Holmes and David Burke (and later Edward Hardwicke) as Watson. This series is widely acclaimed for its close adherence to the original stories.

2000s

New adaptations in the early 2000s were more sparse as the Jeremy Brett series continued to be popular in reruns.

TV Shows:

  • Sherlock Holmes and the Baker Street Irregulars (2007): A BBC miniseries that gives the street kids a central role.

2010s

A major renaissance for the character on both the big and small screens, with new, modern interpretations.

Films:

  • Sherlock Holmes **(2009) &Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2011): Guy Ritchie’s stylized, action-oriented films starring Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law.

TV Shows:

  • Sherlock (2010-2017): The highly popular BBC series that re-imagined the characters in modern-day London, starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman.
  • Elementary (2012-2019): An American CBS series that placed Holmes (Jonny Lee Miller) in New York City and featured a female Watson (Lucy Liu).

2020s

The Holmes universe continues to expand with new films and series focusing on other characters from the stories.

Films:

  • Enola Holmes **(2020) &Enola Holmes 2 (2022): A series of films focusing on Holmes’s younger sister, Enola, a character invented for the books they are based on.

TV Shows:

  • The Irregulars (2021): A Netflix series that followed a group of street kids who solve supernatural crimes for a mysterious John Watson.
  • Sherlock (2025): The upcoming revival of the BBC show, bringing back Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman to their iconic roles.
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With over 30 years of experience in theater, comedy, and television, Walt Frasier is the Artistic Director of Improv Theater LLC, a leading edutainment center known for its high-impact comedy shows and workshops. His extensive career includes performing comedy sketches on MTV’s Stankervision, Late Nite with David Letterman, TruTV’s Friends of the People, and HBO’s Pause with Sam Jay. As an actor, Walt has appeared on NBC’s Blacklist, CBS’s Blue Bloods, USA’s Royal Pains, Netflix’s Lilyhammer, and NICK’s Naked Brothers Band, in addition to numerous commercials, industrials, and live performances worldwide.