EP04 - The Solitary Cyclist - The Jeremy Brett Sherlock Holmes Podcast

[@jonevans4258]

Love the scene in the pub the landlord, Woodley, Brett's footwork and the onlookers reactions to his boxing. Brilliant 👏

[@sherlockpodcast]

100% agree! "Particularly warm, is he?"

[@OrchestrationOnline]

The mysterious music cues during the solitary cyclist sequences are a quote (and elaboration) of a couple of short bars from Erik Satie's "Obstacles venimeux," the first movement from his little piano suite "Heures Séculaires et Instantanées." It even starts the octaves on the same G-double-sharp over a D-flat major 3rd. Fantastic homage by Patrick Gowers.

[@Antland14]

This kind of geekiness makes me so happy. Thank you for noticing and commenting, I would have never noticed it!

[@marijeangalloway1560]

John Castle was in a 1980s PBS series called "Lost Empires," playing an early 20th century music hall magician. (A young Colin Firth portrays his nephew.) I saw John Castle at the National Theatre as Claudius in "Hamlet." Seeing him as Carruthers in this episode I thought, with his dark saturnine looks, that he would have made a wonderful Mr. Rochester in "Jane Eyre."

[@jasonpeters9390]

This is fantastic to me theirs only one sherlock Holmes and it's Jeremy anyone else doing it just isn't right and you tell the history behind each program is great

[@jamesbrindley3178]

The landlord/Holmes exchange about weekends and warm. As Woodley is approaching the bar menacingly/drunkenly, I always interpreted that as the landlord trying to warn Holmes about him approaching in coded language The stress on the word weekends = today is at the weekend Warm = one of those guests is close by ie like in the child’s game when you’re seeking a hidden object and you’re told it’s warm (close) The landlord is not looking for trouble in his quiet respectable pub. Holmes takes the hint and essays “I’ll wager he has a red moustache” when he realises that Mr Woodley is next to him

[@sherlockpodcast]

Good points! Great scene. It's a much shorter exchange in the original story, but maybe they interpreted it similarly. Later on, from the Priory School: "We must proceed on foot, Watson. I was warm! At that Inn, 'warm' as the children say. The trail grows colder every step I take away from it."

[@AHeady]

OUTSTANDING.

[@metalmadsen]

Love this show by the way ❤️ Allways been a Jeremy Brett and Sherlock fan.

[@dantheman5745]

Sadly, Michael Cox passed away on January 29, 2021, after battling lung cancer. His wife Sandra said that he "died peacefully and with no distress".

[@Michael-zl1rm]

I always look forward to every episode you put out. Those are so well done. Thank you!

[@ledtear9109]

The tension between Carruthers and Walker is great. There's a backstory there. Love Walker.

[@matthewh.9544]

Walker?

[@dantheman5745]

John Castle was excellent as Postumous in "I, Claudius". Best actor in the entire series, IMO.

[@tsilsby888]

Excellent!

[@rakeshkicrictech2883]

My favourite amongst the all is the adventure of the Sussex vampire... One dialogue which always fascinates me is "I knew all". I mean how could Mr. Holmes imagine what might have happened while the vicar of the Parish hall narrating the story...

[@yas4435]

Great podcast!!

[@CarolHe-j2j]

Thank Heavens you are all safe! Albeit one portable computer and other stuff lost. My goodness! And, dear gentlemen, 10 Persian slippers to your podcast, and lot's of best wishes~

[@sherlockpodcast]

Thank you! It felt a little like catching James Ryder red handed with the Blue Carbuncle!

[@CarolHe-j2j]

It was dangerous. Darkness and unknow streets. Danger aside, having listened to your discussion on baritsu in Final Problem episode and Luke mentioning he had three years of Judo, it amuses me that it was Gus who sprinted to action. All said, this was far more dangerous than James Ryder. Too bad you lost the computer and other stuff. Thank Heavens you are all safe!

[@edwinosorio2081]

it is really excellent podcast, actually i'm using this to improve my listening skill and i think that my results are very good. i can practice english and at time that i enjoy the Sherlock Holmes stories.

[@edwinosorio2081]

@AMT Dear .. thanks for you comments, It's important understand what I'm doing bad to fix it. I'll try to get better everyday. Regards

[@farazbassari4686]

That's a South African accent. Which is not a bad one, either. I lived there.

[@glynquigley4364]

You ask for bad things in this genuinely excellent episode? The chronology is slightly off even by Doyle's standards. It is strongly suggested that it happens in early spring and that the Violet Smith wedding is at the end of the summer. That is fine except Homes "spends a week" in the British Museum to confirm the Harden case, indeed it may mean a man's life. Yet it takes several months have passed and the full trial has been completed ibefore this detail that may mean a man's liffe which I took be a reference to tHanging

[@peteg475]

Maybe I'm missing something, but I'm not sure why Carruthers couldn't just be open about it, and agree to accompany Violet to the train as himself?: "I'm worried for your safety. I've heard some gossip about some miscreants at Charlington Hall. Until the carriage can be arranged, I'll accompany you weekly on my own bicycle. i insist." Is there a reason for the disguise (other than to keep the mystery for the audience) in the actual story?

[@everydayispoetry]

Respectfully, this is far from my favorite episode. The actor playing Woodley overacts to the point where his villainy is almost comic. David Burke overdoes it as well, and Watson comes across as a buffoon. Most importantly, Jeremy Brett, while skillful as ever, seems yet to have comfortably settled into Holmes character. He acts the role rather than inhabiting it. I do very much appreciate the podcast, though!

[@julielevinge266]

This story isn’t bad but not a patch on “Study in Scarlet” or “Sign of the Four” Conan Doyle wrote some incredible good stories apart from Holmes. One of my favourites showing Conan Doyle’s interest in the psychic, “The Brown Hand” is one of my favourites of so many. “Speckled Band will always be one of my favourites, even if the woman had just said “snake!” Instead of speckled band?😀 Watson always comes across as a bit of a letch😉

[@p_nk7279]

You are incorrect. She is the solitary cyclist. The commas DO NOT mean the word ‘and’ - this is your mistake. Instead, it is as in this example: “Her son, Charles, came to the house.” Those commas provide a pause for identification - just as in Watson’s narration. Miss Violet Smith, the solitary cyclist, and the events of yada yada…(It is identifying her, a common sentence/grammatical structure.) She is the solitary cyclist. Very basic stuff.

[@triconcert]

For me, the landscape of the solitary cyclist does not come up to scratch as a 'character' in the episode. Way too bleak, flat and lacks dimension. You're right about a lack of zap between Carruthers and Ms Smith. I thought this episode has its moments but it's not one I would revisit compared to the others. I skip over it intentionally. Oh well.