The Red-Headed League (1985 Sherlock Holmes TV Episode)
Encyclopedia
The Red-Headed League is an episode of the Sherlock Holmes television adaptations of the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle stories, produced by British
television
company Granada Television
between 1984 and 1994. The episode was first broadcast on the ITV
network in the UK in 1985, and starred Jeremy Brett
as the famous detective. It was the fifth of six episodes aired in the series' second season, and the twelfth of the shows overall.
named Jabez Wilson, seen briefly emerging from his shop as a suspicious man loiters in the foreground, closely watching an armoured wagon as it makes a delivery of heavy chests to a bank across the street. One of the guards deliberately drops an envelope, which the spy picks up and delivers to another man, shown only by wizened hands with long fingernails.
's flat at 221B Baker Street
. Jabez Wilson, now clearly seen to be a stout man with long red hair, shows them an unusual advertisement in the newspaper from an organization called 'The Red-Headed League', offering good paying vacancy "for purely nominal services" to red-headed male applicants. Holmes giggles, noting the odd nature of the notice, and asks Wilson to tell them more about himself.
Wilson states that his young half-pay assistant, Vincent Spaulding, some weeks ago had shown him the advertisement and urged Wilson to respond. The scene dissolves into showing Wilson's story: The next morning, Spaulding pushes the reluctant Wilson past a lengthy line of red-headed men into a barren office, where he is at once accepted, by a fellow red-head who calls himself Duncan Ross, on the basis of his blazing red locks. Wilson's 'job' is to copy the Encyclopædia Britannica
for four hours a day without leaving the building, but after many weeks of labour on all topics that begin with the letter 'A', he is crestfallen to find a notice pinned to the office door: "THE RED HEADED LEAGUE IS DISSOLVED FROM THIS DAY."
Wilson then accosts to the landlord, who said that he's never heard of Duncan Ross, and tells Wilson the tenant with the scarlet hair, who has moved, was named 'William Morris'. Wilson is given an address which Wilson goes to at once, but it turns out to be a manufactory of artificial kneecaps. At this Holmes and Watson, who have been suppressing mirth, finally burst out in open laughter. After soothing Wilson's indignation, Holmes questions Wilson regarding Spaulding, the assistant, and the detective becomes highly interested when Spaulding is described. Wilson says he plans to take the weekend off to leave London, and Holmes assures him that by Monday the mystery of the curious 'League' should be resolved.
, and tells the professor that "the business of the Red-Headed League is concluded."
After contemplating the case, Holmes and Watson visit Wilson's pawnshop, where Holmes raps the sidewalk with his stick, then asks Spaulding, who is closing up, for directions while observing him closely. Watson is puzzled, but Holmes cautions him to silence and studies the buildings (including the bank) nearby with care, concluding major criminal activity is being planned. Pleased with his work, Holmes proposes that he and Watson attend a concert by the famed Spanish violinist Sarasate, which Holmes enjoys with obvious delight, while Moriarty, in his gloomy offices, studies a detailed map.
Inspector Athelney Jones and a grumpy bank official, Mr. Merryweather, who is irate at being called away from his regular card game. Holmes assures Merryweather that the stakes will be for much more than the card game, and tells Jones they are in quest of a criminal named 'John Clay', impressing Jones. Holmes adds that Watson should bring his gun.
The men proceed to the bank near Wilson's pawnshop, where it turns out (after Holmes asks some probing questions) that the vault contains an unusually large amount of gold. The four stake out the darkened, echoing vault, where Holmes ventures the opinion that the case bears the marks of the "diabolical" Professor Moriarty. The vigil is rewarded by the sounds of digging and eventually a hand pushing aside a flagstone. Holmes and the others capture Clay/Spaulding, who when asked about Professor Moriarty cautions Holmes from even speaking his name. Mr. Merryweather stammers his effusive thanks to Holmes. Holmes replies that the bank should refund his "considerable expenses."
Clay's associate, in the meantime, escapes back down the tunnel to its start in Jabez Wilson's pawnshop, which suffers considerable damage before the man is captured by waiting policemen. When informed of the developments, Moriarty is extremely displeased.
In the final scene, on the London streets, Holmes explains to Watson his reasoning that solved the case. As Watson complements him, we notice what Holmes and Watson do not: Professor Moriarty stands nearby overhearing the conversation, with a look of utter loathing and hatred for Holmes.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
company Granada Television
Granada Television
Granada Television is the ITV contractor for North West England. Based in Manchester since its inception, it is the only surviving original ITA franchisee from 1954 and is ITV's most successful....
between 1984 and 1994. The episode was first broadcast on the ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
network in the UK in 1985, and starred Jeremy Brett
Jeremy Brett
Jeremy Brett , born Peter Jeremy William Huggins, was an English actor, most famous for his portrayal of Sherlock Holmes in four Granada TV series.-Early life:...
as the famous detective. It was the fifth of six episodes aired in the series' second season, and the twelfth of the shows overall.
Intro: The dropped envelope
Unlike the original Conan Doyle story The Adventure of the Red-Headed League, the video episode begins in front of the shop of a London pawnbrokerPawnbroker
A pawnbroker is an individual or business that offers secured loans to people, with items of personal property used as collateral...
named Jabez Wilson, seen briefly emerging from his shop as a suspicious man loiters in the foreground, closely watching an armoured wagon as it makes a delivery of heavy chests to a bank across the street. One of the guards deliberately drops an envelope, which the spy picks up and delivers to another man, shown only by wizened hands with long fingernails.
Jabez Wilson's complaint to Sherlock Holmes
The scene changes to Holmes and Dr. WatsonJohn Watson (Sherlock Holmes)
John H. Watson, M.D. , known as Dr. Watson, is a character in the Sherlock Holmes stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Watson is Sherlock Holmes's friend, assistant and sometime flatmate, and is the first person narrator of all but four stories in the Sherlock Holmes canon.-Name:Doctor Watson's first...
's flat at 221B Baker Street
221B Baker Street
221B Baker Street is the London address of the fictional detective Sherlock Holmes, created by author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. In the United Kingdom, postal addresses with a number followed by a letter may indicate a separate address within a larger, often residential building...
. Jabez Wilson, now clearly seen to be a stout man with long red hair, shows them an unusual advertisement in the newspaper from an organization called 'The Red-Headed League', offering good paying vacancy "for purely nominal services" to red-headed male applicants. Holmes giggles, noting the odd nature of the notice, and asks Wilson to tell them more about himself.
Wilson states that his young half-pay assistant, Vincent Spaulding, some weeks ago had shown him the advertisement and urged Wilson to respond. The scene dissolves into showing Wilson's story: The next morning, Spaulding pushes the reluctant Wilson past a lengthy line of red-headed men into a barren office, where he is at once accepted, by a fellow red-head who calls himself Duncan Ross, on the basis of his blazing red locks. Wilson's 'job' is to copy the Encyclopædia Britannica
Encyclopædia Britannica
The Encyclopædia Britannica , published by Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., is a general knowledge English-language encyclopaedia that is available in print, as a DVD, and on the Internet. It is written and continuously updated by about 100 full-time editors and more than 4,000 expert...
for four hours a day without leaving the building, but after many weeks of labour on all topics that begin with the letter 'A', he is crestfallen to find a notice pinned to the office door: "THE RED HEADED LEAGUE IS DISSOLVED FROM THIS DAY."
Wilson then accosts to the landlord, who said that he's never heard of Duncan Ross, and tells Wilson the tenant with the scarlet hair, who has moved, was named 'William Morris'. Wilson is given an address which Wilson goes to at once, but it turns out to be a manufactory of artificial kneecaps. At this Holmes and Watson, who have been suppressing mirth, finally burst out in open laughter. After soothing Wilson's indignation, Holmes questions Wilson regarding Spaulding, the assistant, and the detective becomes highly interested when Spaulding is described. Wilson says he plans to take the weekend off to leave London, and Holmes assures him that by Monday the mystery of the curious 'League' should be resolved.
Professor Moriarty, and Holmes investigates
Meanwhile a henchman reports to the man with the long fingernails, who we now see to be Professor MoriartyProfessor Moriarty
Professor James Moriarty is a fictional character and the archenemy of the detective Sherlock Holmes in the fiction of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Moriarty is a criminal mastermind, described by Holmes as the "Napoleon of Crime". Doyle lifted the phrase from a real Scotland Yard inspector who was...
, and tells the professor that "the business of the Red-Headed League is concluded."
After contemplating the case, Holmes and Watson visit Wilson's pawnshop, where Holmes raps the sidewalk with his stick, then asks Spaulding, who is closing up, for directions while observing him closely. Watson is puzzled, but Holmes cautions him to silence and studies the buildings (including the bank) nearby with care, concluding major criminal activity is being planned. Pleased with his work, Holmes proposes that he and Watson attend a concert by the famed Spanish violinist Sarasate, which Holmes enjoys with obvious delight, while Moriarty, in his gloomy offices, studies a detailed map.
The bank vault vigil
Later, as Watson completes work on a similar map on a chalkboard, Holmes welcomes to 221B Baker Street Scotland YardScotland Yard
Scotland Yard is a metonym for the headquarters of the Metropolitan Police Service of London, UK. It derives from the location of the original Metropolitan Police headquarters at 4 Whitehall Place, which had a rear entrance on a street called Great Scotland Yard. The Scotland Yard entrance became...
Inspector Athelney Jones and a grumpy bank official, Mr. Merryweather, who is irate at being called away from his regular card game. Holmes assures Merryweather that the stakes will be for much more than the card game, and tells Jones they are in quest of a criminal named 'John Clay', impressing Jones. Holmes adds that Watson should bring his gun.
The men proceed to the bank near Wilson's pawnshop, where it turns out (after Holmes asks some probing questions) that the vault contains an unusually large amount of gold. The four stake out the darkened, echoing vault, where Holmes ventures the opinion that the case bears the marks of the "diabolical" Professor Moriarty. The vigil is rewarded by the sounds of digging and eventually a hand pushing aside a flagstone. Holmes and the others capture Clay/Spaulding, who when asked about Professor Moriarty cautions Holmes from even speaking his name. Mr. Merryweather stammers his effusive thanks to Holmes. Holmes replies that the bank should refund his "considerable expenses."
Clay's associate, in the meantime, escapes back down the tunnel to its start in Jabez Wilson's pawnshop, which suffers considerable damage before the man is captured by waiting policemen. When informed of the developments, Moriarty is extremely displeased.
Conclusion: Jabez Wilson's gold, and the enmity of Moriarty
Watson drops in at Wilson's pawnshop, where the red-haired owner jabbers that he is "ruined". Watson hands him a heavy pouch containing 50 sovereigns, which cheers Wilson up at once. Watson gives Wilson a parting piece of advice from Sherlock Holmes: "The next time you engage an assistant, pay him the proper wage."In the final scene, on the London streets, Holmes explains to Watson his reasoning that solved the case. As Watson complements him, we notice what Holmes and Watson do not: Professor Moriarty stands nearby overhearing the conversation, with a look of utter loathing and hatred for Holmes.
Cast
- Jeremy BrettJeremy BrettJeremy Brett , born Peter Jeremy William Huggins, was an English actor, most famous for his portrayal of Sherlock Holmes in four Granada TV series.-Early life:...
- Sherlock Holmes - David BurkeDavid BurkeDavid Burke is an English actor, known for playing Watson in the initial series of Granada Television's 1980s The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, which starred Jeremy Brett in the title role.-Early life:...
- Dr. Watson - Roger HammondRoger Hammond (actor)Roger Hammond is an English character actor who has appeared in many films and television series.Hammond attended Cambridge University, and appeared extensively in their drama program, alongside actors such as Ian McKellen, Derek Jacobi, and John Wood. Following that, he attended the Royal Academy...
- Jabez Wilson - Tim McInnernyTim McInnernyTim McInnerny is an English actor. He is known for his role as Percy in Blackadder and Blackadder II, and as Captain Darling in Blackadder Goes Forth...
- John Clay - Eric PorterEric PorterEric Richard Porter was an English actor of stage, film and television.-Early life:Porter was born in Shepherd's Bush, London, to Richard John Porter and Phoebe Elizabeth Spall...
- Professor Moriarty - Richard Wilson - Duncan Ross
- John WoodnuttJohn WoodnuttJohn Woodnutt was a British actor.He was born in London, and at the age of 18 made his acting debut at the Oxford Playhouse....
- Mr. Merryweather - Bruce Dukov - Sarasate
- John Labanowski - Athelney Jones
- Reginald Stewart - Doorman (as Reg Stewart)
- Ian BleasdaleIan BleasdaleIan Bleasdale is a British actor and television presenter. He was born in Upholland, Lancashire and divides his time between Haworth in West Yorkshire and Bristol...
- Accountant - Malcolm Weaver - Archie