THE SIGN OF FOUR
Canada, 2001, 90 minutes, Colour.
Matt Frewer, Kenneth Welsh, Sophie Lorain, Marcel Jeannin, Michel Perron, Edward Yankie.
Directed by Rodney Gibbons.
This is a very straightforward presentation of Conan Doyle’s The Sign of Four. It was directed by Rodney Gibbons who directed a series of Holmes films with Matt Frewer as Holmes and Kenneth Welsh as Doctor Watson. The success of the films depends on one’s tolerance of Matt Frewer’s interpretation of Holmes, a vain man, eccentric in his manner and delivery. Kenneth Welsh, however, is a standard and very acceptable Doctor Watson. One of the difficulties is that the Canadian performers are striving far too hard for their British accents and Michel Peron as Inspector Jones has a kind of conglomerate Scots- Welsh- English accent. Marcel Jeannin actually plays two brothers, twins.
For a better presentation of The Sign of Four, the film of the same name starring Ian Richardson is far, far superior.
1. The popularity of Sherlock Holmes stories? The many film versions?
2. The Canadian production, the performers? The intended humorous style in presenting Holmes as eccentric and vain? Doctor Watson as more staid and traditional? How well did this work?
3. The re-creation of 19th century London, Baker Street and the flat? The streets, the docks, the river? The atmosphere, costumes and décor? Music?
4. The prologue, India, small and the confrontation with the Indian ruler, killing him, robbing him? Imprisonment? The plan to get the treasure to England?
5. Miss Morston, her story, the jewels, the message from the twins? The story of Sholto? Her own father and his connection with Sholto and Small?
6. Holmes, Matt Frewer’s interpretation? Non-traditional? His boredom, wanting something to do? His monograph on tobaccos? Doctor Watson and his ordinariness, the straight man to Holmes’ eccentricities? The visit of Miss Morston, her story, Watson’s infatuation? Holmes’ suspicion?
7. The Sholtos, the death of the father, the obituary? Their going with Miss Morston to visit the twins? The dead twin? The live twin? His concern, the treasure? The attraction to Miss Morston?
8. Holmes, his investigations, getting his young men to scout the city, find the boat? His own visit to the boat-owner’s wife and getting the information? The issue of the poisons? His going to research?
9. Inspector Jones, his stubbornness, his dislike of Holmes, his thwarting him? Getting the information about the boat, his going to the wharves, the young men and their upsetting the cart?
10. The imprisonment of Sholto, Holmes and his plan to find the killers?
11. The build-up to the confrontation, Small and his wanting to escape, his Indian helper, the poison? The police, the shootout? Watson and the poison dart? The apprehension of Small, the treasure at the bottom of the Thames?
12. The aftermath, Miss Morston and her reaction about the loss of the treasure, Doctor Watson and his disappointment, Holmes and his suspicions? The arrival of Miss Morston and Sholto, the marriage, the plans to use the money? Watson feeling vindicated and condemning Holmes’ suspicions?
13. Conan Doyle’s ingredients in terms of plot, the variations on character? A popularised version of Holmes for a wide television audience?
