The Red-Headed League (Sherlock Holmes episode)

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"The Red-Headed League"
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes episode
Episode no. Episode 12
Directed by John Bruce
Written by John Hawkesworth, based on the short story "The Red-Headed League" by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Original air date 22 September 1985
Running time 50 minutes

"The Red-Headed League" is an episode of the Sherlock Holmes television adaptations of the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle stories, produced by Britain's Granada Television between 1984 and 1994 and starring Jeremy Brett as the famous detective. The episode was first aired at 9:00 PM in the United Kingdom on Tuesday, 22 September 1985 on ITV.[1] It is the fifth of six episode in the series second season and the twelfth of the shows overall.

The episode marks the series debut of the archenemy of Sherlock Holmes, Professor Moriarty.

Plot

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The dropped envelope

Unlike the original Conan Doyle story The Adventure of the Red-Headed League, this video adaptation begins in front of the shop of a London pawnbroker, who we eventually find is named Jabez Wilson, and who is seen briefly emerging from his establishment as a suspicious man loiters in the foreground. The man closely watches 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. Watson'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 a 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 for the job on the basis of Wilson's blazing red locks, by a fellow red-head who calls himself Duncan Ross. 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.

Professor Moriarty, and Holmes investigates

Meanwhile a henchman reports to the man with the long fingernails, who we now see to be Professor Moriarty, 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 Yard 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. (This is in contrast to the original story, where there is no connection between Clay/Spaulding and Professor Moriarty.) 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 compliments 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.

TV.com rating

The website TV.com gives this episode a 9.4/10 user rating.[1]

Cast

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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