The French-made Holmes that beat Basil Rathbone to TV—and nobody talks about it.
6.025 minSeason 1 • Episode 39
LatestA chemist is accused of the murder of his fiancé's stepfather, who was determined to keep the two apart. Although there is mounting evidence of the chemist's guilt, Holmes is requested by the old man's housekeeper to investigate the case, as she believes the young man to be innocent.
The first American television series of Sherlock Holmes adventures aired in syndication in the fall of 1954. The 39 half-hour mostly original stories were produced by Sheldon Reynolds and filmed in France by Guild Films, starring Ronald Howard as Holmes and Howard Marion Crawford as Watson. Archie Duncan appeared in many episodes as Inspector Lestrade. Richard Larke, billed as Kenneth Richards, played Sgt. Wilkins in about fifteen episodes. The series' associate producer, Nicole Milinaire, was one of the first women to attain a senior production role in a television series.
Acting
Ronald Howard's warmer, less manic Holmes—dignified but never cold.
Production
Paris studios pretending to be London; the fog is French, darling.
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Ronald Howard was Leslie Howard's son—yes, that Gone With the Wind Leslie Howard—and this was his only major starring role.
Nicole Milinaire, associate producer, became a pioneering female TV executive; her credit here predates most women in comparable Hollywood roles by years.
US
