Best Sherlock Actor Also Starred in ‘Star Wars’ – Find Out Who!

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  • Before ‘Watson,’ There Was Sherlock
  • Peter Cushing Is a Different Sherlock Holmes

Occasionally, the world of entertainment gets another chance to welcome back the legendary character Sherlock Holmes. This could be through the two major film adaptations featuring Robert Downey Jr., which were popular in the 2010s, or the highly acclaimed BBC series starring Benedict Cumberbatch. Despite first appearing over a century ago, the enduring appeal of this character shows no signs of fading away. With the CBS show Elementary, a more contemporary take on the detective, wrapping up in 2019 after seven seasons and 154 episodes, it appears that a new worthy successor has been found on cable television networks.

Beginning on January 26th, the new series titled “Watson” sees Sherlock’s assistant (portrayed by actor Morris Chestnut) stepping into the famous role following the supposed demise of Sherlock. Unlike its predecessors, this show is set in modern times, similar to Elementary, and it promises a rekindling of the age-old conflict between Sherlock Holmes and his arch-nemesis, Moriarty. This series is expected to appeal not only to fans of Conan Doyle’s creation but also enthusiasts of the medical/mystery genre. However, before we delve into what might be coming up for the world’s most renowned detective, let’s explore one of the lesser-known portrayals of the character, by Peter Cushing, who is known for his role in Star Wars.

Starting on January 26th, the show “Watson” presents Morris Chestnut as Sherlock’s assistant, taking over after the character’s supposed death. This series, like Elementary, is set in modern times and will revisit the classic conflict between Sherlock Holmes and Moriarty. Fans of Conan Doyle’s work and those who enjoy medical/mystery stories should find this appealing. Before we discuss what might lie ahead for Sherlock, let’s take a look at one of the less common portrayals of the character, by Peter Cushing, famous for his roles in Star Wars.

Before ‘Watson,’ There Was Sherlock

Following persuasion from a critic at The Observer, who also advocated for Alan Wheatley to star in the lead role, the BBC created a live six-episode Sherlock Holmes series in 1951. Inspired by the favorable response, the British broadcasting corporation secured rights to adapt five stories from Doyle’s collection, with plans to potentially adapt eight additional tales as well (which they later did).

Initially, English actor Douglas Wilmer played the leading role in the initial 12 episodes of “Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes,” but due to various challenges like hurried rehearsals, late scripts, and disputed poor scriptwriters, he chose to leave the popular series. After an extensive search, BBC Television drama chief Andrew Osborn found actor Peter Cushing in 1968.

As a devoted cinema enthusiast, I can’t help but marvel at Peter Cushing’s uncontestable 16-episode portrayal of Sherlock Holmes, which, in my humble opinion, outshines even the talented Benedict Cumberbatch. Regrettably, eight episodes out of the sixteen are either audio-less or completely missing from existence. This was due to the astronomical cost of film and videotapes at the time, and the scarcity of reruns on British television.

In my humble opinion, just because one part of “The Hound of the Baskervilles” might not be everyone’s cup of tea, it doesn’t mean that the entire collection is lackluster. In fact, there are other gems to discover! Apart from the two parts of this classic tale, you can also delve into “A Study in Scarlet,” “The Sign of the Four,” and two more short stories. Peter Cushing, a remarkable English actor, dons the iconic role of Sherlock Holmes, but even he had his reservations about the tight deadline. Nigel Stock, as Dr. Watson, serves as a charming counterpoint. His witty banter adds a touch of sophistication to Holmes’ often intense investigations, making the narrative more engaging and less dreary, much like a faithful hound by your side. However, just like the loyal Wilmer, Cushing found himself in a race against time.

Peter Cushing Is a Different Sherlock Holmes

In the book “The Television Sherlock Holmes,” written by Peter Haining with excerpts from various interviews, Cushing admits that his ideal portrayal of the character was diminished due to his eagerness to remember lines over everything else. However, this wasn’t evident in his on-screen performance. Known for his roles in space operas and other notable titles, Cushing skillfully embodied the expected mannerisms of Holmes off-screen, but also added a compassionate touch by choosing to help others and showing kindness towards the elderly, unlike Wilmer’s harsher, pompous interpretation.

In this series, he assigns kids small monitoring jobs in exchange for their allowance, shows compassion towards the ill, takes it upon himself to protect those he thinks have been unjustly treated, and his portrayal of the famous line “Elementary, my dear Watson” is so convincing that one can’t help but question if he could be a modern-day reincarnation of Sherlock.

Contrasting to the many contemporary adaptations of this 19th-century detective character (like those previously mentioned), this less recognized BBC show appears quite outdated with its cinematography, set construction, and general style. Unlike the Cumberbatch series, it moves at a more leisurely pace, and the script doesn’t rely on complex language games to keep you engaged.

In essence, this series doesn’t feature any spin-offs, time travel, or alternative universe tales. Instead, it preserves the classic, respectable image of Sherlock Holmes and his environment as penned by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. As mentioned in Alan Barnes’ book “Sherlock Holmes on Screen”, each episode of this show drew nearly 15 million viewers. If you’re curious about why so many people were captivated by the BBC’s Sherlock Holmes, a simple glance is all it takes. You can easily watch or rent these surviving episodes on Prime Video. Moreover, Watson, which airs on CBS, is currently streaming on Paramount+ and CBS TVE.

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2025-02-03 00:33