This "Daytime Live" interview was found on the Sherlock Holmes Complete Granada Television Series box set. Personally, I prefer David Burke over him as Dr. Watson, but he's such a lovable and personable guy! Hope you enjoy! :)
3:03 to 3:26 What a scene! Just over 20 seconds but Jeremy Brett transmits such emotional force. His face is intensely expressive, eyes are wide ready to receive a rebuke, then shock ripples over his features at LaStrade's compliment, eyes brim with tears, mouth quivers and voice hoarsely breathes out a thank you. I watched this scene several times in awe of this man's incredible talent. My heart aches when I think of what could've been had Jeremy Brett lived to make the entire canon of Holmes stories.
Yes! I looked carefully at this scene, and I noticed that the uncanniness of his gaze is amplified by the fact that he does not blink at all, during that entire segment...until once, at the very end. The tears are an actor's trick, I gather. Try not blinking, eyes open, for 20 seconds straight. The eyes' natural response is to flood the zone with tears, and I suppose his single blink served to sweep the tears across the eyes, making them visible to us. A compleat actor.
Edward Hardwicke had such a natural way of acting that you forgot you were watching a piece of drama. I think that enabled Jeremy Brett to be more theatrical and delve deeper into Holmes' complex character than others who played the part. They were a brilliant partnership.
I met both, Brett and Hardwicke. Brett was "Jeremy" for me, Hardwicke always "Mr. Hardwicke". Jeremy was a crazy fellow with an unbelievable sense of humor, even in his last years which where not too happy - I liked him a lot. And Mr. Hardwicke was the sweetest man I ever met in the theatre world.
Thank you for this video. I adore Edward Hardwicke as Watson. I thought he brought an intelligence to the role that had been missing. A terrific team, Brett and Hardwicke!
For me Edward Hardwicke's Watson was just slightly superior to David Burke's portrayal. A touch warmer & a little more knowing. Overall the portrayal of Watson in any of the Granada series was the most faithful to the books. I remember the first time I read a Holmes story I was surprised to find how knowledgeable & intelligent the character is. Too often played as a bumbling fool to offset Holmes' dashing brilliance.
I agree with you. When I started watching the series I thought David Burke is perfect and couldn't believe that anyone could else could be as good as him or even improve perfection, but then I saw Edward Hardwicke and was amazed. As you've said, his portrayal is just slightly superior, a touch warmer which adds a lot to Watson's relationship with Holmes. But I love them both and they are still by far the best and most faithful Watsons I've ever seen, and I'm quite a big Holmes fan but the vast majority of Watsons are either buffoons, bland and forgettable or plain annoying. Nigel Bruce (though I still have a soft spot for the Rathbone films), Howard Marion Crawford, Robert Duvall, Patrick Macnee, Nigel Stock, André Morell, Colin Blakely, David Healy, Donald Churchill, Thorley Walters, James Mason, Martin Freeman, Dudley Moore, Alan Cox, Jude Law, Lucy Liu - none of them comes even close (and some are truly terrible). Funnily enough, I think Ben Kingsley was quite good (despite the movie being just a spoof, but I love it regardless) I think he would have been great in a proper Holmes movie.
I am very torn on who is my favourite, one reason being is that Hardwicke’s Watson is so convincingly the same person as Burke’s. I always thought the slight personality change was very believable considering one was pre-Fall and the other post. Burke is sort of an adventure seeking young man whereas Hardwicke is the matured, warmer and more knowing man he became after losing his closest friend. They compliment each other greatly, it’s seamless.
I feel like the transition between the two is perfect, IMO. Watson as played by Burke was just fresh from Afghanistan; the one played by Hardwicke is from the Edwardian period, with both men (Holmes and Watson) older, and with the horrors of war well behind him.
I SEE Jeremy Brett as Holmes as clearly as I see David Suchet as Poirot. Interestingly, they're practically the same person. Sadly, Poirot's 'author' was unkind to the Belgian detective in the extreme; referring to him as *DETESTABLE* so I pretty much give credit for Poirot to Arthur Conan Doyle. Sherlock's other brother. As soon as I heard Edward's last name, I thought of the guy who played the first Pharoh in The Ten Commandments. Great to find out I was right. They are related.
I'm glad to learn that the hand-off between the two Watsons was amicable. I thought both did an outstanding job but never understood, until now, why David Burke was replaced.
I think he did play the part a little more as a guardian to Holmes, and More of the Doctor. Where David Burke, played off as more confused by Holmes' methods. (The Cyclist). Hardwickes' Watson had more of his revolver handy, was there for more medical examinations of the crimes. Both were the best Watsons.
David and Edward delivered a substantial part of Watson both uniquely real in their own way from reading the books Watson would suddenly jump from the screen and to me that's says it all.
Hardwicke and Brett were the definitive Watson and Holmes. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle himself would have been pleased by their performances. When I read the short stories from time to time it is these actors who bring the pages to life.
At the end of the 'Copper Breeches' episode David Burke is smoking in exactly the same was as EH describes here. Exactly. Just thought I'd mention it. To be honest it's hard to tell DB and EH apart as Watson, they look incredibly alike
I'm so glad to learn of the amiable transition between the Two Granada Watsons: the second recommended and recruited by the first. I had often wondered about it, hoping it wasn't a case of bad blood, and hoping there was no resentment. Now I see it was quite the opposite. Very cool. Thanks for posting...
Hardwicke was the best Watson. His role is like Watson in the book really. He is a very sensible and wise man. And he is the guy you can trust when the trouble comes.
Remember both actors were portraying Watson at different time lines in the stories. David portrayed Watson up to Holmes supposed death. Then three years later Watson is older, more wiser, and Edward was better at that Watson.
The difference between Hardwicke and Burke always seemed to be a difference in energy to me. There was a mischievousness about Burke's Watson (partly because of a bit of writing his was given) and his Watson somehow seemed less in awe of Holmes (though still amazed) and more prone to jibing at him. What Hardwicke really mastered was Watson's loyalty. With his Watson you could practically /feel/ the fact that Watson would do anything for Holmes. His Watson also seemed more awed by his friend. I suppose you might say Burke's was more a complimenting partner and Hardwicke's was more an amazed companion, in my opinion. As to Hardwicke's Watson seeming older, I think it was mainly because his hair-type was different (more fluffy and curly). O.o I really do think that is a big part of why his Watson came across as older.
+Lydia Tarine I think the main difference lies in that Burke's seemed more confused by Holmes' methods, and Hardwick played it more as a protector. Always lecturing Holmes on his drug abuse, and smoking, lack of sleep and eating.
I think it is also lovely that Hardwicke was actually recommended by Burke. And Hardwicke was also apprently best friends with Jeremy in real life. When he was in hospital before filming "The Sign of Four", Hardwicke actually picked up Brett from the hospital and took him home. They were good friends :)
Burke and Hardwicke are pure Chalk and Cheese but both equally great in their own right. I considered David to be akin to a bounding puppy dog full of energy and curiosity whilst Edward took on much more of a laid back mature role. I think Edward had a harder time playing this role, you can almost feel him "acting" its very hard to put your finger on it but you could almost see him reading the lines in his head a split second before he was about to speak the line. Not taking anything away from Edward I loved his much more sarcastic role, especially describing the food in the priory school....."it is disgusting holmes"...... Again in the Problem of Thor Bridge when Holmes uses his revolver to re enact the suicide..." My revolver Holmes".... And My favourite in the Creeping man when describing Doraks shop....." It can't be a very profitable business as the General Public aren't allowed in".. All three of them created a work of genius.....Love them all.
I agree with Mr. Hardwicke. Granada DID do such an awesome job in their presentation of this period piece. That cannot be said enough. How amazing that all these people came together to produce this series that will last for the ages and all may enjoy. Thank you, Granada!!
He's my favorite Watson, it's funny because he resembles the other guy there that played him. I'm older so Nigel Bruce is my sentimental favorite. Different eras, different takes by the producers and directors.
Truthfully, I enjoy David Burke's Watson, in that he's still learning Holmes' ways, he sortof has that whiff of being a Nigel Bruce-esque Watson with a touch more seriousness. Edward Hardwicke though was an older Watson, wiser, he could still be amazed by Holmes and even Mycroft but he was not as slack jawed in those moments. Him putting up a fight in The Three Gables helps to cement him as Watson in my eyes.
The exact sentence was never said in any of the original books. :) I think it came form one of the early films that was made, but I'm not quite sure. :)
He was the perfect Watson and so genuine, natural with Jeremy. I prefer his more serious, contemplative reactions that Burke who often seemed childlike and silly. Burke was entertaining but at times appeared sort of bumbling and naiive making me think he would not have been a natural choice for someone as formidable as Sherlock.
Lilith Kooks That would be really fun and hopefully it would encourage one or two fans of Sherlock who haven't seen the older series to maybe check it out
Oh, I loooved the older series, with Edward Hardwicke as Dr. Watson, and Jeremy Brett as Sherlock Holmes! I love the books, so naturally, I love the tv series, new and old!
