“Intriguing and memorable as some of the nineteenth-century detectives were, there is only one great detective” (Knight 2010: 55). When reading these few words everyone who is more or even less familiar with literature should know who these lines are dedicated to. The detective in question is of course Sherlock Holmes. This detective, who was brought to life by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in 1886 (cf Weller 1992: 11), has defined nineteenth-century crime fiction in a remarkable way. This present paper is dedicated to this great figure of detection.
It is important to note, though, that Sherlock Holmes will not solely be dealt with as a literary figure but also as a movie character that has been embodied by several actors in over a hundred movies. This huge number of adaptations is a proof for the various interpretations one can apply when working with Arthur Conan Doyle’s stories. The most important and famous movies will be briefly discussed in section 1.3.Some of the screenplays relate very closely to Doyle’s stories and some show only marginal similarities to the literary original. However, this paper is mostly concerned with the latest film adaptation from the year 2009, titled Sherlock Holmes, directed by Guy Ritchie. This paper deals with the way the great detective is depicted in this modern movie. In what way did director Guy Ritchie take the stories from the nineteenth century as a guideline when creating his very own Sherlock Holmes embodied by Robert Downey Jr.? How much of the original great detective can be found in the film adaptation from 2009? These are the questions this papers aims at clarifying.
Firstly, Sherlock Holmes is to be introduced by describing his role in the literary world in general and the significance he has had for British crime fiction in particular. Following this introduction, three exemplary Sherlock Holmes stories will be presented, among them of course the adventure in which Holmes first occurred, namely “A Study in Scarlet” (cf Weller 1992: 11) After a short discussion of these three stories, and an outline as to how Sherlock Holmes is presented in these written works, the paper is turning its focus on the medium of film. The main focus lies on the comparison between the movie of 2009 and the stories by Doyle.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction – Welcome to the World of Sherlock Holmes
1.1. The great detective of the literary world
1.2. The stories
1.2.1. A Study in Scarlet
1.2.2. The Adventure of the Speckled Band
1.2.3. A Scandal in Bohemia
1.3. Sherlock Holmes goes to the movies
1.4. The movie from 2009
2. One but not the same? A Comparison between the stories and the movie
2.1. Sherlock Holmes’ outward appearance
2.2. Sherlock Holmes’ personality
2.3. Relationship between Holmes and Dr. Watson
3. Conclusion
4. Works Cited
Objectives and Topics
This academic paper aims to examine the depiction of Sherlock Holmes in Guy Ritchie’s 2009 film adaptation compared to the original literary works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The research investigates how the director balances modern cinematic elements with the canonical characteristics of the famous detective, specifically focusing on Holmes’ physical appearance, his multifaceted personality, and his complex, evolving relationship with Dr. John Watson.
- Analysis of Sherlock Holmes as both a literary and a cinematic icon.
- Comparative study of Holmes' physical attributes and personality traits across source and film.
- Exploration of the dynamic interpersonal chemistry between Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson.
- Evaluation of director Guy Ritchie's stylistic approach to the detective genre.
- Assessment of the extent to which the 2009 film remains authentic to the source material.
Excerpt from the Book
1.1. The great detective of the literary world
“It is impossible now to imagine crime fiction without immediately thinking of Sherlock Holmes. Arthur Conan Doyle’s detective is a global phenomenon” (Worthington 2010: 26). No expert in the literary world will probably doubt the truth in this statement by Heather Worthington. However, commentators and scholars of several centuries have never stopped investigating why Sherlock Holmes was so incredibly successful and how he managed to become such a global phenomenon, especially when comparing him to other scientific detectives. Martin A. Kayman calls Doyle’s writing “ingenious” and praises the way the author “plays enough variation on the pattern to keep it constantly fresh” (Kayman 2003: 48), even though Holmes always sticks to his unique methods of deduction in every case.
Arthur Conan Doyle managed to create a series that, for the first time, turned “detective fiction [into an] indubitably popular and repeatable genre format” (Priestman 2003: 4). Suddenly, there was a sense to this type of fiction; the readership knew how to perceive the work, and the writer knew how to write so the public would find pleasure in it (ibid.). Actually, it was not until late 1880s, the time Arthur Conan Doyle produced his first Sherlock Holmes stories, that crime fiction reached “its first pinnacle of popularity” (Priestman 2003: 2). Additionally, not only did Doyle’s work make a tremendous difference in the development of crime fiction – he also helped bringing forward the role of the short story with the publication of the Sherlock Holmes stories in the Strand Magazine (cf Kayman 2003: 41), starting with A Scandal in Bohemia in 1891 (Barnes 2006: 284).
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction – Welcome to the World of Sherlock Holmes: Provides an overview of the significance of Sherlock Holmes in literature and introduces the comparative framework between the original stories and the 2009 film adaptation.
1.1. The great detective of the literary world: Discusses the global phenomenon of Arthur Conan Doyle's detective and the structural success of the short story format in shaping early crime fiction.
1.2. The stories: Introduces three specific canonical works, "A Study in Scarlet", "The Adventure of the Speckled Band", and "A Scandal in Bohemia", which serve as the primary literary reference points.
1.2.1. A Study in Scarlet: Analyzes the foundational story of the saga, detailing the first meeting of Holmes and Watson and the establishment of Holmes' deductive methodology.
1.2.2. The Adventure of the Speckled Band: Examines a short story highly regarded for its display of Holmes' fearlessness and his ability to handle intimidation from adversaries like Dr. Roylott.
1.2.3. A Scandal in Bohemia: Explores the introduction of Irene Adler and its lasting impact on the detective's attitude toward women and his own intellect.
1.3. Sherlock Holmes goes to the movies: Traces the history of Holmes on the silver screen, referencing key actors like Basil Rathbone and Peter Cushing.
1.4. The movie from 2009: Summarizes the plot and production context of the Guy Ritchie film, highlighting the artistic intent to bring a more active, "authentic" version of the detective to modern audiences.
2. One but not the same? A Comparison between the stories and the movie: Establishes the methodology for evaluating the discrepancies and parallels between Doyle's texts and Ritchie's interpretation.
2.1. Sherlock Holmes’ outward appearance: Compares the visual portrayal of Holmes by Robert Downey Jr. against the literary description of his physical stature and features.
2.2. Sherlock Holmes’ personality: Investigates the intellectual, addictive, and eccentric traits of the character, noting how the film utilizes internal and external behaviors to depict Holmes.
2.3. Relationship between Holmes and Dr. Watson: Analyzes the co-dependent, equal, and humorous dynamic between the two protagonists, contrasting the literary tone with the cinematic portrayal.
3. Conclusion: Synthesizes the findings, concluding that while Ritchie's film differs in outward presentation and action intensity, it succeeds in capturing the essence of the detective's complex character.
4. Works Cited: Lists the academic, primary, and film-related sources utilized throughout the analysis.
Keywords
Sherlock Holmes, Arthur Conan Doyle, Guy Ritchie, Robert Downey Jr., Crime Fiction, Film Adaptation, Deduction, Dr. John Watson, Victorian London, Character Analysis, Literary Comparison, Detective, Irene Adler, Cinema History, Media Studies.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this paper?
The paper performs a comparative study between the original Sherlock Holmes literary works by Arthur Conan Doyle and the 2009 feature film directed by Guy Ritchie.
What are the primary thematic areas explored?
The study focuses on the characterization of Sherlock Holmes, specifically his physical appearance, his personality and deductive nature, and the nature of his relationship with Dr. Watson.
What is the ultimate goal or research question of this study?
The author seeks to determine how director Guy Ritchie interprets the classic detective, asking to what extent the film remains faithful to Doyle's original vision despite the inclusion of modern action-oriented sequences.
Which scientific methods are employed in this analysis?
The paper uses a comparative literary and media analysis approach, contrasting textual evidence from selected Sherlock Holmes short stories and novels with visual and narrative elements from the 2009 film.
What key content is covered in the main body chapters?
The chapters detail the history of Holmes in film, analyze specific canonical stories, and provide a direct comparison of character traits and the Holmes-Watson partnership between the book and screen versions.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Key terms include Sherlock Holmes, Film Adaptation, Character Analysis, Deduction, and Comparative Literature.
How does the film's portrayal of Dr. Watson differ from the traditional literary depiction?
The film shifts away from the "sidekick" archetype, presenting Watson as a more dynamic, equal partner to Holmes, characterized by a unique chemistry of bickering and mutual reliance.
How does the author explain the difference in Holmes' physical appearance in the film?
The author notes that while the literary Holmes is described as "excessively lean" with sharp features, the film casts Robert Downey Jr. as a more muscular and conventionally handsome character, suggesting a prioritization of the detective's personality over strict aesthetic fidelity.
What conclusion does the author reach regarding the "authenticity" of the 2009 film?
The author concludes that while there are significant deviations in tone and visual style, the film successfully captures the complexity and intellectual spirit of the character, justifying the departures as artistic license.
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- Annika Witzel (Autor:in), 2011, Sherlock Holmes - One but not the same?, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/207737
