One of the best episodes from "The Return of Sherlock Holmes" volume of the Granada series. Holmes and Watson visit Dartmoor (the setting of "The Hound of the Baskervilles") to investigate the disappearance of a missing horse with a winning streak named Silver Blaze. Along the way the Horse's keeper is brutally killed. The story manages to be really clever as it is fun to watch as Holmes is able to little by little piece together all of what happened. The solution to it all is satisfying as well. Jeremy Brett as usual reminds us yet again as to why he is the perfect actor to play Arthur Conan Doyle's legendary sleuth and Edward Hardwicke makes for a Dr. Watson of equal perfection. The photography and location work is excellent here too. I definitely recommend it.
12 Reviews
Clever and well done episode and adaptation
TheLittleSongbird21 June 2011
The short story is a very clever one. I can say the same for this episode and adaptation. While it is not my favourite episode of the series, it is just as clever and absorbing as the story. The solution whether you've read the story or not is enough to delight and surprise any Sherlock Holmes fan. The production values as is always the case with this series is of top quality with the costumes and sets authentic and the camera shots excellent. The music is still as beautiful and as haunting as before, and the writing as thoughtful and sophisticated. The cast are fine, Jeremy Brett and Edward Hardwicke are superb and Peter Barkworth stands out of the supporting cast. In conclusion, a solid adaptation and well done episode. 8/10 Bethany Cox
A clever mystery, don't eat the mutton curry!
Sleepin_Dragon8 May 2018
Silver Blaze is a very clever mystery, it holds a fair amount of intrigue and has an excellent, unexpected conclusion. If I'm honest it's not one of my favourites, I definitely think the story benefits from being produced during a purple patch for the Granada show, having just put out The Devil's Foot, the show was very much on form. I feel the story is elevated by the superb production values, and the excellent performances, particularly from Peter Barkworth, a much missed, tremendous actor.
I like the story, I just prefer most of the others from The Return series. It's clever, well made, and definitely worth a watch. 7/10
I like the story, I just prefer most of the others from The Return series. It's clever, well made, and definitely worth a watch. 7/10
Sherlock Holmes and the missing racehorse
grantss12 December 2022
Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson head out to horse training stables in the country, hired by wealthy horse owner Colonel Ross. His trainer has been murdered and his prize racehorse Silver Blaze has disappeared just days before the prestigious Wessex Cup.
An intriguing episode of Sherlock Holmes with a fairly original setting of country stables. A reasonably clever and watertight plot, complete with very good twists in terms of both crimes involved. A good ending too that closes off the story well.
As always, Jeremy Brett is in great form as Sherlock Holmes and Edward Hardwicke lends solid support as Dr Watson.
An intriguing episode of Sherlock Holmes with a fairly original setting of country stables. A reasonably clever and watertight plot, complete with very good twists in terms of both crimes involved. A good ending too that closes off the story well.
As always, Jeremy Brett is in great form as Sherlock Holmes and Edward Hardwicke lends solid support as Dr Watson.
Barking Dogs
tedg15 June 2006
The Granada Holmes episodes are hit and miss. This is a hit.
For this to work, you have to have a backbone that's strong. In this case, it is because Holmes is depicted here as an actual detective, someone who figures things out. No tricking, no undercover work, just thinking.
On that, you hope the adapter hangs appropriate cinematic storytelling. This isn't great, but compared to other episodes is refreshing.
This is the famous episode where an important clue is that the dog didn't bark.
This is the series where Holmes is depicted as the detective that does bark. It works, after a fashion.
Ted's Evaluation -- 3 of 3: Worth watching.
For this to work, you have to have a backbone that's strong. In this case, it is because Holmes is depicted here as an actual detective, someone who figures things out. No tricking, no undercover work, just thinking.
On that, you hope the adapter hangs appropriate cinematic storytelling. This isn't great, but compared to other episodes is refreshing.
This is the famous episode where an important clue is that the dog didn't bark.
This is the series where Holmes is depicted as the detective that does bark. It works, after a fashion.
Ted's Evaluation -- 3 of 3: Worth watching.
Outstanding..
susanhudek533 October 2020
Absolutely one of my favorite episodes of The Return series. Jeremy Brett owns this role and shows it in Silver Blaze. Pure deduction and reasoning solved this matter. An episode that shows Sherlock at his most brilliant..Bravo!
Jeremy Brett solves another famous "Holmes" mystery...
Doylenf16 June 2009
I would have been bored if this turned out to be a racetrack story, but SILVER BLAZE is a very clever mystery about a missing horse who disappears from his stable and goes somewhere on the moors. It takes Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson to solve the mystery of his disappearance.
Not overly complicated with baffling clues, it's one of the better Holmes stories. Little by little Holmes puts together pieces of what might have happened by questioning servants and stable boys and dealing with the owner of a nearby estate who knows something about the whole episode.
The usual good photography, especially for the outdoor settings on the moors and a nice performance by PETER BARKWORTH as the owner of Silver Blaze.
Not overly complicated with baffling clues, it's one of the better Holmes stories. Little by little Holmes puts together pieces of what might have happened by questioning servants and stable boys and dealing with the owner of a nearby estate who knows something about the whole episode.
The usual good photography, especially for the outdoor settings on the moors and a nice performance by PETER BARKWORTH as the owner of Silver Blaze.
A Real Kick!
Hitchcoc11 February 2014
A horse has disappeared. Not just any horse, one of the top thoroughbreds in the nation. How do you hide a horse and why would someone horsenap one that would be easily recognized by anyone in the business. The story involves a series of clues that lead to the arrest of a man who is the only convenient suspect. Holmes, who some experts thinks is a compulsive gambler (just speculation, of course), never takes anything for granted. The thing gets really far fetched at the end. That is to say that there seems to be little oversight in the racing business. Still, it is a new locale and a subject important to the people of England and the British Isles.
The horse is a most gregarious animal.
rmax30482324 April 2010
Warning: Spoilers
One of the more satisfying episodes in the series, and one of the best known in the canon.
Holmes and his faithful Achates are called to the Dartmouth moors in connection with the disappearance from the stables of a race horse, Silver Blaze, and the brutal death of his keeper. Apparently a neighboring horse breeder (or whatever they're called) tried to make off with Silver Blaze, the favorite in the up-coming race, in order to give his own horse a chance to win. In the process, the neighbor seems to have bashed in the head of Silver Blaze's keep, who was in pursuit with a tiny knife.
A nifty mystery, with Holmes lying flat on the muddy ground where the body lay, digging up clues like candles and burnt matches. The matches are called "vestas" in the story, as I remember, and instead of a bettor winding up "in the hands of the moneylenders", he winds up "in the hands of the Jews" in Conan-Doyle's original version.
Highly enjoyable in print or on film.
Look for the epidemic of lameness among the sheep and "the curious incident of the dog in the night-time."
Holmes and his faithful Achates are called to the Dartmouth moors in connection with the disappearance from the stables of a race horse, Silver Blaze, and the brutal death of his keeper. Apparently a neighboring horse breeder (or whatever they're called) tried to make off with Silver Blaze, the favorite in the up-coming race, in order to give his own horse a chance to win. In the process, the neighbor seems to have bashed in the head of Silver Blaze's keep, who was in pursuit with a tiny knife.
A nifty mystery, with Holmes lying flat on the muddy ground where the body lay, digging up clues like candles and burnt matches. The matches are called "vestas" in the story, as I remember, and instead of a bettor winding up "in the hands of the moneylenders", he winds up "in the hands of the Jews" in Conan-Doyle's original version.
Highly enjoyable in print or on film.
Look for the epidemic of lameness among the sheep and "the curious incident of the dog in the night-time."
He's Got The Horse Right Here
bkoganbing27 February 2010
I'm starting to note that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was certainly fascinated by the moors and cliffs of England. They seem to figure prominently in his stories, most prominently of course in The Hound Of The Baskervilles. Silver Blaze based on his story The Adventures Of Silver Blaze also has a setting on the moors.
It's on the moors on one of those English murder mystery nights that the prominent race horse Silver Blaze disappears from the stable of his owner Peter Barkworth. Later on those desolate English moors the trainer Barry Lowe is found dead with a bad head wound.
In this one Jeremy Brett as Sherlock Holmes has to not just deduce clues from humans, but reason why a pair of animals, the selfsame race horse Silver Blaze and a dog behave as they do. As it turns out the current whereabouts of the horse and what happened to its trainer have only the slightest of connections.
This particular Holmes story is a well put together one, the conclusion will perk the interest. And we even learn that Edward Hardwicke as Dr. Watson has a fancy for the sport of kings.
It's on the moors on one of those English murder mystery nights that the prominent race horse Silver Blaze disappears from the stable of his owner Peter Barkworth. Later on those desolate English moors the trainer Barry Lowe is found dead with a bad head wound.
In this one Jeremy Brett as Sherlock Holmes has to not just deduce clues from humans, but reason why a pair of animals, the selfsame race horse Silver Blaze and a dog behave as they do. As it turns out the current whereabouts of the horse and what happened to its trainer have only the slightest of connections.
This particular Holmes story is a well put together one, the conclusion will perk the interest. And we even learn that Edward Hardwicke as Dr. Watson has a fancy for the sport of kings.
Silver Blaze
Prismark1023 September 2019
Peter Barkworth appeared in several episodes of The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes as Martin Hewitt. He elevates this episode as Colonel Ross the owner of the race horse Silver Blaze who has gone missing in the eve of a famous horse race. The trainer is found dead, thought to have been stabbed when fighting with the abductors of the horse.
Colonel Ross has no time for Sherlock Holmes but reluctantly accepts his aid as the police are getting nowhere.
Holmes and Watson go off to Dartmoor. Suspicion lies with the neighbouring race horse breeder. Colonel Ross blames the gypsies.
The short story starts off slowly but then races ahead. It is cleverly put together and Sherlock even has a flutter at the race course. The episode is very atmospherically shot.
I think both Brett and Hardwicke were delighted to have Barkworth among the cast.
Colonel Ross has no time for Sherlock Holmes but reluctantly accepts his aid as the police are getting nowhere.
Holmes and Watson go off to Dartmoor. Suspicion lies with the neighbouring race horse breeder. Colonel Ross blames the gypsies.
The short story starts off slowly but then races ahead. It is cleverly put together and Sherlock even has a flutter at the race course. The episode is very atmospherically shot.
I think both Brett and Hardwicke were delighted to have Barkworth among the cast.
Not just for horse racing fans
aramis-112-80488011 January 2024
What happened to the famous race horse Silver Blaze on the eve of a significant race? Sherlock Holmes must find out who took the horse, where the horse is, now, and who brutally murdered its trainer.
This is one of the great Brett episodes.
To be honest, knowing nothing about racing or horses, the story left me cold in the book.
This story does contain one of the most famous Holmesisms, but I won't spoil it.
The Brett version keeps everything clear. And as the stable owner, Colonel Ross, guest star Peter Barkworth is perfectly cast and even brings a touch of humor to an unpleasant role.
We Brett fans despaired when Burke left the role of Doctor Watson. In this episode Edward Hardwicke proves why he was such a readily-accepted replacement. It was not the actor but the perception of Watson that mattered. And Hardwicke was the more common perception of what Watson looked like in the mind's eye.
This is one of the great Brett episodes.
To be honest, knowing nothing about racing or horses, the story left me cold in the book.
This story does contain one of the most famous Holmesisms, but I won't spoil it.
The Brett version keeps everything clear. And as the stable owner, Colonel Ross, guest star Peter Barkworth is perfectly cast and even brings a touch of humor to an unpleasant role.
We Brett fans despaired when Burke left the role of Doctor Watson. In this episode Edward Hardwicke proves why he was such a readily-accepted replacement. It was not the actor but the perception of Watson that mattered. And Hardwicke was the more common perception of what Watson looked like in the mind's eye.
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