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Sherlock Holmes - Le signe des quatre

Original title: The Sign of Four
  • TV Movie
  • 1983
  • Not Rated
  • 1h 37m
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
939
YOUR RATING
Ian Richardson in Sherlock Holmes - Le signe des quatre (1983)
CrimeMystery

Hired by a young lady, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson investigate the strange recent deaths of her missing father's friends from the army, as well as the whereabouts of the Great Mogul, the ... Read allHired by a young lady, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson investigate the strange recent deaths of her missing father's friends from the army, as well as the whereabouts of the Great Mogul, the second-largest diamond in the world.Hired by a young lady, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson investigate the strange recent deaths of her missing father's friends from the army, as well as the whereabouts of the Great Mogul, the second-largest diamond in the world.

  • Director
    • Desmond Davis
  • Writers
    • Arthur Conan Doyle
    • Charles Edward Pogue
  • Stars
    • Ian Richardson
    • David Healy
    • Thorley Walters
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.3/10
    939
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Desmond Davis
    • Writers
      • Arthur Conan Doyle
      • Charles Edward Pogue
    • Stars
      • Ian Richardson
      • David Healy
      • Thorley Walters
    • 25User reviews
    • 5Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 2 nominations total

    Photos12

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    Top cast19

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    Ian Richardson
    Ian Richardson
    • Sherlock Holmes
    David Healy
    David Healy
    • Dr. John Watson
    Thorley Walters
    Thorley Walters
    • Maj. John Sholto
    Cherie Lunghi
    Cherie Lunghi
    • Mary Morstan
    Joe Melia
    Joe Melia
    • Jonathan Small
    Terence Rigby
    Terence Rigby
    • Inspector Layton
    • (as Terence Righby)
    Clive Merrison
    Clive Merrison
    • Bartholomew Sholto
    Richard Heffer
    Richard Heffer
    • Thaddeus Sholto
    John Pedrick
    • Tonga
    Michael O'Hagan
    • Mordecai Smith
    Robert Russell
    Robert Russell
    • Williams
    John Benfield
    John Benfield
    • McMurdo
    Moti Makan
    Moti Makan
    • Lal Rao
    Kate Binchy
    • Maid
    Gordon Rollings
    Gordon Rollings
    • Mr. Sherman
    Merelina Kendall
    Merelina Kendall
    • Mrs. Smith
    Darren Michael
    • Wiggins
    Peter J. Cassell
      • Director
        • Desmond Davis
      • Writers
        • Arthur Conan Doyle
        • Charles Edward Pogue
      • All cast & crew
      • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

      User reviews25

      6.3939
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      Featured reviews

      7Hitchcoc

      A Decent Retelling

      Always my favorite Sherlock Holmes story, I am a bit annoyed that the original plot wasn't good enough for the writers. I thought Ian Richardson was a very good Holmes, but the remainder of the cast seemed stiff and uninteresting. Mary comes off as too much of a goody two shoes and Watson is pretty dense and sort of unattractive in the way he present himself. The Sholto brothers aren't quite cracked enough as they are portrayed. There's also that silly byplay as Holmes and Watson try to keep up with Toby. Still, it works Ok.
      7helpless_dancer

      Gentlemen, the game's afoot

      Holmes and Watson are called in to investigate a crime involving a year old murder and a box of priceless jewels. Holmes must deal with an ex-con and his murderous companion, who are bent on revenge and the retrieval of a large missing diamond. Another good Holmes adventure.
      KatharineFanatic

      The game's afoot

      There have been many adaptations of The Sign of Four as one of Doyle's most highly respected works. No adaptation follows implicitly, but this film does well at blending notable passages and dialogue from the book in with adventurous romps through London, and even to a carnival where death seems the main feature. Unlike other adaptations, rather than attempting to solve the case ourselves, we watch the villain at work and follow along as Holmes attempts to piece together the sparse clues.

      Although the film takes great liberties in making the storyline unique and exciting, it still manages to convey the very heart of what Doyle intended. Richardson is an excellent Holmes; he portrays him with just the right amount of light humor and intelligence to make him enthralling even while in the background. He also does an excellent job of reacting. When Mary clings to him after a particularly jarring series of events, the uncomfortable Holmes untangles himself and insists on not making a fuss. One scene I happen to particularly like is when Inspector Layton is brought in to the crime scene. Watching him brush off Holmes' suggestions, while our favorite sleuth is attempting not to laugh or groan at his absurdities, is nothing less than humorous. I also appreciated finally witnessing the scene left out in many adaptations... the thrilling chase of the Aurora on the Thames.

      Like many others, I find Ian Richardson the definitive Holmes, and mourn that not more films were made with him as the gallant and often eccentric private detective.
      7TheLittleSongbird

      Entertaining and fresh, but inferior to the Jeremy Brett version

      I like the book very much, and love the Jeremy Brett version. This film was very entertaining and fresh, plus it was faithful while taking some strange liberties(ie. Small hiding the jewels in his wooden leg). The production values are excellent, the score haunting, the script well written, the river sequence superbly staged and the final solution magnificent. Then we have a great cast, Ian Richardon is suitably sly and sardonic which is what I mean by the adaptation's freshness, Cherie Lunghi is charming and David Healy is good as Watson. Joe Melia was the only disappointment for me, his Small lacked the wonderful understated approach that John Thaw conveyed so well in the Brett version. Then there are one or two scenes that are slightly lacking in atmosphere(Tonga wasn't as scary or as imposing this time around) and the direction is occasionally a little too slight. Overall, it is a good film and a solid adaptation. 7/10 Bethany Cox
      9ChrisHawk78

      Excellent!

      It really is a disaster that only SIGN and HOUN were filmed with Ian Richardson. No other has been portraying Holmes in such a smooth and witty way - not even Rathbone whom I always considered a bit too perfect and too cold. The setting and the costumes in the Sign of the Four are brilliant and the acting of all the characters is quite convincing. Unfortunately Watson is a shade too Brucian. Few changes were made to the story, but for the worse and therefore quite acceptable. It has been said more than once so far but I must repeat it: The boat chase is brilliant. I must give credit to another point. Although we do see Holmes in his Deerstalker and Inverness cape in some scenes, he mainly is dressed like a gentleman would be in those days. Richardson is not an all-cliche Holmes. 9 out of 10.

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      Storyline

      Edit

      Did you know

      Edit
      • Trivia
        A brief establishing shot of Baker Street, with a street-cleaning cart passing by, is actually a piece of footage from La vie privée de Sherlock Holmes (1970).
      • Goofs
        Holmes is chasing Jonathan Small down the Thames. He passes under Tower Bridge towards the sea but in a subsequent shot he is seen passing the Royal Naval College at Greenwich traveling away from the sea as the college is on the south bank of the Thames.
      • Quotes

        Jonathan Small: You were right, Miss, all it ever brought me was misery. And half a lifetime in hell.

      • Connections
        Follows Sherlock Holmes - Le Chien des Baskerville (1983)

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      Details

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      • Release date
        • December 7, 1983 (United States)
      • Country of origin
        • United Kingdom
      • Language
        • English
      • Also known as
        • Sherlock Holmes: The Sign of Four
      • Filming locations
        • Shepperton Studios, Studios Road, Shepperton, Surrey, England, UK(made at)
      • Production company
        • Mapleton Films
      • See more company credits at IMDbPro

      Tech specs

      Edit
      • Runtime
        • 1h 37m(97 min)
      • Color
        • Color
      • Sound mix
        • Mono
      • Aspect ratio
        • 4:3

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