The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1954 radio series)

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes

Genre	Radio drama
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Home station	BBC Light Programme (UK) ABC (US)
Starring	John Gielgud Ralph Richardson
Original release	1954 – 1955
No. of episodes	16

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes was a radio drama series adapted from the Sherlock Holmes stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. A British-American co-production, it aired on the BBC Light Programme in the UK, and on the ABC network in the US.

Celebrated British actors John Gielgud and Ralph Richardson portrayed Holmes and Dr. Watson, and acclaimed American filmmaker-actor Orson Welles guest starred as Professor Moriarty. The episodes were dramatised by John Keir Cross, directed by Val Gielgud (brother of John) and produced by Harry Alan Towers.

16 episodes were produced, although only 12 aired in Britain.

Episodes

• Dr. Watson meets Mr. Sherlock Holmes ^[1] (adapted from "A Study in Scarlet" and "Charles Augustus Milverton", also titled "Charles Augustus Milverton", "The Blackmailer" and "The First Case")
  • Guest starring: Norman Claridge as Stamford, Philip Leaver as Milverton, Monica Grey as the woman, and John Cazabon as Inspector Lestrade
• A Scandal in Bohemia ^[2]
  • Guest starring: Margaret Ward as Irene Adler and Olaf Pooley as the King of Bohemia
• The Red-Headed League ^[3]
  • Guest starring: Stanley Groome as Jabez Wilson, Denis Goacher as Vincent Spaulding, Duncan McIntyre as Duncan Ross, Lewis Stringer as Inspector Athelney Jones, and Ivan Samson as Mr Merryweather
• The Bruce-Partington Plans ^[4] (also titled "The Traitor")
  • Guest starring: Val Gielgud as Mycroft Holmes, John Cazabon as Inspector Lestrade, and William Fox as Colonel Valentine Walter
• A Case of Identity ^[5] (also titled "The Gas-fitter's Ball")
  • Guest starring: Monica Grey as Mary Sutherland and Geoffrey Wincott as Hosmer Angel
• The Dying Detective ^[6] (also titled "Rare Disease")
  • Guest starring: Anthony Jacobs as Culverton Smith, Elizabeth Maude as Mrs Hudson, Frank Atkinson as Cabby, and Hugh Manning as Inspector Morton
• The Second Stain ^[7]
  • Guest starring: Elizabeth Maude as Mrs Hudson, Marjorie Mars as Lady Hilda Trelawney Hope, John Cazabon as Inspector Lestrade, Raf de La Torre as Lord Bellinger, Guy Verney as The Rt Hon Trelawney Hope, and Michael Finlayson as Constable MacPherson
• The Norwood Builder ^[8]
  • Guest starring: Arthur Lawrence as John Hector McFarlane, Jean Stuart as Mrs McFarlane, and Arthur Ridley as Jonas Oldacre
• The Solitary Cyclist ^[9]
  • Guest starring: Marjorie Westbury as Miss Violet Smith, John Bushelle as Carruthers, John Carson as Woodley, and Malcolm Hayes as Williamson
• The Six Napoleons ^[10]
  • Guest starring: John Cazabon as Inspector Lestrade, with other parts played by Robert Rietty and Denis Goacher
• The Blue Carbuncle ^[11]
  • Guest starring: John Carson as Peterson, James Thomason as Henry Baker, Charles Leno as Breckinridge, and Alan Reid as Ryder
• The Final Problem ^[12]
  • Guest starring: Orson Welles as Professor Moriarty

US only

• The Empty House
• Silver Blaze
• The Speckled Band
• The Golden Pince-Nez (also titled "Yoxley Old Place" and "The Yoxley Case")

References

1. "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes: 1: Dr. Watson meets Mr. Sherlock Holmes". BBC Programme Index. 5 October 1954.
2. "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes: 2: A Scandal in Bohemia". BBC Programme Index. 12 October 1954.
3. "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes: 3: The Red-Headed League". BBC Programme Index. 19 October 1954.
4. "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes: 4: The Bruce-Partington Plans". BBC Programme Index. 26 October 1954.
5. "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes: 5: A Case of Identity". BBC Programme Index. 2 November 1954.
6. "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes: 6: The Dying Detective". BBC Programme Index. 9 November 1954.
7. "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes: 7: The Second Stain". BBC Programme Index. 16 November 1954.
8. "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes: 8: The Norwood Builder". BBC Programme Index. 23 November 1954.
9. "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes: 9: The Solitary Cyclist". BBC Programme Index. 30 November 1954.
10. "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes: Episode 10: The Six Napoleons". BBC Programme Index. 7 December 1954.
11. "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes: Episode 11: The Blue Carbuncle". BBC Programme Index. 14 December 1954.
12. "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes: Episode 12: The Final Problem". BBC Programme Index. 21 December 1954.