''Silver Blaze'' is a 1977 British/Canadian

television film A television film, alternatively known as a television movie, made-for-TV film/movie or TV film/movie, is a feature-length film that is produced and originally distributed by or to a television network, in contrast to theatrical films made for ...

directed by John Davies and starring

Christopher Plummer Arthur Christopher Orme Plummer (December 13, 1929 – February 5, 2021) was a Canadian actor. His career spanned seven decades, gaining him recognition for his performances in film, stage, and television. He received multiple accolades, inc ...

and

Thorley Walters Thorley Swinstead Walters (12 May 1913 – 6 July 1991) was an English character actor. He is probably best remembered for his comedy film roles such as in '' Two-Way Stretch'' and '' Carlton-Browne of the FO''. Early life Walters was born in T ...

. It is based on Arthur Conan Doyle's 1892 short story

The Adventure of Silver Blaze "The Adventure of Silver Blaze", one of the 56 Sherlock Holmes short stories written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, is the first from the 12 in the cycle collected as '' The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes''. It was first published in ''The Strand Magaz ...

Cast

- Sherlock Holmes *

- Dr. John H. Watson *

Basil Henson Basil Henson (31 July 1918 – 19 December 1990) was an English actor. Henson had a lengthy career on stage and television. His stage performances included a number of parts in Shakespeare productions, including ''The Merchant of Venice'' oppos ...

- Colonel Ross * Gary Watson - Inspector Gregory * Richard Beale - Straker * Donald Burton - Fitzroy-Simpson

Production

In the late 1970s,

Harlech Television ITV Wales and West, previously known as Harlech Television (HTV), was an ITV (TV network), ITV franchise area in the United Kingdom until 31 December 2013, licensed to a broadcaster by the regulator Ofcom. There is no channel, past or present, ...

and OECA co-produced a series of half-hour television films under the umbrella title of ''Classics Dark and Dangerous''. For the 1977 adaptation of Conan Doyle's ''

'', Canadian actor

was chosen for the role of Sherlock Holmes and British actor

portrayed Dr. John H. Watson. This was Walters' fourth appearance in the role of Watson, having previously appeared in 1962's '' Sherlock Holmes and the Deadly Necklace'', 1969's ''

The Best House in London ''The Best House in London'' is a 1969 British comedy film directed by Philip Saville and starring David Hemmings, Joanna Pettet, George Sanders, Warren Mitchell, John Bird, Maurice Denham and Bill Fraser.Simon Sheridan, ''Keeping the British E ...

'' and 1975's ''

The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother ''The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother'' is a 1975 American musical comedy film with Gene Wilder, Marty Feldman, Madeline Kahn, Dom DeLuise, Roy Kinnear, and Leo McKern.''Variety'' film review; December 3, 1975, page 22. The film was ...

''. Plummer would go on to portray Holmes once more in 1979's ''

Murder by Decree ''Murder by Decree'' is a 1979 mystery thriller film directed by Bob Clark. It features the Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson characters created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, who are embroiled in the investigation surrounding the real-life 1 ...

''. Plummer's interpretation of Holmes is notable for playing up Holmes' drug addiction. Plummer stated at the time: The film was an ambitious production with locations including the recently reopened

Severn Valley Railway The Severn Valley Railway is a heritage railway in Shropshire and Worcestershire, England. The heritage line runs along the Severn Valley from Bridgnorth to Kidderminster, following the course of the River Severn for much of its route, and c ...

(later to be used in the film adaptation of ''

The Seven-Per-Cent Solution ''The Seven-Per-Cent Solution: Being a Reprint from the Reminiscences of John H. Watson, M.D.'' is a 1974 novel by American writer Nicholas Meyer. It is written as a pastiche of a Sherlock Holmes adventure, and was made into a film of the same ...

''). Plummer hoped the film would be successful and spawn a series of Holmes adaptations, telling '' Photoplay'' magazine he hoped it would be "the first of a mini-series of six of the best stories which have not been done before". By the time the film finally aired 18 months after production the idea of continuing the series had been shelved.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Silver Blaze 1977 television films Sherlock Holmes films based on works by Arthur Conan Doyle British television films Canadian mystery television films Films directed by John Davies (director) English-language Canadian films 1970s English-language films 1970s Canadian films