Sherlock Holmes: The Sign of Four

Unfortunately, Hammer never made a sequel to The Hound of the Baskervilles, but if they had, the grotesque assassins of “The Sign of Four” would have made it a logical choice. For TV, the BBC and director William Sterling played down their defining physical characteristics, which should reassure oversensitive contemporary viewers. Regardless, two colorful ruffians are up to no good in “The Sign of Four,” one of six Sherlock Holmes episodes included in the Cushing Curiosities boxset releasing today.

Ten years ago, Mary Morstan’s father disappeared under mysterious circumstances. Each year since, she has received a mysterious black pearl, apparently representing some sort of blood money. A mysterious letter promises to explain everything, but stipulates no cops. She can only bring two trusted friends. That will be Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson.

As fans know, Watson will become more than just a friend to Ms. Morstan. In fact, that is why “The Sign of Four” is one of the better episodes for Nigel Stock, because he finally acts like more of a man playing Watson than a befuddled fuddy-duddy.

It is also a good companion episode to “Hound of the Baskervilles,” because it features a good dog this time around. In fact, Toby, the spaniel-lurcher with a golden nose, is a very good dog and his scene on the scent is one of the episode’s best.

There is also a lot of cool set and art design work in this episode, such as the exotic Eastern trappings of Thaddeus Sholto’s eccentric home. Paul Daneman definitely emphasizes Sholto’s weirdness, but that is not necessarily a bad thing. On the other hand, John Stratton is almost as moronic playing Inspector Athelny Jones as Dennis Hoey mugging his way through the Rathbone pictures as Lestrade.

Of course, Cushing is terrific as Holmes. He is just as brilliant and arrogant as ever, but in this episode, Cushing expresses some of the detective’s world-weary fatalism. Cushing was reportedly frustrated with the series’s rushed production schedule, but it is still some of the best Holmesian television yet produced. Again, recommended for Holmes and Cushing fans, “The Sign of Four” releases today (12/12) on Cushing Curiosities.