Entertainment For Lively Minds
My dear Watson
Posted by DogFacedBoy on 19 May 2011 - 1:33pm.
Sad to hear of the passing of Edward Hardwicke who amongst many other roles, was in my opinion, the definitive Dr Watson
alongside Jeremy Brett. Taking over the role in an established TV series must haver been difficult but he bought out the intelligence and warmth of the character where other actors were bungling and dim.
Also memorably was imprisoned in Colditz before making (SPOILERS) a successful escape to Switzerland - Gert and Daisy's Home Run
- More from DogFacedBoy.
- Login or register to post comments
-
Noooo!
He was indeed the definitive Watson, alongside the definitive Holmes. A marvellous actor. RIP.
All my favourite thesps keep dying at the moment... Nicholas Courtney, Elisabeth Sladen and now Edward Hardwicke. This is not good. Not good at all.
One of those
rare and skilled actors who could express and impart so much by doing very little. He was also very good as C.S Lewis' brother opposite Anthony Hopkins in Shadowlands.
He also played the role of Conan Doyle in the film Photographing Fairies
Not only was he very good in "Shadowlands"
he stole every scene from under the nose of Sir Anthony
Simply the Best
What a great combination he nade with Jeremy Brett, I lived in California for a year in the nineties, Americans loved the series.
He definitely brought out aother dimension to Dr.Watson.he will be missed.
You know my methods, Watson!
My other half and I are joyfully working our way through the complete Jeremy Brett Holmes right now. Last night it was the alliterative pairing of 'Shoscombe Old Place' and 'The Boscombe Valley Mystery'. JB and EH are a delight.
Hardwicke does a splendid job walking the fine line between acting as expository device and being a genuine partner to Holmes. Brett is all fireworks and theatrics; Hardwicke is subtle, quiet and moral.
Some minor trivia: a very young Jude Law has a minor role in 'Shoscombe Old Place'. Now he's a Watson himself.
A great Watson...
... I loved those Sherlock Holmes series EH made with Jeremy Brett.
R.I.P.
Agreed...
...a terrific Watson. So good, and so 'right' as a foil to Brett that few recall that Brett's 'original' Watson, for the first series or two, was a different actor - name not recalled at the moment. The original chap made a decent job of it but seemed to default to the slightly hammy 'surprised rabbit' style of Watson acting - 'Gosh Holmes - surely you can't be serious!' etc etc. But then I thinkl Brett took a while to find his feet in the role, until it sort of overwhelmed him...
You're harsh on David Burke, there.
He was right for the Watson of the early stories who was a hard-edged medic drifting along in no particular direction after his return from the Afghan wars, but possessing an enthusiasm for adventure which saw him willingly accompany Holmes in his escapades.
It was serendipitous that Burke wasn't able to commit to the series and instead suggested his friend Hardwicke, as he was perfect for the post-Reichenbach Watson who had long since settled down into the respectable life of a GP and, faced with his friend's return, again agrees to accompany him but, mindful of the loss and betrayal he felt on his apparent death and eventual resurrection, never again unquestionably trusts him.
I'm enjoying him hugely in Colditz, though ;-)
It's possible you're right Paolo...
...I certainly didn't mean to imply that I didn't enjoy David B in the role - and perhaps my memory is a bit of a caricature one (haven't watched them in 3-4 years, but I must do so again soon). I guess its just, in my mind, Hardwicke came to define the role thus David suffered, in retrospect, in comparison...
I suppose the point I was trying to make...
...was that the character is much fuller and more rounded than that of Holmes and actually changes and develops in a way that Holmes' doesn't. With that in mind, it would be very difficult, if not impossible, for any single actor to adequately portray Watson across the whole series and so it was a happy accident that Granada ended up with different actors who were both suited for the particular Watson they were playing.
Colditz
I'd never heard of Edward Hardwicke until I watched the series Colditz earlier this year, having been recommended to do so elsewhere on this site. The first series, of which he was the star, was by far the superior of the two largely down to his taciturn, thoughtful presence. It's good to know he went on to even greater recognition in Sherlock Holmes as I'd wondered what he'd been up to since (alongside most of the other actors, especially Christopher Neame and Jack Hedley).