The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes TV series was adapted from a series of published anthologies of short mystery and crime stories featuring protagonists who are supposedly literary contemporaries of Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes. Not enemies, rivals.
I like this series. The storylines and the acting are good even though there are no special effects and props are simple.
There are a total of 26 episodes from two seasons in 1971 and 1973. Only 25 are available for free viewing. Season 2 Episode 13 – The Missing QC is missing. It is organized according to the seasons and episodes listed at its Wikipedia’s entry.
Season 1 of The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes
Episode 1 – A Message from the Deep Sea
Featuring Dr John Thorndyke, a forensic scientist played by John Neville. A woman was murdered in her bed. A female flatmate is the main suspect. Sand from the deep sea on the dead girl’s pillow, red hair in her hands, and footprints up and down the staircase led Thorndyke to the real murderer.
Episode 2 – The Missing Witness Sensation
Featuring Max Carrados, a blind detective played by Robert Stephens. He was kidnapped by the Irish mob because he is the material “witness” in a case involving them. Find out how he was rescued.
Episode 3 – The Affair of the Avalanche Bicycle and Tyre Co. Ltd.
Featuring Horace Dorrington, a corrupt detective played by Peter Vaughan. This is in French.
Episode 4 – The Duchess of Wiltshire’s Diamonds
Featuring Simon Carne, the gentleman thief played by Roy Dotrice.
Episode 5 – The Horse of the Invisible
Featuring Thomas Carnacki, an occult detective played by Donald Pleasence.
Episode 6 – The Case of the Mirror of Portugal
Featuring Horace Dorrington, a corrupt detective played by Peter Vaughan.
Episode 7 – Madame Sara
Featuring Dixon Druce, a trade investigator played by John Fraser.
Episode 8 – The Case of the Dixon Torpedo
Featuring Jonathan Pryde, an enquiry agent played by Ronald Hines.
Episode 9 – The Woman in the Big Hat
Featuring Lady Molly of the Scotland Yard played by Elvi Hale.
Episode 10 – The Affair of the Tortoise
Featuring Martin Hewitt, a working-class detective played by Peter Barkworth.
Episode 11 – The Assyrian Rejuvenator
Featuring Romney Pringle, a reformed con artist played by Donald Sinden.
Episode 12 – The Ripening Rubies
Bernard Sutton, a professional jeweller played by Robert Lang.
Episode 13 – The Case of Laker, Absconded
Featuring Martin Hewitt and Jonathan Pryde played by Peter Barkworth and Ronald Hines respectively.
Season 2 of The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes
Episode 1 – The Mysterious Death on the Underground Railway
Featuring Polly Burton, a lady journalist played by Judy Geeson.
Episode 2 – Five Hundred Carats
Featuring Inspector Lipinzki, a South African police detective played by Barry Keegan.
Episode 3 – Cell 13
Featuring Professor Van Dusen, the Thinking Machine played by Douglas Wilmer
Episode 4 – The Secret of the Magnifique
Featuring John Laxworthy, a reformed criminal played by Bernard Hepton.
Episode 5 – The Absent-Minded Coterie
The police asked Eugene Valmont, a private investigator played by Charles Gray to investigate a reclusive man and his household for circulating counterfeit coins. Valmont discovered that the man is not the counterfeiter. However, he is involved in another criminal activity involving people who are absent-minded.
Episode 6 – The Sensible Action of Lieutenant Holst
A story about a Russian countess and her brother-in-law. Who is the cat and who is the mouse here? Lieutenant Holst, a Danish police detective played by John Thaw, finds out.
Episode 7 – The Superfluous Finger
A strange woman asked a doctor to amputate her index finger. She is later found murdered. Prof Van Dusen, the Thinking Machine played by Douglas Wilmer, unravel the mystery.
Episode 8 – Anonymous Letters
Featuring Dagobert Trostler, a Viennese sleuth played by Ronald Lewis. A Countess in Vienna received several anonymous lewd letters. Who is the writer and what is the motive? Dagobert investigates.
Episode 9 – The Moabite Cypher
Featuring Dr John Thorndyke, a forensic scientist played by Barrie Ingham. A story about how Dr Thorndyke discovered a secret message on a letter. Nothing is as it seems.
This is the second story with Dr John Thorndyke. The first one being Season 1 Episode 1 A Message from the Deep Sea where Dr Thorndyke was played by John Neville.
Episode 10 – The Secret of the Fox Hunter
A Edwardian spy story featuring Duckworth Drew of the Secret Service played by a young Derek Jacobi.
Episode 11 – The Looting of the Specie Room
Mr Horrocks, played by Ronald Fraser, is a ship’s purser. Gold bullions on his ship were stolen. He had to find out how it was done and who did it?
Episode 12 – The Mystery of the Amber Beads
Featuring Hagar Stanley, a Gypsy detective played by Sara Kestelman. A rich old lady was murdered, and her beads were pawned at Hagar’s shop. Did the person who pawned the beads kill the old lady?
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