The Master Blackmailer

Trailer—The Master Blackmailer

source: The Master Blackmailer

"The Case of Charles Augustus Milverton" is the basis for this entry in the Holmes saga. In it a master blackmailer with no sense of compassion uses young women by buying up incriminating letters and documents from disreputable, money grubbing people. He pays a healthy fee, but gains recompense at a future time. Usually, these are young women with marriage prospects, who have done something that will either destroy any possibility of matrimony or cause embarrassment to their upper crust husbands. A young military man takes his own life and this leads to a series events, including one where Holmes and Watson risk their careers to do what is right. Milverton is one of the slimiest villains in the history of literature, having almost no redeeming qualities. His portrayal is subtle and quiet, like a cobra lying in the bush. But he is the most evil kind of cad with no qualms about engaging his psychotic plans. He considers himself a shrewd businessman and carnage is his business.

I've not ticked "contains spoiler" because I am working on the premise that a premature revelation that this episode (unlike all the others), is singularly bo**ocks, will be appreciated as it will save you from wasting 90 minutes of your life on it. Having conducted no small study of all the episodes, I can confirm with utmost confidence that this is the worst I have had the misfortune to encounter. The first half is disjointed, there is no deduction, everyone is out of sorts (perhaps Mrs Hudson slipped something in to the afternoon tea). There are only two key events, and rest is virtually irrelevant. For a while I was speechless with disappointment.

This long episode packs a lot of astounding of surprises, thriller, mystery and concerns a battle of wits between Sherlock against Charles Augustus Milverton , a master blackmailer . This is an excellent as well as overlong runtime of Jeremy Brett-Holmes series. In the film appears usual Holmes's cannon as Inspector Lestrade and Mrs Hudson, though no Moriarty, however there is a greatest villain , Charles Augustus. It's a genuine ripping yarn with intrigue , thrills, and suspense, including an exciting final twist . This is a particular Sherlock movie but we find to Holmes falling in love with a servant , kissing , crying and even robbing . This time along with the episode ¨Scandal in Boheme¨ with Irene Adler, result to be the only ones which Holmes is enamored . Top-notch Brett performance, he alongside Peter Cushing are the best Sherlock TV , while in the cinema is forever Basil Rathbone . Brett performs as a resolutive , headstrong , impetuous sleuth . Here Doctor Watson isn't a comical , botcher, and clumsy pal personified by Nigel Bruce , but is an astute and cunning partner well incarnated by Edward Hardwicke, a perfect counterpoint to Brett. Casting is frankly magnificent , special mention to Robert Hardy as crafty nasty . Hardy, today famous for his role as Cornelius Fudge in Harry Potter , is a veteran actor with forty years of career and several successes such as , ¨The 10th kingdom¨ and ¨Winston Churchill¨. Furthermore , there appear secondary actors with terrific performances : Nickolas Grace, Sophie Gordon, Serena Gordon , among others. The movie gets a colorful atmosphere , the London streets and 221 Baker Street's house are well designed . The motion picture was well directed by Peter Hammond, director of various episodes. It's a must see for the Arthur Conan Doyle novels fans.

At the end of this episode Holmes asks Watson not to record the case for posterity.For a good reason! The super sleuth left his little grey cells(sorry Agatha)at home for this tale. There is no deductive reasoning,no acute analysis of signs at crime scenes. Holmes bumbles along fifty yards behind the plot. The dastardly CAM is finally dealt to by an old frail-in a manner that would have made Charles Bronson's heart swell with pride-six bullets in the breadbasket.In an ensuing chase a pursuer gets hold of one of Watson's shoes.Mercifully the writer didn't decide to tack on the story of Cinderella to lengthen the film.The murderess,Holmes and Watson,escape scot free. Oh well,it is a bit of a change of pace in late Victorian London.A bit of sixgun law:-)

I tend to look askance at departures from Doyle's sacred writings, but the additions in this film were well-chosen and done well. Those of us who have most of the Holmes canon mostly memorized tend to forget that for many viewers this may be their first exposure to Holmes, Watson and the foggy streets of Victorian London. A bit more atmosphere and additional plot may be a good introduction for newcomers to the Foggy Fables. The large body of work left by Brett and his associates is, I believe, the best and most faithful Holmes films so far.

The stand-out sequences from 'The Master Blackmailer', for me, are the ones between the brilliant Jeremy Brett (in disguise, naturally), and Sophie Thompson. Could it be the great detective has actually fallen for a lady? This aside, there's a intricate blackmail plot involving Robert Hardy (excellent), and plenty of opportunities for Holmes and Watson to get themselves in awkward situations before solving the mystery. Probably the best of the feature-length episodes, and a fine example of the work Brett and Hardwicke did to immortalise Conan Doyle's characters for the small screen.

It falls on Sherlock Holmes to take out Charles Augusts Milverton, The Master Blackmailer who sits like a spider in the middle of a web, a particularly nasty and deceitful individual who uses spies to obtain the dirt on his wealthy victims. The book is a good one, but the out and out brilliance of Robert Hardy makes Milverton one of the best remembered villains from the Jeremy Brett era of Sherlock Holmes. He plays him with truth, and a degree of downright villainy seldom seen. He is cold and chilling. Brett and Hardwicke combine beautifully, there is a sense of tension and urgency in their performances. Holmes's romancing with Aggie are well worth a look, as are his disguises. Worth noting that The Dowager, played by Gwen Ffrangcon Davies was over 100 years old when this was made. Beautifully produced, the surroundings are glorious, and the costumes are first rate, it looks exquisite. Full of suspense, mystery and villainy. This is a slick production, one of the very best, an ending you cannot help but enjoy, love it. 9/10

Totally Satisfying. Unlike "The Sign of Four", where, sadly, Sherlock is on the wrong team, "The Master Blackmailer" has an exceedingly pleasant conclusion. A loathsome worm, Charles Augustus Milverton, harms others with malice, needlessly. His fortune is assured; any money he coerces from others feeds his black heart more than his purse. His doom is pleasant. He is middle-aged, in excellent health, and would have had many years before him. Years he could have tortured others with. Suddenly, much to his surprise, not a single cartridge, but 2/3 of an entire revolvers' cylinder is emptied into his lungs, liver, spleen, and any other organs that may have been in the way. He is seen suffering from the punctures, yet happily his assassin has saved a final pair of rounds to increase his pain and further his injuries. Best of all, no rounds were to his face. Which makes the final application of high-heels to his eyes and face, transforming his features into a simple blood pudding, all the better. There are times when mercy would be inappropriate.