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Bending the Willow: Jeremy Brett as Sherlock Holmes
Jeremy Brett's portrayal of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's famous detective is widely recognised as the best yet seen. Before his untimely death in 1995, Brett had made the part his own, all the time battling against the manic depression which had plagued him for many years. Bending the Willow examines how this brilliant actor channelled the demons of his debilitating illness into his iridescent portrayal of Sherlock Holmes.
In this fascinating and perceptive study, David Stuart Davies draws on the many conversations he had with Jeremy Brett and key people involved with the Granada Television series and the stage play 'The Secret of Sherlock Holmes'. The result is the first detailed assessment of all of Jeremy Brett's performances as Sherlock Holmes.
Fully illustrated with more than fifty photographs, some never before published, Bending the Willow is an important addition to the libraries of Sherlock Holmes followers, and Jeremy Brett fans alike.
In this fascinating and perceptive study, David Stuart Davies draws on the many conversations he had with Jeremy Brett and key people involved with the Granada Television series and the stage play 'The Secret of Sherlock Holmes'. The result is the first detailed assessment of all of Jeremy Brett's performances as Sherlock Holmes.
Fully illustrated with more than fifty photographs, some never before published, Bending the Willow is an important addition to the libraries of Sherlock Holmes followers, and Jeremy Brett fans alike.
208 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1996
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About the author
David Stuart Davies
185 books140 followersDavid Stuart Davies was a British writer. He worked as a teacher of English before becoming a full-time editor, writer, and playwright. Davies wrote extensively about Sherlock Holmes, both fiction and non-fiction. He was the editor of Red Herrings, the monthly in-house publication of the Crime Writers' Association, and a member of The Baker Street Irregulars and the Detection Club.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
January 4, 2013
I read it because Jeremy Brett was my friend. It didn't contain any glaring falsehoods. Glad to see Jeremy remembered.
November 19, 2018
This book blew me away. I'd rate it higher than five if I could.
Since my childhood, I have loved the Granada series starring Brett. This book has helped me to appreciate the series on a much deeper level. Davies doesn't give a biography of Brett; rather, this is a tightly focused look at Brett's involvement with the TV show. Davies discusses each episode of the show, even describing individual scenes. He traces input from executives, producers, directors, screenwriters, and actors; he compares the show's plots to the source material; and he demonstrates trends over time as the show ran year after year. Brett's brilliance as an actor shines through, both in these pages and on the screen. This book is a celebration—of Sherlock, of Brett, of Doyle. It's a reminder of why we loved the series. It captures the heartache of the series' end and of Brett's illness. It showed me, all over again, the brilliance and daring of an amazing actor.
Since my childhood, I have loved the Granada series starring Brett. This book has helped me to appreciate the series on a much deeper level. Davies doesn't give a biography of Brett; rather, this is a tightly focused look at Brett's involvement with the TV show. Davies discusses each episode of the show, even describing individual scenes. He traces input from executives, producers, directors, screenwriters, and actors; he compares the show's plots to the source material; and he demonstrates trends over time as the show ran year after year. Brett's brilliance as an actor shines through, both in these pages and on the screen. This book is a celebration—of Sherlock, of Brett, of Doyle. It's a reminder of why we loved the series. It captures the heartache of the series' end and of Brett's illness. It showed me, all over again, the brilliance and daring of an amazing actor.
May 8, 2013
This is a great book about an actor that was over looked by Brittain for all his many brilliant accomplishments. The role of Sherlock Holmes in television, and movies the most famous.His inspiring, and troubled life was an interesting mix of joy, and sadness, He slowly grew to ill to keep acting due to a heart condition, and depressive mental illness that he was not properly treated for.He managed to still work, and bring his brilliance to a character that few can achieve, His Holmes will always be remembered as on of the finest portrayals during a time with limited budgets, and appaling circumstances. He was a very charming, and funny actor who was beloved. I really am glad I own this book. It was honest, and gritty, and yet touched me deeply. I own all of his work, and as I watch them again and again, I will remember the man who made Holmes so beloved, and gave such joy to others.
June 28, 2013
Davies' account of actor Jeremy Brett in his most famous role is short but dense. The book focuses squarely on Brett's work as Holmes in the justly lauded Granada television series of the 1980s-90s. It addresses his relationships with his two co-stars, David Burke and Edward Hardwicke (who befriended Brett during some of the most difficult periods of his life), while avoiding any discussions of his sexuality. The account of Brett's mental illness and his determination to keep working is almost heartbreaking. If you are a fan of Brett or of the Granada series, treat yourself to this book, and make sure you have some tissues handy.
August 6, 2015
Jeremy Brett's performance as Sherlock Holmes for Grenada Television in the 80s and 90s is the definitive performance of the Great Detective. This was the first time strictly the canon was filmed and it has never been replicated since. The later series may have lost their way a little bit, and it is really hard to watch Brett act in these episodes as his health deteriorates, but there is no other Canon Holmes out there to me. This book isn't a biography of Jeremy Brett but it is a book about his process in becoming Sherlock Holmes and how this fabulous, and severely under appreciated in its time, show came to be.
February 19, 2014
This book was incredibly sad. It chronicles the life of Jeremy Brett, a personal hero of mine, as he wrestles with the character of Holmes throughout his career, from energetic, inspired and intellectual performances in the early episodes to his untimely death.
It is easy to romanticize Brett as Holmes, picturing him struggling with the character as he has so often described, and that the struggle is what drove him to several mental breakdowns, but it was not so. His manic depression, along with the death of his wife and his failing health impaired his continued battle to faithfully portray the detective and live a full and healthy life.
This is a loving, but second and third hand story of his decline. I wished I could speak to Brett myself and ask him, but this is the closest we will get.
It is easy to romanticize Brett as Holmes, picturing him struggling with the character as he has so often described, and that the struggle is what drove him to several mental breakdowns, but it was not so. His manic depression, along with the death of his wife and his failing health impaired his continued battle to faithfully portray the detective and live a full and healthy life.
This is a loving, but second and third hand story of his decline. I wished I could speak to Brett myself and ask him, but this is the closest we will get.
January 4, 2012
This book provides fantastic insight into the Sherlock series and Jeremy Brett's personality. I'd seen Brett in "My Fair Lady" but, like many others, had no idea it was him until reading this book. I didn't know Brett was manic depressive and it was interesting to read how his illness affected the filming of the series. The similarities between Brett's behaviour and the way he portrayed Holmes in some episodes are particularly striking. It was also very interesting to read the comments of those involved with the series (producers, screenwriters, actors...). A very enjoyable read!
October 20, 2020
I bought this as a Christmas gift for my husband, who is a great fan of Brett’s. As I share the late actor’s mental health condition, my husband suggested I read it too. It’s a beautiful book, with wonderful photographs and brief chapters full of interesting details about the making of the series, and how it - and Brett - evolved over time. Anyone who enjoys the show should find this well worth reading.
March 9, 2018
This is not a biography of Brett, it focuses on his time as Sherlock Holmes. He is THE definitive Holmes, He managed to convey the cold calculating brain with just enough emotion and the stories were so well adapted.
It was sad to see what mental illness can do to a strong person. I never found it sad, this us a celebration of an excceptional actor,
It was sad to see what mental illness can do to a strong person. I never found it sad, this us a celebration of an excceptional actor,
July 2, 2011
A little dry, but if you are a fan of Jeremy Brett, (The BEST Sherlock Holmes), this is a must read.
February 14, 2012
Made me watch the whole series again. Beautiful tribute to Brett. Makes you sad he is gone.
January 14, 2019
Oh, this was a tough read. Informative and well written, but tough nonetheless.
Jeremy Brett's story is a sad one and to witness his battle with mental and physical illness on page was quite hard for me as a reader - one can't even imagine how it must have felt for the people who knew him personally and worked with him. I am very glad that Davies decided to include a series of funny anecdotes about Jeremy after the account of the last weeks before his death, because I was sobbing like a child and needed some cheering up.
What Davies gives us here is an honest - sometimes even harsh - account of Jeremy Brett's work on the Granada series - conducted from interviews with cast, producers and Jeremy himself. Worth a read for everyone who is interested in the Granada Production in general and - of course - for those who want to learn more about the man, who gave us one of the most memorable Holmes performances of all time.
Jeremy Brett's story is a sad one and to witness his battle with mental and physical illness on page was quite hard for me as a reader - one can't even imagine how it must have felt for the people who knew him personally and worked with him. I am very glad that Davies decided to include a series of funny anecdotes about Jeremy after the account of the last weeks before his death, because I was sobbing like a child and needed some cheering up.
What Davies gives us here is an honest - sometimes even harsh - account of Jeremy Brett's work on the Granada series - conducted from interviews with cast, producers and Jeremy himself. Worth a read for everyone who is interested in the Granada Production in general and - of course - for those who want to learn more about the man, who gave us one of the most memorable Holmes performances of all time.
January 27, 2014
What a great book! David Stuart Davies manages to capture the reader with deep insights of Jeremy Brett and David Burke/Edward Hardwicke as Holmes and Watson, along with facts about production and filming of the Granada show. But he doesn't stop there. Davis peppers it with anecdotes from people who worked with Jeremy as well as his own experiences and newspaper reviews. He manages to treat Jeremy's illness with respect. This book made me cry, but it also made me laugh.
August 2, 2016
This book was absolutely wonderful. It's a beautifully written homage to a wonderful actor who will always be the ideal Sherlock Holmes to me, and all the things written about Jeremy's private life, including his battle with bipolar disorder, have been dealt with respectfully and with taste. I borrowed the book from the library but if I ever get a chance I will definitely buy a copy of my own.
February 17, 2013
I had read about this version, but had actually read only the Kindle version. An outstanding book, depicting an outstanding actor of our times. Recommended.
November 14, 2022
I really enjoyed this biography but the fact that the author ignores Jeremy Brett’s bisexuality is a major oversight in my opinion
July 27, 2021
Enjoyable look at the classic series and the actor who made the role
Full review https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/bl...
Full review https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/bl...
October 21, 2024
I have such conflicted feelings about this book. It’s worth the read for the excellent quotes from the actors, production staff, and so on, and contains a lot of fascinating information. The author clearly had a passion for the topic and production and has a lot of wonderful anecdotes of his own. Unfortunately, the book is so packed full of ableism and frequent derogatory comments about Jeremy Brett’s later weight gain and mental illness that my final impression of the book is a negative one.
The afterwords are actually what determined my final rating. At first, I was heartened that the author at least mentioned that he had been taken to task for failing to acknowledge Brett’s sexuality in the original edition of the book (in fact, the author refers to discuss of sexuality as a “salacious” matter, and discusses both of Brett’s wives while failing to even acknowledge his two long term relationships with men).
Unfortunately, it was all downhill from there. More strange attacks on Brett’s later acting and indications that his final performances had retroactively “ruined” the overall impression of the series, blaming his illness for poor decisions made by Granada writers, and finally insisting that he was “Granada’s puppet” by the end, and shouldn’t have been allowed to continue in the role. It’s such a sadly typical ableist attitude to act as if people living with mental illness and disability are incapable of making their own decisions, and I was deeply disappointed to see it here about a man who was so driven, passionate, and poured so much of himself into his work.
Life with any chronic health condition (mental or physical) isn’t easy, and there are always hard days, days when it seems impossible to go on. But if you can ignore the author’s bleak opinions and ableism, there are so many beautifully inspiring quotes from Jeremy in this book. He wanted to give people hope that life with these chronic conditions could still be worth living, and his words are the most valuable thing to be found in this volume.
A couple of my favorites, which are a much better note to end on:
“Because of my health problems over the last seven years I am hoping that I can be of some reassurance to those with mental and heart problems, and demonstrate in some way that life can still be joyful and full of hope.”
“Sometimes our hopes and dreams do not go the way we planned, but we must never let despair overcome us. We have to try and we have to care. We must never give up when we still have something to give. Nothing is really over until the moment we stop trying.“
The afterwords are actually what determined my final rating. At first, I was heartened that the author at least mentioned that he had been taken to task for failing to acknowledge Brett’s sexuality in the original edition of the book (in fact, the author refers to discuss of sexuality as a “salacious” matter, and discusses both of Brett’s wives while failing to even acknowledge his two long term relationships with men).
Unfortunately, it was all downhill from there. More strange attacks on Brett’s later acting and indications that his final performances had retroactively “ruined” the overall impression of the series, blaming his illness for poor decisions made by Granada writers, and finally insisting that he was “Granada’s puppet” by the end, and shouldn’t have been allowed to continue in the role. It’s such a sadly typical ableist attitude to act as if people living with mental illness and disability are incapable of making their own decisions, and I was deeply disappointed to see it here about a man who was so driven, passionate, and poured so much of himself into his work.
Life with any chronic health condition (mental or physical) isn’t easy, and there are always hard days, days when it seems impossible to go on. But if you can ignore the author’s bleak opinions and ableism, there are so many beautifully inspiring quotes from Jeremy in this book. He wanted to give people hope that life with these chronic conditions could still be worth living, and his words are the most valuable thing to be found in this volume.
A couple of my favorites, which are a much better note to end on:
“Because of my health problems over the last seven years I am hoping that I can be of some reassurance to those with mental and heart problems, and demonstrate in some way that life can still be joyful and full of hope.”
“Sometimes our hopes and dreams do not go the way we planned, but we must never let despair overcome us. We have to try and we have to care. We must never give up when we still have something to give. Nothing is really over until the moment we stop trying.“
February 13, 2017
This is an exceptional look at Jeremy Brett's time as Sherlock Holmes from 1984 to 1994. The title is from a quote by Brett describing how he played Holmes. This little book reveals more about Brett than just about anything ever published about him -- books, articles, whatever. David Stuart Davies is a fan of Brett's but never seems to go overboard with praise. Brett tragically died from heart failure in 1995. The book ends with the most memorable parts -- funny stories about Brett or told by Brett.
In other words, this book is much better than any review I could ever write for it. It is a very expensive book so I have an eBook copy, which is much less expensive. I do not know if the eBook has the exact same content as the book, but I suppose so.
In other words, this book is much better than any review I could ever write for it. It is a very expensive book so I have an eBook copy, which is much less expensive. I do not know if the eBook has the exact same content as the book, but I suppose so.
March 22, 2018
Such a wonderful read
What a lovely tribute to a wonderfully gifted and underappreciated man. Jeremy Brett was a giant among men. Mr. Davies has managed to give a honest and loving account of a very complex and private man. I'm so glad I read this book. Jeremy Brett and Sherlock Holmes were a huge part of my childhood. When he died I remember distinctly feeling a deep void and wondering if life would ever be the same. As it turns out life will never be quite the same. But thanks to this biography and a few others JB lives on in our hearts and minds. And that will just have to do
What a lovely tribute to a wonderfully gifted and underappreciated man. Jeremy Brett was a giant among men. Mr. Davies has managed to give a honest and loving account of a very complex and private man. I'm so glad I read this book. Jeremy Brett and Sherlock Holmes were a huge part of my childhood. When he died I remember distinctly feeling a deep void and wondering if life would ever be the same. As it turns out life will never be quite the same. But thanks to this biography and a few others JB lives on in our hearts and minds. And that will just have to do
December 3, 2019
What an excellent book to complete my reading challenge for this year.
I’m a Sherlock Holmes fan and for me, Jeremy Brett is mr Sherlock Holmes. No other actor comes close. He’s the one I visualize in my head when I read a Sherlock book.
This was a fascinating read covering JB’s time during the making of the Granada series. A tough read in places when reading about his various illnesses but like a trooper, the show went on.
I love watching the series still, well the earlier ones. The later ones are hard to watch when you see the obvious decline in Jeremy Brett’s health.
Excellent book, catch it if you can 👍🏻
I’m a Sherlock Holmes fan and for me, Jeremy Brett is mr Sherlock Holmes. No other actor comes close. He’s the one I visualize in my head when I read a Sherlock book.
This was a fascinating read covering JB’s time during the making of the Granada series. A tough read in places when reading about his various illnesses but like a trooper, the show went on.
I love watching the series still, well the earlier ones. The later ones are hard to watch when you see the obvious decline in Jeremy Brett’s health.
Excellent book, catch it if you can 👍🏻
February 11, 2012
A heartfelt, bittersweet tribute to Jeremy Brett-- the actor who brought Sherlock Holmes to life from 1984 until his untimely death of heart failure in 1995. A considerable amount of foreknowledge concerning the Granda production of Sherlock Holmes is required to make this book intelligible to the reader. Required reading for serious fans.
January 7, 2012
Extremely interesting book on Jeremy Brett's portrayal of Sherlock Holmes in the Granada Television series. Interviews with Jeremy Brett, his fellow actors and information on his battle with manic depression.
February 18, 2017
This was the book I was hoping for when I originally picked up A Study in Celluloid. An intimate look at Jeremy Brett during his time as Sherlock Holmes and his love hate relationship with the character. It's not a biography and will tell you so, but I found it thoroughly enjoyable.
July 15, 2017
I absolutely love Jeremy Brett's Sherlock Holmes and this is an excellent account of the triumphs and tragedies in JB's life that influenced and affected it. The only problem with the book is the way the author is clearly uncomfortable mentioning JB's sexuality but, that aside, it is brilliant.
January 16, 2012
Re-read this again today, as I've just produced an eBook version. Still holds up as a fine study of the man and the series.
October 2, 2015
Wonderful stories and insights about Jeremy Brett and the making of the series.
April 23, 2018
Not only A good work for all the fans of Sherlock Holmes, but also a wonderful book about a great actor, Jeremy Brett, who had a really sad destiny..
November 19, 2020
Fantastic account of the world's best version of Sherlock Holmes. Highly recommended!
February 2, 2025
Started: 1/22/2025. Finished: 1/30/2025
I’m a massive fan of the Granada Sherlock Holmes series. I grew up watching it. To me, Jeremy Brett embodied the character, he WAS Sherlock Holmes. When I found out that there was a book delving into the story of his involvement with the series and his playing the character and making it his own, I knew I had to read it. It was very interesting and poignant. The book not only went into the behind the scenes of the show but, it also told the story of Brett’s struggles with depression. He dealt with, what at the time was known as manic depression, now known as Bipolar Disorder, all his adult life. While it was sad to read of his struggles and what it did to him it was also inspiring to hear that, at least at the end, he was very open about it during a time when there was a huge stigma around depression. In the end, the meds he had to take to control his depression would unfortunately damage and weaken his heart, leading to his death in 1995. David Stuart Davies, the author, didn’t want to end the book on such a sad note so, the last chapter is Brett’s friends, family, and colleagues telling stories of times he went out of his way to make them laugh.
This book is a wonderful, thoughtful small window into the life of one of my favorite actors.
I’m a massive fan of the Granada Sherlock Holmes series. I grew up watching it. To me, Jeremy Brett embodied the character, he WAS Sherlock Holmes. When I found out that there was a book delving into the story of his involvement with the series and his playing the character and making it his own, I knew I had to read it. It was very interesting and poignant. The book not only went into the behind the scenes of the show but, it also told the story of Brett’s struggles with depression. He dealt with, what at the time was known as manic depression, now known as Bipolar Disorder, all his adult life. While it was sad to read of his struggles and what it did to him it was also inspiring to hear that, at least at the end, he was very open about it during a time when there was a huge stigma around depression. In the end, the meds he had to take to control his depression would unfortunately damage and weaken his heart, leading to his death in 1995. David Stuart Davies, the author, didn’t want to end the book on such a sad note so, the last chapter is Brett’s friends, family, and colleagues telling stories of times he went out of his way to make them laugh.
This book is a wonderful, thoughtful small window into the life of one of my favorite actors.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews