"Remember me when I am gone away,
Gone far into the silent land..."
September 12, 1999
Hello Everyone,
As you know, Jeremy Brett left us four years ago today. Earlier this week, someone on a mystery-related message board asked, "Does anyone still care about Jeremy Brett?" The following tribute, written this month by a new TBE reader in response to Melanie Hughes' poignant "Gulp Friction," resoundingly answers that question:
"Dear Ms. Oldham,
I just recently discovered The Brettish Empire. I
love the whole site, but in particular, I'm especially grateful
to you for reprinting that lovely tribute story by Melanie
Hughes. (I just re-read it, and started crying anew.) I myself tried to hold back
my tears for nearly four years now. I didn't realize it until
recently, but I've been in mourning for most of that time. I
thought I was simply inexplicably depressed. However, flipping
around the channels late one night, I happened
upon a Sherlock Holmes program on A&E -- I don't even
remember which now. It
was after 1 a.m., which may account for my memory lapse, but I
sat transfixed at Mr. Brett's ever complex and engaging portrayal
of Holmes.
I thought to myself, during the commercial break, 'Why haven't I
been watching these?' You see, I had four video tapes full of
Granada's Sherlock Holmes productions that I recorded off PBS,
but they had just been gathering dust for four years. Then it
dawned on me why I hadn't been watching them, and I started to
cry, then and there. Niagara, or should I say Reichenbach, Falls!
Back when I discovered the Granada Sherlock Holmes programs, I
was a fledgling writer, and had even in my audacity penned a
couple of my own Sherlock Holmes stories. I will never forget
that day: I was a junior in high school, and I watched public
television regularly, but I'd never really been much into Mystery!
That was until I saw The Adventure of the Naval Treaty
with Jeremy Brett.
'Who is this guy?!?' I thought. 'He's incredible!!!' I had read The
Hound of the Baskervilles as a freshman, and I was, of
course, instantly hooked on Holmes. Then one day I turned on the
television, and Holmes just stepped out of one of Sidney Paget's
drawings: straight from the 'Strand' onto the TV screen. And I
had a new idol! (And that's not even to mention my surprise when
I was re-watching My Fair Lady -- 'Omigod, that's the
guy who plays Sherlock Holmes!')
When I heard of Jeremy Brett's death, I shelved all my
writings indefinitely. There was simply no point to writing about
Holmes after such a loss, because Sherlock Holmes was gone.
Forever, in my mind. No one can fill his shoes. It is no small
feat to take such an overplayed character and make it your own.
He breathed new life into the dying detective. This wasn't
another emotionless Rathbone, with his smug 'Elementary, my dear
Watson!' This was Holmes as he was on the page -- a charming man
with a great sense of humor and a flair for the dramatic. Oh yes,
and not a bad detective either. Basil Rathbone was an automaton:
Jeremy Brett was Sherlock Holmes.
I have since started writing again. Being four years older and
wiser now, I think my stories
are turning into better mysteries now, as well, but this was a
conscious effort on my part. I decided, instead of mourning the
loss in silence, to dedicate my work in loving memory to Mr.
Brett. After all, once I had seen him in the role, I never wrote
a word without imagining Jeremy Brett acting out the described
action, I never composed a line of dialogue without hearing his
silky baritone voice saying the words. Even though I will never
be able to thank him in person for the inspiration he
has given me, Sherlock Holmes will live on through his work, and
hopefully also through mine someday as well. At the risk of
revealing what a nerd I am (if my signature file doesn't give it
away fully), to quote Dr. McCoy from Star Trek II: The Wrath
of Khan: 'He's really not dead, as long as we remember him.'
And thanks again for your continuing on-line tribute to the late,
great Jeremy Brett.
Sincerely,
Dovie Reynolds
ICQ#38635943, DovieLR on AIM
'Quantum Mechanics: The dreams that stuff are made of.' -- Author
Unknown"
And, thank you, Dovie, for allowing me to share your moving tribute.
Until next time,
Lisa :-)