The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes (1970)

Grab your deerstalkers, fill up your pipe from your Persian slipper and let’s talk Holmes! We discuss the famous detective Sherlock Holmes, in particular the one portrayed by Robert Stephens in the 1970 film The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes. This episode is a bit longer partly because it’s the first time we talk about the character in general and partly because Katy is still learning how to succinctly summarize plots. We are enthusiastic about Victorian history if not experts on the subject. Katy shares behind-the-scenes Nessie prop stories, Carrie doesn’t think Holmes is funny, Maddy laughs at farts and Mack is a Christopher Lee fanboy. We talk real-life Loch Ness adventures, monks, chloroform, and attempt likely-offensive Russian accents with varying success. Originally recorded July 2017.

Please Note: There are a few instances we use an outdated and frankly derogatory term for a little person; this is the term used throughout the film itself and we slip up a few times when discussing this movie. We caught ourselves most but not all of the time. It was definitely not meant as derogatory or demeaning; however we understand that regardless of intent it was used carelessly and for that we apologize. Please visit The Little People of America website for more information and ways to support the community..

TW: derogatory and outdated term for little person

Correction Section:

The Baker Street Irregulars are a real thing that began in 1934 and is “[t]he literary society dedicated to the study of Sherlock Holmes, Dr. Watson, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and the Victorian world.” However, they are very, very exclusive (only 692 have ever been one, as of June 2019) and Katy was thinking of what is known as their smaller factions or “scion societies.” They are very passionate and there are a lot of fascinating rules and traditions involved; for more info or to find a local club, visit their website by clicking here.

England and Wales technically decriminalized homosexuality between men in 1967 with an age of consent at twenty-one, but Scotland didn’t until 1980 and Northern Ireland in 1982. Homosexuality between women was never legally banned or criminalized by any legislation in the UK. For more information please see A Short History of LGBT Rights in the UK.

Christopher Lee and Ian Fleming did know each other but way before World War II and the SOE; Lee’s mother married Fleming’s uncle when Lee was young making them step-cousins.

Katy said Philip but she knows it was Albert who was married to Victoria. There are a lot of royals. Sometimes she slips up. She is sorry.