Let me share a SECRET…

~~~

Okay, all you brettish, follow this link!!!

 

Trust me!

Edited on Nov. 13th – sorry guys, now I have amended the correct link… must had been changed in between…

Happy Birthday, Jeremy Brett!

November 3rd, 2008.

This would be… no, this IS Jeremy Brett’s 75th birthday!

I know this is a blog, but sometimes my words fail me… so this is

my tribute to the great man …!

Supporting the Jeremy Brett Petition

As many of you might already know, there is an ongoing petition on the internet, “collecting” supporters for the release of the remaining performances of the late, well-loved actor Jeremy Brett on DVD or to make them available for legal download.

I would like to encourage every JB admirer to sign there online and thus enhance the probability that maybe soon we will have the opportunity to enjoy the works of him that are not yet publicly available.

WirralBagpuss has edited a very nice video, promoting this petition. I would like to recommend you all to stop by and have a look!

To the Jeremy Brett devotees…

…who are longing to hear his voice, gather information, see beautiful photos and videos and – the best of all – so far unpublished material, please have a look at an amazing new youtube-channel:

4theluvofJeremy

It is NOT mine – but trust me, it is wonderful and so far without any comparison…!!

Very special thanks, may I add, to Linda Pritchard, without whose help, as far as I understand, this ongoing project would not be possible.

I know, September 12th is likely to take some kind of toll esp. on the most fervent of Jeremy’s admirers. But as long as he lives in our memory, he will never be entirely gone. And this channel is surely a wonderful device to keep his memory alive…

 

Jeremy Brett

3. November 1933 – 12. September 1995

unforgotten – unforgettable

A personal note:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dear Jeremy,

thank you.

For encouragement, joy, excitement and inspiration.

For being the wind beneath my wings.

For more than I can express in a few words.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I wanted to write something terribly eloquent on that subject, but so far, the language seems to be leaving me.

Instead, I have made a little tribute video myself, so if you would like to have a look… you can find it here…

I would like to quote another youtuber, “bakerstreetbookworm”, who has put it quite beautifully: Let us “remember him with joy” !!

So, as my little tribute, I am wearing my red socks, today! … and spiritually join hands with those tubers whom I have decided to call The Red Socked League.

I am currently preparing to travel to London, where I will visit Clapham Commons and pay my respects, there.

Even the most fervent admirer…

…might sometimes have another opinion than the object of admiration, right?

So…

Okay, it’s happenened: I have found something JB says/said in an interview, and I do NOT agree.

I have found this quote (thanks to Rebecca): “The provocation with Holmes is the fact that he’s described by Doyle as a man without a heart–all brain.”

I mean, JB KNOWS the canon for sure. But there is so much affection for Watson shining through in Holmes’ behaviour (remember the Three Garridebs?)… so the man CAN NOT be without a heart…

How I would love to have this discussion… with JB…

The “Jeremy Brett Dedication” Site

For all you “brettish”, I would like to recommend a very beautiful Dedication on myspace. It is surely a heartfelt tribute for our man, and a treasure of footage, literature and audio. Please have a look!

Participate in the development of Jeremy Brett’s (tribute) Biography!

Hi all!

As some of you MIGHT alread know, my work re. a new Jeremy Brett biography is in progress.

Now, I would like to invite you all to participate (but please remember, this is non-profit, so no fees and so far no publication promises).

What you can do? Well, you might…

1. …hint me on some nice London places (beyond Clapham Commons) he liked and/or frequented, so I can make some photos to include in the book…

2. …submit own snapshots (copyright/publication rights must be secured!!)

3. …write your own little essay on the impact he’s had on your life. Can not promise anything, but we’ll see…

Err…

4. …oh, and if you HAPPEN to be a publisher, a literature agent or one of JB’s friends or relatives… the supporting possibilities are endless. *lol* (Hey, you never know, right?)

Will keep posting about recent developments, thoughts on the subject and maybe the one or other excerpt.

Please contact me for further info!

Hello, Mr. Huggins…!

Imagine you’d have – against all the obvious odds – the possibility to meet JB… how would you approach him? What would you say?

Would you play it cool and invite him to a coffee?

Would you stand and stare in awe without being able to utter a single word, until he’d kindly remind you to better continue breathing? 

Would you cry: ”Jerrremiieeeeeeee!!! Let me be the unworthy ground underneath your feet!!!”

or:

Would you go for a casual: “Hello, Mr. Huggins, it’s SOO nice to see you!”

(…)

Well?

Now, that’s somehow my current challenge.

Given: A book with blank pages. And a man to write about. How do I best approach him?

Just a thought.

“A Study in Scarlet” and my biography plans

“A Study in Scarlet”

I am giving myself the treat today of re-reading “A Study in Scarlet”. This novel may have some objectionable features re. the portrayal of Mormon culture (though, as far as I am informed, A.C. Doyle later has had some kind of more or less reconciliation with them on that account).

Anyway, as the novel describes the very first encounter between Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson (though some stort stories had already been published), it is a treasure of information regarding the character and behaviour of Holmes. One can actually sit back and imagine JB studying the text to create his portrayal of Holmes – who, needless to say, for me will always display the features of Jeremy Brett’s face.

A biography of Jeremy Brett

I’ve mentioned it in my yesterday’s post: The most exciting plan for me is my working on a decent and hopefully quite objective biography of our favourite, Jeremy.  I am really excited about this, that’s for sure.

I think it has been last week, when I formed that decision, but when the idea first came to my mind, I can not say…

There are quite a few very good websites about him, containing interviews, photos etc. I especially recommend the “Jeremy Brett Archive”, by the way. But it soon has occured to me… as my research about him has started years after his death and the internet being not always a completely reliable source… to get a picture of his “person” is like putting together a puzzle. If you want to find out something you have to sort bits and pieces, and you often are confronted with third- or fourthhand information and rather opinions than facts. The man JB seems to be such an emotional issue for many people (me including)…

Also, there seems to be not so much comprehensive literature on the market, and some items already out of stock. I have been recommended “Bending the willow”, and I hope I will get an issue. “The Man who became Sherlock Holmes” has gotten a bunch of crushing reviews about being very speculative, so I think I will have to read it someday, but it is clearly not top of my list.

There is Linda Pritchard’s book “Jeremy Brett – Linda Pritchard Story”. I assume it is a kind of MUST to read it, but it is extremely expensive (assumably collector’s item). Linda is the woman JB has lived with during the last years of his life and who has tended him while he was suffering bodily as well as mentally; I think it is appropriate to call her his close “friend” and “companion”, (the nature of their relation is a bit unclear to me, but these expressions do surely fit).

When I found out about this book and this woman, I got naturally quite intrigued and wanted to know more about it. Within youtube there is a user who knows her personally and has obviously a very high opinion of her.  I got into contact with this lady, when within a forum discussion a few days ago I had wondered rather innocently, how objective a book about Jeremy Brett written by Linda Pritchard could be…

The reason I had asked this was that I know about the “dark episodes” , when one sometimes puts a strain not only on oneself but also on his surroundings. I have a great admiration, gratitude and respect for the people, who really love the sick ones, try to understand them, soothe them, cheer them up, support them and STAND BY THEM. Because those sick ones are in a desperate need of such people. Anyway, thus I must assume that Linda knew such situations, and that had been the reason for my question regarding her objectivity. When under such circumstances someone is able to write about this living together with so much love and in such an amiable light as Linda has done regarding JB, this means quite a lot.

Lindas friend at first got a little irritated by my ever so slight scepticism (this is something I just can not help, sometimes) and told me about the controversial discussion that’s raging within the fandom about Linda. We’ve later corresponded privately (her friend and I), and I’ve found her quite amiable - and that is definitively not only because she is kindly sharing much Jeremy Brett material (as I understand, at least part of it provided by Linda Pritchard) with her fellow JB fans.

So, after having explained the background of my question to her, I had started a research on those controversial dicussions… and there is quite a lot to find, often very emotional, often speculative, not very often objective… I have not formed an own opinion, yet, I assume it won’t do until I have read her book and learned more about her.

To quote a little Holmes/Doyle:

“No data yet,” he answered. “It is a capital mistake to theorize before you have all the evidence. It biases the judgement.”

My research has taught me something and reminded me of something I had been taught at university, especially when it comes to research on the internet:

In order to assess the information, always be aware of the sources.

I think, this experience has become the cornerstone for my decision to collect all information and work it over again, in order to get a decent biography , based rather on FACTS than on opinions, not exploiting him, not getting famous by it, not digging in the dirt.

I am serious! I think, theoretically, I have the skills. I definetely have the wish. I would want to do it on non profit basis (hopefully getting expenses refunded) in favour of one of the organisations JB has been supporting.

This will be a really long journey, because it will not only afford to read and collect almost everything that has been written re. that issue – but to actually try to get people to TALK with me.

This will include firsthand sources… how I would love to talk with JB’s son David Huggins, with Edward Hardwicke and, of course, Linda Pritchard!!

But at this point of my work I do not really dare to reach out that far. (Though, maybe in my intended letter to Edward Hardwicke I will at least hint in that direction.)

I mean, if I want people to cooperate with me, I will need to give them a very good reason, right?

I have started to spread the word re. my plans and have gotten first responses, too.

Somehow, I suddenly have started to do detective’s work, myself.

Well, I will keep you updated…

Settling down within the fandom

Well, I HAVE to write something about the Jeremy-Brett-Biography I am currently planning, put I need a bit of concentration for such an entry… and before that, I will need some sleep…

So, here is just a little update about my activities within the Sherlock Holmes Fandom: I have finally startet my FanFiction activities on Fanfiction.net.

Currently, you can find the first part of my story “A Circle Closes - from the memoirs of Irene Norton (née Adler)” on my Fanfiction.net-Account. Please feel free to share your thoughts – and I hope you’ll enjoy!

Good night!

Holmes, Jeremy – and an agenda

 

Beyond my daily work this Holmes and Brett issue has begun to keep me happily busy, that is for sure. I have set up such a large agenda for myself, so that I surely will not have to bother about boredom for the next months.

 

Sept. 12 (JB died that day in 1995) and Nov. 3 (his birthday) are approaching, which, I assume, will lead to increasing activity on the internet on that account. I am not quite sure yet what to do with Sept. 12 (more reaction than action for me, I dare say), but I will certainly do a tribute regarding his birthday. If all works out well I will do a “Happy Birthday”-Song with some fellow youtubers (No, girls, I have NOT forgotten about those plans!).

 

I must not forget to write that letter to Edward Hardwicke till then. I am determined to thank him (strange as that may sound) for his support he had given to JB during his illness, and I must do some thinking how to put those words right, so that Edward can understand, why that should concern ME! Anyway, after having performed some research I phoned up his agent, and a nice assistant there agreed that she would forward my mail to him, so the logistic problem is solved.

 

I have also returned to being a rather frequent ebayer again, spending my money on Sherlock Holmes literature, memorabilia etc. (By the way, readers, if you have something to offer, just let me know.) I also used this way to get a little present for one of my favourite youtubers to send to her London home, and I am really excited that she actually seems to like it. With some of these girls it is like being a huge family (yes, I KNOW that this sounds like a cliché!)

 

Ah, and speaking of families, a very special thanks to ladyinred2014, who has done some magic with her photoshop software to create a very nice would-be or “What-if” family portrait:

 

 

 

The idea for this photo seems to have emerged from a still ongoing discussion within the JB group. Well… *ahem*… let’s just say, we got a bit carried away *lol*… Imagination running wild seduced me to post, rather jokingly, a little fan fiction challenge. Okay, lafemdilletante obviously took me by my word, so the next thing I saw was her brilliant (!!!) entry on fanfiction.net:

 

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/4452932/1/Moriarty_Nightshirts_and_Oysters

 

I tried to back off… but after having created a rather emotional and pensive tribute vid (you know, the “Recovering” one) I had to do something more light-hearted. So I spent a half-sleepless night and jotted down some random sentences, which, brought into proper order, make for a beginning of a little weird attempt for satire with JB consulting Holmes and Watson on the issue of madly stalking fans and Holmes being a little nutty himself… Well, I did not dare to publish this onto fanfiction.net, but I sent it to lafem with the humble request not to kill me on that one, as satire is not really my writing genre (especially when Jeremy Brett is involved). Hah! Strangely enough, she has replied, politely (?) indicating that she liked it!!

 

Hm.

 

Okay, so I have made up my mind to at least publish a little excerpt … (I think you’ll have to know some background stuff if you want to find it funny… but anyway… here we go:

 

 

* * *

 

(…)

 

A face, very indignantly, appears above the edge of the couch’s backrest.

 

Holmes:   MRS. ORINOCO!! I wonder if you would do me the very great kindness of considering the possibility… the heck with it, just GO AWAY!

 

JB:          Orinoco? No, my name is Huggins, and I am generally considered to be a MISTER. Beyond that I really do need your advice, Mr. Holmes!! I am in serious trouble, as you might already know.

 

A sudden flash of daylight as Dr. Watson dramatically pulls back the curtains from the window.

 

Holmes:   (apparently having slept on the couch and looking rather wrinkled up, mumbling something about the theatrical part usually being HIS department) Oh, should I, indeed? I do not think so. I am sorry, my dear Sir. I can assure you, apart from the obvious facts that you are an actor and that you do a lot of meditation, I know nothing about you.

 

JB:          (looking utterly taken aback) So you DO know me after all?

 

Holmes:   (yawning) Not in the least, it was a simple deduction: Only an actor could be eccentric enough to wear such bright red socks to a semi-formal morning suit. (…) in which way we may be of your assistance? (…)

 

JB:          I am being stal- (suddenly interrupting himself) How could you have possibly guessed that I am practicing meditation?

 

Holmes:   I NEVER guess, Mr. Huggins.

 

JB:          But how do you know…?

 

Watson steps forward and points at Jeremy’s feet.

 

Watson:   Levitation, Sir. Your shoes do not even touch our Persian carpet.

 

Holmes:   Quite so. Mrs. Orinoco will be quite obliged to you on that account.

 

JB:          Mrs. Orinoco?

 

Holmes:   Yes, our good housekeeper.

 

Watson:   (frowning) That’s Mrs. HUDSON, Holmes!

 

Holmes:   Oh, really? Well, I knew at least it had something to do with the name of a river… Never mind, who could possibly keep up with all those names? There is this guy, Conan the Barber…

 

JB:          I beg your pardon?

 

Holmes:   No, I mean, Conan… (tentatively) the Barbarian…?

 

Watson:   I assume you are referring to Conan DOYLE!

 

Holmes:   Ah, Doyle, of course! This Conan, anyway, he has difficulties in remembering her name, too. He sometimes calls her “Turner”… (suddenly turning impatient) But if you would condescend to tell us about your problem, I shall be better able to advise you. I recall you claiming the matter an urgent one!

 

JB:          Yes, that is true. Mr. Holmes, they’re after me! Have you not read the latest news on the internet?

 

Holmes:   No, not this morning. So, let us at least consult my index!

 

Watson:   (searching) I can not find any “Huggins” in here, Holmes…

 

JB:          Oh! I am sorry I forgot, you’ll have to look under “B” for “Brett”. That is my stage name.

 

Holmes:   Brett, indeed! I believe I we used to have a tailor with that name… right, Johnny?

 

Watson:   Pray, Holmes! Would you please stop calling me that way?

 

Holmes:   Oh, come on, we’ve been sharing these rooms for decades, now. You even know how I look in a nightie! Why don’t you allow me to call you by your first name?

 

Watson:   My first name is “John”, Holmes! And that is such a common name! Everybody is called “John” these days.

 

Holmes:   No, not me, they call me “Sherlock”.

 

Watson:   No, Holmes, they call you “Holmes”!

 

Holmes:   Hm. How about “Bosey”?

 

Watson:   WHAT?

 

Holmes:   Well, as a nickname. For Boswell.

 

Watson:   Are you trying to be funny?

 

Holmes:   Funny? No, that’s supposed to be your part.

 

Watson:   (now getting somehow upset) No, it’s NOT! You’re talking about this other guy, Nigel Whatshisname! I AM A MEDICAL MAN! I AM TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY!!

 

(…)

 

Cheers,

Susa