Young Sherlock Holmes
Movie, 1985, Young Holmes, Set in Boarding school in London
Young Sherlock Holmes is #10 of 26 in release order and #1 of 26 in chronological order in the Sherlock Holmes.
The story
Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson meet as boys in an English Boarding school. Holmes is known for his deductive ability even as a youth, amazing his classmates with his abilities. When they discover a plot to murder a series of British business men by an Egyptian cult, they move to stop it.
Young Sherlock Holmes recap
Young Sherlock Holmes (1985) imagines Holmes and Watson meeting as schoolboys, directed by Barry Levinson from a script by Chris Columbus, and featured the first fully computer-generated character in a feature film, made by Lucasfilm's Pixar group. John Watson transfers to Brompton Academy in London, where Holmes befriends him. Holmes loves Elizabeth, niece of the eccentric inventor Rupert Waxflatter. Men around the city are dying after a hooded figure shoots them with thorns that cause terrifying hallucinations, and after Holmes is expelled on a false charge of cheating, Waxflatter is killed the same way. Holmes, Watson and Elizabeth uncover Rame Tep, an Egyptian cult planning to sacrifice young women.
Young Sherlock Holmes ending explained
The cult leader is the fencing master Professor Rathe, once an Egyptian boy whose parents were killed in the protests after the victims looted a royal tomb. Holmes and Watson fly Waxflatter's flying machine to the cult's hidden pyramid, rescue Elizabeth and burn it down, but Elizabeth is killed shielding Holmes from Rathe's bullet. Rathe falls into the frozen Thames. Holmes leaves for another school with a pipe from Watson, and an end-credits scene shows Rathe alive in Switzerland, signing a hotel register as "Moriarty".
Where to watch Young Sherlock Holmes
Young Sherlock Holmes is streaming on fuboTV, Philo, and MGM Plus in the US. You can rent or buy it on Amazon, Apple TV, and Google Play.
Ratings
IMDb 6.8/10, Rotten Tomatoes 70%
Where it fits
- Release order: after Sherlock Holmes, before The Great Mouse Detective.
- Chronological order: first, before Young Sherlock.
What to watch before Young Sherlock Holmes
Nothing. Young Sherlock Holmes (1985) doesn't continue an earlier version, so it stands on its own.
Cast
- Nicholas Rowe as Sherlock Holmes
- Alan Cox as John Watson
- Sophie Ward as Elizabeth Hardy
- Anthony Higgins as Professor Rathe
- Susan Fleetwood as Mrs. Dribb
- Roger Ashton-Griffiths as Det. Sgt. Lestrade
- Matthew Ryan as Dudley's Friend
- Earl Rhodes as Dudley
- Freddie Jones as Chester Cragwitch
- Patrick Newell as Bentley Booster
- Nadim Sawalha as Khasek - Lower Nile Tavern Owner
- Nigel Stock as Rupert T. Waxflatter
Directed by Barry Levinson.