While the integrity of the this story is here, one wonders why the writers took so many liberties with a pretty straightforward plot. The story involves the efforts of a very rich woman, who is moving up even more, to get her hands on a manuscript (sound familiar), that could compromise her standing. This time she is not the innocent victim of a bit of bad judgment and has the firepower to get what she wants. The Baker Street guys get involved when an elderly lady comes to them, telling of an amazing real estate opportunity. First, she is offered an excessive amount of money to sell her house. Then she is asked to sell the contents, but the kicker is that she can take nothing with her. Money seems to be no object but her suspicions are greatly aroused. Things get stickier when a series of threats are put forth by thugs who want Holmes and Watson to mind their own business. They have the goods on one of the henchmen (a black man whose race is treated much worse in the original story) and are able to parley it into some basic information. In the story, the old lady's son dies; in the dramatization it is her nephew. Somehow, he is at the center of all this and he is somehow embroiled in the plot. Actually a pretty decent episode although it is really far-fetched if you think too much about it.
The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes (TV Mini Series)
The Three Gables (1994)
User Reviews
Review this title14 Reviews
A great story, well presented.
Sleepin_Dragon21 August 2016
A story full of passion, desire, love, loathing and hatred, The Three Gables is a very enjoyable episode, even if the story itself is one that's possibly been done before. Conan Doyle enjoyed writing the older, wealthy villainess, and Claudine Auger did a good job in portraying her in this one. Gary Cady certainly looked the part of the young lover and victim Douglas Maberley, although I've never classed him as a brilliant actor. Mary Ellis was utterly glorious as his grandmother, and stole the show with a fabulous acting display. Favourite scene has to be the fight between Watson and Steve Dixie, I know some of the punches are a little wide of the mark, but when Watson flies through the glass, it looks effective. Dixie, played really well by Steve Toussaint, made his first TV appearance here. The wonderful Caroline Blakiston did not get enough screen time. Some nice touches of humour too, bravo Mrs Hudson. 8/10
"Who is this Woman with No Eyes?": the Science of Deduction and the Art of Melodrama
Ian_Jules9 September 2020
Warning: Spoilers
It is interesting to note that several reviews describe this episode of Jeremy Brett's Holmes series as particularly embodying melodrama rather than the detective story. However, both ingredients are part of Doyle's original Holmes formula, and in some ways each relies upon the other to flesh it out.
Holmes' repeated condemnation, throughout the canon, of Watson's "florid, romantic" storytelling is not just stereotypical grousing; it reflects, meta-narratively, the structure of Doyle's stories. In order to craft puzzles that intrigue the reader and show off Holmes' detective skills, we need some sort of story stringing together the deductions and observations with human interest. From the Speckled Band to the Baskervilles to Moriarty and all points in between, Doyle's stories are full of fanciful motifs, larger-than-life characters, and broad--if concise-- expressions of enduring themes and human dilemmas.
Whether we're dealing with an Indian swamp adder, magical monkey glands, or an Andaman islander armed with poisoned arrows, these stories would have thrilled Strand Magazine readers not just with Holmes' seemingly superhuman powers, but also with many shades of passion and exoticism.
Peter Hammond's entries in the Granada series succeed particularly well, for me, because they consistently capture in visual and dramatic terms this distinctive style. Granted: the "Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes" cycle, which turned out to be Granada's last season of Holmes adaptations, turns this melodrama factor up to 11 at times, but it was always present--and sometimes pretty overt--in the source material. Yet the broad, vividly colored presentation does not in any way diminish the human truths being conveyed in these stories.
The Three Gables does have some particularly lush trappings, with its continental backdrop of courtly love, masquerade balls, and almost impossibly cruel rejection leading to grand gestures of heartbreak and revenge. Yet the whole enterprise is staged with such panache, such stylistic acuity from the director, designers, and stellar cast, that the excesses make sense and form a vivid, ensconcing story experience when all the artistes are in sync and the production choices working in sympathy with one another.
Although not a perfect production, The Three Gables strikes the right tone more often than not, with Hammond's dynamic, vivid cinematography treating perfectly a teleplay that could hardly have been visualized as anything other than florid. Dazzling wardrobe design in keeping with the period settings joins forces with the camera to fill out the episode's bold palette. And as always in Hammond's entries, the camera becomes or evokes our (mind's) eye: drawn to shape, color, and movement like the human eye, but with a diegetic capacity to immediately and consciously train those impulses in the interests of constructing and following a narrative.
Holmes' repeated condemnation, throughout the canon, of Watson's "florid, romantic" storytelling is not just stereotypical grousing; it reflects, meta-narratively, the structure of Doyle's stories. In order to craft puzzles that intrigue the reader and show off Holmes' detective skills, we need some sort of story stringing together the deductions and observations with human interest. From the Speckled Band to the Baskervilles to Moriarty and all points in between, Doyle's stories are full of fanciful motifs, larger-than-life characters, and broad--if concise-- expressions of enduring themes and human dilemmas.
Whether we're dealing with an Indian swamp adder, magical monkey glands, or an Andaman islander armed with poisoned arrows, these stories would have thrilled Strand Magazine readers not just with Holmes' seemingly superhuman powers, but also with many shades of passion and exoticism.
Peter Hammond's entries in the Granada series succeed particularly well, for me, because they consistently capture in visual and dramatic terms this distinctive style. Granted: the "Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes" cycle, which turned out to be Granada's last season of Holmes adaptations, turns this melodrama factor up to 11 at times, but it was always present--and sometimes pretty overt--in the source material. Yet the broad, vividly colored presentation does not in any way diminish the human truths being conveyed in these stories.
The Three Gables does have some particularly lush trappings, with its continental backdrop of courtly love, masquerade balls, and almost impossibly cruel rejection leading to grand gestures of heartbreak and revenge. Yet the whole enterprise is staged with such panache, such stylistic acuity from the director, designers, and stellar cast, that the excesses make sense and form a vivid, ensconcing story experience when all the artistes are in sync and the production choices working in sympathy with one another.
Although not a perfect production, The Three Gables strikes the right tone more often than not, with Hammond's dynamic, vivid cinematography treating perfectly a teleplay that could hardly have been visualized as anything other than florid. Dazzling wardrobe design in keeping with the period settings joins forces with the camera to fill out the episode's bold palette. And as always in Hammond's entries, the camera becomes or evokes our (mind's) eye: drawn to shape, color, and movement like the human eye, but with a diegetic capacity to immediately and consciously train those impulses in the interests of constructing and following a narrative.
Not great...but a HUGE improvement over the previous two episodes of the last Holmes series.
planktonrules21 September 2023
"The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes" ended horribly. Two straight episodes which were essentially stories by Conan Doyle in name only. Much of this is because the producers inexplicably decided to make double-length episodes...but with only one story. In other words, Conan Doyle's short stories were stretched considerable. And, to do this, a TON of new material was added and the little story in the original short story was pretty much unimportant. Fans hated it, as you can tell, by the return to the 51 minute format in the final Holmes series, "Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes".
While this first in the new series is far from great, it does show considerable improvement over the past two installments. This isn't surprising, as it was hard for "The Three Gables" to be any worse!
This story is about a rich older woman who is essentially a bully. She assumes she can just have her way in life by having her thugs work people over...and she tries this with Sherlock and Watson. However, Holmes makes it clear to her that he will not knuckle under. So what's next? Will she up the ante, so to speak?
The story is more a return to form, though the resolution to this problematic female is a bit disappointing. Still, it's not a bad story and it's nice to see the series showing some improvement.
While this first in the new series is far from great, it does show considerable improvement over the past two installments. This isn't surprising, as it was hard for "The Three Gables" to be any worse!
This story is about a rich older woman who is essentially a bully. She assumes she can just have her way in life by having her thugs work people over...and she tries this with Sherlock and Watson. However, Holmes makes it clear to her that he will not knuckle under. So what's next? Will she up the ante, so to speak?
The story is more a return to form, though the resolution to this problematic female is a bit disappointing. Still, it's not a bad story and it's nice to see the series showing some improvement.
A vast improvement!
pfr168518 October 2021
If you're going to rewrite a story, this is how you do it! Much better than the disasters of last season, they took one of the more plodding and unimaginative stories (which some suspect Doyle didn't actually write, since there is very little "mystery" aspect to it) and made it an intriguing and entertaining story. The basic plot was fleshed out and augmented, and the plot twists that were added actually fit in to the story rather than confusing it. Well done!
The Three Gables
Prismark103 July 2019
Sherlock Holmes comes to the aide of an elderly grandmother. An offer is made for her house and its entire contents. Mrs Maberley has something that someone is prepared to kill for. Dr Watson is ready to with a revolver to protect her.
It comes to light that her grandson Douglas Maberley had been spurned by his older lover who has set her eyes on a younger, more illustrious prey.
Maberley was savagely beaten and later died. Before his death he had written a manuscript which denounced Klein. It is this that is of interest and puts the elderly lady in peril.
There are some good production values in this episode but it masks a weak story that could have been told in half the time.
Jeremy Brett looks a pallid grey in a colourful episode and unfortunately where once his movements were little flourishes; it now looks exaggerated and hammy.
That really is saying something when the guest star here is Peter Wyngarde who plays a gossip and he is remarkably retrained. It is obvious that Brett is seriously ill.
It comes to light that her grandson Douglas Maberley had been spurned by his older lover who has set her eyes on a younger, more illustrious prey.
Maberley was savagely beaten and later died. Before his death he had written a manuscript which denounced Klein. It is this that is of interest and puts the elderly lady in peril.
There are some good production values in this episode but it masks a weak story that could have been told in half the time.
Jeremy Brett looks a pallid grey in a colourful episode and unfortunately where once his movements were little flourishes; it now looks exaggerated and hammy.
That really is saying something when the guest star here is Peter Wyngarde who plays a gossip and he is remarkably retrained. It is obvious that Brett is seriously ill.
Overwrought Melodrama
ericksonsam607 March 2013
Just as "The Illustrious Client" was about a man who preyed on women, this episode is about a woman who preyed on men. It's feels like a melodrama rather than a mystery. Watching it is a bit depressing and it contains no real twists or turns. However, it does have some redeemable qualities. While this was not one of Conan Doyle's better tales, it is faithful to the original story so purists won't be upset. The performances are good, Jeremy Brett and Edward Hardwicke are excellent as usual and Claudine Auger is strong as Isadore Klein. The art and set decoration are still superb (just look at that lavish ball scene). Still, this production is overwrought and thus one of weaker adaptations in the series.
More empty social melodrama than mystery
grantss3 January 2023
Mrs. Mary Maberley contacts Sherlock Holmes with an odd situation. She was recently approached by an agent of a person willing to buy her house for well over the market price. She is reasonably keen to sell but in a strange clause in the sale documents she must leave everything, including personal items, behind. This does not sit well with her and she wants Sherlock Holmes to figure out the buyer is actually after.
Not a great start to the fourth series of the Jeremy Brett Sherlock Holmes mysteries. There's not much mystery, the villain is fairly obvious and the "crime" is more one of social machinations than a felony. Some plot developments are tacked on to make things seem more sinister than what they are and these seem clumsy and out of place.
Jeremy Brett is also not at his best and clearly was in ill health when appearing in this. He died 18 months after the episode was released. The performances of Brett are what lifted the first two series to higher levels so his not being at the top of his game does also take some of the shine off the episode and limit the engagement factor.
Not a great start to the fourth series of the Jeremy Brett Sherlock Holmes mysteries. There's not much mystery, the villain is fairly obvious and the "crime" is more one of social machinations than a felony. Some plot developments are tacked on to make things seem more sinister than what they are and these seem clumsy and out of place.
Jeremy Brett is also not at his best and clearly was in ill health when appearing in this. He died 18 months after the episode was released. The performances of Brett are what lifted the first two series to higher levels so his not being at the top of his game does also take some of the shine off the episode and limit the engagement factor.
One of the weaker episodes of the series in my opinion
TheLittleSongbird28 May 2012
I do say this with regret, as I do love the Granada Sherlock Holmes series and always have. The Three Gables is marginally better as an episode than The Eligible Bachelor(my least favourite episode of the series), The Last Vampyre and The Mazarin Stone, but of the "Memoirs" series it is nowhere near as good as The Dying Detective and The Cardboard Box. For other classic episodes of the series the standouts alongside those two were The Crooked Man, The Blue Carbuncle, The Final Problem, The Devil's Foot, The Dancing Men, The Six Napoleons, The Norwood Builder, The Master Blackmailer, Sign of Four and Hound of the Baskervilles. The others range from good to great.
The Three Gables isn't irredeemable though. The evocative atmosphere and splendid production values are still there, as well as some very interesting camera work and the hauntingly beautiful music. Jeremy Brett does look ill and has given more inspired performances in other episodes but he is nonetheless commanding, and Edward Hardwicke is a quietly composed contrast. On the other hand, the supporting don't really have that much to do and don't shine as much. And there is no wonder seeing as pace-wise The Three Gables for me was one of the duller episodes, made more problematic by a story that is very confused and rambling(then again the story itself was I agree one of Conan Doyle's weakest, giving the impression he was running out of ideas) and a script that is mostly lacking in any life or intrigue.
All in all, not the worst episode and not a waste of time, but one of the weakest of the series and a disappointment in general. 5/10 Bethany Cox
The Three Gables isn't irredeemable though. The evocative atmosphere and splendid production values are still there, as well as some very interesting camera work and the hauntingly beautiful music. Jeremy Brett does look ill and has given more inspired performances in other episodes but he is nonetheless commanding, and Edward Hardwicke is a quietly composed contrast. On the other hand, the supporting don't really have that much to do and don't shine as much. And there is no wonder seeing as pace-wise The Three Gables for me was one of the duller episodes, made more problematic by a story that is very confused and rambling(then again the story itself was I agree one of Conan Doyle's weakest, giving the impression he was running out of ideas) and a script that is mostly lacking in any life or intrigue.
All in all, not the worst episode and not a waste of time, but one of the weakest of the series and a disappointment in general. 5/10 Bethany Cox
Sad Tale In More Ways Than One.
rmax3048231 May 2010
Warning: Spoilers
By the time he wrote this, Conan-Doyle was just about out of steam, having lost a son in the war and dabbling in spiritualism. It's not a good story in print, and it's a poor entry into the Grenada TV series.
Production values remain high. There's a scene of an outdoor costume ball with an unusual number of extras.
But the story itself is confusing and dull and comes across as a pot boiler, a rather joyless enterprise for everyone concerned. The director tries to jazz it up with the use of mirrors and high angle shots. But nothing can disguise Jeremy Brett's illness, congestive heart failure, for which he was taking meds that plumped out his features and made him look suddenly older than we were used to. The make up is such that he resembles Bela Lugosi's Dracula.
The treatment of Steve Dixie, a black boxer, is unflattering, unlike his story about interracial marriage of many years earlier, "The Yellow Face." A little depressing overall.
Production values remain high. There's a scene of an outdoor costume ball with an unusual number of extras.
But the story itself is confusing and dull and comes across as a pot boiler, a rather joyless enterprise for everyone concerned. The director tries to jazz it up with the use of mirrors and high angle shots. But nothing can disguise Jeremy Brett's illness, congestive heart failure, for which he was taking meds that plumped out his features and made him look suddenly older than we were used to. The make up is such that he resembles Bela Lugosi's Dracula.
The treatment of Steve Dixie, a black boxer, is unflattering, unlike his story about interracial marriage of many years earlier, "The Yellow Face." A little depressing overall.
Horrendous episode - Is it a spoof? (SPOILER)
dmrn-916175 July 2016
Warning: Spoilers
(SPOILER ALERT - I DON'T TELL THE STORY BUT SOME ELEMENTS CAN BE A SPOILER)
This is possibly the only awful episode in this series. But gosh is it horrible.
The main actors out act beyond what they usually do well past the point of caricature, the dialogues are laughable, the couple is positively revolting but also risible. It's a constant wonder between how could they sink so low in the ridiculous and how could they possibly not have done it on purpose. From the young romantic composing his novel under the rain to Watson flying through a window to Holmes leaving everybody on their own waiting for something to happen. Possibly Conan Doyle's fault there for the lack of inspiration but it's the only story that I have no recollection of, although I read the whole series several times over.
Avoid unless you want to see something rotten.
This is possibly the only awful episode in this series. But gosh is it horrible.
The main actors out act beyond what they usually do well past the point of caricature, the dialogues are laughable, the couple is positively revolting but also risible. It's a constant wonder between how could they sink so low in the ridiculous and how could they possibly not have done it on purpose. From the young romantic composing his novel under the rain to Watson flying through a window to Holmes leaving everybody on their own waiting for something to happen. Possibly Conan Doyle's fault there for the lack of inspiration but it's the only story that I have no recollection of, although I read the whole series several times over.
Avoid unless you want to see something rotten.
Another poor episode
mbellsmith11 July 2020
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