• 5 years ago
Sherlock Holmes - E1: The Case of Cunningham Heritage
30min | Crime, Drama, Mystery | TV Series (1954–1955)

Dr. John Watson meets private detective Sherlock Holmes, and assists him in solving a case that has confused Inspector Lestrade.

Stars: Ronald Howard, Howard Marion-Crawford, Archie Duncan
Transcript
00:00♪
00:05♪
00:10♪
00:15♪
00:20♪
00:25♪
00:30♪
00:35♪
00:40♪
00:45♪
00:50♪
00:55♪
01:04The city you consider as home
01:06is never so attractive as when you return to it
01:08after long and difficult times in other parts of the world.
01:11My name is Dr. John Watson.
01:14I had served and been wounded in the more remote regions of Afghanistan
01:18and had been discharged from the army with specific instructions to rest.
01:23The sight of London again was already working its soothing tonic.
01:27As I rode through the familiar streets,
01:29I never suspected that a chance introduction
01:32would lead me into the most amazing adventure of my entire life.
01:38Watson, old man!
01:40Hello, how have you been? It's good to see you.
01:42Not as well as you, obviously.
01:44You look great, old man.
01:48I heard you were wounded.
01:49Well, it couldn't have been much worse.
01:51Sit down.
01:52Care for a drink?
01:53Mm, I'll have one.
01:54Yes.
01:59Well, what are your plans now?
02:02Oh, nothing really at the moment. I'm looking for lodgings.
02:05Trying to solve the old problem of comfortable quarters at a reasonable price.
02:10That's odd.
02:11There's a second man today that's used that expression.
02:14Really?
02:15Who's the other?
02:16Oh, you wouldn't know him.
02:17He's doing some work in the chemical laboratory at the hospital.
02:21Might be interesting.
02:23Yes, well, I wouldn't mind sharing a flat with somebody if...
02:26if he was all right.
02:29Well, I...
02:32Anything wrong?
02:34No.
02:36He's rather strange.
02:38Oh, what's wrong with him?
02:39Nothing wrong with Holmes. That's his name, Sherlock Holmes.
02:42Oh, when I saw him this morning, he was doing some research with a corpse.
02:46Oh, what was he doing?
02:48He was beating it with a stick.
02:51I beg your pardon?
02:53Did you ring, sir?
02:54Touché, this fellow.
02:55Very good, sir.
02:59What did you say this Sherlock Holmes fellow was doing?
03:03He was beating a corpse with a stick.
03:07Oh?
03:08What in heaven's name did he want to do that for?
03:11He wanted to find out if it was possible to inflict a bruise on a body after death.
03:16Why?
03:18I don't know.
03:21Are you asking me?
03:23That's another strange thing about this Holmes.
03:25Somehow, one never thinks to question him.
03:30Oh.
03:47It works. It really works.
03:50You realize you've just entered the greatest chapter in the history of forensic medicine.
03:53You're Dr. Watson.
03:54Yes, I am.
03:56What works?
03:57A foolproof test for hemoglobin.
03:59You realize what this means, of course.
04:01No, I don't.
04:03You must be Sherlock Holmes.
04:05It will create a revolution in criminal investigation.
04:08Yes, I'm Holmes.
04:10How did you know I was Watson?
04:12Because you've just come back from Afghanistan.
04:14How do you do?
04:15How do you do?
04:18How did you know I'd just come back from Afghanistan?
04:21Well, it's written all over you.
04:23The problem has generally been that a man is suspected of a crime months after the crime is committed.
04:28Then when they find bloodstains on objects of clothing, they can't be sure if it's blood, mud, or rust stains.
04:33But this solves the whole thing, of course.
04:35Of course.
04:37Of course.
04:39Stanford told me you're looking for someone to share a flat you'd find.
04:43You know, if this test had been in existence a year ago,
04:45it would have meant that von Bishop of Frankfurt would most certainly have been hung.
04:49And that goes for Mason of Bradford, Muller, and O'Fay, naturally.
04:52Uh, naturally.
04:54Who are these people?
04:56Did you know I'm delighted to meet you, Watson?
04:58I think you'll like the flat. It's in Baker Street, by the way.
05:01Oh, we could pop around this afternoon and have a look at it, if you care.
05:03Yes. Oh, yes, rather. I'd like that. Good.
05:05Did you mind if I play the violin?
05:07No, go right ahead.
05:08No, I mean now. I mean when we're sharing the flat.
05:10Oh, no. No, of course not. I like a bit of good music.
05:12Oh, good. I'm afraid I'm not very good.
05:14Oh. Um, tell me, Holmes.
05:16Yes.
05:17How did you know I'd just got back from Afghanistan?
05:19Well, it's obvious.
05:21Now, that's what you said before. It isn't a bit obvious.
05:23You're a doctor. That much we know.
05:25Yes.
05:26Much with the air of a military man. Therefore an army doctor.
05:28You've acquired a sunburn.
05:30I know it's not your natural color because your wrists are white.
05:33Your eyes tell me that you've recently been ill.
05:36I'd say some sort of tropical fever.
05:39Do you use your left arm stiffly as though you've sustained a wound?
05:43Now, the problem becomes, where would an army doctor,
05:46contracted a fever, sustain a wound?
05:49The answer, my dear Watson, is in the present campaign in Afghanistan. Naturally.
05:53Naturally.
05:55Of course, it's obvious. Naturally.
06:01We examined the rooms at 221 B Baker Street that afternoon
06:05and promptly moved in on the following day.
06:07I had, at this point, known Sherlock Holmes for only 24 hours.
06:11But the man's fantastic powers of perception,
06:14coupled with the almost unpredictable personality I'd ever encountered,
06:18kept me in a state of constant surprise when I wasn't being shot.
06:22It was unbelievable, the things he knew and the things he didn't know.
06:27Now, really, my dear Holmes,
06:29you mean to tell me you didn't know that the earth moved round the sun?
06:32Really?
06:33Well, every schoolchild knows that.
06:35Well, now I know it too, and I shall promptly proceed to forget it.
06:38But why?
06:40Yes, why? Why should I remember it?
06:44Well, because it's a natural phenomenon.
06:47Well, is it important? Does it affect us?
06:50If you told me the earth went round the moon,
06:52would it make any possible difference to our way of life?
06:54Well, if you put it that way, no.
06:58Then it's useless information, and I shall do my best to forget it.
07:02I advise you to do the same.
07:05At times I thought the man was joking
07:07and simply having a bit of fun at my expense.
07:10But I soon learned that he was in dead earnest.
07:13I also, unknown to him,
07:15made a brief classification of the man's knowledge.
07:18Literature? Nothing.
07:20Philosophy? Nothing.
07:22Astronomy? Nothing.
07:24Politics? Disinterested.
07:26Botany? He knew everything there was to know about poison,
07:30and absolutely nothing about practical drama.
07:33Chemistry? Profound.
07:35Sensational literature? Without question.
07:38Sherlock Holmes knew the details of every horror
07:41perpetrated in the last hundred years.
07:56I believe we have a visitor.
07:58Really?
07:59Is he coming here?
08:01I believe so.
08:02I would also say he's a retired sergeant of marines.
08:05Oh, you know the man?
08:06I've never clapped hands with him before in my life.
08:08Well, in that case, that's one of the wildest statements I ever heard.
08:12How can you possibly guess he's a retired sergeant of marines?
08:15You've never seen him.
08:16I guess, my dear Watson, I've calculated deduction.
08:23Yes, he is coming up here.
08:26Do you mind if I ask you, Mr. Pershing?
08:29Oh, by all means. Now, where did I put my violin case?
08:33Oh, it's over here.
08:38There you are.
08:40Ah, my old friend.
08:43Come in.
08:46Excuse me, gentlemen. I have a messenger for Mr. Sherlock Holmes.
08:57Excuse me.
08:59Sir?
09:00Do you mind telling me your occupation?
09:02Not at all, sir.
09:03I'm a civil servant employed by the police department.
09:08I just wondered.
09:10Not at all, sir.
09:13How long have you been with the police department?
09:16Just a year, sir.
09:17Before that, I was a sergeant in the marines.
09:19Good day, gentlemen.
09:22How did you know?
09:24Interesting letter, Watson. A very interesting letter.
09:27Perhaps you'd like to come with me.
09:29Where?
09:30To catch a murderer, of course.
09:36Of course.
09:37Of course.
09:44How did you know that that man was an ex-sergeant of marines?
09:48Who?
09:49A messenger from the police.
09:51Oh, yes, yes. The retired sergeant of marines.
09:54That's what I said.
09:55Well, there's nothing mysterious about such observations, Madam Watson.
09:58But unfortunately, when explained, they lose their romantic aura of mystery.
10:02My decision was based on observation.
10:04The man had a large anchor tattooed on the back of his head.
10:07This was visible from our window.
10:09I admit I didn't notice it at the time.
10:11But since you mention it, I think there was an anchor.
10:13Oh, there was indeed.
10:15He also wore regulation sideburns.
10:17Had a slight nautical robe.
10:19Thus, I judged him a marine.
10:21A guess, I grant you.
10:23But only a refinement of guesses one makes every day.
10:28Don't be so disgruntled.
10:29I'm not.
10:30Every day.
10:33Don't be so disgruntled, Watson.
10:35Test your own powers of observation.
10:37We are entering the perfect situation.
10:39Oh? What are we entering?
10:41A house that holds a murdered man.
10:58Is Inspector Lestrade inside?
10:59Yes, sir. May I have your name, please?
11:01Yes, Sherlock Holmes. This is Dr. Watson.
11:03Oh, that's quite all right, sir.
11:04Inspector Lestrade gave instructions to admit you.
11:06Oh, good.
11:08Oh, by the way, has the body been removed?
11:11No, sir, but the medical examiner's just called.
11:14Oh, thank you.
11:15Let's hope they haven't moved things about too much.
11:17The police forces of the world seem to have an organized science of messing things about.
11:21Oh, I wouldn't say that, Holmes.
11:23Now then, move along, Barry.
11:25Move along. There's nothing to see today.
11:27I don't know.
11:29I swear I don't know. I tried to help him.
11:33Don't you believe me?
11:35I had to do what I could. It was instinctive.
11:38It was instinctive for a woman like you to commit murder.
11:40That's not true. You know it's not true.
11:43I know you hate me, but you can't believe I'd do a thing like this.
11:47Yes, I can, and I do.
11:48Please.
11:50She's a murderess.
11:51You know it as well as I.
11:54She murdered your brother.
11:56It's a lie.
11:57Yes, it's a lie.
11:58Frank, our story's a lie.
12:00The relationship you had with my son was a lie.
12:04My son's been murdered.
12:06This girl's a murderess.
12:10Why she did it, what her motive was, I don't know.
12:14They were engaged without my blessing.
12:18I can only be grateful that she gains nothing by her crime.
12:22Your duty now is to convict her.
12:25Just a moment, please.
12:35Notice the angle of incision, Watson.
12:37Yes.
12:38The force of the blow and the general penetration of the upper region of the chest.
12:42How long would you estimate before loss of consciousness?
12:46Well, it's difficult to say.
12:48Thirty seconds?
12:49Yes.
12:50Oh, between the two of them.
12:51I see.
12:52And death?
12:53Shortly thereafter.
12:54Two minutes, three?
12:56Three or four, I'd say.
12:58Thank you, Watson.
13:00All right, take him out.
13:03Ah, forgive the interruption.
13:04I would prefer to have been invited before the body had been moved.
13:07I thought you'd be interested, Holmes.
13:09Oh, thank you, Mr. Strader.
13:10Oh, may I introduce my friend, Dr. Watson, Inspector of the Strader Scotland Yard?
13:14How do you do?
13:15How do you do?
13:16So you're completely stuck in, Mr. Strader.
13:18What do you mean?
13:20What do you mean?
13:21Well, you thought I'd be interested.
13:23Why don't you admit it?
13:25You're in a jam.
13:27Now, you're in some cabinet work, don't you think?
13:29What you say isn't exactly true, Holmes.
13:31I've done you a favor.
13:32This is an interesting case.
13:34Of course, there are one or two unexplained details, but I don't believe it'll be long before we're clear...
13:39What's your principal problem?
13:40There's no motive.
13:42I found this girl with a knife in her hand.
13:44My brother lying dead on the floor.
13:46I found Peter on the floor.
13:48I tried to help him.
13:49By stabbing him?
13:50By removing the knife.
13:52Anybody would have done the same thing.
13:55I loved him.
13:58Now, my dear young lady, there's no cause for you to alarm yourself.
14:02No one's accusing you of...
14:04Well, of what happened?
14:06This would be a clear-cut case if only she had a reason for murdering him.
14:10There happened to be a policeman outside the house during the murder, and he said that no one can in except her.
14:14Well, what about the others?
14:15Who benefits by her death?
14:16Well, no one.
14:17The estate was left in such a way that if he died before he married, everything went to charity.
14:21My dear Inspector Lestrade, he didn't die before he married.
14:27This young lady and the man whose body was carried out of here had been married for at least a week.
14:34In the event of his death, I imagine everything passes to her.
14:47And now we return to the case of the Cunningham Heritage.
14:52How did you know they were married?
14:55Weren't you?
15:01Yes, a week ago.
15:04Then you do benefit by my brother's death.
15:07You're his heir.
15:08I don't know if I am or not.
15:10I only know I didn't kill him.
15:11I swear I didn't.
15:14Where were you married?
15:15We went down to Brighton last weekend.
15:17Well, why didn't Peter say anything about it?
15:19I don't know.
15:21He asked me not to say anything, so of course I didn't.
15:23I'm afraid, young lady, I'll have to ask you to accompany me to headquarters.
15:28I understand.
15:34Forgive me, Inspector.
15:35I think I should tell my mother.
15:36Oh, yes, of course.
15:41Tell me, Holmes, how did you know they were married?
15:44Well, the man's hands had the remains of a sunburn
15:47and the fading marks of a narrow ring,
15:49but not as yet that indentation of the finger a ring generally leaves.
15:53A weekend in the sun at Brighton explains the whole thing perfectly.
15:56I didn't notice these things.
15:58Yes, I know.
15:59The young lady's hands were also sunburned to the same degree.
16:02Then the case is solved.
16:04Yes, it would appear so, wouldn't it?
16:06What are you looking for?
16:08What are you looking for?
16:09Now, do you see that?
16:10What?
16:11Here, use this.
16:16Why, that's only the cut in the carpet.
16:18Yes, but it's a fresh one.
16:20Yes, but...
16:21What?
16:22What does it mean?
16:23That's a good question.
16:25We'll stop looking for clues now, Holmes.
16:27Ah, you've solved the case then?
16:28Completely.
16:29Oh, splendid.
16:30Seems this girl had a record.
16:32Nine months in the woman's prison in Holloway
16:35from the 21st of February 1892 to the 21st of November 1892.
16:41She was employed as a governess and convicted for stealing 300 pounds from her employer.
16:46It's quite true.
16:48I knew you'd find out sometime.
16:50I made a mistake five years ago, but I paid for it.
16:53But Peter knew all about it before we were married.
16:55I never tried to hide it from him.
16:56He didn't know what else you had in mind.
16:58I had nothing else in mind except that I loved him.
17:01I'm afraid I must ask you to go with the officer, Miss.
17:04What a matter.
17:10Well, that's how I like my cases.
17:13Fast and simple.
17:15Oh, really?
17:16You must tell me some more about it.
17:18Well, there's nothing to tell, really.
17:21Her story was that Peter asked her to call here at 10 sharp.
17:25She arrived, found the door open for her,
17:28came in here and found him writhing on the floor with a knife in his chest.
17:32She screamed, pulled it out.
17:34Just then, Brother Ralph walked in.
17:37Peter died without saying another word.
17:39So she stabbed him for the inheritance and was caught in the act.
17:42Simple.
17:43Well, falling off a log couldn't be simpler, could it, Watson?
17:46I still think it's a tragedy.
17:48Yes, but in my job, Dr. Watson, we run up against it all the time.
17:51No, thank you.
17:53Well, I suppose you had some amazing adventures.
17:55Yes, but one learns to have a real philosophy of life and get a good perspective.
18:00Yes, I suppose so.
18:01But just the same, I think it's a pity.
18:03Just another case of a clever girl being too clever.
18:06A clever girl who intended to murder her husband.
18:08She certainly chose the most stupid possible way to commit the crime.
18:11What was that?
18:12Well, Watson, it was...
18:13A checkbook.
18:14Oh, amazing deduction, Mestrade. Look.
18:18So Peter Cunningham drew a check for a thousand pounds.
18:21Six weeks ago.
18:23And five weeks ago.
18:24And four.
18:25And three.
18:26And two.
18:27And that's all.
18:28Well?
18:29They're drawn to cash.
18:30Well, I don't get your point.
18:31He was a very rich man.
18:33Well, it's a great deal of cash.
18:35It was his own money.
18:36I suppose he could do what he liked with it.
18:38You may have hit the proverbial nail, Mestrade.
18:41Now, look here, Holmes.
18:42You're trying to start something that just doesn't exist.
18:44Oh, you think so?
18:45I have a great deal of respect for your opinion, Holmes.
18:48But your trouble is that you can't leave things alone.
18:51If there isn't a mystery, you have to make one or you're not happy.
18:54You're right, I'm not happy.
18:55There are marks on the carpet indicating a struggle.
18:57The man whose body was carried out of here was over six feet in height.
19:00If he had struggled with a girl who had left here, I don't think he'd have lost.
19:03She surprised him.
19:04Oh, but he was expecting her.
19:06That's her story.
19:07I'd say she sneaked up on him.
19:09What, and stabbed him in the chest?
19:10How do you sneak up on someone and stab them in the chest, Mestrade?
19:13Now, look here, Holmes.
19:14You're trying to start something and I just won't stand for it.
19:17That girl's a jailbird.
19:19And she's guilty.
19:20And she's going to hang.
19:21And that's the end of the case.
19:24Holmes, I see Inspector Mestrade is up to his usual mental gymnastics,
19:28trying to hammer square pegs into round homes.
19:33Well, Lawrence, it's been a great pleasure meeting you, Inspector.
19:36I warn you to keep away from that man, Holmes, or you'll be insane in less than a week.
19:54What time is it?
19:56Hmm?
19:57Oh, uh, half past ten.
20:00Perhaps you'd like to take a little stroll with me?
20:02Why?
20:03I'd like to investigate this afternoon's affair a bit further.
20:08Oh, yes.
20:09I'd like that.
20:11I thought you'd forgotten about it.
20:13Not at all.
20:14I've been thinking about it all evening.
20:16Shall we go?
20:17No, we must exchange our thoughts en route.
20:19Where are we going?
20:20To the Cunningham house.
20:21I didn't know you'd made an appointment there.
20:23I didn't.
20:24Oh, well, who do you expect to see?
20:26No one, I hope.
20:30I'm terribly sorry, Holmes.
20:31I don't understand what you mean when you say you want to go to the Cunningham house and you just...
20:35You can't do that.
20:36What?
20:37Well, you can't break into the house.
20:39Why not?
20:40It's against the law, that's why not.
20:42Why, if we're caught...
20:43That's it.
20:44Well, what is?
20:45If we're caught.
20:46If we're caught.
21:05Quickly now.
21:06But look, Holmes, we can't...
21:07Shh, shh, come on.
21:17Good evening, Inspector.
21:18Good evening, Sergeant.
21:19Everything all right?
21:20Yes, sir.
21:21I just thought Sherlock Holmes might have dropped by.
21:24Where'd you get the key?
21:25It's not a key, it's a burglar's tool.
21:27A burglar's tool?
21:28Shh, it's the street, dear.
21:29Hmm.
21:30Here.
21:47How do you know he's out?
21:48Yes, I had a spy watching the house.
21:49Go through that cabinet.
21:50What am I looking for?
21:51Oh, papers, bank statements, anything to indicate passage of money from Peter Cunningham's account.
21:54Go on.
22:11It's absolutely ridiculous.
22:13Looking for something and you don't know what in order to catch somebody and you don't know who.
22:17Quite ridiculous.
22:22Nothing over my side.
22:24Keep looking.
22:27Who do you think's got it?
22:28Whatever it is we're looking for.
22:31Why did Peter Cunningham try to hide the fact of his marriage?
22:33A week or a month would have made a difference as far as his mother was concerned.
22:36She would never have consented to his new bride anyway.
22:43He married her to prove to me that my blackmail wouldn't stop him.
22:59And then he withheld the fact in order to give me one week to clear out of the country before he exposed me.
23:05The money he paid you went to buying up your promissory notes.
23:08I was being pressed, Mr. Holmes.
23:11My brother's engagement to a jailbird gave me a perfect opportunity to extract a little money from him.
23:17In fact, if he hadn't been such a bullhead, he would have gone on for quite some time.
23:21A jailbird, as you put it, makes a perfect murder suspect.
23:24Perfect, Mr. Holmes.
23:27And you and Dr. Watson make perfect burglary suspects.
23:31When I report your death to the police, they can't possibly blame me for defending the sanctity of my home.
23:41Well done, Watson.
23:43I could have done a bit better, only it was in a bad shelter.
23:48Quite all right, Watson. Think no more about it.
23:50So that's our murder?
23:51Yes, the only possible one, of course.
23:53Only a man could have struck that blow.
23:55Peter died, as you say, within three or four minutes.
23:57And there was a body outside the whole time?
23:59Yes.
24:00Crystal clear.
24:01Oh, it's pretty obvious.
24:03Well, what do we do now?
24:05What's going on here?
24:07Well, what do we do now?
24:09What's going on here? Who fired that shot?
24:13We will sit with a good inspector.
24:16And with the aid of our evidence, a bit of logic, and a few simple diagrams,
24:21we will endeavor to convince him that night follows day, and that one and one inevitably makes two.
24:29How did you two get in here, anyway?
24:31Now, Inspector, calm yourself, calm yourself.
24:33Come, sit down.
24:34Now, there's a good fellow. Sit right here.
24:36Now, you see, we have a great deal to talk about.
24:45Also present with Inspector Lestrade was Dr. John Watson,
24:49and a personal friend of the inspector's, Mr. Sherlock Holmes.
24:56This is ridiculous! It's fantastic!
24:58This isn't the way it happened at all!
25:00This will revolutionize investigation, Watson.
25:03This whole account is a lie!
25:05Fingerprints, Watson. That's the coming thing.
25:07No nonsense! What are you going to do about this?
25:10A bit more research. Here, give me your fingers on the sheet of paper.
25:13Oops.
25:16Are you going to sit there with these disgusting little fudges and let them get away with this?
25:20I beg your pardon?
25:21Well, I won't.
25:23They're going to hear from me.
25:24Brilliant Inspector Lestrade, indeed.
25:26Why, it took you three hours to convince that bonehead!
25:31I don't know! Never in my life have I heard...
25:34Maybe it was innocence.
25:45I wonder if he got more than a shoulder wound in Afghanistan.
26:04THE END
26:34THE END
27:04THE END