James Mortimer FRCS - Was Watson really wrong?

I think it safely goes without saying that one of the most often miscast Sherlockian characters is James Mortimer FRCS. Erroneously referred to as Dr Mortimer, this is the man who brings the legend of The Hound of the Baskervilles to Sherlock Holmes’s attention.



In the story Holmes deduces Mortimer to be as follows:

"a young fellow under thirty, amiable, unambitious, absent-minded, and the possessor of a favourite dog, which I should describe roughly as being larger than a terrier and smaller than a mastiff."

Earlier Watson had reached a different conclusion

“Dr. Mortimer is a successful, elderly medical man, well-esteemed since those who know him give him this mark of their appreciation."

The odd thing is that on most occasions, Mortimer has been cast more in keeping with Watson’s assessment than that of Holmes.

Fox's Mortimer (Basil Rathbone as Holmes)

Hammer's Mortimer (Peter Cushing as Holmes)

Mapleton Films' Mortimer (Ian Richardson as Holmes)

Muse Entertainment's Mortimer (Matt Frewer as Holmes)

BBC Mortimer (Richard Roxburgh as Holmes)

Once again we have to rely on Granada to do it properly.

For more information on Arthur Conan Doyle and his time at Undershaw please refer to my book, An Entirely New Country which is available through all good bookstores including Amazon USA, Amazon UK, Classic Specialities, and in all electronic formats including iTunes, Kobo, Nook and Kindle .

The Norwood Author is available from all good bookstores, in many formats worldwide including Waterstones UK, Amazon UK,  Amazon USA, Barnes and Noble, Amazon Kindle, iBooks for the iPad/iPhone, Kobo Books, Nook.

Close to Holmes is available from all good bookstores, in many formats worldwide including Amazon USA,  Barnes and Noble,  Amazon UK,  Waterstones UK,  Amazon Kindle,  Kobo,  Nook  and iBooks for the iPad/iPhone.

Eliminate the Impossible is available from all good bookstores, in many formats worldwide including Amazon USA, Barnes and Noble, Amazon UK, Waterstones UK, Amazon Kindle, Kobo, Nook and iBooks for the iPad/iPhone.