Episode 22: The Musgrave Ritual
In this episode, Holmes and Watson examine the mysterious events surrounding the singular old observance known as The Musgrave Ritual, we are introduced to producer June Wyndham Davies, and we bid farewell to series creator, Michael Cox. Also, Luke and Gus discuss the original script, Baddesley Clinton, rigor mortis, and why this episode is among their favorites. Plus, listener telegrams!
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Love this episode! One of my favorite lines in the series is from it. I refer to the beginning when Holmes is greeting his host, he asks:
“How is your dear wife?”
“I’m not married,” responds Reginald Musgrave.
“How wise!” Holmes replies.
Overall delightful listening! Thanks again, Luke & Gus!
Normally, I agree with the two of you about everything, but although I enjoy this episode for itself, as a Holmesian, it rankles me a bit. The Holmes of the canon is actually very compassionate in his view of Musgrave, while in the Granada, Holmes is a complete jerk to this really nice, rather gentle fellow. Musgrave is very shy and uncertain of himself, not worthy of such nastiness. I agree Musgrave is a jerk in the story to dismiss Brunton for snooping around, but for the most part he seems to be rather decent to his servants and had a hard time of it in school. The Holmes in the book regards Musgrave as a friend. I don’t think canon Holmes would get coked up the first night to visit, and in the books Holmes never uses drugs when he’s away from Baker Street. I think this is very much “Jeremy as Holmes” rather than “Holmes” and while it’s not a bad thing, I don’t like the episode as much as the other from this season.
Michael Culver, however, is wonderful. You mention him on a horse, and he is near and dear to my heart, because I saw him on reruns as the stuffy Squire Armstrong in Black Beauty, a great 70s British TV show. (So if you want to see Culver playing an actual stuffed shirt, this is a great example, although for some reason, I adored his character as a kid). Here’s a link to one of the episodes in which he played a prominent role.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cttvzEkh2gs
I also think the supporting cast of “Ritual” is great, so I do like seeing the episode when it pops up, but cringe during the cocaine, sleeping in the butler’s bed, and all sorts of things I don’t think even an eccentric like the Holmes of the canon would have done.
I just finished the seven seasons (thanks to YouTube channel Naruto Shippuden, which features the entire series). I’ve only yet listened to the Scandal in Bohemia episode of this podcast, I believe, as well as catching the great interview with Stephen Fry on this podcast’s YouTube channel. I’m glad to see this podcast is still going strong, btw.
I loved Ian Richardson’s Holmes (& Dr. Joseph Bell), after stumbling into the ACD universe rather recently. I didn’t think anyone could play the role better. I was also loving David Burke as Watson, but Edward Hardwick turned out to be fantastic as well. There’s a lot of great Brett appreciation and fan content on YT, and interviews besides, which is some consolation to having run through the series. I look forward to getting to know him more through this podcast, and maybe even re-watching the series at some point (like this podcast’s hosts have multiple times). I really ought to read the canon, I know, but I find Magpie Audio’s Greg Wagland does a great reading for my taste. Even the Basil Rathbone/Nigel Bruce films are great (and Peter Cushing is no slouch, nor was Christopher Lee). Brett was something else, however. There’s nothing I could add that hasn’t already been said about him, I’m sure. Just one more ‘thanks’ to add to his legacy, I suppose…
This episode is great partly because it follows one of the key rules of Sherlock Holmes adaptations: it’s always better with more Watson. I especially like his jovial mood with cranky Holmes, his mischievous smile when he thinks of snooping through the old-case box, his triumph with solving the final instruction “and under,” his side eye at Musgrave after explaining about “the personal equation.” I hope this episode makes you hesitate a little more before you answer the question” who is the best Watson?”
Your comment about the title music of this episode had the musician in me me listen to the title music from all of the episodes. And I have come to the conclusion that among the 50 minute ones, only 2 are different. The title music for “The Final Problem” is very obviously something entirely different – right from the start it meanders from the main theme into a beautiful lament, both by the solo violin and in the orchestral underlay. As you guys so astutely noticed, the title music for “The Musgrave Ritual” differs ever so slightly from the usual : this is because the solo violin does play the well known melody, but with chorded notes (playing notes on 2 strings at the same time), usually at the end of the phrase – which results in a darker, more dramatic mood. To my ears, the orchestral underlay sounds like being the same as in all the other episodes (except for The Final Problem, of course)… One can only wonder whether it is a coincidence, and why just this once …
Saddened to hear about the loss of Michael Cox. Thank you for taking the time to give this man at least some of the credit he deserved. I happen to have a signed copy of A Study in Celluloid. I am happy to send a photo if you are interested.
Keep up the great work on your podcast. You guys stir up so many memories for me and also give me an excuse to read and watch through the series yet again.
Thanks, Matt. I too have an autographed copy of his book. I never thought to share a photo, tho. That’s a great idea. Will do that soon. -Gus
Happy to see you guys tweet about a new episode coming later this week. : D
“HA, WATSON!” as Brett’s Holmes might exclaim at such singular news.
I don’t usually comment on your podcasts (I always feel like I’m whistling in the wind as there aren’t a lot of replies), but I had to this time. I want to thank you for clearing up an almost 40 year question in my mind. I always knew Musgrave looked familiar, but could never place him. I would never have guessed he was Captain Needa!
So many think Musgrave was a jerk for dismissing Bunton. I have to say, I would be perturbed if someone was going thru my books and papers without my permission! I think we all would
I know this isn’t a Star Wars podcast, but another Imperial officer from Empire Strikes Back, General Veers, is an actor I see often. Around the same time, he was in the Doctor Who episode City of Death. That was one of my favourite times of the series, so I distinctly remember seeing him when I was growing up in that role.
And if we want to continue the association with science fiction television/movies linking to Sherlock Holmes, Jeremy Brett himself was in an episode of Galactica 1980! I loved the 1978 Battlestar Galactica series, but overall, the sequel series was rubbish. However, Brett’s performance was excellent! (He was a baddie in quite a bit of US television around that time-I also remember him being a villain in a Hart to Hart episode around the same time)
Sorry, this comment didn’t pertain to the Musgrave Ritual much. This was the only episode my mother didn’t want me to watch as a kid because of the risque scenes at the beginning. She finally recorded it with that scene edited out
Hi Gus and Luke, great podcast as usual. Easily one of my favourite episodes such a great story, cast and crew on this.
One thing that I always forget about in this episode is when Rachel leaves her room with the nurse asleep the next moment when she quickly comes into view always shocks me because I’m not expecting it. One other thing I love is when Holmes asks Watson and Musgrave to bring the string, fishing rods and the ritual outside and Watson and Musgrave just look at those things then at each other. Keep up the good work chaps