A Dedication to Jeremy Brett

"You are developing a certain unexpected vein of pawky humour, Watson, against which I must learn to guard myself..." --Sherlock Holmes, from The Valley of Fear

Unexpected Vein of Pawky Humour is not only a commemoration to Jeremy Brett, but also to his unbountiful love of laughter and his eminent [and somewhat mischievous] sense of humour. This section places Jeremy and/or his friends into advertisements and others as such that Jeremy (and et al) may have done if given the chance. These images are forged spoofs; they are done as authentic as it possibly with what technology is thereof available! Yet please note that these images are NOT intended for commercial use, but for the mere enjoyment of Brettians and forward. The editor humbly apologises for any offense these images may affect, no offense was never meant to be taken. The contents were done with great affection and endearment; note that one rather needs a flexible sense of humour for this section.

I wish to express my wonderful thank yous to Rachael Patton and Mia Stampe of Denmark for their contribution and to Monica Schmidt for your advisory, knowledge, assistance, and forward in furthering of this section. And to those anonymous Brettians, whom the editor inquired their trusted advice (you know who you are), thank you.

If any Brettian wishes to contribute more ideas and/or concepts in the further construction of this section, please do! Consult the editor and she will consider all the concepts to her notice. Upward and onward.

Last on 02 October 2000

May the card be with you, always...
Design and Layout of Image Š2000 Rachael Patton

I was very touched when a dear friend and correspondent, Racheal Patton, showed me her lastest work in about January 2000. Inspired by this modest section of pawky humour, Ms Patton created her own version of it and has kindly allowed me to link it to this section! "Aside from being a Sherlockian and Brettian," begins Ms Patton. "I am a huge fan of Star Wars. This is a Sherlock Holmes card made to resemble the popular Star Wars Customizable Game Cards. I collect the cards and have about 600. Like Brettish Sherlockian, I like to display my 'pawky' sense of humor sometimes." Ms Patton is also webmaster of "A Monument to Jeremy Brett", more of her Brettish artwork can seen in Artistry section. The caption reads [very cutely, I might add] as the following: "His superior, highly sophisticated intellect is unmatched in all England. Formerly a pugilist. Quick and agile detective. / Deploys in England. Power +1 when Dr Watson is present. Irene Adler and Moriarty power -1 at the same site."

I personally found the "pugilist" and the Union Jack flag on the left corner as very cute! The Waston power-up is a touching dedication, and the "Irene Adler and Moriarty" simply funny. Unfortunately, Ms Patton does not have a "Dr Watson" card as of yet, but I am anxious to see one or any more Sherlockian SW cards like this done when she has the time. As highly unlikely as it is, it is amusing to imagine a Victorian gentleman carrying a light-sabre and having conversations with a furry, 7-foot-tall alien! Nevertheless, Ms Patton has a created a loving spoof-tribute to Jeremy. You must play your cards as best you can when such a stake is on the table...(CHAS)"

Think first. Think more. Think different.^TM
Photograph by Keith Harding, through contribution by Mia Stampe
Design and Layout of Image Š2000 Diane N. Tran

From Apple Computers, the "Think Different" posters have become very popular since its production around 1997. Yet how much of Sherlock Holmes is it? Of course, one could also question, how much of Jeremy Brett is it? Their ideas and methods criticised, sometimes with great public and/or media hostility. They advocated for their ideals ardently, if odds be criminal antagonists, or a growing production studio, or society itself. Their minds were creative, enchanting, rebellious, complex, and moody, if prehaps a little mad. And yet their strength and competence induced and touched those of millions. How did they think? Differently. Genuinely. Passionately.

This rare, uncommon photograph was originally taken by Keith Harding from the highly acclaimed play, The Secret of Sherlock Holmes. A slight hue-violet saturation with the familiar logo added upon the corner image. Originally with eight roughs, deciding on a single one out of the eight images became a challenge to the editor. By that, she sought the trusted advice of selected Brettians for a decisive vote. (Many thank yous, you know who you are!) The final vote came to unique meditative poise, Holmes is complete and utter thought. To quote the commerical:

"Here's to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They're not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify them, or vilify them. About the only thing you can't do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human race forward. And while some see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do..."

Name's Brett...
Design and Layout of Image Š1999 Monica Schmidt and Diane N. Tran

"Name's Brett... Jeremy Brett." Well, actually, it could have been. Around 1971, Sean Connery announced to call it quits the role of Ian Fleming's spy-hero, James Bond; due to this, a worldwide search for the next Bond actor was underway. Among the many dashing Englishmen who tested for the part, Jeremy Brett was seriously considered for the role. However, he obviously did not get the role, Roger Moore did in the 1973 Bond film, Live and Let Die. He later confessed in an interview, "It's the sort of role you cannot afford to turn down, but I think if I had got it, it would have spoiled me." Perhaps so, nonetheless, if Jeremy Brett had gotten the role of Bond, the world most likely would never had seen him as Sherlock Holmes. Though the editor is not at all a Bond-fan, she was unable to resist creating this it-could-have-been image! The original image was actually a Holmes portrait taken around 1986. The original lavender backscreen is covered with the very "Bondish" gun-barrel background; subject are carefully retouched and retouched again; additional images were added for finalised details, such as the Walther PKK pistol, pinned rose, and bowtie to create this tribute-spoof.

With a partnership of her good Sherlockian/Brettish friend and correspondent (this creation would not have been possible without her), Monica Schmidt, an expert on the character (both of books and films), she and the editor is pleased to present an exclusive card #013 of James Bond Special Test Audition Trading Card Gold Series, or one could simply call it (as Ms Schmidt wittingly suggested): JB versus JB.

Got milk, Holmes? Got milk, Watson?
Design and Layout of Image Š1999 Diane N. Tran

Got milk?^Ž The Milk Ads, created by the National Fluid Milk Processor Board, started back about as early as Feburary 1995, becoming one of the most admired advertisements in magazines and are quite popular as collector items. It is not for the editor to propose that Holmes and Watson would actually publicly parade around with milk stains on their lips, but the Canon never denies that they never drank milk; thus the possibility that Mrs Hudson may have found this act rather "singular"? The original photograph was taken roughly in 1986; it was a specially posed portrait of Jeremy Brett and Edward Hardwicke for an American promotion of The Return of Sherlock Holmes series for MYSTERY!, yet the editor found it absolutely perfect for use in this endearing tribute-spoof. The original lavender backscreen is completely whiten; subjects are carefully retouched; and the text are formatted, re-lined, and retouched to create this tribute-spoof. Yet it was the difficulty in creating a mustache upon a mustache for Edward Hardwicke that made the process tedious. Nevertheless, the result is quite excellent.

The caption reads: "If we got clues, they got milk. I've come to realised, Holmes, the most curious inferences of milk has had in connection in our past criminal cases. Saucers of milk and speckled bands [SPEC]. Milkmen dropping pails over veiled lodgers [VEIL]. Mixing pills with milk to test your theory of poison [STUD]. And so on. / That mixture killed an innocent terrier as I recall, Watson. It's quite circumstantial! As I said to you before, through Thoreau's example, that circumstantial evidence is very convincing on occasions like finding a trout in the milk [NOBL]. WHA-HEY! There's another one for you, Watson! / got milk?"

The caption would be unfamiliar to the non-Sherlockian, yet the editor desired to avoid the Holmesian stereotypes, such as "elementary [CROO]" and "the game's afoot [ABBE]". Of course, this ad could also be re-titled: Mrs Hudson's Milky-Men... Well, perhaps not.

READ: Jeremy Brett for Literacy in the Libraries of America
Design and Layout of Image Š1999 Diane N. Tran

ALA Graphics (of the American Library Association) creates the popular Celebrity READ posters, which among the most recognisable images in the libraries and/or bookstores in North America. The READ stars donate their time to the ALA Graphics literacy project and to pose with a selection their own book of choice -- childhood favorites or those that have influenced their lives. With the aid of modern technology, the editor was able to create a modest tribute to Jeremy inspired by these 22-by-34 posters, the caption proposing "READ / Jeremy Brett for Literacy in the Libraries of America". Though perhaps it would make more likely for Jeremy to pose for The Library Association (of UK), however the organisation, to the the editor's knowledge, does not promote advertisements as this. The original photograph was taken in 1983, during the construction of the Granada Baker Street set. Jeremy obverses the creation of Baker Street as he holds in his own copy of Conan Doyle's The Illustrated Sherlock Holmes Treasury, which since he kept in his close to his possession for over the next 10 years. "I am an omnivorous reader with a strangely retentive memory for trifles...(LION)"