Did you deduce correctly? Of course, the answer is elementary, dear reader. The only alternative Sherlock Holmes adaptation to beat all the others on our list is simply Sherlock Holmes as a mouse. Disney's Basil the Great Mouse Detective is a charming animated film which sees the spotlight turned on the mouse who lives below Holmes - at 22 1/2 Baker Street - but has equally thrilling adventures. Here, the affable Dr Dawson helps the eccentric yet brilliant Basil thwart a plot to kidnap Queen Mousetoria by the despicable Professor Rattigan, the film's version of Moriarty played with relish by horror star Vincent Price. The Great Mouse Detective gets the top spot on this list because it's an original adaptation of Sherlock Holmes and is also enjoyable viewing in its own right. Likewise, it's one of the few adaptations, alternative or straight in nature, to capture the friendship of Holmes and Watson albeit as mice. The relative success of the film is even thought to be responsible for Disney's rediscovering its faith in its animation department they were thinking of shutting it down that eventually led to the famed Disney Renaissance of the 1990s. Hooray for Basil! With such eyebrow-raising adaptations of Sherlock Holmes around, its a surprise that people were so worried about the idea of Sherlock when it was first announced. Clearly, Sherlock Holmes, his trusted assistant Dr Watson and his eternal nemesis Professor Moriarty can survive in any time period and in any form be it the 19th, 21st or 22nd centuries, and as a fool or a dog or a rodent. After all these reinventions of the character, it begs the question of what's next for Sherlock Holmes? As this list shows, anything is possible. And as Holmes himself very nearly said, when you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, will probably be made into a Sherlock Holmes adaptation. Have I missed a vital piece of evidence in my compiling of this article? Or do all the clues fit together? Have your say below!
