The Doctor's Case
This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. (October 2020) |
"The Doctor's Case" | |
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Short story by Stephen King | |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Genre(s) | Mystery |
Publication | |
Published in | The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1st release) Nightmares & Dreamscapes |
Publication type | Anthology |
Media type | Print (Paperback) |
Publication date | 1987 |
"The Doctor's Case" is a short story by American author Stephen King, originally published in The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, a 1987 centennial collection, and reprinted in his collection Nightmares & Dreamscapes.
This story is King's foray into Sherlockiana, a non-canonical Sherlock Holmes story, using Arthur Conan Doyle's characters. Like his story "Crouch End", inspired by H. P. Lovecraft's Cthulhu Mythos, "The Doctor's Case" is an example of a pastiche.
Plot summary
Holmes is eager to solve this mystery but is
As Watson explains his insights, he slowly comes to the realization that Jory could not have executed the murder on his own and that, at the very least, everyone in the family knew of it and was lying for him. Holmes, who had already reached that conclusion while listening to Watson's narrative, gently chides him for his inability to understand the depths of human depravity. Watson also realizes that Holmes had understood everything not long from the beginning of Watson's story, yet deliberately kept his silence, letting Watson have his moment in the sun; rather than resenting his thunder being stolen, Holmes was genuinely impressed with the "deductive light" Watson demonstrated.
Holmes and Lestrade discuss the various sentences that the Hulls will receive if the case is brought before court; Jory is guaranteed an execution, whilst the other two sons would be jailed for life and the wife jailed for some time in a women's prison. They eventually decide that the world is, perhaps, better off without Hull in it and thus conspire to conceal the truth of what has occurred. Holmes and Watson collect the painting and the shadows, while Lestrade unlocks one of the windows in the room; they leave and inform the waiting police that Hull was murdered in an attempted break-in.
Film adaptation
An independent Canadian film adaptation of The Doctor's Case was produced in mid-2018, adapted and directed by James Douglas.[1] Michael Coleman played Watson, whilst J.P. Winslow was cast as Holmes. The X-Files star William B. Davis played an older Watson.
In February 2023, a new short film adaptation was announced, from
References
- Sault Star.
- ^ Ravindran, Manori (7 February 2023). "'Aladdin' Star Mena Massoud's First Slate for Press Play Productions Includes Stephen King Farsi-Language Adaptation (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety.
- ^ Echebiri, Makuochi (7 February 2023). "Mena Massoud to Produce First Ever Foreign Language Stephen King Adaptation". Collider.