#german remake

There's an excellent comparison of BBC's 1964 "The Speckled Band" with WDR's 1967 "Das gefleckte Band" in Joseph P. Willis (2019): Threatened Masculinity from British Fiction to Cold War German Cinema.

Basically, how Paul May (1967) fixed ACD (1892) as well as BBC adaptation (1964). The biggest differences are: (leit)motif usage, mise en scène, the characterization of Helen Stoner, Dr. Roylott and Percy Armitage, and most importantly, Sherlock Holmes and John Watson and their relationship.

1. Leitmotif: luck

Which is neither in the BBC nor in the original short story, alas in the German remake its vital: most evident in the horseshoe that happened to be a poker. Sherlock Holmes might be a genius and a brilliant detective, however, he needs luck like all human beings from time to time. As Watson states, "Lots of luck for all of us!"

The "speckled band" is in the title, yet sorely underused as a red herring in original and British adaptation. Here, the "gypsy" gets screentime. Alas, here even more prominent regarding cultural bias. Schellow Holmes' is taking no rascism, "obvious".

2. Mise en scène

In the German production it's a 221b set that's a castle. Weaponery on display as if it's a museum. You should act with reason and kindness, not with foolish tools (or a guillotine blade!).

Julia Stoner's room is so much closer to canon than the BBC adaptation. The deduction about Reyclott's plot as well. If you're a purist, this German production is your show of choice.

3. The characterization of minor characters

Basically, they make more sense in the remake. Here, it's not isolated woman as damsel in distress. It's not Roylott pure evil because we said so; here, the flashback are woven into Helen's account - show, don't tell at its finest. Further, this crime solving duo actually inquires about the events, sure, Watson might switch places from time to time, but - at last - the focus is on the unfortunate sisters.

A big change is one of the previous victims of Roylott: BBC it's a "servant", here, it's a POC. Thus, the British version makes it merly a crime against a colonial of a socio-economic class, while the German remake adds racial elements and adresses them.

The German version makes it very clear that Sherlock Holmes and John Watson are independent investigators. It's an insult to be associated with Scotland Yard. They don't consult for the police, hell, the offical forces should be glad if they are willing to share their insight with them.

4. Holmes and Watson, akaan equal (!) partnership

There's an extended scene that's neither in the original nor in the BBC adaptation. It shows the heart of this so called remake: a hat of Watson's patients has found its way to 221b, and while there's a possible case with a possible murder (and a threat of another young woman dead soon) aka clients waiting, announced by Mrs Hudson --- Sherlock Holmes doesn't give a fig about it. John Watson is the most important, the rest can wait!

Watson is the partner of and to Holmes.

They are both thinking about the case, Holmes is never belittling or patronizing him, and Watson is an expert in his own agenda (and let it be tea).

In the BBC version Holmes discovers bruises on Helen's wrists,- here, she has her fiancé and Holmes has is dear Watson.

There's another extra scene in which both (!) men are almost waltzing through 221b, pondering about the case and smoking similiar pipes, totally in sync.

"Which one of you is Holmes?" - "The one without the weapon."

This Watson doesn't needed to be handed a revolver by Holmes but presents it proudly [which doesn't mean that hand-holding and gun!kink isn't a thing btw]

Roth!Watson has an umbrella with a secret vessel for Whiskey.

"If I can be of assistance" (BBC) >>> "Then I'm defintely coming along." (WDR)

While waiting in the inn, Stock!Watson is eating and drinking, barely paying attention to Holmes' deductions. Roth!Holmes does no such thing: he's no Nigel Bruce incarnation, this Watson his a partner.

Overall, this is a parntership that's center stage. And if Watson as the narrator hasn't much action in canon? Then HELL NO to a bumbling idiot. While this Holmes is shown more in action, the camera shows (!) his deductions, drawns out the final encounter with the snake, and yet, shows the most human Holmes possible.

[6. Unnentioned but a huge difference to BBC (1964) as well: a fully fleshed out Mrs Hudson who is sassy as f*ck. When she brings in the hat of Watson's patient, announcing that she has brushed it recently. Holmes replied that she has a late career in crime (because she's destroying evidence), to which she retorts: And you, Mr Holmes, would never caught me.]