Holmes & Watson (2018)

Movie poster of Holmes and Watson (Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly). Both staring into the camera in front of a horse wearing period suits. John is wearing a hat.

Sherlock Holmes (Will Ferrell) and Watson (John C. Reilly) ©Columbia Pictures

Writer: Etan Cohen​
Director: ​Etan Cohen
Starring: ​Will Ferrell​, ​John C. Reilly​, Ralph Fiennes
Production Company​: Columbia Pictures Corporation, Gary Sanchez Productions, Mosaic Media Group, Mimran Schur Pictures
Kent Locations Used​: The Historic Dockyard Chatham

Holmes & Watson (2018) is a comedic revision of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s classic mysteries and his famed literary characters, detective Sherlock Holmes (Will Ferrell​) and his sidekick, Dr John Watson (John C. Reilly​). The pair join forces to investigate a murder at Buckingham Palace and learn that they have just four days to stop their arch enemy, Professor Moriarty (​Ralph Fiennes)​, or the queen will become his next victim.

The film was written and directed by Etan Cohen (Men in Black 3, Tropic Thunder), and stars Will Ferrell(Anchorman,​ Zoolander​), ​John C. Reilly​ (Step Brothers,Guardians of the Galaxy) and ​Ralph Fiennes​ (The Grand Budapest Hotel​, ​Schindler’s List).

Holmes & Watson​ features several locations around ​The Historic Dockyard Chatham​. The interior of the Tarred Yarn Store was transformed into a bar tavern, the interior of the Ropery played the role of a Boxing Club, while the streets around the Ropery and Anchor Wharf stood in as London streets and docks. Some external scenes were also filmed around Officers Terrace.

The Historic Dockyard Chatham​ has been used in an array of productions such as Mr. Holmes (2015), Partners in Crime (2015), and The Suspicions of Mr Whicher (2014).

Holmes & Watson​ will be released in UK cinemas on Wednesday 26​th​ December 2018.

For more information about Kent’s Filming History please visit our Movie Map. 


Sherlock Holmes (2009)

Sherlock Holmes Poster- Sherlock holmes staring at the camera with his hands in his pockets, smokey london skyline can be seen behind. HOLMES reads across the middle

Sherlock Holmes Poster

The Victorian Sleuth returns to our screens in an all action film

Director: Guy Richie

Writer: Simon Kinberg, Anthony Peckham

Starring: Robert Downey Jr, Jude Law, Rachel McAdams, Mark Strong, Eddie Marsan and Kelly Reilly

Production Company: Silver Pictures, Village Roadshow Pictures, Wigram Productions

Kent Filming Locations: The Historic Dockyard Chatham

Boxing day 2009 saw the release of the new Sherlock Holmes movie directed by British filmmaker Guy Ritchie. Fans expecting a classic ‘Sherlock’ adaptation complete with smoking pipe and deerstalker hat will be disappointed. This interpretation of Holmes is fast paced and action filled, taking its cue from modern graphic novels.

Based on an unpublished comic book by Lionel Wigram, the film features

Arthur Conan Doyle’s legendary characters Sherlock Holmes (Robert Downey Jr) and Dr Watson (Jude Law). Set in 1891, the film sees Holmes and Watson trying to stop Lord Blackwood’s (Mark Strong) conspiracy to destroy Britain. To thwart this deadly plot, Sherlock’s brilliance and intellect are called upon alongside some newly acquired skills:bare knuckle and sword fighting.

Directed by Guy Ritchie (Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, Snatch) written by Simon Kinberg (Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Jumper) and Anthony Peckham (Don’t Say A Word, Invictus) and starring Robert Downey Jr (Zodiac, Iron Man) and Jude Law (Cold Mountain, Alfie). Rachel McAdams (Mean Girls, The Notebook), Mark Strong (Body of Lies, The Young Victoria), Eddie Marsan (V for Vendetta, Happy-Go-Lucky) and Kelly Reilly (Pride & Prejudice, Me and Orson Welles.

Ritchie and the all star cast came to The Historic Dockyard Chatham to film parts of the movie. The Historic Dockyard Chatham proved to be an ideal location with its cobbled streets, industrial buildings and authentic Victorian architecture. If you watch carefully you will notice the following locations.

  • Punchbowl Pub interior: fight scene
  • Punch Bowl pub exterior: various characters entering the pub
  • Main Gate (the seal): entering the prison to see Blackwood
  • Hemp House 3: Hanging of Lord Blackwood
  • Ropery courtyard: Prison exterior scene with Holmes and Watson locked up in the prison yard
  • Chain and Cable shed: chase scene with hansom cabs before the slip 7 scene where the ship enters the Thames
  • Slip 7: The fight with Dredger around the ship in slip 7
 

Behind the scenes image of the shipyard at Ship 7 at The Historic Dockyard Chatham

Behind the scenes image of the shipyard at Ship 7 at The Historic Dockyard Chatham © The Historic Dockyard Chatham

 

Behind the scenes image of the exterior of the Punch Bowl Pub at The Historic Dockyard Chatham at the bottom of a cobbled street

Behind the scenes image of the exterior of the Punch Bowl Pub at The Historic Dockyard Chatham © The Historic Dockyard Chatham

The Historic Dockyard Chatham remains a top Kent filming location due to its unblemished historical surroundings, authentic backdrops, cobbled streets and Georgian and Victorian architecture. It has previously been used in productions such as BBC’s Oliver Twist (2007), The Golden Compass (2007) and Vanity Fair (2005).

Sherlock Holmes was released in cinemas on December 2009 and is now available to buy on DVD.

For more information about Kent’s Filming History please visit our Movie Map. 


Young Sherlock Holmes (1986)

Young Sherlock Holmes written in white with three cast members stood in a row underneath.

YOUNG SHERLOCK HOLMES
Available on DVD or Digital Download

 

Director: Barry Levinson

Writer: Arthur Conan Doyle, Chris Columbus

Starring: Nicolas Rowe, Alan Cox, Sophie Ward, Anthony Higgins

Production Company: Amblin Entertainment, Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), Paramount Pictures

Kent locations used: Penshurst Place

Young Sherlock Holmes is a new take on the classic tales of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, in which we see the famous Sherlock Holmes first meet his trusty companion Watson at boarding school where they work together to solve a series of puzzling murders plaguing London.

Directed by Barry Levinson (Rain Man, Toys) and written by Chris Columbus (Gremlins, The Goonies), the film stars Nicolas Rowe (Da Vinci’s Demons), Alan Cox (The Dictator), Sophie Ward (Jane Eyre) and Anthony Higgins (Raiders of the Lost Ark).

The film included the first fully computer-animated character and was nominated for Best Effects, Visual Effects at the Oscars.

The historic Barons Hall in Penshurst Place served as the Brompton School gym for the scenes where Holmes (Nicholas Rowe) fences with Professor Rathe (Anthony Higgins).

Penshurst Place is a 14th century building known for its historical significance and architectural beauty. Its medieval design has made it a popular location for a number of film and television shows including The Other Boleyn Girl (2008), Merlin (2008) and The Princess Bride (1987).

Young Sherlock Holmes was released in cinemas in 1985 and is now available to buy on DVD.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wwkx6d6_AI

 

For more information about Kent’s Filming History please visit our Movie Map.