In Conan Doyle's detective stories, Inspector Lestrade plays a key role, personifying the UK law enforcement system. In only one of the stories did the writer replace his person with Alec MacDonald.
Classics of the genre
From chapter to chapter the policeman is overgrown with more and more epithets. So, in “A Study in Scarlet”, the author describes him as a man of thin physique, short stature with an unhealthy complexion. Moreover, he compares the employee with a city rat flashing black bead eyes. Inspector Lestrade later appears before readers in the form of an anxious person resembling a frightened ferret.
As for the policeman himself, he considers himself a true professional in his field and an expert on the criminal world. In other words, a seasoned warrior. At the very beginning of the story of the adventures of the great detective, he makes pathetic attempts to poke fun at the personality of Sherlock Holmes, questioning his methods of conducting investigations.
Later, Inspector Lestrade was forced to admit the detective and his outstanding mind were right. Conan Doyle often draws attention to the fact that in the hands of the police chief are concentrated all the "strings" leading to a solution, but again and again he is unable to solve another case. This moment is most vividly demonstrated in the story Noble Bachelor.
Soviet cinema
The film “The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson” has been shot for several years. The first telenovela series was published in 1980. Inspector Lestrade was played by Borislav Brondukov. According to the scenario, this character had a pronounced cheerful and funny character.
Finding a suitable actor was not so easy. Most Soviet comedians were too Russian in character. The director also needed native English charisma. Only in the game of Brondukov harmoniously combined refined irony and deliberate stiffness.
The problem of pronunciation was solved by professional dubbing performed by Igor Efimov. He managed to convey the storm of emotions, which no-no, but captured the detective of Scotland Yard with the mere timbre of his voice. By the way, in the film he voiced not only this character, but also other participants in detective events.
Modern interpretation
In the BBC TV series Sherlock, Inspector Lestrade acquired a completely different look. From the first shots, he shows his respect to the detective in every way. The creators of the series abandoned the comic features that are traditionally attributed to the forensic scientist. That is why the role was entrusted to a serious and experienced performer, Englishman Rupert Graves.
From episode to episode, the detective turns to Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson for help. Unlike his prototype, he not only has the courage to swim against the tide, but also refuses to obey the representatives of the British government. Periodically, screenwriters allow Lestrade to pull an active detective sociopath out of a variety of troubles.
In the television version, Dr. Watson, Sherlock Holmes, Inspector Lestrade, although they are on opposite sides of the barricades, nevertheless act together, resembling one coordinated team. However, the employee’s way of thinking still annoys the king of deduction. Speaking about the marital status of the inspector, it should be clarified that he is divorced.
Rupert Graves on Lestrade
As expected, Lestrade was assigned a special role in the fourth season of the Sherlock Holmes epic. He ceased to be an ordinary cop, who now and then gets confused under the feet of a genius. He became a friend and faithful companion to a detective from Baker Street.
According to Rupert Graves, Sherlock never sought to assert himself at the expense of the cop. Holmes was too gifted to flaunt his intellect against the background of a rather mediocre person.
The actor believes that Lestrade never wanted to be like Sherlock. At the same time, the inspector was very jealous of the fact that a newcomer stranger does his job much better than he does.
In the series, Graves played not only the modern image of the detective, but also his Victorian version. According to Rupert, it was an unforgettable experience. After all, he had to realize not just Lestrade of the last century, but the way the consulting detective saw him.
Inside look
It is noteworthy that throughout the series, Sherlock Holmes could not remember what the name of Inspector Lestrade was. All the time he confused the name of the forensic scientist, which offended him indescribably.
The character shown to the audience turned out to be a successful combination of two persons from literary stories, who were called Lestrade and Gregson. Perhaps, this amazing fact is connected with this moment, that Sherlock, possessing a phenomenal memory, constantly distortes the name of the representative of Scotland Yard.
In the original story of Conan Doyle, the name of the inspector is not mentioned. The writer designated it only with the letter G. Nevertheless, in the famous film adaptation, Dr. Watson calls Lestrade Greg, which surprises Holmes indescribably.