The Christmas broadcast of "The Blue Carbuncle" (Dec. 23, 1968, completed on the 16th) brought this 16 episode season of Holmes adventures to a close, with the detective trying to avoid recovering the title object, a stolen gem belonging to Lady Morcar (Madge Ryan), until it practically falls in his lap after being swallowed by an edible goose: "it laid an egg after it was dead!" The holiday festivities feature prominently in the story, providing the motivation for the rather surprising denouement, which finds our fabled detective 'compounding a felony' for a good cause. As always, Peter Cushing is a delight, in his largest role in any of the surviving episodes; his performances hardly showed any signs of the hurried schedule rejected by previous Holmes Douglas Wilmer. Alas, he would go on to play the role only once more in the 1984 telefilm "The Masks of Death," opposite Sir John Mills (his co-star in 1954's "The End of the Affair") as a warm and serious Watson.

The crime genre features criminal activities, investigations, law enforcement, crimes, and the pursuit of justice. Crime stories often revolve around the planning, execution, and consequences of criminal acts, as well as the efforts to solve and prevent such acts. They explore various aspects of criminal behavior, motives, and the moral dilemmas faced by both perpetrators and those seeking to uphold the law.

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The drama genre is a broad category that features stories portraying human experiences, emotions, conflicts, and relationships in a realistic and emotionally impactful way. Dramas delve into the complexities of human life, often exploring themes of love, loss, morality, societal issues, personal growth, with the aim to evoke an emotional response from the audience by presenting relatable and thought-provoking stories.

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The history genre features recounting and analyzing past events, societies, cultures, and historical figures. This genre aims to provide insights into the development of civilizations, the causes and consequences of historical events, and the impact of individuals and ideas on the course of history.

The horror genre features stories that aim to elicit fear, suspense, and a sense of dread in its audience. Horror stories often explore themes related to the unknown, the supernatural, and the macabre, and they frequently evoke strong emotional reactions such as anxiety, terror, and unease.

The mystery genre features the investigation and solving of a puzzle, typically a crime or an enigmatic event. Mysteries are known for their suspenseful narratives, intricate plots, and the challenge they present to readers or viewers to piece together clues and solve the central mystery alongside the characters.

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After Holmes turns down the imperious Lady Morcar's demand that he help her locate a stolen priceless blue carbuncle, the gem turns up in a Christmas goose.

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Peter Cushing and Nigel Stock in The Sign of Four (1968)

Peter Cushing and Nigel Stock in Sherlock Holmes (1964)

James Beck and Diana Chappell in Sherlock Holmes (1964)

James Beck and Edna Doré in Sherlock Holmes (1964)

Peter Cushing and Grace Arnold in Sherlock Holmes (1964)

Clyde Pollitt and Nigel Stock in Sherlock Holmes (1964)

Neil Fitzpatrick in Sherlock Holmes (1964)

The Blue Carbuncle

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