Young Sherlock Holmes: The Riddle’s Solved

Less known to the general public, Bruce Broughton composed a memorable, Grammynominated score for Young Sherlock Holmes (1985), well summarized by the end credits (“The Riddle’s Solved”). The screenplay by Chris Columbus (who would later direct the first Harry Potter films) tells how Watson meets Holmes at school. The master of deduction quickly leads his new friend to unravel a series of murders by poisoned darts, taking them on the trail of an Egyptian cult in the heart of London. The parallels between this first outlandish adventure of young Sherlock and the exploits of Hogwarts’ famous wizard are striking, and it’s no surprise that their music shares the same spirit: lively, sparkling themes wrapped in dazzling orchestrations.