Cracking the Code: A Challenging Crossword Clue & Sherlock Holmes
Greetings, fellow crossword enthusiasts! Today’s blog post tackles a particularly fiendish clue that’s sent solvers scrambling for their magnifying glasses (and perhaps a cup of strong coffee). This one stumped me for a while, and I suspect it’s doing the same to many of you. The clue itself is deceptively simple, yet its elegant construction masks a surprisingly tricky answer. Let’s dive in!
The clue, found in this week’s particularly challenging “Cryptic Conundrums” crossword, reads:
“Guinness’s second-most-portrayed literary character in film, after Dracula“
This clue plays on several levels. Firstly, it immediately points us towards the world of literature and cinema. Secondly, the reference to Guinness is less obvious. It’s not referring to the beverage, but rather a record of sorts – something Guinness World Records might track. This immediately narrows down our search considerably. We need to think about popular literary characters, their frequency of cinematic adaptation, and, crucially, their ranking relative to one another.
The mention of Dracula as the
most
frequently portrayed character on screen is a vital piece of information. It acts as a benchmark, a known quantity against which we can measure the answer. Thinking about famous literary characters adapted for film, a few names might spring to mind: Sherlock Holmes, James Bond, perhaps even Don Quixote. But we need the one that sits comfortably in second place behind the eternally popular Count Dracula.
Consider the sheer volume of Sherlock Holmes films and television series produced throughout cinematic history. From Basil Rathbone’s classic portrayals to the modern interpretations of Robert Downey Jr., the character has enjoyed a remarkable and enduring presence on the silver screen. The sheer number of adaptations, spanning decades and various cinematic styles, must be significant.
The clue tests not just our knowledge of film adaptations, but also our understanding of how these adaptations are documented and measured. It’s a clever and multifaceted clue, requiring a blend of literary knowledge and a grasp of cultural statistics. While the answer might seem obvious once revealed, arriving at it independently requires a certain level of lateral thinking.
So, crossword champions, have you cracked this perplexing puzzle? Let me know your thoughts and any strategies you used in the comments section below. I’m eager to see what methods you employed to navigate this literary and cinematic labyrinth. Remember, even the most challenging clues can be conquered with careful consideration and a touch of deductive reasoning! Good luck!
Available Answers:
SHERLOCK HOLMES.
Last seen on the crossword puzzle: NY Times Crossword 28 Dec 24, Saturday