Sherlock Holmes: The Case of the Vanishing Elephant (Original Air Date: 10/08/1945)

Podcast: Choice Classic Radio Detectives | Old Time Radio

Episode Date: December 11, 2025
Cast:

• Sherlock Holmes: Basil Rathbone
• Dr. Watson: Nigel Bruce
• Host: Harry Bartell

Episode Overview

This classic Sherlock Holmes radio adventure whisks listeners away from the misty streets of London to the exotic splendor of colonial India. Holmes and Watson, responding to a mysterious summons from the Maharaja of Parbudipur, become embroiled in a baffling case involving a vanishing sacred white elephant—a mystical symbol upon which the fate of the Indian kingdom is believed to rest. The tale is woven with legend, political intrigue, murder, and Holmes’ signature deductive prowess.

Key Discussion Points & Plot Breakdown

Setting Up the Mystery (03:07–06:59)

• Holmes and Watson Journey to India: Holmes receives an urgent summons from the Maharaja of Parbudipur. After weeks of travel, they arrive in India and are received by Rabat Singh, the Maharaja’s brother.
• The Legend of the White Elephant: Rabat Singh explains the kingdom’s legend: the Maharaja’s reign is only secure as long as the sacred white elephant lives. Should the elephant perish, the ruler is fated to die violently soon after.
  • “The legend that the Maharaja’s rule would be happy, healthy, and successful only as long as the elephant flourished. If the animal were to die, then the reign would come to an end and the Maharaja was doomed to a sudden death.” (04:36, C: Rabat Singh)
• Suspicions: The discussion lingers on the history of the legend, the periodic appearance of a “wise man” with a new elephant, and the potential motives of royal succession.

The Palace & First Clues (07:26–13:09)

• Opulent Setting: Holmes and Watson are impressed by the extravagant palace, but soon enough, tension arises when Madha, the royal physician, tries to prevent them from meeting the Maharaja (08:33, E: Madha).
• Medical Mystery: The Maharaja suffers from severe eye pain. Watson diagnoses it as conjunctivitis and administers eye drops, which relieves the Maharaja. However, suspicions linger regarding Madha’s intent and care.

The Disappearance Unveiled (13:32–16:31)

• Visit to the Elephant House: Holmes and Watson, using a royal ring for access, attempt to examine the elephant. Instead, they discover the white elephant has vanished inexplicably.
  • “A white elephant has disappeared, Watson.” (14:24, D: Holmes)
• Death of the Maharaja: Upon returning, they learn the Maharaja has suddenly died after hearing of the elephant’s disappearance—fulfilling the dreadful prophecy.

The Investigation Deepens (18:20–19:04)

• No Visible Poison: Watson examines the Maharaja’s body but finds no clear sign of foul play.
  • “Looks like natural death to me, Holmes... No traces of poison? None that I could see. Of course, it's hard to be certain without an autopsy.” (18:35, 18:38, B: Watson)

A Second Murder & the Elephant Keeper’s Secret (19:30–20:46)

• Keeper Killed: Holmes and Watson search for the keeper, Sucro, but instead find his body with a cut throat. Holmes observes musical instruments and a megaphone-like device that mimics an elephant’s trumpet.
  • “Great Scott. The instrument sounds exactly like... like an elephant trumpeting.” (20:42, B: Watson)

The Truth Revealed (21:03–23:55)

• Holmes Solves the Mystery: The white elephant had died months prior, and the knowledge was concealed. Its “trumpeting” was faked using instruments. The death of the Maharaja and the elephant keeper are both murders—carefully planned to preserve and then seize succession.
  • “The elephant did not vanish today. The beast must have died a natural death months ago. All that happened today was that I discovered its absence.” (21:19, D: Holmes)
• A Western Poison: Holmes explains the Maharaja was killed by hyocyamine, a newly discovered Western poison, cleverly administered through infected eye drops.
  • “Delirium followed by a strangulated breathing is highly typical of the newly discovered poison, hyocyamine.” (22:51, D: Holmes)
  • “The poison penetrates with unusual ease through the membranes of the eyes, if you will recall.” (23:23, D: Holmes)

Justice and Aftermath (24:17–27:10)

• Confrontation with Rabat Singh: Holmes accuses the freshly crowned Maharaja, Rabat Singh, of orchestrating the murders. Singh, the absolute ruler, taunts Holmes and evades legal consequences due to his station.

  • “Of course, sir. You realize that I am now the maharaja, the king of kings, an absolute ruler with all power, including that of the police. Do you care to denounce the murderer to me?” (24:17, C: Rabat Singh)

• A Promise of Vengeance: Holmes and the palace physician, Madha, plot to gather evidence and enact justice—perhaps by assisting in another fateful “coincidence.”

  • “In a few weeks, the new maharaja will be enthroned... Perhaps a elephant that will not live very long.” (26:15–26:41, D: Holmes/E: Madha)

• The Prophecy Fulfilled Again: Watson reveals, in a coda, that the new white elephant quickly died after the new Maharaja’s coronation, followed by the Maharaja’s own violent death in an uprising.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Exotic Royalty:
  “This is a country of paradoxes, gracious me, where opulence beyond the dreams of Midas rub shoulders with the direst poverty.” (07:58, D: Holmes)

• On the Core of the Mystery:
  “Elephants don’t just disappear.” (14:26, B: Watson)
  “We heard the animal trumpeting here less than half an hour ago. How can an elephant be spirited away in that amount of time?” (14:42, B: Watson)

• Holmes Deduces the Scheme:
  “The elephant did not vanish today. The beast must have died a natural death months ago... the elephant horn was blown at suitable intervals to indicate that the sacred animal was still alive.” (21:19, 21:44, D: Holmes)

• Ultimate Irony & Justice:
  “...the new white elephant... died the day after the new maharajah’s enthronement. And that scoundrel was himself killed in an uprising that occurred just a few days later.” (27:16, B: Watson)

Important Timestamps

• Indian Legend Explained: (03:40–06:01)
• Meeting the Maharaja: (09:56–12:29)
• Elephant House—Discovery: (13:32–14:24)
• Maharaja’s Death: (15:53–16:31)
• Keeper’s Murder & Trumpeting Device: (19:30–20:46)
• Holmes’ Solution: (21:07–24:17)
• Moral Closure & Final Justice: (26:30–27:16)

Tone & Style

The episode embodies the adventurous and exotic flair of mid-20th-century radio detective serials, with Watson’s genial asides and Holmes’ incisive, cool logic. Dialogue is formal yet conversational, peppered with imperial intrigue and a sense of wonder at the foreign setting. The interplay between Holmes and Watson—Holmes’ clarity and Watson’s relatable perplexity—remains a highlight.

Conclusion

In "The Case of the Vanishing Elephant," Sherlock Holmes confronts not just a baffling disappearance but the weight of legend and royal intrigue—ultimately exposing murder, deception, and political ambition. The story’s resolution, marked by both Holmes’ scientific reasoning and the inexorable logic of prophecy and vengeance, gives listeners a thrilling blend of crime-solving and exotic mystery straight from the Golden Age of Radio.