We are all familiar with the enormous success of the Harry Potter series of books and films and promotional materials. And we know that J.K. Rowling is one of the world's richest women for having created such a fascinating character. But did she?
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, the first book, appeared in 1997. But 12 years before in 1985, there was an amazingly similar character in the Paramount film
Young Sherlock Holmes. This adventurous movie took place in settings remarkably like those in Harry Potter, the characters were as odd and magical, and the young Watson with his round-framed glasses did not look unlike Harry himself. But I asked myself if Rowling borrowed so heavily from
Young Sherlock Holmes, as I felt she did, why wasn't she sued by the author: filmmaker Christopher Columbus. The answer, I later decided, was that a lawsuit was too much sturm and drang, especially when Columbus could profit more by being involved in the series. Was it a coincidence that Columbus, of all possible choices, directed the first two Harry Potter films, and then after being "burned out" became a producer of the series? I think not. That was probably the arrangement they came to. Of course Ms. Rowling went on to write many more books in the series, and the films continued to made a fortune. But I contend that Harry Potter evolved from
Young Sherlock Holmes and that Christopher Columbus and J.K. Rowling made a pact to not publicize such a "coincidence" since it was so mutually beneficial.
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