Product Details

• Actors: Jeremy Brett
• Format: Color, HiFi Sound, NTSC
• Language: English
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: MPI Home Video
• VHS Release Date: December 15, 1994
• Run Time: 50 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6301480422
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #319,221 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

A young solicitor, McFarlane (Matthew Solon), comes to Sherlock Holmes (Jeremy Brett) begging for help just before being arrested by the sturdy if obtuse Inspector Lestrade (Colin Jeavins) of Scotland Yard. McFarlane is accused of killing a man who not only asked the attorney to draw up his will, but then left all of his possessions to McFarlane in the document. Add to this obvious motive for murder plenty of physical evidence linking the unhappy suspect to the awful crime--including a bloody thumbprint at the scene--and Holmes and his ally, Dr. Watson (David Burke), have their work cut out for them. The ingenious solution to the puzzle is only one of the exciting highlights in this episode of the long-running Granada Television series, featuring the usual sterling work by stars Brett and Burke and a sound character interpretation of the limited Lestrade by Jeavins. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very Clever Entry, May 2, 2000

By 

Michael B. Bruneio (Macungie, PA.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - The Norwood Builder [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Holmes takes on the case of a young solicitor accused of arson and murder. He enters the case with his work cut out for him, as the circumstantial evidence against the young lawyer is very strong, and the motive an excellent one. Holmes must prove his client innocent in the face of mounting evidence as he matches wits with the stubborn and un-creative Inspector Lestrade. In this installment of Holmes mysteries, the late, lamented Jeremy Brett shows the melancholy side of Holmes as the case turns against him. Colin Jeavons is excellent as Lestrade, but the character of MacFarland seems much too unconcerned about his fate to be effective; a little more emotion and indignation would have helped a considerable amount. The unravelling of the mystery is both ingenious and funny, as Holmes outwits Scotland Yard, saves his client, and comes face to face with "a very deep, vindictive, and malicious" culprit. A worthy effort.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Jeremy Brett's Holmes: 8th Wonder of the World!, October 7, 1999

By 

Steven L. Shoup (New York City) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - The Norwood Builder [VHS] (VHS Tape)

To be able to sustain the high level of quality and value that this Holmes series does, is a breath-taking accomplishment by itself. And this episode is another drop in the bucket of examples, book-ended by Brett's truly masterful portrayal of the legendary Holmes. Colin Jeavons joins in with his recurring characterization of Inspector Lestrade, self-important, mousey and patronizingly dismissive of his intellectual superior, Holmes. As with Conan Doyle's short story, this is a maze of mystery and deceit. But even Watson takes on an added allure as he suggests to Holmes a review of bank papers, which Holmes hadn't even considered and the result drops another conclusion into Sherlock's deductive reasoning. Good old Watson! (and a splendid job by Burke). Brett shows us another glimpse into Holmes benign contempt of the official police force with his rallying them into a chorus of "Fire!" ("gentlemen, we can do better than that") and again the master dons a disguise that is unexpected and fascinating (both for Sherlock and Jeremy Brett). It is especially fun to watch Brett's Holmes subtly shift his demeanor as he sees the light at the end of the tunnel and knows he can throw it in the face of Lestrade. Kudos all the way around for this excellent episode . . . and a series so well made that you will want to rush out and read the original stories!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Norwood Builder, March 16, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - The Norwood Builder [VHS] (VHS Tape)

The "Norwood Builder" is a top-rate adventure of Sherlock Holmes. It is one of my favourite adventures. It has a light feel to it (unlike the ones with darker story-lines, such as the "Red Circle"). The episode is best watched over lunch. The story-line is actually quite simple. Sherlock Holmes must prove that John Hector MacFarlane did not commit the murder of the "Norwood Builder." This is a must for anyone who even remotely enjoys Sherlock Holmes.