Product Details

• Actors: Jeremy Brett, David Burke, Rosalie Williams, Eric Porter
• Producers: John Hawkesworth
• Format: Color, Dolby, DVD, Full Screen, HiFi Sound, NTSC
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 5.1)
• Subtitles: English, Spanish, French
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Mpi Home Video
• DVD Release Date: October 3, 2000
• Run Time: 210 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (66 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 0788602047
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #38,154 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - Vol. 1: (A Scandal in Bohemia/ The Dancing Men/ The Naval Treaty/ The Solitary Cyclist)" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

"A Scandal in Bohemia"
The very first Sherlock Holmes short story (following the detective's introduction in the novels A Study in Scarlet and The Sign of the Four) was also the first Granada Television production in the long-running Holmes series featuring Jeremy Brett's definitive performance as the famous sleuth. No deerstalker cap, cape, curved meerschaum pipe, or Basil Rathbone mannerisms for this Holmes: Brett's portrayal went straight to the heart of the character Sir Arthur Conan Doyle created, with all the manic-depressive, coldly clinical, drug-dependent, and unnervingly focused brilliance intact. Just as on-the-money is David Burke's Dr. John Watson, who is hardly the loyal puppy of widespread assumption but rather a dedicated ally and determined chronicler of the publicity-wary Holmes. "A Scandal in Bohemia," ironically, is one of the few instances of Holmes being bested by an equally intelligent adversary--an actress by the name of Irene Adler (Gayle Hunnicutt), who has threatened to reveal damaging evidence of her own affair with the king of Bohemia (Wolf Kahler), a ridiculous pseudonym invented by Watson to protect the real royal personage in trouble. It's Holmes to the rescue, going undercover in disguise to take away the blackmailer's trump, though it's he whose head will ultimately be turned by the extraordinary Irene. The cast is wonderful (meet Rosalie Williams as Baker Street housekeeper Mrs. Hudson), and the drama is great fun. (For a contemporary movie reinvention of this story, check out the 1998 feature Zero Effect, starring Bill Pullman as a whacked-out variation on Holmes, Ben Stiller as his long-suffering Watson, and Kim Dickens as an updated Irene.) --Tom Keogh

"The Dancing Men"
What is the meaning of the stick figures that appear scrawled one day on the exterior wall of a Northfolk manor? Why do they so terribly upset the American wife (Betsy Brantley) of the gentleman (Tenniel Evans) who lives there? The case proves one of the most tantalizing for Sherlock Holmes (Jeremy Brett) and his ally and chronicler, Dr. Watson (David Burke). Then it proves among the gravest of Holmes's career when murder enters the picture and the distraught woman is charged with the crime. This is one of those stories from the Holmes canon that practically invites an adaptation; Sherlockians will enjoy seeing the oddly disturbing "dancing men" on screen, while newcomers to Holmes will find the tale particularly compelling. As always, Brett remains the definitive Holmes. --Tom Keogh

"The Naval Treaty"
An old schoolmate of Dr. Watson's, Percy Phelps (David Gwillim), has asked the longtime friend of Sherlock Holmes to intercede on his behalf with the famous detective. Phelps, a member of the Foreign Office, has stolen a copy of a naval treaty with serious international consequences, but the document has been missing for two months. His nerves shattered from worry, Phelps is under the care of his fiancée (Alison Skilbeck), but so far the treaty has not surfaced. Holmes (Jeremy Brett), aided by Watson (David Burke), agrees to take the case, which is handsomely adapted in this episode from the Granada Television series. As usual, Brett is the most fascinating, most complex, and truest of the many Holmes portrayals in film and TV history, Burke is solid as the good doctor, and Rosalie Williams is delightful in her fleeting appearance as the Baker Street housekeeper, Mrs. Hudson. --Tom Keogh

"The Solitary Cyclist"
Sherlock Holmes (the incomparable Jeremy Brett) is unhappily interrupted during a major investigation by the appearance at Baker Street of a young, regal-looking woman named Violet Smith (Barbara Wilshere). Frightened for her safety, Smith tells the busy sleuth and his friend Dr. Watson (David Burke) of her recent life since being left penniless. Employed as a music teacher in the Charlington home of one Bob Carruthers (John Castle)--a man who, along with a quite dangerous and "hideous" fellow named Woodley (Michael Siberry)--knew her late father in South Africa, Smith has lately been harassed by Woodley and followed on bicycle by a mysterious, bearded fellow. Watson is dispatched to look into the matter, but the mystery only deepens and darkens even after the Master finally arrives. One of the strongest episodes in the long-running Holmes series from Granada Television, "The Solitary Cyclist" never lets up its taut suspense. Brett and Burke are magnificent, as always, but even the most loyal fans are taken aback by the rare sight of Holmes throwing punches, as he does in a boxing duel with the beastly Woodley. --Tom Keogh

Product Description

ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES VOL. 1 - DVD Movie

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

112 of 114 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Classic Granada TV Series Comes to DVD--Perhaps., July 20, 2000

By 

Nancy Beiman "Northernexpress" (Ontario, Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - Vol. 1: (A Scandal in Bohemia/ The Dancing Men/ The Naval Treaty/ The Solitary Cyclist) (DVD)

This DVD contains the first four episodes of the marvellous Granada TV series of 1984-85. The episodes are being released in chronological order and include A SCANDAL IN BOHEMIA (Holmes Versus Irene Adler), THE SOLITARY CYCLIST, THE NAVAL TREATY,and THE DANCING MEN.

It's very rare to have a production team come together and make a show that 'works'. It's even rarer when something works so very well for so very long. Everyone associated with this production did an outstanding job and the love and respect for the material shows in every frame. The writing was true to Doyle, the cinematography and editing were of feature-film calibre, the casting was marvellous. This is the production that 'got it right.'

The DVD is reportedly being made from superior prints and it is to be a vast improvement over the VHS tapes, which lose some of their quality when transferred from PAL to NTSC formats.

But the most important thing about this DVD is: It will be the only one released if MPI feels that there is not sufficient demand for the remaining episodes. So if you are fond of this show, please buy the DVD. If enough of us do, we can look forward to more outstanding episodes from this landmark series--and they will look better than they have since their original broadcast.

34 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Superb Sherlock Holmes Comes to DVD -- A Must Have, September 8, 2000

By 

Dan Sherman (Alexandria, VA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - Vol. 1: (A Scandal in Bohemia/ The Dancing Men/ The Naval Treaty/ The Solitary Cyclist) (DVD)

The (British) Granada Television Sherlock Holmes Series was superb, presenting the majority of the short stories, along with two of the novels (Hound of the Baskervilles and Sign of Four) in marvelous period adaptations of Conan Doyle. This DVD looks like a great introduction to the series, presenting the first four of the episodes which first aired in the early 80s. The look and feel of the productions were just marvelous, in that they really captured Baker Street at the end the 19th century.

The key to the series was, of course, the late Jeremy Brett who really defined a new style of Holmes -- brilliant of course, but very moody -- sometimes excitable, sometime melancholy -- always very theatrical. Although this may not be a Holmes to everyone's taste, it really is quite close the Holmes presented in the stories and novels. Jeremy Brett quite simply became Sherlock Holmes for this series, soaking up his Holmes lore, and really presenting a great characterization over a period of nearly 10 years. Other characters (including the two Doctor Watsons) were also well drawn throughout, though of course it is Brett's Holmes that dominates.

The TV series was quite faithful to the original, though it was quite often necessary to fill out the stories with subplots beyond what could be found in may of the short stories.

I hope that there are many more DVDs coming out from the series. At 4 episodes per DVD, this is a great bargain in that VHS tapes of individual episodes cost about $15.

This is a must have DVD if you have any interest in Sherlock Holmes!

22 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, October 8, 2000

By 

R.Vandlac (Sherwood, OR USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - Vol. 1: (A Scandal in Bohemia/ The Dancing Men/ The Naval Treaty/ The Solitary Cyclist) (DVD)

Absolute perfection! I have been a fan of this great series for many years and its debut on DVD cannot be too strongly welcomed. Brett's portryal of Holmes is magnificent (very true to the actual tales)and I particularly enjoy David Burke as Watson. Burke's Watson has a greater sense of compassion and kindness than Edward Hardwick in later episodes. Comparisons aside, these are the finest Sherlock Holmes productions ever and it will be a shame if the entire series is not transfered to DVD!

Speaking of "transfer", the video quality of this disc is very good (much superior to the original VHS tapes) and the 5.1 sound is excellent. My copy however had a bad audio track on the "Naval Treaty" episode, but I will have our friends at Amazon.com replace it for me rest assured. This is one DVD you can't and should not live without! Well done Granada TV!