Product Details

• Actors: Basil Rathbone, Nigel Bruce, Patricia Morison, Edmund Breon, Frederick Worlock
• Directors: Roy William Neill
• Writers: Arthur Conan Doyle, Bertram Millhauser, Edmund L. Hartmann, Edward T. Lowe Jr., Frank Gruber
• Format: Box set, Black & White, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono)
• Region: All Regions
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 4
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: FOCUS FILMS
• DVD Release Date: May 2, 2000
• Run Time: 262 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 2.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00004RF4W
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #309,621 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "An Evening With Sherlock Holmes - Boxed Set" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

Studio: E1 Release Date: 07/12/2005 Run time: 270 minutes Rating: Nr

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

44 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Tenth-generation VHS on DVD!, July 9, 2000

By 

William F. Flanigan Jr. (North Potomac, MD USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: An Evening With Sherlock Holmes - Boxed Set (DVD)

This boxed set is a video joke, correction, a "boxed-set" video rip off. Unless, of course, you like to watch old-time radio on DVD (more on this later). In very small print at the bottom of the back of the box is this warning: "The enclosed four DVD titles were miraculously restored from the only known surviving prints, which were extremely damaged." This would surely be news to Universal who holds the copyright on each film as well as, say, buyers of the pristine, "Hi-Fi" VHS prints released in the late 1980's by CBS/Fox on the Key Video label! All four DVD films are derived from NON-DIGITAL source materials, and sure look like boot-leg versions--all the usual tip offs are present including damaged frames (lots), unwatchable over exposed frames (lots and lots), totally unwatchable under exposed frames (beyond lots), garbled/garbage sound (when you can actually hear something), etc. All that seems to be missing are the back of heads in the way of the screen and people blocking the screen as they come and go from their theater seats. (Curiously, some of the film previews/trailers look and sound better than the films!) The only item of possible interest in the video domain is a 1930 filmed lecture by Holmes-creator (and frequent destroyer) Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (using Bill Fox's MovieTone sound-on-film process) with video and audio that far surpasses the films themselves! (This lecture was originally released commercially on 16mm film by the long-defunct Blackhawk Films.) Then there are the 30 half-hour radio shows done by Rathbone and Bruce (while they were making the Holmes films at Universal) sponsored by a long defunct wine company--the commercials are included for reasons known only to the box-set producer! These are for the most part excellent stories, but, alas, the boot-leg problem is also present. The sound is terrible unless you turn off "effects" and thereby direct all audio to the front L/R speakers of your audio/video system. So if your are interested in seeing what Sir Arthur looked like toward the end of his life and enjoy listening to old radio shows with your DVD player, this box set is for you. However, if you are a fan of the Rathbone/Bruce Holmes films, wait for a name brand to reissue them on DVD (or rerun your old Key Video VHS tapes). Bottom line: Avoid (as always) off brands in all things DVD!

49 of 53 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars The wait wasn't worth it., May 7, 2000

By 

Steven W. Hill "Owner of shillpages.com" (Chicago, IL United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: An Evening With Sherlock Holmes - Boxed Set (DVD)

Sadly, this box set of four individually packaged DVDs is a disappointment. The picture quality is startlingly poor (WOMAN IN GREEN seems to be the best while DRESSED TO KILL is the worst). All the titles are blurry and too high-contrast, not to mention scratchy (of course) and the sound is fairly poor.

The packaging is a mixed bag - the covers all reproduce original poster art, which I think is terrific, but there are no inserts, and (despite how minor this is) the spines are dead boring. The movies themselves are almost immaterial...they're good, classic sleuthing mysteries with the enjoyable and unforgettable team of Rathbone and Bruce and a host of supporting characters. Each disc also includes a selection of 7 or 8 original Rathbone/Bruce radio broadcasts, which is a terrific extra (with very good sound) that makes up a bit for the poor quality of the films.

The back cover of the cardboard slipcase reads "The enclosed four DVD titles were miraculously restored from the only known surviving prints, which were extremely damaged." Call me a doubting Thomas, but I just can't believe we couldn't have had something better than this for these film favorites.

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars beware--another bargain basement dud, May 5, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: An Evening With Sherlock Holmes - Boxed Set (DVD)

What a disappointment. I bought this thinking it would use the superb prints that were available on laser disc from CBS Fox a few years ago. But these look and sound like ancient TV prints that might pass muster at 3 am--the sound might not pass even then. Terror By Night is the worst; and the company has the nerve to begin with a card boasting of its committment to film restoration. Nothing is restored here, to say the least. The additions are neat, if you like old radio shows, but this box is too expensive to warrant the kind of bargain basement garbage put out by companies like Medacy. The truth is, because DVDs are so much cheaper to manufacture than Lasers, a lot more sleazes are getting involved in it. Basil and Nigel deserve much better.