Product Details

• Actors: Jeremy Brett
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, 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 (8 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6301611799
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #256,624 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

One of the most interesting stories in the Sherlock Holmes canon, The Devil's Foot finds the Great Detective's friend and ally, Dr. Watson (Edward Hardwicke), pressuring the exhausted sleuth (Jeremy Brett) into joining him on a vacation on the Cornish coast. Instead of relaxation, however, Holmes and Watson encounter one of the most horrifying multiple murders they have yet come across. Though our heroes nearly die from Holmes's effort to prove the cause of death, they carry on until Holmes finally unmasks the identity of the culprits--and then makes a controversial decision about the fate of one. Brett and Hardwicke excel as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's famous team, who are under more duress than usual in this fascinating tale. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perhaps Jeremy Brett's most compelling Sherlock performance, October 12, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Return of Sherlock Holmes: The Devil's Foot [VHS] (VHS Tape)

A must have for the die-hard fan. In this truly captivating episode, Sherlock reveals a sincere appreciation and respect for his loyal colleague, Dr. Watson. And, in one particularly captivating scene, Holmes reveals an endearing statement of his appreciation for his friend, with a single, unforgettable word. All told, this episode signifies why Jeremy Brett is the superlative portrayer of this legendary character.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 'The Cornish Horror' - another superb production., April 9, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Return of Sherlock Holmes: The Devil's Foot [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This Sherlock Holmes episode was filmed in Cornwall - near the lizard point. By remaining authentic regarding both filming location and script, the mystery and atmosphere of Conan-Doyle's story are well conveyed. There are some interesting scenic shots of action near the Cornish coast, as well as a creative dream type sequence. Solid acting from the whole cast, and Brett is superb as usual. Although this series was critically acclaimed, Brett deserved perhaps even greater recognition for the quality of his interpretation of Holmes. He brings far more psychological depth to the role than any previous screen portrayal. The Holmes-Watson relationship is also much more authentic to Doyle's writing than is the case for any other screen adaptation of the stories. To summarize, the production is excellent in every way. - Lyndon Smith.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent episode, excellent acting, August 16, 2001

By 

Paul Cerra - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Return of Sherlock Holmes: The Devil's Foot [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This episode of The Return of Sherlock Holmes is one of Jeremy Brett's very best performances. With the very capable Edward Hardwicke as Watson and a fascinating screenplay, The Devil's Foot is riveting. It doesn't hurt that it is filmed in beautiful surroundings, either.

This episode sees Holmes leaving London for a period of extended convalescing at the seaside in Cornwall. Naturally, Watson accompanies him, but a terrible set of murders will soon upset the calm.

Some good does come out of the journey; for example, Holmes is shown burying a syringe on the beach, an apparent triumph over his habit of injecting cocaine. The strongest scene shows Holmes willfully ingesting a poisonous hallucinogen in order to test a theory. The psychedlic scenes that result have been criticized by some as overly graphic -- and they are a bit of a departure from the norm for this series -- but this is a very brief interlude that is quickly concluded.

Brett's acting is brilliant throughout -- after all, he's supposed to be recovering, and so he needs to show a wide range of emotions, from depression to frustration and finally elation. Hardwicke gets additional screen time since Holmes is supposed to be resting under doctor's orders at a secluded cottage. The mystery itself is convoluted and will keep you guessing. If you've never seen Jeremy Brett as Holmes before, this is as good a place as any to see the breadth of performance that he was capable of. This is also one of the earlier episodes -- filmed well before both the production values and Brett's health began to decline noticeably. It's well worth a look.