Customer Reviews

The Return of Sherlock Holmes - The Empty House [VHS]

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Please ignore the "oversentimental" review below. It is totally erroneous. It could only be agreed upon if you are a disgruntled Rathbone fan, angry that Brett has replaced Basil on the pedastal.

This was a wondeful episode. Hardwicke has replaced David Burke, and, though Burke was wonderful, I must hold that Hardwicke is the best Watson ever. The pair makes very believable friends. We first see Brett as the book seller (which is hilarious, I might add. He was obviously enjoying his role). His return scene is perfect, not overdone or underdone. Watson is shocked and pleased, and Holmes is glad to be back. He tells how he was never in the ravine, etc, etc. The next notable part is the capture of Moran. When Scotland Yard comes, Holmes yells at his atatcker! Watch for this: when one of the men tries to quiet Holmes after his tirade, he snarls! Truly snarls! Wonderful.

The final scene, which I will call "Back at Baker Street" was excellent. The real life Brett/Hardwicke frienship shines through their dialogue, and Mrs. Hudson is basking in her glory. It can only be described as classic.

While it is wonderful to have Sherlock Holmes back among the living, the real star in this video is the introduction of Edward Hardwicke as Watson. He is so comfortable and bemused as the teller of Holmes adventures that you believe him to be Watson. The screenplay is a bit uneven at points. It's almost as if the short story was unnaturally stretched to fill the time slot. But despite all that, Jeremy Brett is in top form as he keeps Holmes barely one step ahead of Moriarty's thugs and the infamous air guns.

When Conan Doyle wrote the "Final Problem" it was supposed to be his last chronicle as he was tired of the character. But through public pressure he brought back the first Consulting Detective. In this adventure we find out that Sherlock Holmes didn't die with his "evil counterpart" but had to stay in hiding in order to evade Dr Moraity's accomplices. When the story starts, years has gone bye since the "death" of Mr Holmes and a crime gets the attention of Holmes old cohort, Dr Watson. A murderer is afoot, and nobody knows who he is and why he kills. You can guess who comes a calling. The scene where Sherlock reveals himself alive to Dr Watson is right out of the book and brought off in great fation. This is an exellent sequel to the "Final Problem" where Sherlock Holmes retakes his place in London as it's most famous Detective and ties off any loose leed left in the earlier story. As per usual Granada Television rendition of this story is visually astonishing in the period details and scenes and Mr Brett depiction of Holmes is right out of the book. If you saw "Final Problem" this a must see. If you haven't, get both

The tale of how two best friends, parted forever by death, comes to VHS. The movie startes out as Watson remembers his dearest friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes. As Watson walks down Baker Street to 221B, brought tears to my eyes as he explains how much he misses Holmes. The case of the young Ronald Adair, is what brings Holmes from France. He did not die but just disapeared. He visits Watson at his consulting room, using his amazing disguises. Holmes and Watson travel to the 'Empty House' and waylay a vilian set out to kill Holmes. The old Hound is out of practice, but me is able to keep the assain busy until Scotland Yard comes. The reuniting of Holmes, Watson, Mrs. Hudson, and, of course, good old Inspectjor Lestrade is funny and yet touching. The detective, Sherlock Holmes is free to devote his life to solving the interesting problems of cat and mouse once more.

Please ignore the review by the ignoramus above. The dialogue between Holmes and Moran in THE EMPTY HOUSE is a faithful transcription of what Sir Arthur Conan Doyle actually wrote. The first three years of this series produced some outstanding episodes and THE EMPTY HOUSE is one of the best. It's beautifully directed and well written. Edward Hardwicke is excellent as the new Watson and Jeremy Brett is fascinating to watch, and even more fascinating to listen to. There is an amusing pastiche sequence at the start which takes place in the coroner's court. It nicely rounds out this story without padding it. The supporting players, particularly the excellent Colin Jeavons and Rosalie Williams, work well as an ensemble. You will want to watch this directly after viewing THE FINAL PROBLEM, another terrific episode; the two should really be sold as a set!

this was one of the best ones in the series. the fact that not only did Holmes come back and turns up in Watson's consulting room, acting as though nothing had happened, and then capturing the last of Moriarty's gang, made a terrific plot. i'm sure that most Sherlock Holmes fans who saw this video and enjoyed it. while i'm certain that Doyle made millions of people breathe a sigh of relief when this story was first published, i wonder if he would've been impressed by this and other episodes of the series that stared the late, great Jeremy Brett>

Got this on Amazon instant video for 6 bucks, and will probably get The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes too. I can not decide If Jeremy Brett is better than Basil Rathbone but he plays a great Sherlock Holmes. The video quality is really good but lacks color. I thought my 7.2 surround sound receiver would decode the audio but it will only play in stereo. Also the audio volume is pretty low. Overall this was a great purchase and was able to play all the videos in Windows Media Center 7 after I downloaded them with Amazon Unbox. If you are a Sherlock Holmes fan and haven't seen this series with Jeremy Brett then you are missing out.

I watched this series when it was on television and thoroughly enjoyed it. Jeremy Brett makes a great Sherlock Holmes, the best since Basil Rathbone. The stories are great, love the time period and Dr. Watson is more interesting then the original from the earlier movies.

Sherlock Holmes is back from Reichenbach Falls! But Moriarty's evil stalks him still,in the form of alone henchman seeking to avenge his master's death.But he's no match for Holmes, Watson, and Mrs. Hudson. All hail the return of Sherlock Holmes! Sir Arthur grew tired of him, but I have not!

With Sherlock Holmes dead at the Reichenbach Falls, Watson returns to his daily life. But, three years later, when Holmes suddenly appears in his examining room Watson receives the shock of his life. But, it's not time for happy reunions; Holmes is on the track of a major villain, and he is in need of his able assistant. Once again, the game is afoot!

Every once in a while, an actor comes along who not only plays the role of Sherlock Holmes, but actually redefines the role. In 1984, veteran actor Jeremy Brett (1933-95) actually did it yet again! This fifty-minute episode, the Empty House, was episode one of the third season, and originally aired on July 9, 1986. (By the way, if you like Jeremy Brett, you can see him in an entirely different role in My Fair Lady (1964) as Freddie Eynsford-Hill!)

I loved this tape and think that any fan of Sherlock Holmes, or just plain fan of mysteries, will love it, too. My family and I highly recommend it to you!