Customer Reviews

Sherlock Holmes, Volume 1 - TV Classics

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This disk contains the following episodes from the 1954-1955 TV series:

Baker Street Bachelors
Baker Street Nursemaids
Lady Beryl
Harry Crocker

One of these episodes (Baker Street Bachelors) is also contained in the 20-episode, 5-DVD set just released by Madacy (ASIN B0001Z3TS4). If you're a fan of this TV series, you might want to consider getting that set instead of (or in addition to) this disk.

I personally like this TV series. Ronald Howard is more personable than most others who have played Sherlock Holmes - more human - but still quirky and particular. In this series, he seems to enjoy being smarter than the other characters, but he does it with more of a sense of humor, rather then being obnoxious about it. Like any TV series, some episodes are better than others, but I found them all enjoyable.

This first volume in the Alpha/Gotham DVD series of the 1954-55 SHERLOCK HOLMES TV show is superior to the similar Laserlight & Madacy releases.
The episodes still seem to come from videotape recordings of the 16mm prints, but this version is the best copy so far, the noticable artifacting in the other releases is much less here.
The same 16mm films seem to be the source for all of the DVDs.

Until someone finds the original negatives to this French produced show (for U.S. television), this will do.

Sherlock Holmes fans who have not seen this series will quickly fall in love with it. While the half-hour format does not allow time for intricate stories, the puzzles are still fun to solve.

Roland Howard plays Sherlock almost as well as the great Basil Rathbone, and at times you may think you are watching the classic 1940's movies.

My wife and I both love the Rathbone movie series on Holmes and Watson. For a different take you should try the Ron Howard and Marion Crawford series. Holmes is more likeable and Watson is the star of the show, but both are very engaging to watch. Certainly worth the few dollars for several nights of entertainment. If you love Rathbone and hate Jeremy Brett, you should like this series.

1954, Black & White. The actor who plays Sherlock is likeable. I have watched 12-episodes, volumes-1,5,6. "The Case of Harry Crocker" in this volume-1 is the best episode of the twelve episodes I have seen and worthwhile. An escape-artist is wrongly accused of murder. He repeatedly escapes the police, often moments after they have handcuffed him, to seek help from Mr. Holmes.

The Case of "Lady Beryl" in this volume-1 has some humor too and more clever detective work than other episodes.

"The Thistle Killer" in volume-5 (not in this one) has some suspense.
All the episodes are only 25-minutes, so there is not enough time for depth. The other nine episodes I have seen hold your attention; are not bad, but are not memorable. So of volumes 1,5,6; I only recommend this volume-1 for the two good episodes, if the price is cheap.

All 28-episodes are available free on Hulu under TV-shows, "A" for "Adventures of...."; plus the following 11 more episodes:
Neurotic Detective
Haunted Gainsborough
Imposter Mystery
Christmas Pudding
Careless Suffragette
Vanished Detective
Laughing Mummy
Greystone Inscription
French Interpreter
Red Headed League
Winthrop Legend

My favorites in the above were:
"Christmas Pudding"
"Laughing Mummy"
"Greystone Inscription"
"French Interpreter"

Under the "comment" button below I descibe the 28-episodes within volumes 1-7.