Product Details

• Actors: Jeremy Brett, Rosalie Williams, Edward Hardwicke, Charles Gray, Tom Chadbon
• Format: Color, HiFi Sound, NTSC
• Language: English
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Mpi Home Video
• VHS Release Date: June 11, 1996
• Run Time: 52 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6304025912
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #298,723 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Controversial upon its first publication in 1893, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's The Cardboard Box confronts some nasty consequences of adultery. In this Granada Television production of the story, Sherlock Holmes (Jeremy Brett) and Dr. Watson (Edward Hardwicke) link the grisly mailing of two severed human ears with a complicated love triangle between the Cushing sisters and a man who married one of them. Holmes, an expert in ears, naturally (having written two separate monographs on them), has no problem with the mystery of where they came from. But toward what end mortals pursue "this circle of misery, violence, and fear" is another question. In ill health at the time and near the end of his run as the famous detective, Brett nevertheless gives a focused, remarkable performance while Hardwicke lends strong support. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Dark, yesbut beautiful!, December 14, 2000

By 

Donald M. Campbell (Moultonborough, NH USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sherlock Holmes: Cardboard Box [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I couldn't disagree more strongly with Mr. Marseille's review of this episode. Yes, of course, Jeremy Brett's illness is very apparent. I find the constant harping on this theme in all the reviews of later episodes of this series very tiresome. Despite his illness, his performance in this episode is excellent, as is every cast member's performance. (Pay special attention to Ciaran Hind's performance as Jim Browner-exceptional!) Overall, the atmosphere of the tale is dark and oppressive-as it should be! The theme of this story is the terrible price of deception and guilt. In my opinion this is a wonderfully entertaining and beautifully rendered adaptation of the story.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Mere Missing Persons Case or Is It...??, March 1, 2005

By 

Stephen Pletko "Uncle Stevie" (London, Ontario, Canada) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Sherlock Holmes: Cardboard Box [VHS] (VHS Tape)

+++++

This movie is based on the story "The Adventure of the Cardboard Box" (1893) written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859 to 1930).

The story is about three sisters. One of the sisters (Lucy Whybrow) gets married to a sailor (Ciaran Hines), another (Debbie Findlay) becomes Warden of a mission, and a third (Joanna David) runs a boarding house and, at this time, has a French medical student (Thierry Harcourt) as one of her tenants.

The married sister is eventually discovered to be missing. At this point, Sherlock Holmes (Jeremy Brett) is called in to investigate but he shows little interest in a mere missing persons case. But when the sister who runs the boarding house receives a grisly Christmas gift (so grisly that Dr. Watson (Edward Hardwicke) has to give some medical advice), Sherlock's interest is piqued.

Listen for Sherlock's eloquent speech at the end of the movie:

"What is the object of this circle of misery and violence and fear. It must have a purpose, for our universe has no meaning and that is unthinkable. But what purpose? That is humanity's great problem to which reason so far has no answer."

Brett (as usual) does a good job in capturing the essence of the famous gumshoe in his performance. Also look for the fine performance of Hines as the sailor-husband.

I had a friend who knew nothing about Brett's health problems watch this movie. She could not see anything abnormal about him and, in fact, commented on his excellent performance. As well, I noted that his poor health did not distract from his fine performance.

Finally, the props, costumes, background music, and cinematography are well done.

In conclusion, this is a good movie to watch even if you have read the story it's based on!!

(1994; 50 min; British drama; made for TV; full screen; color)

+++++

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Jeremy Brett as Sherlock Holmes for the last time, May 4, 2003

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Sherlock Holmes: Cardboard Box [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Jeremy Brett's failing health caused this to be the last film in which he starred as Sherlock Holmes. Some people think that his health affected the quality of the performance, but, in my opinion, it's one of the best in Granada's "Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes." I highly reccomend it.