Sherlock Holmes the Classics [Audiobook] [Audio Cassette]

Arthur Conan, Sir Doyle (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1997

Featuring John Gielgud as the Sleuth of Baker Street, Sir Ralph Richardson as his venerable companion, Dr. Watson, and Orson Welles as the ignominious Professor Moriarty, here are more original stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. October 1997 publication date. 2 cassettes. .

Editorial Reviews

From AudioFile

The jacket doesn't tell us when these radio dramas were first presented: It must be 50 years ago or more. They feature Sir John Gielgud as Sherlock Holmes and Ralph Richardson as Dr. Watson (oddly named "James" here). Both are pictured on the jacket with a young Orson Welles, who seems to have played Professor Moriarty in a short flashback sequence. Sound effects are subtle, more in the background than in many such dramatizations; the violin music is perfunctory at best. But here we have some of the best actors in the English language performing well-adapted Holmes stories, so who can complain? D.W. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine

Product Details

• Audio Cassette
• Publisher: Soundelux Audio Pub (October 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1559352728
• ISBN-13: 978-1559352727
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 4.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,598,246 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THE Sherlock Holmes, April 12, 2000

By 

Darby W Kern - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sherlock Holmes the Classics (Audio Cassette)

To me he will always be THE Sherlock Holmes. Regardless of what other people feel about Basil Rathbone, Carelton Hobbs, Clive Merrison and even Jeremy Brett, John Gielgud will always be the perfect Sherlock Holmes. And Ralph Richardson will always be the perfect Watson. Together they eclipse the whole of their peers, simply by the way they portray the master detective and his dear friend. That is the way Sir arthur wrote them, and that is what you will hear in these stories. My only complaint is that they cannot contain every scene that Doyle wrote for each story, but such were the constraints of 1950's radio (or 1990's radio for that matter). The episodes were written with a clear understanding of drama, and acted with the skill of master performers. What stands out to me is the mutual respect that Holmes and Watson share, as opposed to the browbeating that Rathbone dished out on Nigel Bruce's Watson ("Do you have to be so dense!"). And the mysteries are darn good besides. If you want to introduce someone, particularly a young person, to the world of Holmes you can do no better than this set. These are the tapes that endeared not only Sherlock Holmes to me, but dramatic radio and the skills of John Gielgud as well. You will love them.