Customer Reviews

The Sherlock Holmes Collection, Volume One

5 star:		(28)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I have a real affection for these Sherlock Holmes films. I'm a fan of Sherlock Holmes in general, but I think this pairing of Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce is my favorite screen combination. Yes, I realize that such offerings may horrify the average Holmes scholar, but I can't help my tastes. What they lose in deviation from the original source, they more than make up for in style.

The first thing to be mentioned is how clear the picture and sound are on these restorations. Films of this age can be hit or miss when released on DVD, but these prints are in remarkably good shape.

I'll now quickly offer an opinion on each of the four movies. Note that these are the first four films in the series. When Universal bought the rights to Holmes, they decided to update the great detective. They not only brought him to the then-current time, they also decided that he should face what was the greatest threat of the day. So, for the first three movies, Holmes is aiding the Allies during WWII, a setting that he seems (at least to me) to fit into comfortably.

SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE VOICE OF TERROR is the first "spy catcher" that Holmes is involved in. It works. However, it attempts to be a triumph of style over substance and that's fine until one starts looking at the plot too closely. Still, it's a fiendishly stylish production with the fine lighting and careful choreography that would be a hallmark of the series.

SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE SECRET WEAPON is based upon Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's "The Adventure of the Dancing Men" and the code-breaking aspect of the original fits very comfortably into the WWII setting. This was one of my favorites as a child and I am happy to see that its just as much fun now.

SHERLOCK HOLMES IN WASHINGTON features Holmes and Watson being driven around back-projected images of Washington, DC stock footage. Notable more for Watson's attempts at going native than for actual plot. It's fun if nothing else.

SHERLOCK HOLMES FACES DEATH is the first one which places Holmes and Watson back into their familiar roles of detectives rather than spy-catchers. I enjoyed the first three movies, but it's nice to get back to basics. The story and its resolution are rather clever.

The front of the DVD case proclaims that it is "Loaded with DVD extras", which is stretching the definition of "loaded" quite a bit. Photo galleries don't really confer "must-own" status, and the only additional DVD extra is a commentary track which is only available on one of the four movies. "Loaded"? That's a bit strong.

That said, the commentary track for SHERLOCK HOLMES FACES DEATH is really excellent. Given by David Stuart Davies (according to the cover, a renowned British author), this offers a lot of trivial insight and critical observation. Realizing perhaps that listeners would not be viewing this commentary in isolation, Davies also makes comments particular to other films in this same box set. He offers a lot of comparisons between the original stories/characters and how they ended up being presented on film. He goes into a lot of detail concerning the history of this film series, as well as pointing out the actors who had appeared in others of this series. I found this a hugely enjoyable and informative commentary. (Beware that the commentary track does contain spoilers, so make sure you watch the films first.)

I'm very happy that these films have finally been cleaned up and released on DVD. I'm also thrilled to see that I can enjoy them as an adult as much as I did as a child. I'm definitely confident enough to order the next two box sets.

You must realize that these 14 films represent the most successful "B" film series ever made, and running as they did at the same time 240 radio shows ran every Monday night at 8:30, mostly for Petri wines from California, it's really long over due that someone of the stature of ULCA would restore them and bring them "home" to America

Being a Basil and Bruce purest, I was terribly upset when Jeremy Brett received all the acolades for his impersonal portrayal of the great detective....Brett had the one missing ingredient that Basil didn't have....the original mysteries as written by the Master......instead he was subjected to Hollywierd rewrites and screen plays that could never hold a candle to Doyle.....

That aside, now the world will once again understand why Basil and Bruce's images are still the quintessential images of the Dr. and his friend, and once again America will get to see the ultimate performace of the the Great detective in immacualte form: restored 35mmm on DVD......

Now and forever: Basil Rathbone in the role he was born to play.

Noted Sherlock Holmes Scholar, Andrew Kemp, was not kidding when he said that these are the best reproductions of these films since their original theatrical release. Digitally restored in 35MM from the UCLA Film Archives prints, they are a joy to behold for those of us who have had to make do with ratty and incomplete public domain copies. MPI has again done Holmes fans a great service by making this fine and popular film series available once more. I say "again," because they have also released the much respected Granada TV series featuring Jeremy Brett.

Previous reviewers have already commented on how Universal moved Holmes ahead into the WWII era, and had him chasing down Nazi's, spys, and assorted modern "evil-doers." Never-the-less, the series appeal lies not in the historical context, but in the charisma of Rathbone and Bruce as the series' Holmes and Watson.

These films are not great cinematic milestones, but they are great fun - pure entertainment, and as each new generation discovers Holmes, they always key in on this series as the all-time favorite. If you haven't seen these films before, or even if it's been awhile since you saw them on TV as a kid, do yourself a favor and pick this set up - you won't regret it.

After 20th Century Fox produced "The Hound of the Baskervilles" and "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes", they abandoned their Holmes film series. Picking up where Fox left off, Universal brought back Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce as Holmes and Watson, while at the same time placing them in wartime London. Although this may have seemed a bit weird, the then-modern setting for the characters is handled with enough intelligence to almost make it work.

The set could easily have been called "The Wartime Collection," as the fist three films in the set touch on espionage and Nazi plots, while the fourth concerns a convalescent home for returning soldiers. Holmes was one of the few exports Britain had that could affect American sentiment on World War II. By shifting the story to the current crisis, Holmes (and by association, the war effort), became relevant for a whole new audience and in a whole new way.

"Sherlock Holmes and the Voice of Terror" is a stunning exercise in cinematography. The first entry in the Universal series has a noir-ish lighting scheme that adds to the crackling suspense of wartime intrigue.

The much maligned "Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon", long abused as public domain fodder, has never looked better.

"Sherlock Holmes in Washington", another film long-condemned by followers of the canon, is a surprisingly good mystery with Hitchcockian overtones.

"Sherlock Holmes Faces Death" lifts the plot of "The Musgrave Ritual" for incorporation into a new mystery, which is effectively gothic and atmospheric.

Excellent support is offered by a myriad of bad guys, each chilling in their own way (Lionel Atwill is excellent as the evil Moriarty in "Secret Weapon"). The sets are a wonderful mixture of Victorian and WWII London, which is effective most of the time (one surprising anachronism is the "VR" in bullet holes in the Baker Street flat). All four films end with Holmes offering a coda on the war and/or mankind.

After screening the four films, it becomes apparent that the condemnation Rathbone and Bruce suffer at the hands of hard-core Sherlockians is not entirely deserved. While Jeremy Brett is perhaps the most accurate portrayal of the famous detective (and Hardwicke and Burke of Watson), Rathbone is definitive as Sherlock in an entirely different, and still entertaining way.

Nigel Bruce, long despised by Serlockians for his portrayal of Watson as a bumbling buffoon, nevertheless offers us a lovable and warm-spirited version of Holmes' friend and companion. Much of the criticism leveled at Bruce is, I think, rather unfair in the final analysis. Always seen as competent when medical duties are needed, and always on hand to save Sherlock's bacon when required, a little absent-mindedness and comic capers by the character are easily forgiven (if not outright enjoyed).

Although the back of the box proclaims the set to be chock full of extras, that isn't exactly true. The extras on the set are limited to a short booklet with very good, comprehensive production notes, some audio commentaries, and a two-minute montage of posters and stills.

UCLA has done right by these films with stellar restorations. A must-have for any fan of Rathbone's Holmes.

First, let me start by saying I've owned all 14 movies on VHS for years and enjoyed all of them, and now that the dvd's are out, I'll be buying them again, but not all of them.
In my humble opinion the best 9 titles in the series are: The Hound of the Baskervilles(1), The Adventures or Sherlock Holmes(2),The Voice of Terror(3), The Secret Weapon(4), Faces Death(6),The Scarlet Claw(8), The House of Fear(10), Pursuit to Algiers(12), and Terror by Night(13).
The remaining 5, Sherlock Holmes in Washington, The Spiderwoman, The Pearl of Death, The Woman in Green, and Dressed to kill are
all decent, but not stellar like some of the other titles, especially after repeated viewings. Surprisingly, Pursuit to Algiers and Terror by night, the 12th and 13th entries respectively, are the two sleepers late in the series, GREAT!!, while Dressed to kill is kind of a let down for the series finale! I think Basil Rathbone had had his fill by this time, and it shows in his somewhat lackluster performance, compared to earlier entries. "The Hound" and the "Adventures of" (both 1939, and offered only separately), are clearly the two best in the series, and also the longest at about 80-85 minutes, while the rest of the series clock in between 60-74 minutes, depending on the title. It's a shame these movies weren't longer, like 90 minutes or so.
Any of the three volume sets offered here by MPI are a good place to start for any fan, but I'm choosing individual tiltes this time to get the cream of the crop. I'm also ordering my first of the Jeremy Brett series, which are superb, and a nice refreshing change, but I'll always come back to Rathbone, still the ultimate Holmes!! Buy them all!, or at least the 9 I've suggested, I think they're the best of the series.

In 1942 Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce - the definitive Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson - stepped out of Victorian England to battle the Nazis in Universal's "Sherlock Holmes and the Voice of Terror." Three years prior the duo of Rathbone and Bruce had collaborated in what are generally regarded as the finest film adaptations of the legendary Sherlock Holmes adventures, Fox Studio's "The Hound of the Baskervilles" and "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes." The former, in particular, brilliantly captures the mood, mystery, and magic that has made the great detective such a compelling figure. Rathbone was perfect. Tall, with angular features and a unique singular intensity, Rathbone looked perfect carping through the fog draped Moor clutching a lantern in a deerskin cap and cloak. Nigel Bruce, too, was at his best here, conjuring up the loyal, gentlemanly, though intellectually ordinary compatriot, Dr. Watson. The chemistry between the stars was evident, and the two made 14 feature films as Holmes and Watson in addition to more than 240 radio episodes and stage productions.
The 12 films that make up the Universal series never achieved the same critical acclaim as the Fox classics - though the Scarlet Claw is certainly a worthy entry - but the films have nevertheless achieved a certain cult status thanks to the impeccable performance of Rathbone as Holmes, the undeniable chemistry between Bruce and Rathbone, and the otherworldly gothic atmosphere Director Roy Hill creates. The rather obvious use of low-budget rear screen projection in some scenes, stock footage, and relatively short running times of these films give them an unmistakable B flavor. And yet the memorable turns by veteran characters acors - perennial heavies like George Zucco, Lionell Atwell, and Henry Daniel - stylish direction, and atmospheric settings still stir the imagination. The film have, however, been long out of print, or available only in second rate DVD or VHS versions. MPI has remedied that with this restoration series.
Several years ago Key Video set the standard with the release of the entire Holmes series on VHS. Now MPI exceeds that high standard by a notch. The restoration, culled from the surviving 35mm prints and portions from second and third generation duplicates - is sharp, vivid, with great contrast and clear sound. The original Universal titles have been restored, as has the war bond tag that accompanied the films during their original theatrical runs. Though a few flaws remain this is probably the best anyone could have hoped for with these films given their age and the condition of the surviving film elements.
The DVD extras included with this set are satisfying but not as generous as one might have hoped for. The sixteen page booklet included with the set is the best of the Bonus Material featuring well-written commentary and production notes on each of the individual films. The text includes interesting background on the films, its stars, snippets from reviews, and personal reminiscences. Also included is an account of the restoration process. The remaining Bonus material is included only on the "Sherlock Holmes Faces Death" disk. Author Davis Stuart Davies' commentary is informed, edifying, though he sheds little light on the principles, Rathbone and Bruce. A short video montage of Sherlock Holmes posters and stills rounds out the extras. Considering that MPI's packaging boasts "Loaded with DVD extras" the actual amount of Bonus material is a bit of a letdown. MPI has yet to release the next two volumes in their set, so perhaps there is still time to remedy this issue by including biographies, filmographies, trailers, and other DVD goodies. As it stands this set deserves a solid Five Stars. Video and sound quality is everything one could want, the DVD extras leave one hoping for more.

Despite having to endure washed out, spliced-up, grainy 16mm prints pumped up with 30 minutes of commercials on TV, the Rathbone-Bruce Sherlock Holmes films were a special treat on a rainy Saturday afternoon. These are beautiful preservations (with some limited restoration). I was skeptical when I saw they were being distributed by MPI who have been releasing atrocious DVDs of the Jeremy Brett Holmes films. I have seen the first two DVD sets (volumes 1 & 2) as of this writing and look forward to volume 3. Although Mr. Brett's Holmes is more faithful to Doyle's writings, there is no doubt that Rathbone's interpretation is more fun to watch. Although we think Rathbone as the straight man of the Rathbone-Bruce duo, he exhibits astonishing comic skills in scenes like the encounter with Spider Woman (Gale Sondergaard) where, in the disguise of an Indian soldier, Rathbone praises the Spider Woman's décor as a reminder of his native India. Then he does a double take upon seeing a "London Costume" label on the false furnishings and then adds wryly, "It is all so real, so nostalgic." Buyers should beware that the individually packaged DVDs apparently do not include any extras. The popular "Scarlet Claw" installment does not include the extras found on the same disc in the collectors set. As for the three collections, the extras are less than the cover art suggests but each of the first two volumes include a full commentary on one of the four discs. (With all of the Sherlock fans and experts available, one wonders why there weren't commentaries on each film). Volume One also includes a very short documentary on the preservation effort. The subtitles on these discs are a mystery worthy of Holmes himself. First, why do they default on? And the misspellings and misinterpretations are rampant. In "Scarlet Claw" the captioner says the name of the Inn is "unintelligible" but the name appears on screen in the very next scene. Captions also lag far behind the dialogue when there's ample time to sync them up. At $20 each, these discs are at a near-premium price point to expect better attention to detail. The DVD menus are of the annoying type that plays the same 30-second track over and over and over when in the idle loop. There are no other languages offered, which is curious because these films were probably distributed internationally. The original two Fox-produced features will be available in April 2004.

I am one of those diehard Basil Rathbone Sherlock Holmes fans who used to watch all the old movies on TV late at night as I was growing up. I bought all the old Key videos from the 1980's, some new, some used. I just recently purchased Volume I and Volume 2 of this collection, and I was really impressed. I thought I would never see anything to compare to the Key videos, but this is as good or better. There have been some really bad DVD Sherlock Holmes copies out there recently.
The quality of the film print on these DVDs is outstanding and a joy to watch, and to me that is the whole important point to a DVD, not the extra features, etc., although fun I guess to have. Anyway,if you are a Basil Rathbone-Nigel Bruce Sherlock Holmes fan, this is finally a DVD set worth owning, so enjoy!

Many British films have neither subtitles nor closed captions. This set does.....so those of us with hearing deficits can enjoy these wonderful mysteries, too.

After seeing the films in this volume, I have to say that the restoration process was done very well. The visuals are excellent and in near-pristine condition (I don't think it can be made any better than this) and the sound is exceptionally clear and sharp. You can throw away the cheaply produced "public domain" copies that have been in circulation for the past 10 years, as this collection will now set the standard. However, I think that the bonus material could have been better. There is nothing wrong with the material in and of itself, but I think that it could have been presented in a different format. Overall, if you are a serious Rathbone/Bruce fan, this is a great collection.