Customer Reviews

The Sherlock Holmes Collection, Vol. 2 (The House of Fear/The Spider Woman/Pearl of Death/The Scarlet Claw)

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Lets be thankful that we are going to soon be treated to restored versions of these classics. I have purchased versions of the Scarlet Claw that were nearly inaudible and blurred. And it has been out of print for some time.

So I am writing this pre-review to express my Great Expectations and excitement over the upcoming DVD release of the 14 Sherlock Holmes movies made by Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce.
For those of us who have loved and worn out our VHS versions of these films, I am sure that I speak for many of us in expressing incredible anticipation and near shock that someone has finally recognized the need to release a "restored version" of these timeless classics.
We are told that they have been "Preserved and restored in 35mm by the UCLA Film and Television Archive." This is marvelous and I have already pre-ordered Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 from MPI Home Video.
I so hope that the entire 14 movies, are ultimately released in restored condition. Especially the rarest of them, "The Scarlet Claw" which has rarely been shown on televison and only been available on VHS sporadically.
To me and many others I know, Basil Rathbone is the definative Holmes. Not just because he looks alarmingly similar -as much as is humanly possible- to Sidney Pagets drawings of Holmes from the Strand Magazine illustrations, but mostly we love Rathbone because he portrayed the same Holmes that we as readers get through the buffer of Dr. Watson explaining away not magnifying Holmes' shortcomings.
Jeremy Brett chose to amplify every negative aspect of Holmes' personality that in the written versions Watson explained away. Rathbone's Holmes has been demeaned visciously over the past years and hopefully the respect and dignity that he gave his portrayals will be seen in all their accuracy and glory with these new digitally restored releases. ... these will have to be the best quality versions of these classics ever released...so for all of us who have cursed the incomprehensibly awful releases of these films over the years...our time has almost come. Show your support for this effort by ordering a restored version of American Film Histroy.
Much Thanks to UCLA, MPI, and Whoever was ultimately responsible for the idea of doing this!!!!

I am also waiting with delight at the release of these classics. The bad news is the two 20th Century Fox films (the first films Rathbone/Bruce made as the duo) have not been restored - THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES/ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES were not made by Universal and were not part of the restoration project at UCLA. This is why chronologically they are not being released first, as the visual condition of these two titles are not as good as the restored Universal dozen. I don't know if any cleaning/remastering has been done on the two Fox titles though.

After viewing the films in volume 2 of this collection, I have to say that they did a terrific job in restoring these classics. What makes this volume especially good is the fact that the best of the Rathbone/Bruce series are contained in it. The film The Scarlet Claw is presented the best I have seen it ever. The visuals and audio are extremely crisp and clear. Unfortunately, as in the first volume, the DVD extras could have been better (however, there is an interesting short on how the restoration process was done that I thought was good). That issue aside, I believe that most people will want this collection for the availability of these films for the first time in over 10 years.

The UCLA credit on each film reads "Preserved by" which is not quite the same as "Restored by" but the 4 films are as good as
Holmes fans have waited for. Each volume has one film with a commentary by David Stuart Davies. He gives a lot of detail and makes interesting observations but failed to review himself for accuracy. He refers to cameraman George Robinson as Bernard Robinson (a Hammer art director) and actress Kay Harding as having made just The Scarlet Claw, when she appeareded mostly as Jackie Lou Harding - and was also in The Woman In Green.
There are so many experts on the Rathbone series that MPI should have had a commentary for each film instead of the one catch-all for each set.
Nevertheless, you won't buy these for the extras but for the pleasure of seeing all 12 of Universal's Holmes films in such superb condition.
Volume 3 will be released in January and the two Rathbone Fox films in May 2004.

For all fans of classic mystery films, you should seriously consider investing in this particular set from the 14 original Sherlock Holmes movies starring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce during the 1930's and 1940's. Lovingly restored by UCLA and liberally adapted from the original Arthur Conan Doyle stories, there isn't a weak link among the four selected films here.

In "The Spider Woman," Holmes is forced to fake his own demise in order to counter the title character's fiendish plot. Perhaps the best sequence of the film is the circus shooting gallery finale.

In "The Pearl of Death," Holmes and Watson face off with a ruthless serial killer who is intent on recovering a lost jewel by burglarizing the homes of seemingly random victims. Before it is too late, Holmes must realize that he is facing more than one opponent.

Another serial killer is on the loose in "The Scarlet Claw," as Holmes make a rare visit to Canada to attend a convention. In a remote village, a sinister master-of-disguise is at work bumping off a list of unsuspecting victims that he has long sought vengeance on. The mark of death is a gardening tool used as a gruesome claw. I'll note that this particular film is surprisingly violent for the Rathbone series, but it only adds a greater sense of realism to the plot.

Finally, the "House of Fear" may be well the best of the series from the World War II era, as nicely woven humor is added by the befuddled presence of Inspector Lestrade. An insurance company hires Holmes and Watson to look into the bizarre deaths of an exclusive club of recluses known as the "Good Comrades." One by one, the comrades are brutally dispatched by one of their own after they are each left a warning of their impending demise by the receipt of a mysterious packet of orange pips. Holmes, however, is left with too many baffling clues and a narrowing field of suspects. The finale is well worth waiting for.

Of the three available collector's sets, I would recommend starting with this one before making a decision on the other two since all four titles are of a similiarly excellent caliber. I have no doubt that Rathbone and Bruce will likely insure your entertainment for hours to come.

One of the most pleasant memories of my youth were the summer vacations from school when I stayed up late to watch Universal's Sherlock Holmes films on the Late Night Movie. There was no better way to wrap up a day than by watching Basil Rathbone as Sherlock Holmes and Nigel Bruce as Dr. Watson sleuthe their way through the misty marshes in pursuit of the glowing creature of "The Scarlet Claw," or engaging in one of cinema's great battle of the sexes in "Spider Woman."

These 1944 Holmes mysteries are the highlight of this collection, and though Conan Doyle purists have been known to argue that the two Twentieth Century Fox films ("The Hound of the Baskervilles" and "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes," both from 1939) are more faithful to their source, it was the Universal films that were the most popular and with good reason. Having made their name with the legendary horror films of the 30s, the studio was better equipped to handle tales of the macabre or simply stories of suspense than almost any other studio. Even the lesser films in the Holmes series benefited from tremendous atmosphere that more than compensated for the more awkward aspects of the studio's attempt to contemporize the legendary detective. The other films in this set, "The House of Fear" and "The Pearl of Death" are also among the best. You won't hear many critics praise these films as classics, and perhaps they do miss the mark, but if it's entertainment you seek, Rathbone and Bruce provide it in abundance.

And a special thanks to another famous pipe smoker, Hugh Hefner, the legendary founder of Playboy who donated the money necessary for UCLA's restoration of these films. Is Hef a fan?

Could argue there are better things in more desperate need of this attention, but who cares? Rathbone and Bruce are great rainy day stuff. I purchased the British DVDs of 'Sherlock Holmes faces death' and 'The Scarlet Claw' and the transfers/original prints were disgraceful. I had little hope for these 4 disc sets, imagine my joy at discovering from the reviews here that they might be watchable. Well having purchased them i can say that they are more than watchable, they are pristine!

The films themselves:

'Spider Woman' is often thought of as one of the better Holme's adventures, and indeed the opening 10 minutes is electric, imaginatively filmed and gleefully ridiculous. When Holmes theorizes the killer is a woman his reason is that the victims of these 'filthy pyjama suicides' (one wonders if they soiled themselves before hitting the ground) 'were driven to kill themselves' Watson responds 'Driven? That certainly sounds like a woman.' Unfortunately they can't keep up the lunatic energy of the opening reels, the film runs aground not on the oft cited excessive Watson buffoonery but on the biplay of Holmes and the Spider Woman herself. This supposed sparring is obviously supposed to be amusing (he knows she's the fiend, she knows he knows that and that in the opening encounter it is Sherlock Holmes beneath that idiotic disguise), but the endless stilted talk between them where they drop not so subtle unnecessary clues and hints is really very tedious and smug. One scene fine, but there are many, all showcasing the ironing board acting skills of Gale Sondergaard (my memory of other films was that she was better than this, oh well). At the close Holmes implores Watson to remind him of this case whenever he gets too 'cocksure and arrogant', but of course the good Doctor never does despite ample oppurtunity in the remainder of the series. The weakest film of the 4. Holmes in this incarnation is supposed to be nonsense, but it really is better if you play it straight as a piece of excitement, not weak parody.

'House of Fear' i remembered as being quite dull, but in actual fact it delivers the goods that the Spider Woman failed to. The house is dark and old, everything creaks (everything), the local Scotsmen recalcitrant, moving scenery accidentally moves backwards, crashing winds and the Conan Doyle plot. And less 'Watson the fool' flab irrelevant to the story (though of course there is some). Good afternoon fun.

'Pearl of Death' is really quite bizarre despite the Conan Doyle grounding. Not only do we have yet another pale Moriarty immitation we have a deranged, deformed giant of a serial killer acting as his assassin known as the 'Oxton Creeper' played by the unfortunate Rondo Hatton (if you've read the Medved book 'The Golden Turkey awards' you'll know what i'm talking about'). Holmes is certifiable, his egotistical actions incontestably resulting in a handful of deaths. A pearl is stolen, backs are broken, china smashed and there is a wonderful finale in which Holmes corners the chief villain armed with a revolver only to get so involved in gloating and ranting that his adversary manages to wrest the gun from him. This irresistably brings to mind a line he spoke in the adventure 'Sherlock Holmes faces death' where he sneered 'I find these egomaniacs are always more chatty when they feel they have the upper hand'. Quite.

And finally the best of the set 'The Scarlet Claw'. Many on this page have written already about this wonderfully shadowy and vigorous second feature so i shall just comment on the ending and Holme's traditional ( at least in the earlier films in the series) closing speech, and yes, once again they are the words of Winston Churchil, only this time they are not relevant, doomladen and fatuous like the other soundbites used previously, just fatuous alone (i guess they had run out of applicable propaganda). 'Canada, whose relations of friendly intimacy with the United States on one hand and unswerving fidelity to the Motherland on the other is the link between these two great branches of the human family tree.' As the sound fades out and the stirring music begins to swell am i mistaken in observing that Rathbone visably utters an obscenity?

Great value this collection but i prefer Volume 1. The mixture of brilliant camera work and high camp propaganda in 'Sherlock Holmes and the Voice of Terror' and the old fashioned delight that is 'Faces Death' means i would buy that first in retrospect (despite the abysmal 'sherlock Holmes in Washington'). The forthcoming Volume 3 is the weakest set of 4, but make no mistake i'll be buying it, just too much fun to miss. Even if the romps had become decidedly lacklustre towards the end of the cycle. Newcomers perhaps would be well advised to purchase Volume 2 and watch 'the Scarlet Claw' as their introduction, but i'm guessing there aren't really that many non afficionados reading this page. Am i right?

I have been waitng the release of these films on DVD with great anticipation. The wait is over and I can say that all the movies have been restored to provide sharp crisp video and audio content. Anyone who have seen these movies only on late, late night television or old cheap video will be delighted with these DVDS. The standouts of this set have to be "The Scarlet Claw" & "The Spider Woman", the latter I had never seen. The set comes with a booklet providing insight into each movie and the actors involved. All in all an excellent purchase for any fan of the Rathbone/Bruce movies!

... this is an extrordinary collection. The quality is the best I've seen on dvd (previous versions) or vhs. The color (black and white) tones are sharp and clean, and the audible track is without hiss, noise and surpassingly clear. Didn't see all the promised extras (there is a booklet w/ some of the history of the film titles included in the case), but then I am more interested in the film itself anyway. The four discs come in a handsome multicompartmented case which looks great on your library shelf. One thing I have noticed as missing from these releases is the occassional background voice-over (painfully evident) that was used for side conversations. Fans of the movies will know what I mean. Still, not having those in the film does not detract from the movie.

As to the movies themselves ... well, if you're a fan of what I regard as the best Sherlock Holms/Dr Watson duo, then this is a collection not to be missed. The movies are campy and fun, and provide a great passtime for those rainy Sunday afternoons in front of the fireplace w/ a bag of popcorn. I've always enjoyed Nigal Bruce as the bumbling, vacant-eyed Watson [Watson "it's so simple, a child could see it"; Holmes "not your child"; Watson "huh? I never had a child"] and the cynical, resourceful Holmes. The mysteries themselves are trite and melodramatic -- but then, we're talking about an era in film making when this was the norm.

Seriously, if you have ever enjoyed one of these films, this is the series to buy. Twelve of the movies are already slated to be released (the ones from Universal). Hopefully the first two ('Hound of the Baskervilles' and 'The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes') will also find their way into this excellent set.

***Cheerfully Recommended ***

This resurrected series is a delight to see and the restoration by the folks at UCLA is superb. The viewer will not be disappointed with the restored audio and video quality. It brings back those wonderful "late late show" memories to see Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce sleuthing around London again solving murders and making fools out of Scotland Yard - especially in the original crisp, clear black and white that most of us have never seen. However, I was disappointed to discover that the "Bonus Materials" are only on "The Scarlet Claw" disc of the Volume Two Collection. The packaging and marketing would lead one to believe that each film in the series is accompanied by an audio commentary by David Stuart Davies. Unfortunately, "The Scarlet Claw" is the only film that has a commentary track. Needless to say, the "Loaded With Special Features" blurb on the DVD casing is somewhat deceptive. Although there is an introduction by the preservation officer at UCLA, production notes, and a photo gallery of stills and movie posters, MPI Home Video should have at least indicated that the audio commentary was for "The Scarlet Claw" only. Aside from the misleading claims regarding the "DVD Extras", the films are just as entertaining as they ever were and still a bargain. I just wish they had been a little more up-front about the special features since I would have purchased the DVDs anyway. Classic Sherlock Holmes fans are very loyal.