Customer Reviews

Sherlock Holmes [VHS]

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

 

 

Sherlock Holmes: Collector's edition (2007) (tin box set--5 DVDs)
SOURCE: Madacy c2006; UPC: 628261045891; DVD Release: 04/10/2007

I've not been a fan of Madacy Entertainment because of its many shoddy releases of public-domain films, quality usually much worse than that of Alpha Video (LaserLight). However, Madacy has a winner here with its tin box collection devoted to Sherlock Holmes. The box itself is very attractive, with an embossed cover. It contains the following:
1) Incident at Victoria Falls (1991) (TV)(2 DVDs)
2) Sherlock Holmes and the leading lady (1992)(TV) (2 DVDs)
3) The secret identity of Jack the Ripper (1988) (TV)(1 DVD)
4) A 32-page booklet reprinting Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's first Holmes short story, "A scandal in Bohemia" (1891)

The two movies feature Christopher Lee (1922-) as Holmes and Patrick Macnee (1922-) as Watson in final cases before Holmes's retirement to Sussex, with Jerome Willis as Mycroft Holmes, Margaret John as Mrs. Hudson, and Kenway Baker as Inspector Lestrade. The films are subtitled "Golden years" because of the age of the actors portraying Holmes and Watson. The two films take place in Europe and Africa in 1910 and host several historical figures: Sigmund Freud and Elliott Ness in "Leading lady," and King Edward and Theodore Roosevelt in "Victoria Falls." These overlong movies (each over 3 hours) were part of a TV series. The two additional films planned never materialized.

Comments on contents and quality of the DVDs: I'll largely pass on thequality of the actual movies (which are padded and not the greatest) except to say that (1) the movies are quite watchable, (2) the serious Sherlock-Holmes fan should see them at least once, and (3) Madacy is to be commended in making them available in an inexpensive edition.
1) DVDs #1-2 ("Victoria Falls," 1991): DVDs in keep case; 4:3, DD2.0, TT3:14. Video quality is good, a bit softer than that of "Leading lady"; colors are vivid. Extras are minimal: a superficial filmography for Christopher Lee and Patrick Macnee, photo galleries, and previews of "Victoria Falls" part 2 and "Leading lady" part 1.
2) DVDs #3-4 ("Leading lady," 1992): DVDs in keep case; 4:3, DD2.0, TT3:13. Video quality is very good; colors are vivid. Extras are minimal: a superficial filmography for Morgan Farchild (Irene Adler) and Engelbert Humperdinck (Eberhardt Bohm), photo galleries, and previews of "Leading lady" part 2 and "Victoria Falls" part 1. Irene Adler, of course was "the woman" in "A scandal in Bohemia" (1891), which apparently justified including in the tin box the reprint of this short story.
Note: Other reviewers have noted audio-video sync problems, which are evident, even in some of the previews!
3) DVD #5 ("Jack the Ripper," 1988): DVD in cardboard sleeve; 4:3, DD2.0, TT1:20. Video quality is very good to excellent in this 1988 TV documentary narrated by Peter Ustinov. Extras include text info on 5 suspects and 5 victims. The connection between Holmes and Jack the Ripper is abundant in films and books about the detective, but it is worth emphasizing that Conan Doyle in his 4 novels and 56 short stories on Holmes never mentioned Jack the Ripper.

Incidentally, Christopher Lee (1922-) is a towering figure, literally (he is 6'5") and figuratively, in Sherlock-Holmes moviedom. He appeared in six films:
1) AS Sherlock Holmes IN Sherlock Holmes and the deadly necklace (AKA Sherlock Holmes und das Halsband des Todes) (1962)
2) AS Sherlock Holmes IN Sherlock Holmes: Incident at Victoria Falls (AKA Incident at Victoria Falls; Sherlock Holmes and the incident at Victoria Falls; Sherlock Holmes: The star of Africa) (1991) (TV)
3) AS Sherlock Holmes IN Sherlock Holmes and the leading lady (1992) (TV) 4) AS Sir Henry Baskerville IN The hound of the Baskervilles (1959)
5) AS Mycroft Holmes IN The private life of Sherlock Holmes (1970)
6) AS the narrator OF The many faces of Sherlock Holmes (1986)

Victoria Falls was excellent. I was less thrilled with The Leading Lady, primarily, I think, because on my copy the soundtrack was misaligned with the video, and I felt like I was watching a (badly) dubbed film. Additionally, Ms. Fairchild was not overly convincing as Irene Adler, and the age discrepancy (some thirty years) between Ms. Fairchild and Mr. Lee renders their relationship a bit implausible, particularly since Ms. Fairchild has aged well and does not look to be in her 40's. Mr. Lee looks excellent for his age, but rather older than Holmes' stated age (mid-50's). Patrick McNee is thoroughly amusing as Watson.

That said, I enjoyed both films (but then I'd enjoy watching Mr. Lee read a telephone book), and the wardrobe and scenery in both films are outstanding and almost worth the price of admission.

I wanted to own both of the Christopher Lee, as Sherlock Holmes and Patrick Macnee, as Dr. John Watson, movies made for television for a while, but thought that the price, individually, for Sherlock Holmes and the Leading Lady (1991) and Incident At Victoria Falls (1992) was too steep. But, put both these TV-Movies into one attractable tin box and add a very interesting Documentary (of sorts) about Jack the Ripper and you have me purchasing. They threw in the "Short" story that started it all; A Scandal in Bohemia, which a novice Sherlockian can read, to discover the true creation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. As far as the two tele-films... Christopher Lee fits the part of Holmes like a hand to a glove, albeit, a withered hand and a weathered glove. It's too bad that he wasn't given a chance to portray the part in his younger career. Well, he did, back in 1962, but his rich voice was dubbed and the script was pretty poor. I'd recommend this collection, if you are a Christopher Lee or Sherlockian/Holmesian fan.

Not a bad little deal here for the money, a total of 8 hours of viewing for under $20. I give it a four star but added an extra one b/c of morons that knock it down b/c they had missing disks. This has nothing to do with the quality of the film(s) and Amazon needs to discount these reviews. Just stop it, people.

The films are light and TV worthy, not the greatest transfer in the world but for the price it works. I also like the tin box and the inclusion of the Jack the Ripper doc and the short story of one of Conan Doyle's best stories. That is a nice extra. Lee is commanding as always and seeing him on screen in an iconic role is nice, I also like the fact this is Holmes at the end of his career, set in 1910 and we can see him later on in life. That is very rare for the character and fits in with Lee's age well, though he looks a bit too long in the tooth, just a bit.

Overall very much worth the cost.

This wasn't classic Sherlock Holmes, but I liked the material, which was fun and humorous.

This was a wonderful DVD, I love Holmes stories and would recommend this to everyone. The freebee of Jack The Ripper, is well done but very boring. I bought this from the used section for $4.95 I see they are now down to $1.95 with added shipping cost. The only problem I found was the # 4 disk did not work. With my refund I can buy another and finish the story. Even with all of this going on it is worth the hassle to see these stories. You may get lucky and all of your DVD might work. even with the problems it is a great buy.

I bought this for 9.99 thought it would be worth it
and it was. I love Christopher Lee as Holmes. Not
as good as Cushing but glad he got to play him.
The collection is a good one with good movies and
I love the Jack the Ripper tv special with Peter
Ustinov. Very interesting and well made. Of course
you have no idea who is the ripper after the show
but it is worth a view and great tin can! love it!

I like to watch movies in their original language and spanish subtitles, but this product doesn't have the option.

I bought this for $8.99 at Ross Dress for Less, and did watch both movies. A lot of made for TV nonce, that would have Arthur Conan Doyle turning in his grave.

Received item & was missing dvds. No resolution from original vendor. But Amazon refunded my money.