Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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85 of 87 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Jeremy Brett Stunning As Holmes, 22 Oct 2004
Let's get the bad news out of the way first - this "Sherlock Holmes" DVD collection has no extras of any kind; it's just the stories. I had heard dire warnings too about the picture quality, but I'm glad to say that it seems OK to me. Having watched the complete set (which comprises Adventures 1 and 2, Return, Casebook and Memoirs as well as the feature-length films), I would agree with the widely-held view that the first two series were the best. David Burke is perfectly cast as the unassuming, genial Watson, who despite his state of continual perplexity is neither the oaf nor the dimwit that other actors played him as. Much has been written about Jeremy Brett's portrayal of Holmes, the vast majority of it favourable, though with some criticism levelled at the later 90s adaptations. But in "Adventures", Brett is simply astonishing. Physically ideally suited for the part, he inhabits and commands the world of 221B to such a degree that you can scarcely imagine him playing or even being anyone else. With his slicked-back dark hair, sonorous voice and extraordinary razor-sharp face, Brett combined Holmes' intelligence and logic with all the nuances of neurosis, arrogance, humour, integrity and even hints of vulnerability and sexuality to create the most compelling screen characterisation to date.
The two "Adventures" series include some of Doyle's most intriguing stories, like "The Naval Treaty" and "The Resident Patient". But even in the less imaginative cases such as that of "The Copper Beeches", the direction, acting and particularly the attention to detail is so accomplished that the story instantly comes to life. What a beguiling moment it is when Holmes, possibly aroused by a flicker of desire as well as by mere curiosity, reaches out and briefly touches Natasha Richardson's hair. And it is a joy to see his civility towards Richardson finally turning to exasperation as she makes the cardinal error of extending her consultation beyond the limits of his patience. "The Blue Carbuncle" features Holmes at his most charming, and Brett at his most subtle and versatile. The emotional impact of this predominantly lighthearted tale is heightened by the contrasts between Holmes' cordiality and benevolence in the opening scenes, his staccato bursts of energy and his coldly furious temper at the end. "The Final Problem", originally intended as Doyle's last story, really is profoundly moving as we are able fully to perceive the depth of the friendship between Watson and Holmes.
However, despite their many excellences, none of these episodes are perfect. The standard of acting, other than that of the principals, is variable to say the least, with some decidedly dodgy accents from the working-class characters and several of the bit players hamming it up like nobody's business. To me this seems needless and a shame, and why it was allowed or even encouraged is not entirely clear. Perhaps the producers were unwilling to risk making the tone of the series too dark or overly serious.
In the three subsequent series, made in the late 1980s and early 1990s, the quality is definitely more patchy. Some stories that I loved when I read them, such as "The Musgrave Ritual" and "The Problem of Thor Bridge" are solidly and satisfyingly reproduced; others like "The Disappearance of Lady Frances Carfax" and "The Red Circle" are little more than time-passers. But given the degree of inventiveness required to produce such a large number of widely differing tales, this inconsistency is perhaps inevitable.
Of the five feature-length episodes, the third, "The Master Blackmailer" is a pretty gloomy affair, but is cheered up by the remarkable sight of Holmes, a complete amateur in romantic liaisons, actually kissing a young woman. Needless to say, he really can't cope with the feelings this act engenders (although Brett, after so many years as Holmes, probably enjoyed it himself). The second film, "The Hound of The Baskervilles", is the best. The intrigue and melodrama of the plot is both balanced and enhanced by the use of locations and by the fact that Brett is off-screen for long stretches, allowing Edward Hardwicke, who became Watson after Burke left the series, to do some (largely unsuccessful!) detective work of his own. It is also very funny in places, the humour deriving from the ascetic Holmes' aversion to being touched and his attitude to food. Hardwicke proved an appealing Watson, lacking some of the warmth of Burke's portrayal but creating an interpretation of greater maturity and gravitas. The fourth two-hour film, "The Last Vampyre", is the worst of the bunch, with its blood and thunder approach and some of the acting bordering on hysteria. It's very sad too, in these late episodes, to see Brett looking so ill.
To sum up, this is a collection that many Conan Doyle and Jeremy Brett fans probably already own, but to those who haven't bought it, I would recommend it not only as a unique record of the most famous detective stories of all time, but also as incontrovertible evidence of Brett's singular and prodigious talents.
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44 of 49 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The definitive Holmes, 5 Jun 2003
Fantastic to have this series on DVD in the UK at last. Jeremy Brett is, for many, the definitive Sherlock and it is a delight to be able to see these adaptations again. Brett's performance is a remarkable one. His interpretation of the great detective in the early episodes is very true to the original stories, showing a cold, sometimes harsh figure who has no time for human foibles and trivialities. And yet, slowly, as the episodes progress and the years creep by, Brett's Sherlock grows more human, more kind, more eccentric; a warmer man, and one who, I suspect, shows far more of the actor beneath the skin. The six Casebook epsiodes are, for me, the best, and whilst some of the later programmes are, sadly, not up to much (Brett was very ill by this point), it is good to have the complete set together. Messrs Burke and Hardwicke give admirable support as their respective Watsons.The boxset comes in a large, cardboard carrier, which is not luxurious but is eminently capable of storing them all. You get over 20 discs for your money too and it is cheaper than buying them all singly. Picture quality is good TV standard - as one would expect, the earlier episodes are the most prone to some graininess and colour loss, but this is by no means a problem and the image is absolutely fine - and, besides, only a real stickler would complain (I believe some of the mastertapes were damaged in some way, so we are lucky all episodes look this good). Sound quality is excellent too and the problems which marred the 80s/90s video releases of these programmes have been eradicated. All in all, a superb collection of wonderful dramas - great locations, great period costume and setting, great supporting roles from a host of well-known British actors. And the great Jeremy Brett in his greatest triumph.
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25 of 28 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The best Sherlock Holmes ever!, 30 Mar 2003
By A Customer
This series was on television in the nineties in Holland. I still have some episodes on tape. As far as I'm concerned this is the best Sherlock Holmes depiction of our time. Jeremy Brett plays a very distinct characteristic Holmes. Also the role of Watson makes a very welcome change: he's not a simple-minded nitwit who doesn't understand a thing Holmes does, but he's a full-hearted clever human being. That goes for Edward Hardwicke as well as David Burke. If you're a Holmes fan this collection is one you must absolutely have.
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