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The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - Vol. 1: (A Scandal in Bohemia/ The Dancing Men/ The Naval Treaty/ The Solitary Cyclist)

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - Vol. 1: (A Scandal in Bohemia/ The Dancing Men/ The Naval Treaty/ The Solitary Cyclist)

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Almost every thing said about this series is true
Review: I am a thorough going Sherlock Holmes fan and owner of the entire series on VHS tape. Most everything that everyone says about this series is true. Excellent production values; as faithful to the Victorian era as I can imagine not having been in it; generally superb acting, especially Edward Hardwicke (replaced in these episodes by David Burke when Hardwicke was ill); extremely faithful to the original stories (dialog often being lifted verbatim), the sense of the characters is an exact reproduction of the originals, and Brett is the best Holmes ever. Nonetheless and contrary to what is usually stated, Brett's affect is often exaggerated and artificial, and sometimes the timing within his lines simply does not fit the meaning.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Finally!
Review: At long last! Jeremy Brett on DVD! Hats off to Granada for finally bringing Brett's work into the 21st century. An avid fan of Brett and Holmes, I've been waiting for SOME time for a DVD version to be released. I only hope that the project is seen to completion, with all JB/SH films on DVD. If it's reception they're looking for, they'll find it. Rest assured of that.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A Superb Sherlock Holmes Comes to DVD -- A Must Have
Review: The (British) Granada Television Sherlock Holmes Series was superb, presenting the majority of the short stories, along with two of the novels (Hound of the Baskervilles and Sign of Four) in marvelous period adaptations of Conan Doyle. This DVD looks like a great introduction to the series, presenting the first four of the episodes which first aired in the early 80s. The look and feel of the productions were just marvelous, in that they really captured Baker Street at the end the 19th century.

The key to the series was, of course, the late Jeremy Brett who really defined a new style of Holmes -- brilliant of course, but very moody -- sometimes excitable, sometime melancholy -- always very theatrical. Although this may not be a Holmes to everyone's taste, it really is quite close the Holmes presented in the stories and novels. Jeremy Brett quite simply became Sherlock Holmes for this series, soaking up his Holmes lore, and really presenting a great characterization over a period of nearly 10 years. Other characters (including the two Doctor Watsons) were also well drawn throughout, though of course it is Brett's Holmes that dominates.

The TV series was quite faithful to the original, though it was quite often necessary to fill out the stories with subplots beyond what could be found in may of the short stories.

I hope that there are many more DVDs coming out from the series. At 4 episodes per DVD, this is a great bargain in that VHS tapes of individual episodes cost about $15.

This is a must have DVD if you have any interest in Sherlock Holmes!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Save the Series! Long Live Jeremy Brett as Holmes!
Review: To many of you who visit this page, I don't have to tell you how wonderful this series is because you're already a fan of the series and want to see it on DVD.

To the others whom have not had the pleasure of owning the series or even watching the series, check A&E for their 'Mysteries' collection on Monday's (usually) and sample the series. I you enjoy wonderful acting and the beautiful and detailed Victorian settings of London, then Michael Cox's production of Holmes will knock you down. No doubt that you will enjoy it as much as I have.

Either way, if you are first time viewer or a huge fan like me, I know you will agree that this collection deserves to go digital. Jeremy Brett was one of our generation's best actors and never got the true recognition he deserved ~ having this series on DVD saves what little is left of his career on film. When VHS is eventually a thing of the past and formats like DVD become more common, his career will most likely be left to tv re-runs on Mystery and A&E. This format fortifies the best and most enjoyable representation of Holmes ever.

MPI Media is only considering the collection on DVD if this first entry sells. Its is already a bestseller but we need to make MPI confident that more issued episodes will be worth the money. Email them, harrass them, and tell them that you want to save the series.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Sherlock Holmes
Review: Simply the best... congrats to the people who fanaly decided to make this DVD. Truly a must for all Holmes fans

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The Classic Granada TV Series Comes to DVD--Perhaps.
Review: This DVD contains the first four episodes of the marvellous Granada TV series of 1984-85. The episodes are being released in chronological order and include A SCANDAL IN BOHEMIA (Holmes Versus Irene Adler), THE SOLITARY CYCLIST, THE NAVAL TREATY,and THE DANCING MEN.

It's very rare to have a production team come together and make a show that 'works'. It's even rarer when something works so very well for so very long. Everyone associated with this production did an outstanding job and the love and respect for the material shows in every frame. The writing was true to Doyle, the cinematography and editing were of feature-film calibre, the casting was marvellous. This is the production that 'got it right.'

The DVD is reportedly being made from superior prints and it is to be a vast improvement over the VHS tapes, which lose some of their quality when transferred from PAL to NTSC formats.

But the most important thing about this DVD is: It will be the only one released if MPI feels that there is not sufficient demand for the remaining episodes. So if you are fond of this show, please buy the DVD. If enough of us do, we can look forward to more outstanding episodes from this landmark series--and they will look better than they have since their original broadcast.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOMES - VOLUME 1!
Review: JEREMY BRETT stakes his claim to the all-time best SHERLOCK HOLMES in this quartet of episodes from the celebrated BRITISH television series! In the colonies we got to see these originally on PBS' "Mystery"! DAVID BURKE co-stars as DR. WATSON in these four tales adapted from the work of ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE! "A Scandal in Bohemia" finds Holmes and Watson trying to recovering an INCRIMINATING PHOTOGRAPH for the King of Bohemia! My favorite is "The Dancing Men," where some harmless looking chalk drawings get Holmes involved in a deep dark mystery! "The Naval Treaty" has Holmes searching for a secret treaty between England and Italy lost by one of Watson's old school chums! Then in "The Solitary Cyclist" Holmes tries to discover who is the strange man on a bicycle who is stalking a young music teacher! Of course, Holmes always succeeds and always succeeds BRILLIANTLY! The EXTRAS are not much, but we are here for HOLMES at his BEST and that is what this DVD offers!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: We love it
Review: Every once in a while, an actor comes along who not only plays the role of Sherlock Holmes, but actually redefines the role. In 1984, veteran actor Jeremy Brett (1933-95) actually did it yet again! And now, these wonderful Granada Television episodes are available on DVD.

This wonderful DVD has no less than four of the 55 minute episodes! My family and I loved this DVD, and think that any fan of Sherlock Holmes, or just plain fan of mysteries, will love it, too! (By the way, if you like Jeremy Brett, you can see him in an entirely different role in My Fair Lady (1964) as Freddie Eynsford-Hill!)

The following episodes are included on this DVD:

A Scandal in Bohemia - Series 1, episode 1 (April 24, 1984) - When Sherlock Holmes is approached by a mysterious, masked stranger, it is the beginning of a case that pits him against "that woman."

The Dancing Men - Series 1, episode 2 (May 1, 1984) - When a young wife acts frightened by a series of pictures of dancing stick-men, her husband turns to the great detective. But, the dancing men hold a secret that is both sinister and deadly!

The Naval Treaty - Series 1, episode 3 (May 8, 1984) - A naval treaty was stolen right out from under the nose of one of Watson's old school chums, and its publication could bring down the government. Where is the stolen treaty hidden? Only Sherlock Holmes can find out.

The Solitary Cyclist - Series 1, episode 4 (May 15, 1984) - A young lady approaches Sherlock Holmes with an unlikely story, every time she goes on a bicycle ride, she is followed by a sinister-looking man. Quickly, Holmes realizes that the young lady is in peril.


Rating: 3 stars
Summary: good show
Review: This first collection has 4 of the best of the English Granada TV series. In these stories the friendship and good humor between Holmes and Watson is revealed in nice touches, as well as not shirking from Holmes prediliction for a certain 7% solution, to Watson's eternal dismay and disapproval.

In the 4 stories Holmes is bested by a Woman and takes his comeuppance graciously; he is too late solving the riddle of the Dancing Men to prevent tragedy; he resolves the dilemma of a delicate Victorian gentleman (and we see that treaties of great import were simply locked in desks with sleeping doormen the only security...a different time indeed!); and in the Solitary Cyclist, Holmes, comes to the aid of another damsel in distress, and we get to witness his boxing skills as he gives a sound thrashing to a thug. Most satisfying.

For my money, Jeremy Brett was the quinessential Holmes, capturing the nervous disposition and energy of the man, and the high-strung, imperious intelligence that is often offset with surprising kindness and tact and care for the vulnerable. He was ably matched by David Burke's bemused, capable and intelligent Watson.

The 5 Stars are for Sherlockians of course. The quality of all the Granada Holmes DVD's varies. Wish they were better, but if this is all you can get, they are still worth it.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Delightful
Review: I have been a Basil Rathbone fan ever since I first saw his portrayal of Sherlock Holmes when I was a child, watching the movies when they were replayed on television with my grandmother. I always thought he was the authoritative Sherlock Holmes, and in the USA he very well may be. However, after reading the review of this series I decided to pick up a copy of this DVD and give Jeremy Brett's rendition a try. I must agree with everyone else - these dramatizations of the original Sir Arthur Conan Doyle texts are faithful, and Jeremy Brett's portrayal is fantastic. If you are a Rathbone fan, give these a fair try. They go in a completely different direction from the Rathbone films, and I think you will like them just as well, if not moreso.


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