Rating: 
Summary: Welcome Holmes
Review: Still another 2 enjoyable episodes in the awarding Granada/PBS series starring Jeremy Brett and David Burke. "The Blue Carbuncle" finds Holmes and Watson at Christmas investigating the robbery of a rare jewel. When it is found in a Christmas goose, an innocent man is accused of the crime. It is up to Holmes to set things right. "The Copper Beeches" is a story almost as terrifying as "The Solitary Cyclist" in Volume 1. When an elderly couple hire a young woman to be a governess, they insist she cuts her hair a certain way against her personal feelings. When she gives in, she learns there is more to this couple than meets the eye and it's Holmes and Watson to the rescue.
Rating:
Summary: Welcome Holmes
Review: Still another 2 enjoyable episodes in the awarding Granada/PBS series starring Jeremy Brett and David Burke. "The Blue Carbuncle" finds Holmes and Watson at Christmas investigating the robbery of a rare jewel. When it is found in a Christmas goose, an innocent man is accused of the crime. It is up to Holmes to set things right. "The Copper Beeches" is a story almost as terrifying as "The Solitary Cyclist" in Volume 1. When an elderly couple hire a young woman to be a governess, they insist she cuts her hair a certain way against her personal feelings. When she gives in, she learns there is more to this couple than meets the eye and it's Holmes and Watson to the rescue.
Rating:
Summary: Another Keeper
Review: The look on Holmes' (Jeremy Brett) face at the end of The Copper Beeches was worth it alone. The interaction between Holmes and Watson was excellent and refreshing. I had never seen these two stories and enjoyed them both. The Blue Carbuncle was an interesting take on Holmes, and showed a different side to his personality, as played by Brett. We experienced NO problems that others have reported on this series, like video / audio troubles. We have a cheap player, which has bizzare problems with some DVDs, but the main player we use, (not cheap, >$600), had no troubles at all. Definitely a Keeper DVD.
Rating: 
Summary: Brett Rules!!
Review: The sound on MPI's Sherlock Holmes DVDs has improved since volume one. Otherwise, they remain the same. The sharp picture highlights the weaknesses of the original 16mm photography, and the extras are laughable. But, here we get two of the best episodes in this phenomenal series, in a presentation that far outshines their previous life on VHS. Who could ask for anything more? I've always loved 'The Copper Beeches.' Its gothic setting and the hammy performance of Joss Ackland as the mysterious employer help to overcome the weaknesses in Conan Doyle's plot, while 'The Blue Carbuncle' showcases the methods of Sherlock Holmes better than any other adventure. The casting, as usual, couldn't be better. A young Natasha Richardson joins Ackland in 'The Copper Beeches,' and the masterful Jeremy Brett triumphs, yet again, as Sherlock Holmes. We can only hope that MPI will release the entire series on DVD. I, for one, will buy it.
Rating:
Summary: Brett Rules!!
Review: The sound on MPI�s Sherlock Holmes DVDs has improved since volume one. Otherwise, they remain the same. The sharp picture highlights the weaknesses of the original 16mm photography, and the extras are laughable. But, here we get two of the best episodes in this phenomenal series, in a presentation that far outshines their previous life on VHS. Who could ask for anything more? I�ve always loved �The Copper Beeches.� Its gothic setting and the hammy performance of Joss Ackland as the mysterious employer help to overcome the weaknesses in Conan Doyle�s plot, while �The Blue Carbuncle� showcases the methods of Sherlock Holmes better than any other adventure. The casting, as usual, couldn�t be better. A young Natasha Richardson joins Ackland in �The Copper Beeches,� and the masterful Jeremy Brett triumphs, yet again, as Sherlock Holmes. We can only hope that MPI will release the entire series on DVD. I, for one, will buy it.
Rating: 
Summary: It doesn't lay an egg...not even a blue one
Review: The third of MPI's SHERLOCK HOLMES DVDs features two perfectly amiable, if not stellar, episodes from the series' first season. Of the two, "The Blue Carbuncle" is marginally more enjoyable: the Christmas cheer lends the episode a certain charm. Unfortunately, the guest stars are rather weak. "The Copper Beeches" is an adequate, largely faithful adaptation, with a suitably creepy turn by the villain. As I rewatch this series, which I first saw while I was a teenager, I find that of the two stars, David Burke leaves a more lasting impression than Jeremy Brett. Partly, this is because Burke's Watson is designedly "revisionist" in a way that Brett's Holmes is not. But it is also because Burke goes at his role with considerably more gusto: there is a real vitality in his performance missing from Brett's. In terms of technical quality, this DVD improves somewhat on earlier offerings. There was some visual wobbling and at least one total blackout (in "The Blue Carbuncle"). The audio was markedly better, although still a bit too quiet.
Rating:
Summary: It doesn't lay an egg...not even a blue one
Review: The third of MPI's SHERLOCK HOLMES DVDs features two perfectly amiable, if not stellar, episodes from the series' first season. Of the two, "The Blue Carbuncle" is marginally more enjoyable: the Christmas cheer lends the episode a certain charm. Unfortunately, the guest stars are rather weak. "The Copper Beeches" is an adequate, largely faithful adaptation, with a suitably creepy turn by the villain. As I rewatch this series, which I first saw while I was a teenager, I find that of the two stars, David Burke leaves a more lasting impression than Jeremy Brett. Partly, this is because Burke's Watson is designedly "revisionist" in a way that Brett's Holmes is not. But it is also because Burke goes at his role with considerably more gusto: there is a real vitality in his performance missing from Brett's. In terms of technical quality, this DVD improves somewhat on earlier offerings. There was some visual wobbling and at least one total blackout (in "The Blue Carbuncle"). The audio was markedly better, although still a bit too quiet.
Rating:
Summary: Getting into the spirit of the role
Review: These early shows from Jeremy Brett's career of portrayal of the famous detective are such a joy to behold. One of the most endearing characteristics of these shows has been the attention which has been paid to keeping the story as close as possible to the original Conan Doyle story. To that extent, these particular productions are the ultimate in depiction of Sherlock Holmes and one cannot see how anyone would even attempt to remake them with another actor in the major role. Brett always threw himself into Holmes, playing him with such zeal, style and panache. In these two stories he very much continues to play the character straight as it were acting out the story true to the word. True to his interpretation to the spirit would come later. David Burke offers an intelligent interpretation of Watson, trying to throw off the categorisation of Watson as a well meaning buffoon which resulted from the Rathbone years. As others have pointed out these are two great stories, the second notable for the actors involved. From my point of view the attention to detail is marvellous, in the settings and furnishings. Unlike Poirot however, these stories do not tire with the background. The Victorians were much more adventuresome in the extent of their cultural choices than the society portrayed in Agatha Christie's novels. This is one set that belongs in a DVD library of good detective dramas together with that other beautifully produced series, 'Inspector Morse'. Ten out of Five.
Rating:
Summary: EXCELLENT SUSPENSE, INTELLIGENT AND DIGITAL SOUND
Review: This movie held me from start to finish with nary a let-up in the action, plotting and genius. The quality reproduction is perfectly clear to the eye and ear because of digital remastering-thanks. Jeremy Brett is superb as the idiocyncratic savant of honor, observation and invention. How many more are there? Watching this movie reminds me of listening to the radio with rapt attention for any scrap of a clue picked up by the incredible Holmes. The viewer feels like a participant, drawn in to the action, thinking and realism. Thanks all.
| 
