The Return of Sherlock Holmes Collection DVD with Jeremy Brett (NR) +Movie Reviews

The Definitive Holmes Series Continues

John G. Gleeson Sr. | Frederic, Mi USA | 09/04/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Granada's Sherlock Holmes series concludes its move into DVD format with this well priced 5 disc set. Like its predecessor, "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes", Holmes is portrayed by Jeremy Brett: he is, as others have noted, the "definitive Sherlock Holmes". I cannot imagine anyone ever excelling Brett in this role. Watson is played by Edward Hardwicke, the son of noted actor, Sir Cedric Hardwicke, and he, too is definitive in the role. Everything is near perfect in this set, including the adaptions from the Doyle stories, and the very real sense of being in 19th century England. I have only one reservation: the tape to disc transfer is far from perfect. I do not know whether this is a reflection of poor storeage of the master tapes or sloppy transfer procedures. The result is a fair amount of "ghosting", especially in the night scenes. Having noted this, the performances are, without an exception, excellent. No fan of "the world's first consulting detective" should be without this set."

The best of the series

Michael Thurman | 03/13/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"On reviewing this excellent Granada series, one must always keep in mind two separate criteria. One, the original writing of Doyle and two, the Granda production team, including of course the now legendary performance of Jeremy Brett, without question now the ultimate Holmes for the 20th century. You can't really fault the Granda production for what is unfortunately, some of Doyle's weaker stories such as Lady Carfax, for instance.

In this series of 11 episodes however, both the writing and the production are top notch all the way, and it is arguably the best collection of the whole group.

Doyle purists may prefer the Adventures, and with good reason, for the stories were fresh, creative and Doyle had not yet tired of writing about his famous detective.

But was it luck or theatrical Fate that brought Edward Hardwicke into the series, precisely at the point where Holmes and Watson's relationship necessarily becomes more personal and complex - right from the first episode where Watson displays a range of emotions upon finding Holmes alive in "The Empty House"?

Although David Burke does an admirable job in the first series, it is Hardwicke who is able to take us further into the personal ups and downs of their friendship with all the humor and understanding that fully fleshes out the two main characters.

Hardwicke's subtle psychological insight into Watson's role is only one of the rewards of this magnificent series.

Where else will you see the humanity of Holmes so revealed as in "The Devil's Foot" - the only time Holmes ever addresses Watson as "John" - as he battles his cocaine addiction? Where else will you see a more mature and compassionate Holmes comforting women in distress, as in "The Man With the Twisted Lip"?

Holmes is never better than when solving a murder mystery, and you get that in spades here, as in "The Devil's Foot", "The Abbey Grange" and "Silver Blaze". "The Six Napoleons" takes us into the Italian subculture, and "Wisteria Lodge" into Latin American politics. And Jeremy Brett was never better than in the scenes where he discovers the ancient crown of England, or the consummate acting job - using only his facial expressions - to reveal his insights into the secret of "The Second Stain".

There's something for every Sherlock Holmes fan here. And again, what really makes this group of episodes stand out is the richness and humanity between the characters, not only between Holmes and Watson, but also with Mrs. Hudson and the Scotland Yard inspectors. Even Mycroft, Holmes brother, makes an appearance in "The Bruce Partington Plans", which further humanizes Holmes character as we see the two brothers relationship developed more.

What are you waiting for? Buy this series now! You'll enjoy it again and again.

Michael Thurman"

More brilliance

Zack Davisson | Seattle, WA, USA | 07/15/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

""The Return of Sherlock Holmes Collection" continues the almost-perfect adaptation of Doyle's original Sherlock Holmes cannon. Jeremy Brett returns as Holmes incarnate, slightly less exuberant due to his illness, but lacking none of the spark and charisma of "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes." Edward Hardwicke takes over as Watson so completely that David Burke is hardly missed.All of the high-production values, including excellent location shootings and costumes and such, are carried over along with the cast. Granada Television really put care into this series, and it shows.There are some great episodes here, such as "Silver Blaze" with Holmes and Watson investigating a missing race horse, "The Devil's Foot" with Holmes battle against his own addiction as well as crime, the wonderful "The Six Napoleons" and the eerie "The Musgrave Ritual." Actually, they are all top-quality.This series is the finest Sherlock Holmes adaptation, bar none, and the high quality contines in this set."

The Return of Class

Brent Barkman | Cicero, IL USA | 03/07/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The "Return of Sherlock Holmes" is probably the best season of the Brett series. The eleven episodes are our favorites. Edward Hardwicke is by far our favorite "Watson" as well. The bonus material is a quite nice addition, especially the interview with Hardwicke. My wife and I can't think of a better way to invest eight hours of your time than to settle back and enjoy "The Return" of the world's greatest Consulting Detective!"

The Return of London's Only "Consulting Detective."

Themis-Athena | from somewhere between California and Germany | 10/27/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"In his foreword to Bantam's "Sherlock Holmes: The Complete Novels and Stories," Loren Estleman called the relationship between Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson literature's warmest, most symbiotic and most timeless: rightfully so. Not surprisingly, film history is littered with adaptations of Conan Doyle's tales and Holmes pastiches (using the protagonists but otherwise independent storylines). Yet - and with particular apologies to the fans of the Basil Rathbone/Nigel Bruce canon - none of these prior incarnations can hold a candle to the ITV/Granada TV series produced between 1984 and 1994, starring Jeremy Brett as Holmes and first David Burke, then, beginning with this cycle and in near-seamless transition, Edward Hardwicke as a refreshingly sturdy, pragmatic, unbumbling Dr. Watson.

Jeremy Brett was the only actor who ever managed to perfectly portray Holmes's imperiousness, bitingly ironic sense of humor and apparently indestructible self-control without at the same time neglecting his genuine friendship towards Dr. Watson and the weaknesses hidden below a surface dominated by his overarching intellectual powers. The series takes the titles of its four cycles of shorter episodes - "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes," "The Return of Sherlock Holmes," "The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes" and "The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes" - from four of the five short story collections featuring London's self-appointed only "consulting detective" (published 1892, 1905, 1894 and 1927, respectively). While not all episodes correspond exactly with the original story collections, and the series's premise - Holmes's and Watson's shared tenancy of rooms at 221B Baker Street - was no longer true even at the beginning of the "Adventures," particularly the first two cycles ("Adventures" and "Return") are must-haves for any mystery fan.

"The Empty House:" Three years after Holmes's seemingly deadly dive into Reichenbach Falls in what Conan Doyle originally conceived as his final clash with evil mastermind Professor Moriarty ("The Final Problem"), his absence is painfully felt in a murder Scotland Yard's Inspector Lestrade (Colin Jeavons) and Dr. Watson are unable to solve. But this cycle is called "The Return of Sherlock Holmes" for a reason ... and with the detective, his evil opponent and his minions are back as well.

"The Abbey Grange:" Holmes and Watson solve the mystery surrounding the death of rich Sir Eustace Brackenstall - and Holmes surprises Watson with his unorthodox ethical stance once the culprit is uncovered.

"The Second Stain:" In one of several mysteries seeing Holmes involved in international intrigue, he is on the hunt for a letter stolen from a Cabinet Secretary's house, and feared to bring about a war if falling into the wrong hands.

"The Six Napoleons:" A London dealer sells small busts of Napoleon to six unconnected purchasers. Shortly thereafter, several of the busts are found smashed to pieces. Holmes and Watson connect the scattered dots and link the case to a murder that Inspector Lestrade had considered unrelated.

"Wisteria Lodge:" Taken from the 1917 collection "His Last Bow" - the only one not nominally represented here - this tale of murder and an unhappy governess begins when Holmes's client-to-be awakens to find the house where he has been staying as a guest unexpectedly empty, with no trace of his host or any of the other inhabitants in sight.

"The Priory School:" Called upon by an exclusive private school's anguished principal, Holmes and Watson take a trip to the moors to uncover the trace of a powerful nobleman's vanished son - and his likewise vanished German teacher.

"The Devil's Foot" (likewise from "Last Bow"): Holmes and Watson visit rural Cornwall and find themselves facing the gruesome case of a young woman who has died without apparent cause, and her brothers, inexplicably gone mad over night. While different from "The Hound of the Baskervilles" (published 16 years earlier) in storyline and solution, in mood and references to local superstition this is reminiscent of Holmes's probably best-known case.

"Silver Blaze" (from "The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes"): Holmes's and Watson's foray into the world of race horse training is the source of one of the detective's most famous quotes, relating to "the curious incident of the dog in the night-time" (which most recently inspired Mark Haddon's like-named book), where Holmes explains that a watch dog's *failure* to do anything - particularly bark - was the "curious incident" that caught his attention, and conclusively allowed him to narrow down the circle of suspects.

"The Bruce-Partington Plans" (from "Last Bow"): One of the rare cases where Holmes is joined - nay, where his investigation is even initiated - by his equally intelligent, mysterious brother Mycroft (Charles Gray), now in the British government's service in a position of his own creation. The mystery concerns the disappearance of the plans for a brand new submarine, and the murder of a young government employee who had been among the few persons with access thereto.

"The Musgrave Ritual" (from "Memoirs"): While Holmes and Watson are staying with one of Holmes's rare boyhood acquaintances, the gentleman's exceptionally well-informed butler disappears, followed shortly by a maid he had once courted. Using an old family ritual the butler had been discovered to be secretly studying before his disappearance, and relying on his knowledge of trigonometry, Holmes follows their trace - and on the way, solves a riddle that has been in the family's possession since the days of King Charles I.

"The Man With the Twisted Lip" (from "Adventures"): The "consulting detective" is called to investigate the disappearance of a wealthy man last seen in one of London's infamous opium dens. Suspicion soon falls on a beggar, the present occupant of the room where the vanished man was last seen. But is the beggar truly guilty - or is there something else to uncover?

Stories from the "Return of Sherlock Holmes" collection used in this series's other cycles:

In "Adventures:"

"The Norwood Builder"

"The Dancing Men"

"The Solitary Cyclist"

In "Memoirs:"

"The Golden Pince-Nez"

Adapted as a stand-alone movie-length feature entitled "The Master Blackmailer" co-starring Robert Hardy:

"The Adventure of Charles Augustus Milverton."

Also recommended:

The Complete Sherlock Holmes: All 4 Novels and 56 Short Stories

Sherlock Holmes: The Complete Granada Television Series (12 DVD)

Sherlock Holmes: A Baker Street Dozen

Sherlock Holmes of Baker Street

Bending the Willow: Jeremy Brett As Sherlock Holmes

Dr. Bell and Mr. Doyle - The Dark Beginnings of Sherlock Holmes

Murder Rooms - The Dark Beginnings of Sherlock Holmes

The Life of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Conan Doyle, Detective: The True Crimes Investigated by the Creator of Sherlock Holmes

Arthur and George"

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	The Return of Sherlock Holmes Collection Actor: Jeremy Brett Genres: Drama, Television, Mystery & Suspense NR 2003 7hr 30min THE RETURN OF SHERLOCK HOLMES DVD COLLECTION The celebrated duo of Jeremy Brett and Edward Hardwicke are back as the masterful Sherlock Holmes and his faithful cohort Dr. Watson. Based on the original stories by Sir Arth... more » « less
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