The Complete Sherlock Holmes Collection – DVD Review

By Patrick Luce Apr 29, 2010, 17:42 GMT

The Complete Sherlock Holmes Collection stars Basil Rathbone as the legendary Sherlock Holmes and Nigel Bruce as the venerable Dr. John H. Watson. The Complete Sherlock Holmes Collection is comprised of all 14 classic films on 5 discs: "THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES: ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES," "SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE VOICE OF TERROR," "SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE SECRET WEAPON," "SHERLOCK HOLMES IN WASHINGTON," "SHERLOCK HOLMES FACES DEATH," "SHERLOCK HOLMES ...more

While Robert Downey Jr. might have returned the world’s greatest detective Sherlock Holmes to the big screen, fans of the sleuth can also enjoy the treat of The Complete Sherlock Holmes Collection.

The collection features 14 films on five discs with the great Basil Rathbone as the legendary Sherlock Holmes and Nigel Bruce as Dr. John H. Watson. The collection also features 12 of the classic films restored to their original theatrical condition by The UCLA Film and Television Archive.

The restoration process involved combining old and new film elements with new 35mm masters to emulate the appearance and audio quality of a first-run motion picture. The restored films also include war bond tags and the Universal Pictures logos that were removed from the original elements in the 1950's.

The films in the collection include The Hound of the Baskervilles, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, Sherlock Holmes and the Voice of Terror, Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon, Sherlock Holmes in Washington, Sherlock Holmes Faces Death, Sherlock Holmes and the Spider Woman, The Scarlet Claw, The Pearl of Death, The House of Fear, The Woman in Green, Pursuit to Algiers, Terror by Night, and Dressed to Kill.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s detective has had a long life at the big screen, and has seen many different interpretations by some of Hollywood’s biggest stars. Rathbone’s take on the character may seem a bit stiff by today’s blockbuster standards, but he is the one many bring to mind when the detective’s famous name is mentioned.

This set demonstrates why the actor is so iconic in the role, and why the franchise was such a success from 1939 to 1946. Rathbone excels in nailing Holmes’ superior intellect. His character often comes off as pompous, but it is clear he is the man to call when a murder or larger mystery needs to be solved.

His character is a master of disguise, always in complete control of the situation and always one step ahead of the bad guys – even if it appears he is not.

Bruce’s take on Watson is a complete opposite of the stuffy Rathbone and gives the audience both comic relief and a relatable character. Since Holmes is so far above us, it is nice to have Bruce’s Dr. Watson along for the ride – if nothing else we can feel a bit smarter than him.

The two actors have great chemistry together and their performances make the character’s friendship believable – despite the differences in personalities. Watson may be a bit bumbling, but he is completely loyal to Holmes and Holmes does seem like he would be a tad lost without the good doctor.

Although all the films featured some re-occurring actors (mostly Rathbone and Bruce), the films have no concise timeline so they do not have to be watched in any order. In fact, The Hound of the Baskervilles and The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes were set in late-Victorian times where Sherlock Holmes and the Voice of Terror saw the detective and his bumbling partner shot into World War II themed storylines.

I have been a fan of Rathbone’s Sherlock Holmes movies since I was a kid, and this collection is a huge improvement over the old VHS tapes. The picture is clear and the sound is crisp. There is a difference between the 12 films that were restored and the other two, but it is still a decent transfer and well worth watching.

The set also has decent special features including commentary on "Dressed To Kill" with actress Patricia Morison; an interview with Robert Gitt of the UCLA Film and Television Archive; footage of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle; production notes; and theatrical trailers.

If you are a fan of Sherlock Holmes or classic movies, this set is well worth the price to add to your collection. The films may be a bit dated with the stiff acting style, but are still great to watch and enjoy.

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