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Over the last
year or so I’ve had the opportunity
to review several different Sherlock Holmes
adventures, with Holmes played by a myriad
of actors. I’ve written about the
fantastic work of the late Jeremy Brett
in the BBC series, whom many consider to
be the best Holmes. And most recently I
wrote about Nicholas Rowe’s standout
performance of a “Young Sherlock Holmes.”
I believe my comments to the latter were
along the lines that Rowe’s calm and
quiet demeanor and lanky stature convinced
me he would one day grow up to be Basil
Rathbone.
Speaking of Basil Rathbone, (oh look, a
segue), he is the one person to play Sherlock
Holmes that I have not had the occasion
to review. I honestly never thought I would,
but once again due to the magic of DVD I
have my chance. MPI Home Video has just
released Volume 2 of a collection of Sherlock
Holmes adventures and I say it’s about
time.
Rathbone started his career in film way
back in 1921.
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Though he had quite a long and illustrious career
which included playing Baron Wolf Von Frankenstein
in “Son of Frankenstein”, and the
villainous Sir Ravenhurst in “The Court
Jester” opposite Danny Kaye, it was the
role of Sherlock Holmes for which he is best remembered.
During the 1930s and 1940s, Rathbone starred in
at least 14 Holmes films (as best I can remember),
and I still consider him to be the definitive
Sherlock Holmes.
Of course I do not mean to imply that he did it
alone. Holmes needed his Watson and throughout
the film series he was portrayed by the delightful
Nigel Bruce. The two were a team like any other.
I cannot imagine either of them successfully playing
off any other actors.
Having grown up with these great mysteries, seeing
them receive a new life on DVD was quite a joy.
I was even surprised to see that MPI went that
extra mile and used copies that were digitally
preserved and restored by the UCLA Film and Television
Archive. Granted, there are still some scratches
and spots, but overall these versions look and
sound terrific. They are much better than the
ones you see over the weekend on cable TV.
This 4-disc set also includes an introduction
by Robert Gitt, who is the preservation officer
at the UCLA Film and Television Archive. There
is also some enlightening commentary by David
Stuart Davies, a noted expert on Sherlock Holmes.
Inside the DVD case, you’ll find a booklet
that has some wonderfully written commentary and
information on each of the films by Richard Valley,
publisher of the Scarlet Street Magazine.
This Volume 2 set features the films, “Pearl
of Death”, “The Scarlet Claw”,
“The Spider Woman”, and “The
House of Fear.” All of them were released
between 1944 and 1945, each one a gem in the world
of Sherlock Holmes films.
I appreciate the fact hat MPI is releasing these
great Sherlock Holmes adventures and I am already
eagerly awaiting the release of Volume 3. (Of
course, I really need to get out and track down
Volume 1!!)
Starring: Basil Rathbone, Nigel Bruce
Extras: Introduction by Robert Gitt the Preservation
Officer at the UCLA Film and Television Archive,
Audio Commentary with David Stuart Davies, Production
Notes by Richard Valley, Photo Gallery and Original
Movie Posters.
Specifications: Full Screen
Studio: MPI
Release Date: 11/25/2003
Region 1
MPAA Rating: NR
Website
We'll give The Sherlock Holmes Collection: Volume
2 an A.
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