There seems to be a lack of any major release on the Universal Sherlock Holmes features starring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce. There are plenty of DVDs out there with other collections by different actors, but not too many of the classic Rathbone characterization. Alpha Video has four features: THE WOMAN IN GREEN, SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE SECRET WEAPON, DRESSED TO KILL AND TERROR BY NIGHT. Each one sells for $5.95 with a discount to $5.00 if you order five dvds direct from their website. There is a fifth dvd featuring TV Epsisodes with Ronald Howard. They also sell a collection of the four Rathbone Holmes films mentioned above packaged in a beautiful black-lacquered wooden storage case. Also included is a bonus DVD containing an interview with Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the author and creator of Sherlock Holmes (not available separately). SRP is $29.95, but it goes for $19.98 on their website. www.oldies.com
I picked up Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon locally and had to pay $7.95 for it at Tower Records. The quality was quite viewable...not pristine, but fine.
CC
Crimson Collector:
I've been waiting for Universal or some other reputable company to put out the complete Sherlock Holmes Series on DVD, that being the 2 from 20th Century Fox and the 12 from Universal. Back in the 80's Showtime ran all 14 and the film quality was pristine. I was able to tape all of them and still watch them every now and then with the favorite being "The Scarlet Claw". If I'm not mistaken the titles listed on your post have been released by various companys on VHS. I own a couple of Alpha Video DVD's covering serials and western titles and with them it's hit or miss with quality. Hopefully, these classic films will make it to DVD in the near future.
Barcroft
I too picked up Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon from Apollo (as a Xmas present for me) and found its quality quite acceptable - its a good example of that fine Universal series set during the WWII years. A boxed set of the 50's TV series (Ronald Howard) from Madacy Entertainment was also of acceptable quality (2 DVD's comprising 5 eps each). Right now I'm watching an Australian produced DVD called The Legendary Sherlock Holmes (The Woman in Green, Terror by Night and Dressed to Kill) - great picture but a little noisy in the soundtrack (so far) ...I don't know where its source from. (Is "The AV Channel" an international company ?) My wife bought me all these for Xmas - what a woman !!!Crimson Collector (3/9/03 8:38 am)
SQ4, when you say Apollo Video, do you really mean Alpha Video or is there another outfit out there that I should be looking up?
CC
Sorry, Tom I meant Alpha - I'm a bit sloppy.
My son has the DVD boxed set of Jeremy Brett' Sherlock Holmes (the first 13 eps) - Mpi Home Video and its a fabulous reproduction - I would greatly recommend this as the definite Holmes.
I happened to be out and about today and I picked up Alphas Dressed To Kill........the last Holmes movie in the Rathbone series. Not too bad at all.
CC