Sherlock Holmes Vol 3

Iï¿ve always loved ï¿The Copper Beeches.ï¿ Its gothic setting and the hammy performance of Joss Ackland as the mysterious employer help to overcome the weaknesses in Conan Doyleï¿s plot, while ï¿The Blue Carbuncleï¿ showcases the methods of Sherlock Holmes better than any other adventure.

The casting, as usual, couldnï¿t be better. A young Natasha Richardson joins Ackland in ï¿The Copper Beeches,ï¿ 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.

Both of the episodes on this disc are very well done. "The Blue Carbuncle" is particularly good. The quality of the disc is not perfect but it is good. I would recommend this DVD.

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.