SHERLOCK HOLMES (1968)
All Surviving Episodes of the BBC TV Series
Region Code: A
Rating: Unrated
Duration: 308 Minutes
Audio: English DTS-HD MA 2.0 Dual-Mono with Optional English Subtitles
Video: 1080p HD Fullscreen (1.33:1)
Cast: Peter Cushing, Nigel Stock, Madge Ryan, Ann Bell, Nick Tate, Gary Raymond
Having first portrayed the legendary detective for Hammer Films in 1959's The Hound of the Baskervilles, Peter Cushing (Corruption) returned to the role of Sherlock Holmes for this 1968 BBC television series co-starring Nigel Stock (The Lost Continent) as Dr. Watson. The show ran for sixteen episodes, but the BBC's mind-boggling practice of of erasing master tapes and reusing them resulted in there only being six surviving episodes – which is what Severin have preserved here. It's interesting to note how Cushing approached the iconic sleuth here compared to his previous turn, the two are quite different, but both are fascinating in their own respects. Of the six episodes we also get the two-part The Hound of The Baskervilles adaptation, with Nigel Stock making for a terrific Watson to Cushing Holmes. The made-for-TV series looks a bit anemic in places, they cut a lot of corners during the production, which was quite troubled from what I have read, but it still manages to bring across a modicum of authentic Victorian flavor with convincing period costuming, plus those episodes based on the classic whodunnit stories shine even when compressed for time, particularly the 2-part The Hound of the Baskervilles which was shot on location in the Devonshire moors.
Audio/Video: Previously only available as part of Severin's Cushing Curiosities 6-Fim + Book box set Severin have now seen fit to issue this release as it's own standalone 2-disc release. The episodes are presented in 1.33:1 full frame, and were scanned from BBC tape protection masters. Obviously the SD source for these do not make for top-notch HD viewing, but as these are the only surviving elements available I appreciate just having them on disc. Given the source limitations I was quite pleased how watchable they were with decent color and stability, but the VHS tape anomalies are there, including what looks to be some frame rate issues that give motion an unnatural lack of fluidity, but overall I was still quite pleased with this presentation. The worst offender is probably the A Study in Scarlet episode, which displays the most noticeable tape distortions. Audio comes by way of English DTS-HD MA 2.0 Dial-Mono with optional English subtitles. The tracks sound fine, never less than intelligible, there's some slight warble in spots, again it's the A Study in Scarlet episode with the most obvious audio anomalies, but I did not find it too egregious.
Extras include Audio Commentaries For All Episodes Featuring Kim Newman, Author Of Annotated Dracula, Barry Forshaw, Author Of Brit Noir And David Stuart Davies, Author Of Starring Sherlock Holmes: A Century Of The Master Detective On Screen; a nice add is that All Episodes Available With BBC Countdown Clock, we also get the 18-min Illustrated Peter Cushing Audio Interview With David Stuart Davies; and the 8-min Lost Segments With Optional Commentary By Jonathan Rigby, Author Of English Gothic, And Horror Historian Kevin Lyons.
The two disc release arrives in a black dual-hubbed keepcase with a single sided sleeve of artwork. Notably, this release is the exact same release that accompanied the Cushing Curiosities 6 Blu-ray Disc + Book Set - if you own that there's no need to double-dip, it has the exact same content and packaging artwork artwork, there's nothing exclusive about this release. I recommend just picking up the box set which is phenomenal and is currently $81 on Amazon as I type this.
Episodes:
1. A Study in Scarlet (50:27)
2. The Hound of the Baskervilles Pt. 1 (51:52)
3. The Hound of the Baskervilles Pt. 2 (51:39)
4. The Sign of Four (52:29)
5. The Boscombe Valley Mystery (50:55)
6. The Blue Carbuncle (50:42)
Special Features:
- Audio Commentaries For All Episodes Featuring Kim Newman, Author Of Annotated Dracula, Barry Forshaw, Author Of Brit Noir And David Stuart Davies, Author Of
Starring Sherlock Holmes: A Century Of The Master Detective On Screen (18:10)
- All Episodes Available With BBC Countdown Clock
- Illustrated Peter Cushing Audio Interview With David Stuart Davies (8:21)
- Lost Segments With Optional Commentary By Jonathan Rigby, Author Of English Gothic, And Horror Historian Kevin Lyons (8:21)
Episodes:
1. A Study in Scarlet (50:27)
2. The Hound of the Baskervilles Pt. 1 (51:52)
3. The Hound of the Baskervilles Pt. 2 (51:39)
4. The Sign of Four (52:29)
5. The Boscombe Valley Mystery (50:55)
6. The Blue Carbuncle (50:42)
Special Features:
- Audio Commentaries For All Episodes Featuring Kim Newman, Author Of Annotated Dracula, Barry Forshaw, Author Of Brit Noir And David Stuart Davies, Author Of
Starring Sherlock Holmes: A Century Of The Master Detective On Screen (18:10)
- All Episodes Available With BBC Countdown Clock
- Illustrated Peter Cushing Audio Interview With David Stuart Davies (8:21)
- Lost Segments With Optional Commentary By Jonathan Rigby, Author Of English Gothic, And Horror Historian Kevin Lyons (8:21)
Buy it!
DiabolikDVD
Screenshots from the Severin Films Blu-ray:
Sherlock Holmes (1968)
Sherlock Holmes Extras:
