Sherlock Holmes - The Complete Series 39 Episodes (DVD, 2008, 3-Disc Set)

This is the complete TV series from 1954-1955 and it includes 39 episodes. First the bad news: the film quality is what you should expect for digitally remastered TV program of the 50's. There are no skips or jumps in the films, but once in a while you can see the dialog is out of sinc with the actors'mouths. The good news is that it is faithful with the Sherlock Holmes tradition; smart guy with his faithful friend solving crimes with very few clues in a 25 minute format. Ronald Howard and Marion Crawford won't be confused with Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce but they really do a nice job on a consistant basis. It comes in a case with 5 discs and there is an introduction to the series by Christopher Lee.
SUMMARY; If you are a fan of Sherlock Holmes, it is likely that you will enjoy this series. Heck, you can watch a new episode a day for more than a month!

This series ran for a few years, and about three dozen episodes. We had seen the pilot, and intrigued by the characters, we bought this set. Holmes is a different, more human and humorous character, much as you would expect from an old television series. Watson, on the other hand, is a more intelligent and stronger foil to this Holmes. Lestrade had a great blend of bumbling confidence, who actually was a very sympathetic character.

While most of them were drama, all of them had a touch of humor, and some of them were just comedies. All things considered, someone who likes the old classic comedies or Holmes will love this show, and find the new perspective refreshing.

The movies are good and worth the price to watch them. However whoever produced the tapes did not copy properly all of the CD, so many are blank and will not play well. You are likely if half of them will play. It would be a nice set if you can get the complete series.

Sherlock Holmes - The Complete Series 39 Episodes (2005, DVD)this is a great collection of the Holmes stories that were on TV that featured Ronald Howard as Sherlock Holmes and Howard Marion Crawford as Dr. Watson. Mr. Howard and Mr. Crawford give very credible performances.

After reading all the Sherlock Holmes stories, I of course wanted some film versions. I bought this TV series & 3 full-length movies.The first with Ronald Howard, & the 2nd with Basil Rathbone as the famed detective. I must say I was disappointed with the Rathbone version. The characters were extremely inconsistent with Doyle's original characters. But this series is superb. The characters are perfect! Exactly as the books. This Holmes has that dry humor which he displayed so often in the well-known stories. Watson is not a bumbling 'trip-over-bucket' fool, but a loyal friend who is quite ready to take on anything & anyone! The stories, since they are only 30 minutes a piece, are not quite as complex as the original stories, but they are still great. A few of the episodes are pretty much word for word of a few of the short stories. Namely "The Case of the Red-Headed League", "The Case of the Shoeless Engineer"(i.e. the Engineer's Thumb) & so on. I would HIGHLY recconmend these shows over the Rathbone versions, to a TRUE Holmes & Watson fan. If you just want some good mysteries Rathbone is the way to go. But if your looking for a film version of the book, this great series must be your only choice.

This is a really great collection of Sherlock Holmes mysteries. Great stories and great acting that bring back childhood memories of when this series was on television. I highly recommend this collection!

A television series from the mid-fifties I had forgotten about until I saw the dvds on ebay.Truly good acting by a cast that fit the spirit and times of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle to the letter with appropriate wardrobe and beautifully re- created 221B Baker Street.Limited mainly by its 30 minute formula and an occasional weak plot.A truly worthy set for all Sherlockians even though the cases are for the most part unrelated to "the cannon".I consider this series Watson character to be one of the best and most believable.Good acting in glorious black and white...BUY IT !

How great to see the Old Sherlock Holmes movies. So many I have never seen. Anyone who loves old movies will LOVE these movies. Great quility and sound. I suggest all of you try this series. What a great buy for hours of entertainment! Thanks again eBay.

Donna

This is by far my favorite tv collection that I now have. It combines the classic stories and intellect of the books, but adds humor and humanity to Holmes.
I bought this because I am a true fan of Sherlock Holmes, and as low as the price was I felt I would see how good it was. I am truly impressed! Not only are the stories well written, but the cast is amazing.
The quality of these dvds is amazing when you consider how long ago this series aired. There are a few glitches in the sound and an occasional bubble or two in the film, but hello this is a very old show.
What you are buying is a wholesome and funny trip back into the wonderful mind of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

Holmes fans will like this early 50's tv series. the scripts are pretty good on most of the episodes. The picture and sound quality is good. An added bonus is introductions by Christopher Lee.

Well written stories and realistic cahracters. Ronald Howard is an outstanding Holmes, and Howard Marion Crawford is a somewhat less bumbling Watson than seen elsewhere.

the sale was excellent, and smooth. great seller. the product was in great condition and the delivery was prompt. i will do business with this seller again and again.

It's great to see the TV series I missed as a child. I was born in Idaho & we didn't get TV until late 50s. So even though I'm a Serlock fan I had not seen the series until now. Ronald Howard is a very credible Sherlock & Watson is well done also. Great addition to my collectiojn! ! ! ! !

I purchased this set of DVD's because I consider this Sherlock Holmes series the best ever. Other films portray Holmes as a detached computing machine and Watson as a bumbling idiot. The films by Basil Rathbone are like this and they are set in the 1940's not the turn of the century where they belong.In this series Sherlock is just as brilliant but a much warmer person. Watson is an equal partner and a real hero at times. These two are a team. Before I bought this set with much searching I was able to collect seperate discs of the series containing 18 episodes. On TV I saw 4 more. This set has all 39. I wish there had been 139 or more.

A must for Sherlock Holmes' aficionados. No collection is complete without Basil Rathbone despite your actor preference. A real treat. The original movies were truer to Dr. Doyle's writings and lacked the Hollywood treatment and commercial pandering seen today. Current movie in theater might be entertaining, but I am a purist and appreciate the original genius that attracted us in the first place.

This is a fine adaption of Holmes from tv in the mid-50's. Although it rewrites canon history a bit it does so in a way that is close enough for government work. I'd watched a few episodes online & enjoyed them enough to want the series.

Howard & Crawford are excellent as Holmes & Watson respectively. Holmes does most of the headwork (naturally) and Watson does the physical stuff (w/i the limits of his shoulder wound of course!). Its great to see Watson as an intelligent but undeductive action hero while Holmes gains a sly sense of humor (he is a wiseass & he knows & loves it!).

In a way there's just a touch of tongue in cheekiness in the show that almost makes it feel as though it's actually Solar Pons & Parker. Clearly the leads were enjoying themselves. The low budget of the times is actually an asset as it forces the focus on Holmes & Watson allowing for some convincing friendly interaction which is lacking in most versions.

This is a very interesting portrayal of Sherlock Holmes. I like the older versions of his movies and this series fits the bill for me.

if you like mysteries, this series is a must see! Reason #1: short and sweet, each episode is about 20-25 minutes long. Reason #2: good acting, Ronald Howard and Howard Marion Crawford, 'nuff said. Reason #3: you'll feel smart and cool after watching these, Arthur Conan Doyle wrote these. Reason #4: I've never seen a set overpriced, I got this for $6-7 and it has 39 episodes... when last did you see a deal like that?? Reason #5: read all the above and understand what you must do now- buy a set and watch them!

I've been looking for this item for some time. Very glad to get it and at a great price.........................​..............................​..............................​..............................​..............................​..............................​..............................​.................

It is exactly as I knew it to be. I am an avid reader, viewer of all Sherlock Holmes things. This was the best buy Ive made as far as a dvd set starring Ronald Howard. I will never grow tired of watching it...I will watch until the discs wear out! Excellent product and seller...The complete 39 episodes are of great quality. I can't wait to purchase even more movies and/or books series.

I love these old shows! Black and white and no special effects, but a good representation of the Sherlock Holmes stories in the books. Basil Rathbone is a more convincing Holmes in the full featured movies, but these short episodes are good too.
jim

The first and only American television series of Sherlock Holmes adventures aired in syndication in the fall of 1954. The 39 half-hour mostly original stories were produced by Sheldon Reynolds and filmed in France by Guild Films. Ronald Howard (son of Leslie Howard) starred as Holmes and Howard Marion Crawford starred as Watson. Archie Duncan appeared in many episodes as Inspector Lestrade (and in a few as other characters). Richard Larke played Sgt. Wilkins in about fifteen episodes billed as Kenneth Richards. The series' associate producer, Nicole Milinaire, is considered to be the first woman to attain a senior production role in a television series.

Most of the episodes were non-Canonical stories except for an adaptation of "The Red-Headed League". Other episodes used the basic ideas of Holmes stories but changed details ( e.g. "The Greek Interpreter" became "The French Interpreter").

Ronald Howard (right) as Sherlock Holmes opposite Howard Marion-Crawford's Dr. Watson. Sheldon Reynolds had been successful with his European-made series Foreign Intrigue and decided a Sherlock Holmes series made in France for the American syndication market might also be successful. Several sets were built in Paris for the street otside 221B Baker Street and the flat itself. There were a number of other sets build for a variety of locations and then re-dressed as necessary (homes, Scotland Yard, shops,parks, offices, etc.). Besides the three principals of Howard, Crawford and Duncan, a number of actors appeared regularly in the series including French-born Eugene Deckers who played no fewer than seven different characters both victims and villains. The most famous actor to appear as a guest was Paulette Goddard but others who would gain fame or near-fame in the future included Delphine Seyrig, Michael Gough, Dawn Addams, Mary Sinclair, and Natalie Schafer.

There was very little location work and most of the series was filmed in the studio with many stock shots of carriages on London Bridge and near Big Ben giving the impression of London. However, on a few occasions like the Case of the Eiffel Tower the French filming locations were used.French actors were extensively used in small parts and several affected English accents with varying levels of success.

Many of the episodes were directed by Steve Previn who was the brother of composer Andre Previn.

The chemistry between Sherlock Holmes and Watson was perfect. Watson was funny and charismatic, and Holmes as genuine and good-natured. The two made a terrific team and each episode was an adventure. A series that I will definately watch over and over again.

I love this Sherlock Holmes DVD Set because it's from the Golden Age of TV. I really enjoy watching the episodes because the plots are both interesting a entertaining. A great buy and the price is right also.