Sherlock Holmes on DVD...

[LaurieM]

My ds has really enjoyed Sherlock Holmes stories and I would like to purchase a set of DVDs but do not want excessive adult content. Any ideas? Thanks!

Laurie

[Shari]

The entire Granada series produced in the 1980's starring Jeremy Brett is the 'gold standard' among Sherlock enthusiasts. The productions are totally clean and very true to the original stories. My local library has most of the episodes, so you might try looking there first. Our PBS affiliate also broadcasts episodes from time to time.

Of course the 1930s and 1940s Basil Rathbone movies are very good, though somewhat campy. There was a recent BBC production of The Hound of the Baskervilles starring Richard Roxburgh that was excellent, but did show a particularly gruesome murder victim, so you might want to preview this one.

[Beth in SW WA]

Netflix has a great selection. We enjoyed them this summer after reading/listening to many of the stories.

[MaryM]

Seconding Shari's suggestion. Jeremy Brett is the best Sherlock, imo!

Mary

[LaurieM]

I appreciate everyone taking the time to respond. I'll start by searching for the series with Jeremy Brett.

Thanks so much for all your help!

Laurie

[Michelle in MO]

Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/Sherlock-Holmes-Complete-Granada-Television/dp/B000RPCJB6/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1221158106&sr=1-2), in case you're interested. Shari is absolutely correct---this series is the "gold standard", as she mentioned, and Jeremy Brett was fabulous as Sherlock Holmes. Unfortunately, Jeremy Brett died far too young---I can't remember if they were able to film all of the Sherlock Holmes stories, but they certainly did most of them.

My dh and I watched every single episode of this series together; it was a highly anticipated event in our family. I can also thank a junior high school English teacher for teaching me and other students about the wonderful Sherlock Holmes mysteries.

Enjoy!

[Sharon in MD]

Jeremy Brett...without a doubt. We watch and re-watch them over and over and over and over.....

We love Cadfael here too...but they can be a bit adult in topic.

[Kareni]

Yet another vote for Jeremy Brett here.

My husband and I were very fortunate to see a two man play by Jeremy Brett playing Holmes and Edward Hardwicke as Watson in London in the late '80s. They were phenomenal!

Regards,
Kareni

[LaurieM]

Wow! With such an positive response towards Jeremy Brett, I have ordered The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes to start, and placed the other sets in my wish list! A big thank you to all who replied!

Laurie

[clwcain]

The only Jeremy Brett Sherlock Holmes that contains "questionable" material is the one titled Devil's Foot or Devil's Snare, or something like that.

Holmes is hitting the intravenous cocaine hard in that one and the titular compound is a hallucinogenic substance. The special effects during the drug trip are just ugly-weird. But you might want to preview that one.

I can't think of anything objectionable in any of the other episodes...

His use of cocaine is dealt with, but it is not gratuitous in the rest of the series.

[Katia]

My dd is a Sherlockian and she agrees that Jeremy Brett is the gold standard in Holmes. She says you can find all of them on youtube and watch them online if you want to preview them before you buy them.

[Ellie]

Has he read all of the Holmes stories? He'll enjoy Jeremy Brett, but if he hasn't read them all, he should; Dr. Watson is an important part of them, and this doesn't come through on film.

[LaurieM]

Thank you for the heads-up!

[LaurieM]

Great! I'll check this out. Give your dd a big thanks for me!

[LaurieM]

Has he read all of the Holmes stories? He'll enjoy Jeremy Brett, but if he hasn't read them all, he should; Dr. Watson is an important part of them, and this doesn't come through on film.

No, ds hasn't read them all. He has read The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes. We will certainly look into the rest of the short stories/novels. He wouldn't want to watch the DVD before reading the story, it would just ruin the effect of a good story!

Thank you for the reminder!

Laurie