Sherlock Holmes: ITV Series - Complete Collection (16 Disc Box Set) [DVD]

What did I use this product for? Drooling over the late, great Jeremy Brett, of course!He was the best ever Sherlock (sorry Mr. Cumberbatch!) and a terrific actor, as well as being totally delicious. I love the intricacy of his gestures and facial expressions, and the balletic grace of his movement. Sometimes the speed of delivery of his lines is a little unintelligible, but that was Sherlockian - "like a stick rattling along railings". (Inspector Alec McDonald!)The history of the way Jeremy's personality appeared progressively to mesh with Sherlock's is well known, and a little eerie and sad. Also sad to observe the change in his appearance later in the series, due to illness, for which at the time he was unjustly criticised. In fact he was extremely brave to work through that ill-health, so as not to let down his audience and Granada.I believe the only reason he received no major industry awards, is that Sherlock is considered "light-weight" - Brett left the lofty heights of National Theatre Shakespeare to work in the film and television sector.But perhaps, as Holmes himself was so fond of saying, "his work is its own reward".

For me, and I know for many others, there is only one Sherlock Holmes on film and that is the wonderful Jeremy Brett. There is also one outstanding Dr. Watson - David Burke, closely followed by Edward Hardwicke.Jeremy Brett was a sad loss to the world when he passed away in 1995. He had much in common with the original Sherlock Holmes and portrayed him with a passion rarely seen in acting. He understood the character, lived and breathed him and throughout his own personal problems carried the part through over 39 hours of brilliant episodes.I could write so much about this fabulous boxed set, but it has all been written so many times and the stories are too well known to require description so I will just add that this complete collection has pride of place in my DVD library and I would not part with it for all the tea in China, Sri Lanka and India. I love it and have watched it many times.

It has been a comfort - after having watched the Cumberbatch/Freeman modernised version of the Sherlock Holmes' adventures - to return to the episodes with the unsurpassable Jeremy Brett. Cumberbatch is indeed a marvellous actor but as Sherlock, perhaps obeying to the director's orders, he becomes rather ridiculous instead of eccentric, while Brett is indeed an actor who leaves you to face the real Holmes without any effort. Here, with Brett (he also has a wonderful diction - Cumberbatch with his speaking rapidity is only fastidious) , everything is delivered with great honesty, without the strange challenges to combine thwarting ways which do not let you understand the story as in the Cumberbatch's. Nowadays it is often customary to modernise anything in order to surprise, to give new impulse, but I - pardon me, friends, thinking otherwise - don't appreciate the bully idea of changing everything, with the boldness of believing to be more intelligent than the original authors!

Having watched a few episodes of Holmes on tv, and thoroughly enjoying them, I couldn't resist buying the complete box set. It's great to be able to watch whenever you like and without all the adverts! Great adaptions by ITV of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's timeless classic escapades! So far, we have watched both discs one and two and have now begun on disc 3. Jeremy Brett, armed with deerstalker and pipe, stars as the legendary Sherlock Holmes who, in my opinion, by far, portrays the best Sherlock Holmes! As well as equally superb acting from both Edward Hardwick and David Burke, who are on hand as Dr. Watson- Holmes's indispensable assistant! There is a total of 16 discs (41 films) which the whole family have enjoyed so far. Perfect for a lazy Sunday afternoon with a cup of tea and cake! Compulsive viewing!Arrived in two days, well packaged, a real bargain at just £23.99- for a complete collection. Many other box sets, such as Agatha Christie's Marple and Midsummer Murders, both of which are also firm favourites of mine, are considerably more expensive!Look forward to watching some more episodes, and as Sherlock Holmes's himself would say- Elementary, my dear Watson!

For any parents wondering, the vast majority of episodes are PG (11 out of 16 discs).> Rated 12: Disc 16, I haven't got to this one yet so don't have an idea why.> Rated 15: Disc 3 (possibly because of violence in The Greek Interpreter or ghostly feel of the Resident Patient? The other episodes on this disc are the Norwood Builder and the Red-Headed League).> Disc 8, perhaps because of drug use in The Devil's Foot? Although that is also the episode where Holmes gives up cocaine, I heard by special request of Jeremy Brett when he realised the number of children fans the show had. (The other episodes on this disc are Silver Blaze, Wisteria Lodge, and The Bruce Partington Plan).> The Eligible Bachelor and The Last Vampyre.Our family was pretty conservative, so maybe my parents reasoned that Sherlock always finds the scientific, rational answer (like the phosphorus on the ghostly hound of the Baskervilles) and that can be a good lesson for kids. Wonderful memories, the violin intro still sends shivers up my spine.

Excellent! Arrived only 14 hours after I placed the order!As far as the actual DVDs are concerned, there will never be a better Holmes than Jeremy Brett, and it will be some time before anyone comes close. Of the two Watsons, I think Edward Hardwick has the edge over David Burke, but only by the slimmest of margins. Even the supporting cast includes some greats. Colin Jeavons may be the definitive Lestrade, Charles Gray is Mycroft to a "t". John Thaw, Anthony Valentine, Robert Hardy, Frank Finlay, Peter Vaughn, and appearances by the young Jude Law, James Purefoy and the late Natasha Richardson are just some of the hidden gems.