The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes
November 2004 Reviewed by: Eric Hetherington Format: DVD	(all ratings out of 5): Overall Enjoyment Picture Quality Packaged Extras Sound Quality

The character of Sherlock Holmes is one of the cultural icons of the last century. Besides the original Sir Arthur Conan Doyle stories, there have been plays, movies, comic books, literary pastiches, and radio and television shows based on the character. Jeremy Brett's incarnation stands above all others as a faithful presentation of the somber great detective. Edward Hardwicke is similarly perfect as Holmes' companion, Dr. Watson. The relationship between Holmes and Watson is portrayed by these two actors as a true friendship. Watson is not a bumbling fool or simply Holmes' foil, but a fleshed-out character that is just as crucial to the stories as Holmes himself. The Casebook set includes six stories: The "Disappearance of Lady Frances Carfax," "The Problem of Thor Bridge," "Schoscombe Old Place," "The Boscombe Valley Mystery," "The Illustrious Client," and "The Creeping Man." All star Brett and Hardwicke.

The greatest reason for the success of these productions is the faithfulness to the original stories and the superb attention to period detail. Gone is the deerstalker cap (no matter how ubiquitous in pictorial representations, it is not a central part of the original stories) and bumbling companion and in their place is a lonely and troubled Holmes. The video and sound on these discs have been transferred from the original negatives and is very good. Patrick Gowers' musical scores for these productions are marvelous. The theme song features the violin (which Holmes plays) playing over a very orderly, mathematical composition that seems to mimic the detective's thought process.

The Casebook includes a commentary by director John Madden (later to direct Shakespeare in Love and Captain Corelli's Mandolin) and David Stuart Davies (a Sherlock scholar) on "The Disappearance of Lady Frances Carfax," an interview with the two principal stars, and a short about a Sherlock Holmes museum exhibition. Diehard fans will appreciate the commentary; it provides insight into the adaptation of the stories. The interview with Brett and Hardwicke is edifying and reveals the men behind the famous characters. The short about the Sherlock Holmes museum is interesting, but a little more information about the short's origin would have been appreciated.

If you like this box of six tales -- and who wouldn’t? -- there’s another set called The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes. This box includes another six stories: "The Three Gables," "The Dying Detective," "The Golden Pince-Nez," "The Red Circle," "The Mazarin Stone," and "The Cardboard Box." The Memoirs set includes a commentary on "The Red Circle" with the screenwriter, and an interview with Adrian Conan Doyle, Sir Arthur's son. As with the museum short in the other collection, a little more information about its origin would have been nice, but it is an engrossing piece nonetheless. Adrian seems to have been quite a character, and the sight of him speeding around in his Ferrari is well worth a look.

MPI Home Video is to be applauded for fine presentations of these crucial items of Sherlockiana. Unlike most mysteries, the Holmes stories stand up to repeated viewing. It is unfortunate that Brett's untimely death didn't allow him to complete all of the original stories, but the Casebook and Memoirs will be delightful to have during the upcoming winter days when we can retreat from the snow and cold and return once again to 221b Baker Street.

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