Editorial Review:

Description:
Jeremy Brett and Edward Hardwicke return for their final bow in THE MEMOIRS OF SHERLOCK HOLMES. Closing out the long running Granada series, Holmes and Watson are back on the case with six more arduous mysteries to solve. The ailing Jeremy Brett completes his portrayal of the Great Detective in style and Holmes' brother Mycroft plays a crucial role in the series. Episodes: The Three Gables, The Dying Detective, The Golden Pince-Nez, The Red Circle, The Mazarin Stone, The Cardboard Box

Amazon.com:
Jeremy Brett ended his riveting run as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's famous sleuth in The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes (1994), the final set of episodes in the long-running Granada Television series. In The Three Gables, an old widow receives a suspicious offer of a large sum of money to move out of her depressing mansion and leave absolutely everything behind. Holmes looks into this strange proposition and comes face to face with an enforcer and powerful pugilist, who Holmes cuts down to size with verbal agility. This adaptation may, in all honesty, be an improvement on Doyle's original story. The Dying Detective features Brett in a particularly strenuous and emotionally compelling performance as the Great Detective. Following his uncharacteristically provocative threat to expose a murderer, Holmes becomes mortally ill and delirious. Brett, who was actually suffering from cardiac problems at the time, certainly looks the part of the doomed hero, and his urgency in the role is haunting and poignant.

With Dr. Watson (the also excellent Edward Hardwicke) absent from The Golden Pince-Nez, Holmes is joined by his brother Mycroft (Charles Gray) in an investigation into the murder of a secretary to a chain-smoking, invalid professor. Gray's amusing, inscrutable performance helps supplement that of the valiantly struggling Brett, whose considerable health problems a decade into the series are well known to his devoted fans. The Red Circle draws upon facts related to a one-time, secret Italian terrorist organization. Holmes and Watson investigate a mysterious lodger who tells Holmes of her ties to the Red Circle and of her efforts, along with those of her missing husband, to break free of the Circle's long arm of revenge.

The ailing Brett largely stepped aside for The Mazarin Stone, a radical reinvention of the Doyle story, which was based on a one-act play also written by Doyle and performed in 1921. Instead of Holmes solving the crime, this time it is his brother, Mycroft (Gray again), ably assisted by Watson. (Sherlock does show up from time to time in a dream-like refrain, thinking through some knotty problem in a moonlighted garden.) Despite the absence of Brett from the main proceedings, the episode is still fun to watch, if largely out of curiosity to see Mycroft in action.

Controversial upon its first publication in 1893, The Cardboard Box confronts some nasty consequences of adultery. Holmes and Watson link the grisly mailing of two severed human ears with a complicated love triangle. Holmes, an expert in ears, naturally, has no problem with the mystery of where they came from. But toward what end mortals pursue "this circle of misery, violence, and fear" is another question. Though still ill at the time and at the end of his Holmes career, Brett gives a focused, remarkable performance while Hardwicke lends strong support. --Tom Keogh

Every once in a while, an actor comes along who not only plays the role of Sherlock Holmes, but actually redefines the role. In 1984, veteran actor Jeremy Brett (1933-95) actually did it yet again! And now, these wonderful Granada Television episodes are available on DVD.

This wonderful DVD set has six(!) of the 55 minute episodes. My family and I loved these DVDs, and think that any fan of Sherlock Holmes, or just plain fan of mysteries, will love them, too! (By the way, if you like Jeremy Brett, you can see him in an entirely different role in My Fair Lady (1964) as Freddie Eynsford-Hill!)

The following episodes are included on this DVD:

The Three Gables (originally aired March 7, 1994) - When an old woman writes to Holmes, asking for his help in investigating the death of her grandson, he and Watson hurry off to investigate. It seems that he loved too well, and definitely too wisely.

The Dying Detective (March 14, 1994) - When Holmes and Watson investigate a doctor gone wrong, they know that they are up against a formidable opponent, but when Holmes suddenly contracts a deadly disease it seems that Holmes has investigated one crime too many.

The Golden Pince-Nez (March 21, 1994) - A young man is murdered in very strange circumstances, Sherlock and his brother Mycroft rush off to investigate. But, this is a strange and murky case!

The Red Circle (March 28, 1994) - A landlady notices that her lodger is acting very strangely, and asks for Holmes's help. There's something very strange going on, involving secret societies, and a young couple whose past has caught up with them.

The Mazarin Stone (April 4, 1994) - With Holmes off on an investigation, Mycroft must undertake to investigate the disappearance of a famous jewel, while Watson investigates the case of a strange American millionaire. Before they know it, they discover that their cases are intimately linked. But, where is Sherlock?

The Cardboard Box (April 11, 1994) - When a lady disappears, Holmes gives it not another thought. But, when her sister receives a Christmas gift containing two human ears, Holmes finds himself pulled into the business of the family.

Average Rating:

Rating: - My family and I loved these DVDs
Every once in a while, an actor comes along who not only plays the role of Sherlock Holmes, but actually redefines the role. In 1984, veteran actor Jeremy Brett (1933-95) actually did it yet again! And now, these wonderful Granada Television episodes are available on DVD.

This wonderful DVD set has six(!) of the 55 minute episodes. My family and I loved these DVDs, and think that any fan of Sherlock Holmes, or just plain fan of mysteries, will love them, too! (By the way, if you like Jeremy Brett, you can see him in an entirely different role in My Fair Lady (1964) as Freddie Eynsford-Hill!)

The following episodes are included on this DVD:

The Three Gables (originally aired March 7, 1994) - When an old woman writes to Holmes, asking for his help in investigating the death of her grandson, he and Watson hurry off to investigate. It seems that he loved too well, and definitely too wisely.

The Dying Detective (March 14, 1994) - When Holmes and Watson investigate a doctor gone wrong, they know that they are up against a formidable opponent, but when Holmes suddenly contracts a deadly disease it seems that Holmes has investigated one crime too many.

The Golden Pince-Nez (March 21, 1994) - A young man is murdered in very strange circumstances, Sherlock and his brother Mycroft rush off to investigate. But, this is a strange and murky case!

The Red Circle (March 28, 1994) - A landlady notices that her lodger is acting very strangely, and asks for Holmes's help. There's something very strange going on, involving secret societies, and a young couple whose past has caught up with them.

The Mazarin Stone (April 4, 1994) - With Holmes off on an investigation, Mycroft must undertake to investigate the disappearance of a famous jewel, while Watson investigates the case of a strange American millionaire. Before they know it, they discover that their cases are intimately linked. But, where is Sherlock?

The Cardboard Box (April 11, 1994) - When a lady disappears, Holmes gives it not another thought. But, when her sister receives a Christmas gift containing two human ears, Holmes finds himself pulled into the business of the family.

Rating: - Another solid entry in the Holmes series
This entry in the DVD collections from the classic series is not quite as good as the others but still well worth owning.

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Rating: - I enjoyed this DVD
I really enjoyed this DVD. The bonus of Conan Doyle's son was a treat, as well as the piece on the opening of the Baker Street Museum in the 30's I believe it was. I found the stories very entertaining, and a little surprising considering that Mycroft gets to solve a mystery because the Jeremy Brett was in the hospital and couldn't be Holmes and Watson couldn't be in one movie because he was in Shadowlands, a favorite movie of mine. The liner notes certainly explain the difficulty brought about by the illness of the star. I found that the movies were great entertainment for somebody ready to leave the realty of the recession.

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Rating: - Whodunit?
I purchased The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes-No one will ever come close to being the real Sherlock Holmes except Jeremy Brett. Not even Basil Rathbone. What I want to know is how did Jeremy Brett really die? He was only 57 yrs. Come on now. What's the real rest of the story?

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Rating: - great collection
If you like sherlock holmes you will like this collection of his movies. It is a must have. buy it

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