The Sherlock Holmes Collection

Unfortunately, only six of the original 16 one-hour episodes from the 1968 BBC television series Sherlock Holmes survive. What makes the sextet collected here such a find is the dream casting of Peter Cushing, who first played the legendary sleuth in the 1959 Hammer Films version of The Hound of the Baskervilles, a gothic take on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's classic novel, directed by Terence Fisher. Cushing captures the character not just visually (his gaunt face and hawk-like profile made him the heir apparent to Basil Rathbone) but temperamentally as well—he seems to be the very embodiment of science and reason (attributes that made him such a great Professor Van Helsing in Hammer Films' Dracula series). Headlining this three-disc set is a two-part adaptation of “The Hound of the Baskervilles” (providing Cushing with the opportunity for a second take on the famous tale). Also included are faithful adaptations of “The Sign of Four,” “The Blue Carbuncle,” “The Boscombe Valley Mystery,” and “A Study in Scarlet.” Cushing is a hearty Holmes, and his friendship with the observant and intelligent (if not nearly so brilliant) Watson (Nigel Stock) grounds the show. Typical of BBC television productions of the 1960s and ‘70s, studio scenes are shot on video and location footage on film, but fans of vintage British TV have long since become accustomed to this convention, and the episodes themselves benefit from good transfers. DVD extras include the featurette “Sherlock Holmes: The Great Detective.” Recommended. (S. Axmaker)