Description

Contains four classic feature films:
SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE VOICE OF TERROR (1942) - When taunting saboteurs warn of a Nazi invasion of the British Isles through a horrific radio menace, the British Intelligence's Inner Council calls in Sherlock Holmes to help in the crisis.

SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE SECRET WEAPON (1942) – The great detective must stop the Nazis from getting their hands on a new bombsight, wrapped in a code of dancing men.

SHERLOCK HOLMES IN WASHINGTON (1943) – Top-secret documents are missing and a British secret service agent is dead.Holmes and Watson go to Washington to recover the documents before they fall into the wrong hands.

SHERLOCK HOLMES FACES DEATH (1943) - Holmes and Watson are summoned to Musgrave Manor to investigate a murder. Holmes solves a complicated puzzle of an ancient family ritual to expose the murderer.

BONUS MATERIAL
Commentary from renowned British author David Stuart Davies
Photo Gallery
Original Movie Posters ... Read more

Reviews (25)

A good start
I just finished watching the movies in this collection, and over all I am very pleased. The restoration was very well done. The picture is clear and sharp, and the sound is excellent, especially when you compare it to the other Basil Rathbone Sherlock Holmes DVDs that were previously available. There is not much to say about the extras, as there is not much in the way of extras. The first three movies are of the ultra patriotic Holmes V.S. the Nazi variety, and those have never been my favorites. The last film in this collection is much better, and while it is set in "modern times" (That is to say 1942) the war is in the background and it's the mystery and detective work that is on display. While all the movies are not my favorites I do like all of the series and I am very pleased that these sets are finally being released, as it brings back memories of the Saturday afternoon movie matinees on the local independent station from when I was a kid. If you are a fan of the Basil Rathbone\Nigel Bruce films this is a must buy for you.

Sherlock Holmes Faces Restoration
Noted Sherlock Holmes Scholar, Andrew Kemp, was not kidding when he said that these are the best reproductions of these films since their original theatrical release. Digitally restored in 35MM from the UCLA Film Archives prints, they are a joy to behold for those of us who have had to make do with ratty and incomplete public domain copies. MPI has again done Holmes fans a great service by making this fine and popular film series available once more. I say "again," because they have also released the much respected Granada TV series featuring Jeremy Brett.

Previous reviewers have already commented on how Universal moved Holmes ahead into the WWII era, and had him chasing down Nazi's, spys, and assorted modern "evil-doers." Never-the-less, the series appeal lies not in the historical context, but in the charisma of Rathbone and Bruce as the series' Holmes and Watson.

These films are not great cinematic milestones, but they are great fun - pure entertainment, and as each new generation discovers Holmes, they always key in on this series as the all-time favorite. If you haven't seen these films before, or even if it's been awhile since you saw them on TV as a kid, do yourself a favor and pick this set up - you won't regret it.

Rathbone/Bruce Series
First, let me start by saying I've owned all 14 movies on VHS for years and enjoyed all of them, and now that the dvd's are out, I'll be buying them again, but not all of them.
In my humble opinion the best 9 titles in the series are: The Hound of the Baskervilles(1), The Adventures or Sherlock Holmes(2),The Voice of Terror(3), The Secret Weapon(4), Faces Death(6),The Scarlet Claw(8), The House of Fear(10), Pursuit to Algiers(12), and Terror by Night(13).
The remaining 5, Sherlock Holmes in Washington, The Spiderwoman, The Pearl of Death, The Woman in Green, and Dressed to kill are
all decent, but not stellar like some of the other titles, especially after repeated viewings. Surprisingly, Pursuit to Algiers and Terror by night, the 12th and 13th entries respectively, are the two sleepers late in the series, GREAT!!, while Dressed to kill is kind of a let down for the series finale! I think Basil Rathbone had had his fill by this time, and it shows in his somewhat lackluster performance, compared to earlier entries. "The Hound" and the "Adventures of" (both 1939, and offered only separately), are clearly the two best in the series, and also the longest at about 80-85 minutes, while the rest of the series clock in between 60-74 minutes, depending on the title. It's a shame these movies weren't longer, like 90 minutes or so.
Any of the three volume sets offered here by MPI are a good place to start for any fan, but I'm choosing individual tiltes this time to get the cream of the crop. I'm also ordering my first of the Jeremy Brett series, which are superb, and a nice refreshing change, but I'll always come back to Rathbone, still the ultimate Holmes!! Buy them all!, or at least the 9 I've suggested, I think they're the best of the series.

sync is off
Voice of Terror is the only one I have seen so far. It was almost a joy to see this fine war-time piece. However, when the voice and lip movements are out of sync one must ask how this was allowed to happen. Not only is it a distraction in full shots, but the close ups are truly disconcerting. At fifteen dollars a disc, I certainly want more professional results. Also when my package arrived there was rattling in the box. It turned out that all of the discs were loose in their container. I ordered vols two and three at the same time and the discs in their boxes were also free to move about, making the possibility of scratches and bumps to happen. The packaging of these classics is appalling. If the sync problem exists in all the discs then the "experts" that put these together fall far short of their responsibilities. The fact that it should happen even once to these classic movies is bad enough. Enough! Amazon Books has always been top notch, but I fear the DVD department is far below what one expects. The clarity and sound is very good. Now if they could just get it together.

Closed-captions......YES
Many British films have neither subtitles nor closed captions. This set does.....so those of us with hearing deficits can enjoy these wonderful mysteries, too. ... Read more

Description

SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE VOICE OF TERROR
Digitally Restored in 35mm

The master detective Sherlock Holmes (Basil Rathbone) and his faithful cohort Dr. Watson (Nigel Bruce) are back, preserved and digitally restored in 35mm to original condition by the UCLA Film and Television Archive. This newly restored version of the classic film includes the period war bond tag, studio logo and credits from its original theatrical release. Filled with ominous shadows and interesting camera angles, the visual beauty of the film in 35mm is stunning.

The Voice of Terror (1942) is loosely based on the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle story "His Last Bow."It was the first film in the Sherlock Holmes series to bring the master detective Dr. Watson into the terrifying modern world of Nazi sabotage and spies.

When taunting saboteurs warn of a Nazi invasion of the British Isles through theirhorrific radio menace the Voice of Terror, the British Intelligence's Inner Council calls in Sherlock Holmes to help in the crisis.

On the first night of their inquiry, Holmes and Watson find a dying man on their doorstep.His last word sends Holmes to London's seedy Limehouse district, where he enlists the aid of Kitty, the sweetheart of the slain man, to help find the saboteurs.

With the Voice of Terror promising new destruction in the coming days, Holmes and Watson must hurry to solve a complicated puzzle of terrorism and espionage.Preserved and restored in 35mm by the UCLA Film and Television Archive. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Sherlock Holmes vs. the Nazis
The story begins with a printed disclaimer explaining why the famous Victorian-era detective is living and working in London of the 1940s. Sherlock Holmes' appeal is timeless, they claim, and he is quite capable of living in the then-present day. They are, of course, correct, although the real reason for updating him was that it allowed the filmmakers to produce a series of propaganda films wherein the greatest British detective of all time goes head to head with German spies and emerges victorious. The format works. I love these films, as far removed as they are from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's original stories.

The beginning film in this Sherlock Holmes series as produced by Universal jumps right into its Sherlock Holmes vs. the Nazis motif. The British government is stumped. At regular intervals, a radio signal is beamed in from Germany. A voice (of terror) gloats about terrible acts of sabotage that occur just as the signal begins. The British Intelligence agency, unable to locate the source of the broadcasts or prevent the acts of terrorism is forced to call for Sherlock Holmes.

Many of the films in this series were less mysteries, and more straightforward thrillers. This is no exception. In fact, this is one of the weaker entries in the series as far as its plot is concerned. The storyline relies a bit too strongly on leaps of logic and sheer coincidences, and the climax is just a bit too silly. If you're looking for a mystery in the style of the original Doyle stories, you'll be disappointed. There's too much that is held away from the audience, meaning that there's not much left for the viewer to figure out before the detective does.

But where this film succeeds is in its style, regardless of its actual substance. A lot of the story takes place in dark rooms, smoky bars and other sinister locales. The direction, lighting and cinematography are great. The scene in the saloon where Holmes (via a widow) turns a den of criminal elements into a force fighting for the Allies is particularly strong. The director plays the visuals for all they're worth; the craggy faces of the outlaws peering out of the dark, raising drinks to their lips, while Sherlock Holmes' sharp features gaze out into the light. It's scenes like this that raise the film above the limitations of its plot.

The acting also serves to this film's advantage. Honestly, I could watch Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce reading the phone book. Yes, I realize that Bruce's interpretation of Dr. Watson is quite at odds with the original (in Doyle's stories, Watson, while not the equal of Holmes, is an intelligent and insightful character, capable of logic and independent thought; on the other hand, one wonders how Nigel Bruce's Watson manages to feed himself every day). But I don't care; I think the two of them are great fun and play off each other well. Henry Daniell makes the first of several appearances in the Sherlock Holmes movies here, playing a member of the intelligence council.

The DVD features are rather light (there aren't any), but the restoration that's been done to the print is astounding. The picture couldn't be any sharper and the sound is very crisp.

As the film reaches its conclusion, the plot holes become harder to ignore. It's a pity because the movie has so much going for it. It is worth watching though, just because it is so successfully stylish. The propaganda elements aren't at all distracting and in fact have become rather endearing as time has passed. This probably isn't the place for a newcomer to the series, as there are better films to choose from. But fans of these Sherlock Holmes films will almost certainly enjoy it as I did.

Soild start to a popular series
This was the first in the 11 film series featuring Basil Rathbone ( excellent ) and Nigel Bruce (irritating ) as the great team of Holmes and Watson respectively .They are called in by the British government ,then conducting the war against Hitler , to unmask a traitor ,the eponymous Voice .He is infiltrating the airwaves broadcasting dire prophecies of defeat to the British nation .His prophecies of impending military disaster come true .In the face of opposition from some Cabinet members Holmes digs into the case uncovewring a traitor from within the Cbinet itself ,eventually unmasking the culprit in a climax in a ruined church
Good performances all round apart from Bruce ,who to be fair was compelled to play the role as bumbling comic relief and not the stalwart comrade that Doyle wrote .Henry Daniell is excellent as a supercillious civil servant who turns out to be on the side of the angels .

Enjoyable B -movie that shows what an accomplished actor Rathbone was -pure class in every role however under-written

Great Movie
I assume that they changed the timeline; can't you understand that, that they moved the movies from the Victorian age to WWII?

the time element
Anybody besides me ever wonder why Holmes, Watson,Mrs. Hudson, etc., don't age a day between ADVENTURES OF SH and VOICE OF TERROR? 45 years go by inbetween the films! ADVENTURE is set in 1897; VOICE in 1942. Yet nobody has aged a day! I wish they would have explained this in some way, maybe Moriarity froze them all in ice or something ... as is, it makes no sense.

Beautifully atmospheric
The first in Universal's series of Sherlock Holmes films, "The Voice of Terror" was widely condemned at the time of its release by critics who were offended by the studio's attempt to modernize the great detective for 1940's audiences whom, they believed, would consider Holmes irrelevant in the age of the Holocaust. Holmes resembles James Bond (not yet created) more than Arthur Conan Doyle's creation in this effort. He's less a private detective than a secret agent, working with the British government that is helpless in dealing with a series of taunting radio broadcasts that predict widespread destruction.

If this film is not true to Doyle (the credits claim the story is based on "His Last Bow," but other than the name of the chief villain and Holmes' closing remarks, there is no resemblance), it is nonetheless a fascinating time capsule that demonstrates the way Hollywood aided the war effort, using a beloved character from fiction to propagandize against the Nazi threat.

But the film has other virtues. Film scholars generally credit director Roy William Neill for the beautifully mysterious atmosphere that was as much an attraction of the Holmes series as Basil Rathbone's portrayal, but that atmosphere is apparent even here with John Rawlins at the helm. Much of "Voice of Terror" is cloaked in dark shadows that will make you forget the more awkward aspects of the screenplay. The scene in which Holmes and Watson visit a waterfront saloon is superbly staged with a noirish quality not found in 20th Century Fox's earlier Holmes adventures.

The dialogue also deserves praise, and as another reviewer pointed out, puts today's films to shame. Thomas Gomez makes an excellent villain, and, of course, Rathbone is brilliant, further putting his stamp on the role. ... Read more

Description

As the last survivor of the Civil War, aging Joel Bentham is awarded $50,000 upon the death of his army buddy, Tom Riggins. Suddenly a wealthy man, Joel and his personal servant pack up and move into Riggins' old country house, along with a tough but beautiful tramp named Meg whom they pick up along the way. Fulfilling a promise to his departed friend, Joel contacts Riggins' estranged grandson, Ray. A brash city slicker with debts to dangerous people, Ray quickly agrees to help "look after" Joel when he learns of the money. Ray's greedy scheme becomesincreasingly apparent to everyone. Joel, however, refuses to suspect Ray of ulterior motives until he catches him cheating in a chess game. Joel decides to deposit the money in the bank, but Ray's old gang from the city shows up and insists on getting their share. Joel must now face a final battle to protect his young friends from the villains who are willing to kill for his fortune. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Look Out For The Claw
Ralph Byrd returns as Dick Tracy in RKO Radio's DICK TRACY'S DILEMNA. Tracy is helped by Vitamin Flintheart (Ian Keith) as they match wits with a gang of fur thieves and a criminal named "The Claw" who uses his articial hand as a weapon. Jack Lambert has the role of "The Claw" and Kay Christopher plays Tess Truehart.The cast also includes Bernadene Hayes as Longshot Lillie and Jimmy Conlin as Sightless. The movie sometimes goes by the title of the MARK OF THE CLAW. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Boris Karloff Is The Main Attraction
In DICK TRACY MEETS GRUESOME the famous detective is able to trick Gruesome by placing a false story in the newspapers about another criminal who is going to squeal on Gruesome. Boris Karloff plays the part of Gruesome and he dominates the movie. Ralph Byrd has the role of Dick Tracy and Anne Gwynne is Tess Truehart.

The film was a big success for a "B" movie in both the United States and in Great Britain.

Dick Tracy takes on Gruesom Boris Karloff
In "Dick Tracy Meets Gruesome," the 1947 RKO film based on Chester Gould's comic strip detective, Ralph Byrd and Boris Karloff play the title characters. L. E. Thal (Edward Ashley), a disreputable doctor, gains possession of a gas, which temporarily paralyzes people. Gruesome uses the gas to stage a daring bank robbery, but the crime is witnessed by Tess Truehart (Anne Gwynne) who calls Tracy. At that point the entire affair becomes standard cops and robbers, although I have to admit that Karloff steals every scene from the hero. Director John Rawlins creates a serial-style with a series of episodes of varying degrees of excitement until the climax. It just seems to be that Gruesome does not look that, well, gruesome. Given all the times they insisted on burying the actor beneath makeup, it is rather ironic that there do not put much on Karloff to play "Gruesome."

Will Dick Tracy be a match for Boris Karloff? Yes, BUT...
In "Dick Tracy Meets Gruesome," the 1947 RKO film based on Chester Gould's comic strip detective, Ralph Byrd and Boris Karloff play the title characters. L. E. Thal (Edward Ashley), a disreputable doctor, gains possession of a gas, which temporarily paralyzes people. Gruesome uses the gas to stage a daring bank robbery, but the crime is witnessed by Tess Truehart (Anne Gwynne) who calls Tracy. At that point the entire affair becomes standard cops and robbers, although I have to admit that Karloff steals every scene from the hero. Director John Rawlins creates a serial-style with a series of episodes of varying degrees of excitement until the climax. It just seems to be that Gruesome does not look that, well, gruesome. Given all the times they insisted on burying the actor beneath makeup, it is rather ironic that there do not put much on Karloff to play "Gruesome."

1940's Nostalgia
Boris Karloff certainly looks the part as the recently released convict named Gruesome. The nerve gas story is corny as is the bank robbery scene especially when one bloke is frozen just as he is about to sneeze. Ralph Byrd returns as Dick Tracy and he later starred in the early 50's TV series. People who are familiar with the B movies of the 1940's will recognise character actors Milton Parsons and Skelton Knaggs as a professor and his assistant respectively. If you feel like going on a nostalgia trip watch this. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Don't buy this...
I love the old Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce adventures. Actually, I own all of them on VHS, so when they were going to be released on DVD I quickly placed an order. To say that this is a disappointment is to put it mildly.

First off, the movie quality is incredibly bad. Sound and visual is all a mess. And in the "restoration" they have edited key scenes! A great example is in Terror By Night when they don't introduce us to Watson's friend (Who plays an important part later).

The VHS copies I have of the old films show that there are prints out there of high quality. It's too bad they just didn't transfer those prints to DVD as compared to this mess they created from the old stock.... If you enjoy these films, avoid these DVDs and head over to the VHS editions released by Key Video.

Quick Watson, we've not a moment to lose!
These films of an earlier age are everything a good modern film should not be. They are campy, over-acted, cliche-ish, over dramatised and poorly dubbed (with a british actor's voice for background speech).

In spite of all of that, there is no one else who can play Sherlock Holms and Dr. Watson as can Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce. And the bumbling Inspector LeStrade is priceless. These are classic and timeless films - great fun to watch - one can almost put them in a category with Charlie Chaplain. Very good entertainment value in spite of their short running time (each film generally only ran about one hour in length) and obvious age.

I'd managed to tape all 14 of them from the late night movies a while back; and now watch them whenever I'm in the mood for light entertainment. I'm thrilled that they are finally being released in the DVD format -- hopefully we'll see the entire set re-published.

If you're one of those who turn up their nose at older films because of a lack of action, effects and the like, this collection is not for you. But if you enjoy films of the 40's and liked the exploits of the world's most famous detective, this is a set to get. Get your coat, Watson -- the game is afoot!

~P~

The Great Detective lives on!
Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce will be forever remembered as "Hollywood's Holmes and Watson". This DVD gift pack (one hopes the first of many) recaptures the timeless duo in four adventures.

In "The Woman In Green", Holmes finds himself wrapped up in Ripper-like murders of young London women. When he investigates a beautiful woman who is also a master hypnotist, he finds he may end up dead. Features Henry Daniell in a wonderful performance of Holmes' most famous nemesis, Professor Moriarty.

"Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon" finds Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson fighting Nazis in World War II. Loosely based on 'The Dancing Men', Holmes must locate and reclaim the secret plans of a devastatig weapon before the Nazis use it for their own evil purposes. The WWII Holmes films are excellent documents of the times. Many people don't remember the militarization of Hollywood during the 1940s when every film had to pass the litmus test of "How will this help us win the war?" Every film from an American studio was used to a degree as propaganda to help in the war effort. The Sherlock Holmes film series was no exception, and thus we find our beloved characters unaged in the then present day - without explanation, but still an enjoyable film.

Getting away from the War, we come to "Dressed to Kill" where Holmes finds that a music box is the key to an elaborate counterfeiting scheme. Patricia Morrison is great in this film and Rathbone and Bruce have their share of moments as Holmes and Watson.

Finally, probably my favorite, "Terror By Night" is a great Holmes adventure which has as much comic relief as intrigue. A murder has been committed on a train, and Holmes must find the killer before the train reaches it's destination. It's high adventure at high speed where Holmes finds himself reunited with bumbling Scotland Yard Inspector Lestrade, who has just the right amount of comic timing.

This is the first time these movies have been available in a format that's worth watching; until recently you could only purchase them in the low definition EP VHS format. Plus, the discs also feature a rare interview with Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, making the set a must have for both Holmes enthusiasts and classic movie buffs alike! ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Boris Karloff Is The Main Attraction
In DICK TRACY MEETS GRUESOME the famous detective is able to trick Gruesome by placing a false story in the newspapers about another criminal who is going to squeal on Gruesome. Boris Karloff plays the part of Gruesome and he dominates the movie. Ralph Byrd has the role of Dick Tracy and Anne Gwynne is Tess Truehart.

The film was a big success for a "B" movie in both the United States and in Great Britain.

Dick Tracy takes on Gruesom Boris Karloff
In "Dick Tracy Meets Gruesome," the 1947 RKO film based on Chester Gould's comic strip detective, Ralph Byrd and Boris Karloff play the title characters. L. E. Thal (Edward Ashley), a disreputable doctor, gains possession of a gas, which temporarily paralyzes people. Gruesome uses the gas to stage a daring bank robbery, but the crime is witnessed by Tess Truehart (Anne Gwynne) who calls Tracy. At that point the entire affair becomes standard cops and robbers, although I have to admit that Karloff steals every scene from the hero. Director John Rawlins creates a serial-style with a series of episodes of varying degrees of excitement until the climax. It just seems to be that Gruesome does not look that, well, gruesome. Given all the times they insisted on burying the actor beneath makeup, it is rather ironic that there do not put much on Karloff to play "Gruesome."

Will Dick Tracy be a match for Boris Karloff? Yes, BUT...
In "Dick Tracy Meets Gruesome," the 1947 RKO film based on Chester Gould's comic strip detective, Ralph Byrd and Boris Karloff play the title characters. L. E. Thal (Edward Ashley), a disreputable doctor, gains possession of a gas, which temporarily paralyzes people. Gruesome uses the gas to stage a daring bank robbery, but the crime is witnessed by Tess Truehart (Anne Gwynne) who calls Tracy. At that point the entire affair becomes standard cops and robbers, although I have to admit that Karloff steals every scene from the hero. Director John Rawlins creates a serial-style with a series of episodes of varying degrees of excitement until the climax. It just seems to be that Gruesome does not look that, well, gruesome. Given all the times they insisted on burying the actor beneath makeup, it is rather ironic that there do not put much on Karloff to play "Gruesome."

1940's Nostalgia
Boris Karloff certainly looks the part as the recently released convict named Gruesome. The nerve gas story is corny as is the bank robbery scene especially when one bloke is frozen just as he is about to sneeze. Ralph Byrd returns as Dick Tracy and he later starred in the early 50's TV series. People who are familiar with the B movies of the 1940's will recognise character actors Milton Parsons and Skelton Knaggs as a professor and his assistant respectively. If you feel like going on a nostalgia trip watch this. ... Read more