Amazon.com

From the later years of the long-running Granada Television series, this episode from the Sherlock Holmes canon features actor Jeremy Brett in a particularly strenuous and emotionally compelling performance as the Great Detective. Following Holmes's uncharacteristically provocative threat to expose Culverton Smith (Jonathan Hyde)--a planter with an expertise in rare poisons--as a murderer, Holmes becomes mortally ill and delirious.Denouncing the medical expertise of his friend Dr. Watson (Edward Hardwicke) as amateurish (the good doctor having been summoned to help the ailing sleuth), the feverish Holmes ends up begging for his life from the cold-blooded Smith. The late 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. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (10)

One of the good ones!
This one starts out a bit flabby - the short story this is based on is covered completely in the last 15 minutes of the episode. The above complaint that Watson is "tastelessly" abused is wrong. Had the reviewer never seen the end??!?! Holmes actually credits his friend's skills as being sharp - which is the reason he mistreats his friend earlier (hard to explain, but if you've read it, you know what I mean).

Sherlock is rarely filled with a sense of passionate justice. Here, he swears an oath of passionate vengence. It sounds out of character, but Brett pulls it off wonderfully.

Of the weaker later years, but still rises ti be amongst the best.

One of the VERY Best!!
This Granadad film, with the possible exception of "The Blue Carbuncle", is my favorite! When I first saw it, I missed the first couple of minutes, so I missed the title. By the end of the episode, I was like, Oh My GOD!! I NEED to figure out which one this is!! I think, even though he was ill at the time, this was one of Jeremy Brett's best performances as Sherlock Holmes. The original story is great too. And "The Dying Detective", like all the Granada Sherlock Holmes films, stays true to the original story. A MUST HAVE for all Jeremy Brett and Sherlock Holmes fans. Bravo Mr. Brett! Bravo!

An excellent film
In Sir A. Conan Doyle's original story, THE ADVENTURE OF THE DYING DETECTIVE, a reference is made to Holme's knowing too much about the death of a certain young Victor Savage. In this delightful show, we discover what Holmes had to do with the death of this young man. What did he have to do with it, you ask? You'll have to watch the film to find out, and I can guarentee that it's a good way to spend 50 minutes.

Recommended
While not as good as the early episodes, "The Dying Detective" is still quite good. It gets off to a slow start due mainly to the fact that one of Arthur Conan Doyle's shorter stories was stretched into a fifty minute episode. But it gets very good in the second half when it gets around to the scenes that were actually in the story. And, for the most part, Mr. Brett was brilliant in the episode. I would definitely recommend it.

Tricky trick
I think this was one of Holmes's trickiest tricks on Watson. I think the narrator ruins the whole film! She says a sentence every time someone talks! This is about a woman who comes to Holmes saying she thinks her husband's cousin is trying to get control of the large and vast property they have. Coverton Smith, the cousin is an expert on a type of horrible fevor. When the husbad dies, the wife becomes suspicious. Smith says his cousin died of the fevor! Find out what happens! ... Read more

Reviews (8)

A must for O'Toole fans
I first saw this movie on PBS mystery several years ago and fell in love with it. Peter O'Toole plays a sinster uncle who is in charge of Maud until she is an adult at which point she will inherit a fortune.
Peter O'Toole gives his usual outstanding performance, but its Beatie Edney who steals the show. Another performance of note was that of Jane Lapotaire who potrayed Madame LaRougierre. Lapotaire is even scarier than Silas and you wonder what her plans are for Maud.
This movie has a great plot but, it does drags on. Overall, I would recommend this movie to anyone who is into gothic horror.

Okay...
A bit long and drawn out. O'Toole does a fine job as a creepy dude. But...long and drawn out. The girl is beautiful and charismatic, though. I saw her in the Pierce Brosnan movie "Mr. Johnson" and fell in love with her there. I thought she might be a big star...but this movie is the only other time I've seen her. And bland, so-so looking women like Julia Roberts become big stars. It's all a crap shoot. If you watch this movie in a big, dark house, all alone, you'll probalby get nightmares!

Creepy, Gothic horror
This is very well done and well acted. It is much scarier than the book, which was written by the "father" of the horror novel, J.S. LeFanu. There is a real sense of menace and danger, a young, innocent heroine, a charming and evil uncle, and a decaying, remote estate. Need I say more? This is classic suspense, and Peter O'Toole is fabulous as the decadent and devilish Uncle Silas.

atmospheric 'la fanu'
An excellent adaptation of this atmospheric tale.Plaudits richly deserved by Peter O'toole but credit also goes to Beatie Edney as the heroine Maud, an underated actress indeed.

O'toole's brilliancy dulls all other acting.
O'toole's emotionally layered five stars performance as the evil Uncle Silus is simply phenomenal. Over the years critics have praised and described his duality ,or triplicity, in all sorts of ways: "spewing elegant paragraphs", "wonderfully rackety and fastidious", "elegantly raddled like a disreputably unmade bed". Yet never more strikingly in The Dark Angel, O'toole's embodies contradictions and paradoxes. Notably in the seductive scenes, he skillfully deploys a seductive languor that reaches successfully target, and ...audience, even though aiming at destruction, while arresting a glare oozing with seething longing on the curls of the prospective victim. When o'toole leaves the screen, one lurks in the dark awaiting patiently or not so patiently his next scene only. ... Read more

Description

Part lawyer, part detective, Rumpole's brilliant mind and sly sense of humor have solved many a case and delighted families across America for over ten years. Volume 2: "Rumpole and the Supporting Life" and "Rumpole and the Blind Tasting". ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Part lawyer, part detective
This series closely follows the feel and the sarcasm of the written stories. The stories are not in the same order as the book however each one stands alone. In a brief time there is posed a mystery or a problem and then some recognizable interaction with people that I am sure you can say you know someone like them. A little drama and it is finally wrapped up in short order. More than the stories that do not leave you hanging it is the comments that make the episode interesting to watch.

Volume two covers:

Episode 3. "Rumpole and the Sporting Life" Watch closely especially everyone's expression as the clues start from the first. A man (who everyone knows is obnoxious) is found dead. His wife is standing over him with a shot gun and says it was an accident. Rumpole has to defend her with a known hanging judge. Everyone has their own agenda including Mrs. Rumpole who wants to move to the country.

Episode 4. "Rumpole and the Blind Tasting" Once again watch expressions for unsaid clues. Rumpole delves into the world of wine tasting and collecting which assists him in a case of insurance fraud. In the process he gains an understudy (24 years old and female) which Mrs. Rumpole's friend suspects that Rumpole is studying. ... Read more

Description

Part Lawyer, part detective, Rumpole's brilliant mind and sly sense of humor have solved many a case and delighted families across America for over ten years. Volume 5: "Rumpole and the Female of the Species" and "Rumpole and the Official Secret". ... Read more

Reviews (1)

My applause for Rumpole.
Leo McKern star as a British barrister named Horace Rumpole. Somehow, John Mortimer (the author of the Rumpole stories) masterfully combines drama, humor, mystery and social commentary in a fascinating way that has now been carried over into the visual medium.

From the box:

Episode 9. Rumpole and the Female of the Species - Rumpole finds himself playing two roles at the same time: defending a small time thief charged with armed robbery in court while orchestrating a promotion behind the scenes for a young female barrister who thinks she's being discriminated against.

Episode 10. Rumpole and the Official Secret - Rumpole discovers that things aren't always what they seem as he defends an eccentric Defense Ministry clerk accused of leaking secrets to the press and confronts his own wife about a visitor who may or may not be part of a terrorist organization. ... Read more

Amazon.com

"Castle De'ath" is a truly haunting episode, both because of its red-herring ghost story and the scandalous peek at Mrs. Peel's navel, not to mention her nocturnal investigation of a foreboding Scottish castle in her nightgown.What brings her and "McSteed" (outfitted in a kilt) to the castle is the death of an agent in scuba gear, who when found was four inches taller than when he was alive. "It all has to do with the price of fish," whispers McSteed. In "The Master Minds," Steed and Mrs. Peel investigate a series of raids on state security. Each, Steed notes, "has been boldly conceived and superbly executed" by "a diabolical mastermind." This leads the duo to a special school for geniuses whose lesson plan includes brainwashing. Highlights of this episode are a student's come-on to Steed ("I wonder if I might lure you away from brainwork for something more physical") and a climactic fight seen only in shadow behind a screen on which a military training film is being projected backward. Grade: A. Both episodes are in glorious black and white. Volumes 1, 2, and 3 are also available in The Avengers '65 Set 1. --Donald Liebenson ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Steed Boosts His I.Q. - Emma Boosts State Secrets
"Castle De'ath" is an unusual Avengers entry, in that Steed and Emma are both undercover at the same place at the same time, from the very start of the episode. The cinematography is curiously rather bleached, for what probably should have been a starker melodrama - but it works splendidly, anyway. This one consists mostly of skulking and good fights, Emma's skulking done in a fetching peignoir by moonlight. The flirtation between Emma and Steed is especially light and playful. The plot, about a secret submarine base and its connection to the disruption of the local economy, is clever and credibly handled.

"The Master Minds" is one of my personal favorites, about a MENSA-esque high-I.Q. club called RANSACK, which utilizes the best minds in Britain - without their knowledge - to infiltrate and sabotage military bases, and steal state secrets for sale to the highest bidder. It's quite similar to Ian Fleming's contemporaneous James Bond novel, "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" - which, amusingly enough, starred Diana Rigg in the film version. Like "Castle De'ath," Steed and Emma work undercover at the same location, but with a far different result: Emma becomes brainwashed into RANSACK's nocturnal espionage society, and Steed has to snap her out of it - before she kills him. The concluding fight is terrific, Emma's final punch-line one of the more humorous in the series by means of its unique delivery.

A very good pair of early Avengers episodes.

Experience the deadly delights of Castle De Ath
James Hill's moody, dark direction enhances the Scottish mystery Castle De Ath. The beginning is dark and eerie. The camera follows dark corridors, the only sound Scottish bagpipes. Finally the camera flickers to a barechested man, bound by leather straps to a table. He silently writhes as he is being tortured on the rack! Steed and Mrs. Peel investigate mysterious happenings at an isolated Scottish castle. Where have the fish disappeared to? How did a British secret agent grow three more feet when his dead body was recovered? Best lines: "Lean on Mistress Peel, as much as you like." Gordon Jackson is excellent as the dignified Scottish laird facing hard economic times. Cousins Ian and Angus argue about their family heritage and what they should do about their decreasing income. Hint: think of Wilkie Collins and The Terribly Strange Bed. Good red herrings and witty dialogue. A shocked conspirator, "He is having trouble at the Power Plant. He has been attacked - by a woman!" "Bless her!" Steed smiling broadly.

Masterminds pokes fun at those with high IQs. When a British politician is caught breaking into a secret installation and then murdered Steed and Mrs. Peel investigate RANSACK. "You have a high IQ," Emma informs him. "How high?" "The same as mine. I took your test for you!" Sign on one of the rooms, "If you can't sleep ring for a mistress." The final battle of the Avengers versus the baddies in a darkened auditorium, with the training film amusingly run in reverse while the Avengers silently toss the baddies about is a delight. Superb direction and acting. This is one of the best of the black and white sets. Recommended for purchase! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Before there was Quincy and The Practice, there was Rumpole. Rumpole of the Bailey is, quite simply, one of the best television series ever and has served as a model for all law dramas that followed it. Edgy and satirical, Rumpole is based on John Mortimer's books of the same name. A determined and committed criminal defense barrister at the Old Bailey, or criminal court (whose clients have included three generations of the Timson family, among others), the antihero Rumpole is portrayed by esteemed actor Leo McKern. As champion of the downtrodden, the self-righteous Rumpole finds himself again and again in trouble variously with his wife Hilda, his peers, the head of chambers, and judges, to name but a few. A connoisseur of Wordsworth, cigars, and cheap liquor, McKern's usually disheveled Rumpole belies the character's dry sense of humor and astute skill as a barrister. The upwardly mobile Hilda is played by Peggy Thorpe-Bates, known for her Miss Toliver in Alcatraz Island (1933), and Justice Sir Guthrie Fetherston is played by Peter Bowles, known for his Richard DeVere in TV's To the Manor Born.

Volume 18 features two episodes. First, in "Rumpole and the Quacks," Rumpole battles the formidable Phillida in court to defend his doctor, accused of sexually molesting a patient. Next, in "Rumpole for the Prosecution," Rumpole takes on a rare role as prosecutor to investigate a policeman who may not have been properly charged for murdering a girl.

Typical of British drama, production values are low while the caliber of script-writing and acting is unsurpassed. A rare example of a television serial that is as appealing and engaging after watching it 10 times as it was the first. --Erik Macki ... Read more

Description

Part Lawyer, part detective, Rumpole's brilliant mind and sly sense of humor have solved many a case and delighted families across America for over ten years. Volume 3: "Rumpole's Last Case" and "Rumpole and the Judge's Elbow". ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Part lawyer, part detective
This series closely follows the feel and the sarcasm of the written stories. The stories are not in the same order as the book however each one stands alone. In a brief time there is posed a mystery or a problem and then some recognizable interaction with people that I am sure you can say you know someone like them. A little drama and it is finally wrapped up in short order. More than the stories that do not leave you hanging it is the comments that make the episode interesting to watch.

Volume Three covers:

Episode 4. "Rumpole's Last Case" As usual several overlapping stories interacts as Rumpole may even over react. Mr. Rumpole has parlayed a two pound bet into 100 pounds. Strange his wife also spends that amount on a new rug. Well anyway he gets a tip from his client that is in for burglary and possible carrying a gun. Why not 100 to 30000 and hence his last Case. Going out in stile he lets everyone know what he thinks including the judge.

Episode 5. "Rumpole and the Judge's Elbow" A judge has a bit of tennis elbow. Doctor's advice does not seem to be working so on other advice he visits and alternative clinic (massage parlor). Some one paid with a credit card. And guess who gets to defend a massage parlor owner and rummage through credit card receipts? Yep Rumpole for some reason is offered the Deputy Circuit Judge.

A note on the side you will recognize many of the actors from both Agatha Christie and Dorothy L. Sayers movies. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Before there was Quincy and The Practice, there was Rumpole. Rumpole of the Bailey is, quite simply, one of the best television series ever and has served as a model for all law dramas that followed it. Edgy and satirical, Rumpole is based on John Mortimer's books of the same name. A determined and committed criminal defense barrister at the Old Bailey, or criminal court (whose clients have included three generations of the Timson family, among others), the antihero Rumpole is portrayed by esteemed actor Leo McKern. As champion of the downtrodden, the self-righteous Rumpole finds himself again and again in trouble variously with his wife Hilda, his peers, the head of chambers, and judges, to name but a few. A connoisseur of Wordsworth, cigars, and cheap liquor, McKern's usually disheveled Rumpole belies the character's dry sense of humor and astute skill as a barrister. The upwardly mobile Hilda is played by Peggy Thorpe-Bates, known for her Miss Toliver in Alcatraz Island (1933), and Justice Sir Guthrie Fetherston is played by Peter Bowles, known for his Richard DeVere in TV's To the Manor Born.

Rumpole's Return is the 1982 two-hour special that started off the third Rumpole series after 1980's original Rumpole of the Bailey and 1981's Trials of Rumpole.

Typical of British drama, production values are low while the caliber of script-writing and acting is unsurpassed. A rare example of a television serial that is as appealing and engaging after watching it 10 times as it was the first. --Erik Macki ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Rumpole's Back
This Rumpole is a longer tha the episoses of Rumpole. It is a wonderful story that has Rumpole at his best in the Courtroom. Leo McKern is Rumpole. From the cigars to the poerty quoting it is hard to imagine anyone else as Rumpole. The story proceeds at a good pace. The acting is very good with McKern and the actor who plays the criminal defendant taking top honors ... Read more

Amazon.com

Did Sherlock Holmes survive his apparent demise at the hands of Professor Moriarty in The Final Problem? Clearly so, as his resurrection three years later in this story is a dramatic and happy event--though it causes his old friend Dr. Watson (Edward Hardwicke) to faint at the sight of him.Jeremy Brett is outstanding as the famed sleuth, whose return from what Sherlockians call the Great Hiatus is challenged by one of Moriarty's most murderous lieutenants (Patrick Allen), already a killer on the run in London. The action is swift and exciting, and the colorful reentrance of Holmes into the life of Dr. Watson is a highly memorable event. With Rosalie Williams in a more extensive part than usual as the wonderful Mrs.Hudson, Holmes's Baker Street landlady. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (12)

We are so glad to have you back, Mr. Holmes
While it is wonderful to have Sherlock Holmes back among the living, the real star in this video is the introduction of Edward Hardwicke as Watson. He is so comfortable and bemused as the teller of Holmes adventures that you believe him to be Watson. The screenplay is a bit uneven at points. It's almost as if the short story was unnaturally stretched to fill the time slot. But despite all that, Jeremy Brett is in top form as he keeps Holmes barely one step ahead of Moriarty's thugs and the infamous air guns.

Sherlock Holmes is back!!
When Conan Doyle wrote the "Final Problem" it was supposed to be his last chronicle as he was tired of the character. But through public pressure he brought back the first Consulting Detective. In this adventure we find out that Sherlock Holmes didn't die with his "evil counterpart" but had to stay in hiding in order to evade Dr Moraity's accomplices. When the story starts, years has gone bye since the "death" of Mr Holmes and a crime gets the attention of Holmes old cohort, Dr Watson. A murderer is afoot, and nobody knows who he is and why he kills. You can guess who comes a calling. The scene where Sherlock reveals himself alive to Dr Watson is right out of the book and brought off in great fation. This is an exellent sequel to the "Final Problem" where Sherlock Holmes retakes his place in London as it's most famous Detective and ties off any loose leed left in the earlier story. As per usual Granada Television rendition of this story is visually astonishing in the period details and scenes and Mr Brett depiction of Holmes is right out of the book. If you saw "Final Problem" this a must see. If you haven't, get both

We love it
With Sherlock Holmes dead at the Reichenbach Falls, Watson returns to his daily life. But, three years later, when Holmes suddenly appears in his examining room Watson receives the shock of his life. But, it's not time for happy reunions; Holmes is on the track of a major villain, and he is in need of his able assistant. Once again, the game is afoot!

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! This fifty-minute episode, the Empty House, was episode one of the third season, and originally aired on July 9, 1986. (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!)

I loved this tape and think that any fan of Sherlock Holmes, or just plain fan of mysteries, will love it, too. My family and I highly recommend it to you!

Excellent DVD
These two stories may not be as involved as some contemporary mysteries involving modern forensics, but Holmes' use of rational deduction and the forensics of his time (late 19th Century) is grand. If you are a true mystery fan, this is the place to begin--and return to again. Conan Doyle was a superb story teller.

The first story involves Holmes reappearance following his reported death at the hand of his arch enemy. Conan Doyle "killed" his dectective because he was tired of writing Holmes serials for the newspaper, but Holmes fans were so outraged and heartbroken the author was forced to resurrect him.

This volume marks Holmes "return" following the notorious "fall" in the Alps only to find himself pursued by a crony of his dead arch enemy (Professor Moriarity). The second tale involves the death of the owner of the Abbey Grange--who did it? Was it his Australian wife, her nanny, or the three villans the wife says hit her and tied her to a chair. Holmes is back in fine form and the "game's afoot" he tells Watson. The film includes the live depiction of illustrations from the Sherlock Holmes books we read as kids.

The DVD version of these two Sherlock Holmes tales is excellent. I love the reenactment of past times where every detail is faithfully depicted down to the steam from the locomotive engines and being able to see the detail with clarity is a pleasure.

Jeremy Brett is Sherlock Holmes
I am once again transfixed on my television and I have gleefully tossed out all my home tapes of the PBS series - they were horrible quality. What can I say...like a kid in a candy store..which episode do I watch next...were all life's problems so easy to deal with... I have most all of the old B&W ones in various 'collections' but...to me...there has been no Holmes like Mr. Brett. I would definitely recommend any and all of these episodes to EVERYONE!! A true 'must see'. Superb! I have them all up to date as far as I know but I am hoping for more releases. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Typical excellence - and one extra feature
A painter dies mysteriously, and various interests including his father, his erstwhile model and a mysterious rich man all seem to have something to do with it. Typically excellent fare from the Morse team, with the great John Thaw (a national resource, and his death from cancer was a dreadful loss) in typically grumpy and expressive form as Morse, and gorgeous, sunlit English landscapes - in Morse's England it practically never rains (not that I mind). But I hope you don't mind my saying that it is something else that makes this one episode absolutely unforgettable for me: the mysterious model - a single mother living a life of squalor in one of Morse's few genuine slum dwellings - is Nicola Cowper, a little-known English actress who is probably the most beautiful thing I have ever seen in my life. She simply burns on the screen like a flame. One does not wonder that one character is troubled by her almost to his death, and that another is willing to pay for her favours. But even if you do not share my taste for small, exquisite, intense women, you will still not regret buying this episode. ... Read more

Amazon.com

With Dr. Watson absent from the tale (actor Edward Hardwicke was busy shooting the Anthony Hopkins feature Shadowlands), Sherlock Holmes (Jeremy Brett) is joined by his brother Mycroft (Charles Gray) in an investigation into the murder of one Willoughby Smith, secretary to a chain-smoking, invalid professor (Frank Finlay). Gray's amusing, inscrutable performance helps supplement that of the valiantly struggling Brett, whose considerable health problems a decade into the long-running Granada Television series are well known to his devoted fans. Still, Brett does a wonderfully complex, shaded job as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's sleuth, and veteran actor Finlay is something to see as the mysterious professor. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (4)

A good one
One of the best of the later Jeremy Brett Holmes films, this one is particularly distinguished by its use of colorful, self-consciously arty cinematography to heighten an eccentric mood; I love it. This one is a visual delight. Brett is fine as always; so is Charles Gray as his sharp brother Mycroft, who comes along to investigate as well. A secretary has been murdered, and a golden pince-nez has been discovered in his hand, plucked from the face of the murderer. The secretery's employer is a bed-ridden, chain-smoking professor who claims to know nothing of the affair. Where the film sticks to the original story by Arthur Conan Doyle it is on solid ground, and some of its departures such as the inclusion of Mycroft work well. However, the scriptwriters have needlessly thrown in a side plot about a woman suffragette, probably just to pad the thing out to an hour. Even so, this bizarre mystery is great fun for Holmes fans. All of the Brett films are notable for their period detail and engagingly neurotic take on its lead character.

OK Film, but no Watson
Granada Televison had a resourceful, but rather annoying habbit of, when Jeremy Brett couldn't take the part of Holmes, or whoever was playing Watson wasn't available, of removing them and bring Sherlock's older and smarter brother, Mycroft, into the case. When THE GOLDEN PINCE-NEZ was being filmed, Edward Hardwicke couldn't be at the studioes to play Watson, so Charles Gray was brought into the show to play Mycroft. A good film, but the loss of Watson makes it a bit less entertaining.

A delightful film!
In Conan Doyle's original DYING DETECTIVE Sherlock Holmes story, mention is made of a murder of one Victor Savage. The best part about this delightful adaption is that it explains how Holmes got mixed up in the affair of Savage's death. How did he, you ask? You'll have to watch the film to find out!

As Solid as Charles Gray
One of the strongest of the later episodes in the Granada Sherlock Holmes series, "The Golden Pince-Nez" artfully conveys all the twists and turns of Arthur Conan Doyle's clever story. Jeremy Brett's health problems are evident, but his characterization is as strong as ever. The absence of Edward Hardwicke's Watson is overcome by the clever writing, which highlights the brotherly rivavlry between Sherlock and his lazier, yet smarter brother Mycroft- a nice contrast to the sloppy insertion of the same character in the vastly inferior "Mazarin Stone." In one of his best performances, Charles Gray conveys massive intellect as easily as he conveys massive bulk- which is very easy indeed! The direction and cinematography are both excellent. A fine addition to any Sherlock Holmes library. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

perversion in high places
This story covers a multitude of sins, as it deals with sexual abuse of children, corporate greed, blackmail, and homosexuality among other things. The plot involves an intersection of issues related to possible environmental hazards, corporate efforts to suppress information regarding those hazards, and the attempts of those who have been victimized by sexual abuse to take revenge against the perpetrator. All these issues surface only after Morse investigates the death of a professor, a death which
ironically is attributed to natural causes (a heart attack). Morse once more demonstrates the "thinking man" approach to detection, reaching conclusions based upon analysis of clues (childhood photographs) which might be overlooked by less sagacious investigators. The performances are first rate, and the manner in which the story unfolds maintains interest throughout. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Based on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's story "The Adventure of Charles Augustus Milverton," this two-hour 1991 adaptation for the most part sticks close to the details of the original. Holmes (Jeremy Brett) takes on the reputed king of all blackmailers, Milverton (Robert Hardy), who has made a fortune extorting money from the famous and the blueblooded and who routinely ruins others' lives when not pleased. Unable to talk Milverton into turning over letters belonging to Lady Eva Brackenwell, Holmes decides to steal them, going undercover as a plumber and even romancing Milverton's housemaid, Agatha (Sophie Thompson), to gain better access in the house. (The ethical Watson, played by Edward Hardwicke, is upset to hear of Holmes's deception of an innocent woman.) The story builds to a surprisingly violent finale, but the real hook is Brett's performance as the disguised detective and the startling suggestion that Holmes's close contact with Agatha truly moved the bachelor sleuth. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (11)

I love Jeremy Brett!
Okay, maybe I'm partial because of my deep and undying love for Jeremy Brett, but I love every video in this series. This one is a little skimpy on Brett-time, and it's not clear who some of the characters are. I think this comes from extending one of the shortest stories in the Canon into a two-hour movie. But if you want to see Holmes as a weepin', kissin' fool, this is the film for you. This is one of the only episodes where Holmes shows anything approaching deep emotion, and I love it just for that. And Jeremy Brett. (Yeah, I know he's dead. If I ever learn how to revive people...never mind.)

Very underrated
This late-era Jeremy Brett is typical of the period; there is a certain style to these later episodes that is quite appeaing. Those who only know the earlier episodes will probably find them unrecogniseable.

"Master Blackmailer" is directed very stylishly. Even though this can be pretentious (like in "The Eligible Bachelor"), in this case I like it. I like the oipening scene where the butler rescues the compromising lketter from the fire (to give it to the master blackmailer of the title). At first all you can see is the butler's employer, with what looks like his shadow behind him. After a few moments you realise that it isn't his shadow - it is the shadow of his butler, projecvted somehow behind him. When the letter is thrown into the fire the shadow seems to reach towards it; a reference to Nosferatu.
This shot can mean many things. Perhaps it means the butler is so close to him that he is barely noticed - that he is invisible (because discreet). Or the shadow could represent the Count's unconscious - he secretly WANTS the letter to be found.

I like the actor who played Milverton too. His mannerisms are very much my image of the fellow from the short story.
Jeremy Brett and Edward Hardwicke are very impressive here.

The episode as a whole is surprisingly close to the original story, despite its odd style and length. The final confrontation between the Countess and Milverton is played out exactly according to the description in the book - movemewnt for movement, word for word - and it's very dramatic indeed!

This program has been underrated, and ought to have a much better reputation. Certainly the good reviews given to its two companion pieces - The Last Vampyre and The Eligible Bachelor - are less deserving! The Eligible Bachelor, especially, I don't like - I think it is pretentious and silly, though I understand what it is trying to say.
The Master Blackmailer is one of the best Holmes episodes of the Jeremy Brett series, and is definitely worth seeing.

Outstanding Holmes film
Outside of The Eligible Bachelor, The Master Blackmailer (TMB) is the 2nd best of the Holmes films from Granada. Taut and suspenseful, and one of the best played villians since Eric Porter's Moriarty.

While it is primarily more of a caper like than detective outing in this one, it nevertheless has more action and even a love sequence of sorts involving Brett and a housemaid.

Again, not the best place to start with Brett's Holmes series, but it is certainly one of the most cherished of episodes and entertaining one.

Catch this one.

Not a mystery, a drama (and a good one)
If you go into this movie expecting to see Holmes fall in love, or to see a deep and profound mystery slowly unravel, you will be disappointed. If, however, you watch with an open mind something that strays far from the usual clues-deduction-resolution-story, you might find that you enjoy this immensely -- as I did.

What it does offer in terms of plot is a coherent, wholly believable story that smacks of reality much more strongly than Holmes' usual, more flamboyant exploits. There are ethical issues that arise, centering not only around a flawed and hypocritical society, but around the actions of Holmes himself. He commits several illegal acts and at least one immoral one; it is interesting to see him struggle with his choices, trying to justify them and, in the end, failing (at least in his own eyes, as guilt prompts him to censor Watson's writing).

Milverton is played superbly -- he is a wonderful character to hate. Watson's role is minimal, but his verbal echoing of Holmes' conscience is important. As for Holmes -- people have mixed feelings about his seduction of the maid. Personally, I think this episode offers wonderful insight into his character. He does not fall in love; what he does do is confront the immorality of his own actions and the innocence of the girl whose naive affection for him is something he simply is not prepared to deal with. Holmes is a cold man; the implication in this film is that his childhood was equally cold and lacking human affection (listen to the conversation he shares with Watson outside Milverton's house). There is a reason the maid affects him so much. And a good part of it is his conscience -- which becomes evident if you listen closely to what prompts his emotional reaction to her ("Are you a burglar?" Yes, you are Holmes. Yes, you're using her for information. And she just offered to marry you. Don't you feel like a bastard?)

I would not recommend this as a starting point for viewers new to the series. While it is a good movie in its own right, it depends on characters that have been developed over many hours in other episodes; Holmes' and Watson's behavior have more meaning when viewed with prior knowledge of their characters.

Absent from the end is a humorous scene with Lestrade -- a pity, because Holmes-Lestrade interactions are always entertaining. By the end, however, the film has set such a dramatic and melancholy tone that humor seems not to fit, so perhaps it is for the best.

If you enjoyed other Holmes episodes with Brett, you will probably enjoy this one. It is the best of the feature films, and one of my favorite episodes.

pretty good
I found this one to be surprisingly good. I wasn't sure what to expect after having read mixed reviews, but I enjoyed it. It did get off to a slow start, but after about 20 minutes it became pretty good. Most of the pastiche scenes work fairly well in the film and do not seem like padding.

The writing isn't quite as strong as in the earlier episodes, but it isn't awful either and there are enough cool scenes in the film that make it well worth watching in spite of anything that may be lacking in the writing.

Also, Jeremy Brett was good in this film. He wasn't as spectacular as in the earlier episodes but he was still very good and if you have enjoyed his performances in other episodes, you will not be disappointed with him here.

And, as another reviewer pointed out, Holmes does not fall in love in this film. I suppose that it could be interpreted that way, but I did not feel that Holmes was in love with Milverton's housemaid in this movie no more than I felt that he was in love with her in the short story.

Overall, this is a pretty good film and if you have enjoyed other episodes in this series, then I would highly recommend seeing this one as well. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Morse in misery
This is certainly a highly unusual entry in the series, given the fact that Morse is the chief suspect in a murder investigation. Morse is subjected to all sorts of trials and tribulations--- some of which are designed to create a trail of evidence framing Morse for more than one crime. One of the more amusing aspects of the mystery involves Morse's helplessness when confronted with computer technology and its bearing on the case. However, Sgt. Lewis, who never doubts Morse's innocence, comes to the rescue by utilizing his computer skills to help rescue Morse from his predicament. The role of Inspector Bottomley, who is assigned to investigate Morse, offers some amusement value as well. Bottomley, who belongs to a Masonic lodge, ends up looking rather foolish; moreover, he also seems to have been genuinely chagrined when Morse's innocence is finally established. In any event, this mystery represents an interesting and entertaining role reversal for Morse.

When Life Imitates Art...
First thing to do is to ignore the "Part 1" above in the item title; you're getting the full-length (100 mins, approx.) episode of "Masonic Mysteries." In terms of the world of Inspector Morse, this is probably the Inspector Morse episode even people who wouldn't otherwise care for the series can enjoy (immensely, in most cases), as it's considerably different to any of the other 32 films in the series. Morse is "the hunted, instead of the hunter" for once, as he is being constantly framed (literally & figuratively) by someone whom he put away years ago and is trying to get his own back. The trials Morse is put through parallel the trials by fire & water in the Mozart opera, "The Magic Flute," which he is in rehearsals for at the beginning with his lady friend (played by Kevin Whately's real-life wife), who is subsequently found dead, before a dumbfounded Morse, knife-in-hand and covered in her blood. It's not based on a Colin Dexter novel and was written by Julian Mitchell, who has written/adapted more Morse screenplays than any other. Morse's close relationship with Lewis is manifested in this episode more than possibly any other. A great deal of humor is to be found in "Masonic Mysteries" (at the Masons' expense), especially from the brief exchanges between Chief Inspector Bottomley, who, working with Lewis, is put in charge of the case. Morse is uncharacteristically upbeat throughout most of the duration of the film, particularly especially given the circumstances he is put in. John Thaw regards this as among his three favorite Morse films (and cites its differing from the others as a factor in that), along with "The Dead of Jericho" ("for sentimental reasons") and "Promised Land". This is the first of two Morse films to be directed by Danny Boyle, the director of such cult hits as "Trainspotting" and "Shallow Grave". The incomparable Ian McDiarmid (who played "The Emperor" in the Star Wars films) stars as the evil-genius nemesis. The Inspector Morse series is widely regarded as the peak in televisual entertainment, and this is a prime example. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Excellent episode....
DECEIVED BY FLIGHT, made in 1989, is one of the better Morse dramas. Morse (John Thaw) is more light hearted in this film than some of the later episodes and it is a joy to see him interact with the other actors including his Sgt.'s child. He actually engages in a bit of prank-playing with Robbie (Kevin Whately) who, forced to go 'undercover' as a porter at one of the local colleges at Oxford, finds himself "watching" Morse's parked car as part of his duties.

The gist of the story is that an old boys club called 'The Clarets XI' is in town for an annual cricket match. One of the members, as well as the team coach are former classmates of Morse. The player-friend approaches Morse for a get-together lunch which turns out to be fish and chips on a park bench near the Thames. Morse senses that his former flatmate has something important to share but he can't quite bring himself to the point of telling Morse what it is. As they part, the friend mentions a Zen saying that involves the sound of one hand clapping and a dead student. Later, the friend turns up dead as a result of suicide. Or was it suicide. Soon Morse believes the man was murdered and he is on the trail of the killer. Was the killer his beautiful wife who could have been having an affair with one of the other cricket players? Was it one of the other cricket players? And what about the couple named Foster who behave suspiciously by asking Robbie the porter for a key to the dead man's room.

This episode has it all-great scenes of Oxford and its environs; Morse and Robbie struggling over the cricket match versus classical music on the various office, car, and other radios at hand; Robbie showing he can play cricket as well as any upper class ponce; a really interesting cricket match (I finally realized the pitcher is trying to hit the little poles behind the batter); Morse sleeping through the cricket match; and Morse falling for the wrong woman. The cast includes some familiar faces such as Daniel Massey, Amanda Hillwood, Sharon Maughan, and a very young Nathaniel Parker.

A complicated mystery for amateur sleuths to solve.
Deceived by Flight is one of author Colin Dexter's favorite televised Morse mysteries. Having seen at least twenty or so of these fine programs, I agree with his judgement.

The performances are uniformly excellent; not just Morse, played reliably and well by the fine actor, John Thaw, but also the supporting cast, particularly Kevin Whately as his able assistant, Sergeant Lewis, and Sharon Maughan as Kate Donn, television hostess and wife of slain barrister Anthony Donn. The plot is complicated and the clues are difficult for even Morse to decipher. Apparently Anthony Donn has committed suicide on the eve of his participation in a cricket match at Oxford. Morse doubts that his old friend deliberately killed himself and begins questioning suspects. As we soon find out, much more is at stake in this mystery than the death of an aging cricket player.

Cricket is part of the fun of this mystery. Much time is spent discussing the sport (Morse would prefer to listen to his music) and we also get to see it played. Sergeant Lewis goes undercover as a porter and expert batsman. At the matches another murder takes place and now Morse must try to determine if there are connections between the two deaths.

I think most viewers who watch the Morse series of films like to put their detective caps on and follow the clues carefully to see if they can arrive at the answers before Morse. Deceived by Flight will keep even the best armchair detectives struggling with clues until the satisfying conclusion of this fine program. ... Read more

Amazon.com

"We have not yet met our Waterloo, Watson, but this is our Marengo, for it begins in defeat and ends in victory," says Sherlock Holmes (Jeremy Brett), in the midst of a bloody mystery with significant moral and ethical implications. Holmes and Watson (Edward Hardwicke) are summoned to the Abbey Grange, where Sir Eustace Brackenstall has been brutally murdered, apparently by a local gang of thieves. But the case proves much more complex, and ends with one of Holmes's rare but decisive and personal interpretations of justice. An early episode in the new onscreen association of Brett and Hardwicke (who ably replaced the departed David Burke), the two actors seem as perfectly meshed as their allied characters.This fine production is as enjoyable for the casual viewer as it is for the most dedicated Sherlockian. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (2)

We love it
When Sherlock Holmes is summoned to investigate the murder of Sir Eustace Brackenstall, it appears to be an open-and-shut case of simple housebreaking gone wrong. However, when Holmes begins to look at all of the clues, his view of the case is turned upside down. He finds a cut bell-rope and a burnt dog-collar. The lady of the house is hiding something, but what?

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! This fifty-minute episode, the Abbey Grange, was episode two of the third season, and originally aired on July 16, 1986. (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!)

I loved this tape and think that any fan of Sherlock Holmes, or just plain fan of mysteries, will love it, too. My family and I highly recommend it to you!

ONE OF THE VERY BEST EPISODES OF THIS FINE SERIES.
Outstanding performances from all, terrific script and direction, and a wonderful opportunity to watch Sherlock Holmes deduce the mystery make THE ABBEY GRANGE one of my personal favorites in the series. We see many facets of Holmes' personality here, from the cold calculating machine to the warm and sympathetic friend. Jeremy Brett gives one of his best performances as Holmes and the other castmembers are also outstanding. It's a treat to see the shipping clerk who is also a fan of Doctor Watson's stories helping out with a clue, and even his shy wife is memorable. Watch for the 'trick shot' where you see what Holmes sees and Watson does not observe. Edward Hardwicke is a worthy successor to David Burke as Dr. Watson (I actually prefer his performances since it's obvious that he and Brett had great chemistry working together.) And speaking of chemistry, it's a real treat to see Holmes/Brett's reaction to a particularly grateful client who takes him by surprise. This is a wonderful show. If you want to introduce someone to Brett as Holmes, show them this episode. I did--I loaned this to my parents, old Rathbone fans, and they were instantly also fans of Jeremy Brett. ... Read more

Amazon.com

A little overextended as a two-hour movie, this installment in Granada Television's long-running Sherlock Holmes series was one of several such feature-length productions made late (1992) in the enterprise. Based on the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle story "The Adventure of the Noble Bachelor," The Eligible Bachelor finds Holmes (the ailing Jeremy Brett, playing an increasingly darker and more neurotic detective) and Dr. Watson (Edward Hardwicke) called upon to help in a case involving the disappearance of Henrietta Doran (Paris Jefferson), fiancée of the noble Lord Robert St. Simon (Simon Williams), who was last seen with a former lover of St. Simon's, Flora Millar (Joanna McCallum). The unimaginative Scotland Yard instantly arrests Millar on suspicion of foul play, but it is Holmes who has to find the missing woman. Fans of the entire series might best enjoy this slightly clunky program, though there is much of interest about Brett's performance to recommend it. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Below average storyline
The only way I can describe this story satisfactorily is to call it "Sherlock Holmes on acid". Sherlock is having nightmares that are actually premonitions of his next case. It's time to hang up the deerstalker when we see Holmes having psychic visions and running about the street in his nightgown. It's not only Sherlock Holmes who's having a bad day here...it's a great looking production, but the storyline and direction ensure that that the audience is just as confused as the Great Detective.

As far as the two lead performances go, Jeremy Brett is in very bad shape here. He was unfortunately extremely ill in the last few years of his life as he was battling heart problems and manic depression. In this story, we can see the effects the damaging drugs he was prescribed were having on him...he is bloated, his movements are sluggish, and he has trouble getting through his lines without wheezing. It's a tribute to Brett that he was still able to continue as Holmes at this stage of his life, but it's hard to enjoy this story (and the follow up series, The Memoirs Of Sherlock Holmes) seeing this once vibrant actor at such a low ebb.

Edward Hardwicke is in good form as Watson here. Since his introduction in The Empty House from The Return Of Sherlock Holmes (also available from Amazon on a single DVD and in the series box set), Hardwicke proved himself to be the one dependable and consistent element of the Granada Holmes series right through to its end. Changes in production staff, budgets, and Brett's health problems all impacted sometimes negatively on the series...but Hardwicke could always be counted on to give a great performance. He was really the backbone of the Granada series throughout most of its run and he deserves a great deal more credit than he usually recieves.

I view this story more as an interesting curio than a serious addition to the screen adventures of Sherlock Holmes as produced by Granada. It's unfortunate that the series didn't end with The Master Blackmailer as everything that followed was mostly mediocre, and as tired and out of sorts as its star.

A Sherlock Holmes Masterpiece
This was the last of the full-length Sherlock Holmes films produced by Granada featuring Brett and Hardwicke. And it is also the best.

Veering away from a more conventional approach, Eligible Bachelor (EB) features a more artsy and filmic approach by Peter Hammond, and in improving the original short story by Doyle, Trevor Bowen managed to wring out an exceptional script that turns the light hearted tone of the original into a dark, almost gothic masterpiece.

Brett is at his best and considering his health problems at the time, his performance was just sensational. The production values were at its best and unlike the lackadaisal Last Vampyre, EB is gripping, and suspenseful till the end.

As a full-length film, it is perhaps the best of almost all Sherlock Holmes filmes out there, atmospheric and authentic, but with the additional of the best Holmes and Watson ever to grace a screen.

This may not the best place to start with Brett's Holmes, but it is certainly the pinnacle of an outstanding series that easily the better of 90 percent of all Hollywood films being released now.

A Masterpiece.

Too Little Holmes!
The trouble with the lengthened 2-hour Sherlock Holmes films with Jeremy Brett was that they often wound up boring. This one is pretty good, and a little spooky, but parts of it have too little Holmes.

A masterpiece of the time
This film left me cliff- hanging. The first time I watched it I couldn't go anywhere. I stayed right in front of my TV and watched. It is a confusing story for there are many people but they all connect in the end. Brett is one of my favorite people to play Sherlock Holmes. This is a treasure.

Weird, Creepy & Good
Sherlock ain't looking so good, at least not at first! He's having premonitory nightmares, which Watson says is impossible according to the "new" Freudian dream theories. He's wandering the streets of London. He's disgusted by everything: pygmies! written requests for help! Watson's requests for him to eat! He even confesses to a sickened Watson about being grievious about Moriarity's demise, missing Moriarity's combination of science, crime and evil. Holmes has lost all interest--in anything--until a mysterious veiled woman drops off a note stating, "What about Helena and Maud?" The apathetic Holmes had entrusted Watson to handle the preliminaries of the Eligible Bachelor Lord Robert St. Simon's missing wife case; but the mystery woman's note jolts him, and off he goes! The overtone of the entire movie is more morbid and creepy than not; however, it is well worth watching. Some of the best features are watching Holmes' recurring premonitory nightmare unfold; and watching Holmes rise up from his state of utter disgust, drug abuse, starvation, nightmarish, reclusive illness to his shining, exuberant, egotistical, and compassionate crime-solving and victim-freeing state. The plot was a bit disjointed during the first third or so; however, it nicely jelled in latter. I was somewhat dismayed that the plot would allow the "missing" bride Hettie to reproach Lord St. Simon (her most recently wed husband) about his previous wives all alone, but by the end of the scene, one understands her need to have done so. ... Read more

Amazon.com

One of the most interesting stories in the Sherlock Holmes canon, The Devil's Foot finds the Great Detective's friend and ally, Dr. Watson (Edward Hardwicke), pressuring the exhausted sleuth (Jeremy Brett) into joining him on a vacation on the Cornish coast. Instead of relaxation, however, Holmes and Watson encounter one of the most horrifying multiple murders they have yet come across. Though our heroes nearly die from Holmes's effort to prove the cause of death, they carry on until Holmes finally unmasks the identity of the culprits--and then makes a controversial decision about the fate of one. Brett and Hardwicke excel as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's famous team, who are under more duress than usual in this fascinating tale. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Beautiful and Dark
I havn't seen all the episodes in this series yet, but so far this is one of my favourites. This is because Jeremy Brett is absolutely PERFECT as Sherlock Holmes ( In all the episodes, not just this one.) This episode reveals his darker, more melancholy side ( one of the things I love so much about Holmes.) He goes for long walks along the beach alone,lost in his own little world.
We also see him shooting up and guiltily trying to hide the evidence when disturbed by Watson, who always shows concerned dissaproval at this habit. However, he cannot keep his secret for long because soon afterwards he starts acting a bit weird-to the surprise of the local vicar who has come to visit.
He is supposed to be on a recouperative holiday but this is soon interrupted by the news that one local person has died and two more have inexplicably gone insane.
This is another reason why I love this episode. It has a strong hint of Victorain gothic horror in it from the scene where the two victims are being driven away to a mental asylum to the scene where Holmes experiments with the drug and has dark, nightmarish hallucinations.
Holmes is his usual, sexy self, with his odd little expressions and always dressed in his smart, trademark black which he never seems to mind getting dirty when he does his usual crawling about on the ground.

Slow moving
I love the Jeremy Brett/Sherlock Holmes, but this isn't that good. Jeremy Brett gives an outstanding performance but it is so slow. This is one of my least favorites. It does have a couple of sceens that are alright. I like the beginning where it shows the drug, The Devil's Foot. This is not that great though I like the performances in the film!

Excellent episode, excellent acting
This episode of The Return of Sherlock Holmes is one of Jeremy Brett's very best performances. With the very capable Edward Hardwicke as Watson and a fascinating screenplay, The Devil's Foot is riveting. It doesn't hurt that it is filmed in beautiful surroundings, either.

This episode sees Holmes leaving London for a period of extended convalescing at the seaside in Cornwall. Naturally, Watson accompanies him, but a terrible set of murders will soon upset the calm.

Some good does come out of the journey; for example, Holmes is shown burying a syringe on the beach, an apparent triumph over his habit of injecting cocaine. The strongest scene shows Holmes willfully ingesting a poisonous hallucinogen in order to test a theory. The psychedlic scenes that result have been criticized by some as overly graphic -- and they are a bit of a departure from the norm for this series -- but this is a very brief interlude that is quickly concluded.

Brett's acting is brilliant throughout -- after all, he's supposed to be recovering, and so he needs to show a wide range of emotions, from depression to frustration and finally elation. Hardwicke gets additional screen time since Holmes is supposed to be resting under doctor's orders at a secluded cottage. The mystery itself is convoluted and will keep you guessing. If you've never seen Jeremy Brett as Holmes before, this is as good a place as any to see the breadth of performance that he was capable of. This is also one of the earlier episodes -- filmed well before both the production values and Brett's health began to decline noticeably. It's well worth a look.

John!
As usual, Jeremy Brett and Edwarde Hardwicke have portrayed the dynamic duo superlatively. Notable events in this show: Holmes kicks his cocaine habit, and is having a breakdown in the beginning. (Don't worry, he gets better.) The best scene is the one where Watson pulls Holmes out of the house after trying the experiment with the Devil's Foot. When Holmes comes to he is hollering and forgets himself for a moment. "John!!!" he screams, and clings to him like a frightened child. Priceless!

This show is not for everyone. Younger children will most likely be frightened by the view of the crazy/dead victims and by the dream sequence. (I watched it when I was 10, and couldn't sleep for days.) Please keep this in mind before showing it to the young ones.

Though rather macabre, this is a wonderful episode.