Sherlock Holmes

The cases of the infamous Baker Street sleuth, Sherlock Holmes, and his loyal companion Dr Watson.

A careful and occasionally engaging series, but despite stellar casts, the acting was at times variable and the direction often tended to be stagy in a stodgy theatrical way typical of BBC programmes at that time. Peter Cushing replaced Douglas Wilmer as Holmes in 1968 and he gave a cracking performance in Hammer's "The Hound Of The Baskervilles" (1959 - see my review), but occasionally his talents didn't quite shine here.

I recently picked up the BBC's three DVD set entitled "The Sherlock Holmes Collection", featuring five episodes. My favourites are "The Blue Carbunkle" and "The Boscombe Valley Mystery". It is avaliable at £19.99 in good music and video stores.