Sherlock Holmes

I bought this set of 20 episodes 5 years ago in Houston Texas, USA, we are in the process of a move and this set had never been opened, so I slit open the box and began watching this set to see if it was worth keeping or giving away so there is less to pack. WAS I EVER ASTONISHED, not only does Howard sound and somewhat look like his Dad, Leslie Howard, but his version of Holmes is a delight to view, for a 30 minute show this is very nice and a delight to watch with pleasure on a cold and blustery night with a warm mug of chocolate. It also has bookend video extras with a bio comment by Christopher Lee. A special treat and a joy to own, would really like the extra 19 episodes if they can be found.

I am a huge fan of Sherlock Holmes, and had never heard of this series until recently. I saw the first episode, and was really quite impressed so I kept on watching. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes is a very enjoyable series that has a lot to like about it. I do agree that some of the writing in some episodes sounds as though it was written in haste, and the guest stars are also variable either being pretty good or just okay.

However, although it mayn't be technically polished, the series does have some charming enough production values. The sets and costumes are pleasing, and the photography is good enough for what it is. When the writing is good and not written in haste, it is actually quite good, while the stories are always well-constructed and fun and the theme music is a fine touch. The direction is good, and the pacing is brisk. The acting from the leads is excellent. Ronald Howard is a very interesting Holmes, and I also really enjoyed with what he did with the role, making Holmes charismatic and intelligent as he should be. One may say he lacks the grit of Jeremy Brett, the sophistication of Basil Rathbone and the sly sardonic approach of Ian Richardson, Howard as I've said was thoroughly enjoyable. He also has great chemistry with Howard Marion-Crawford who is terrific as a quite controlled yet still entertaining Watson. And I loved Archie Duncan, who never fails to bring a smile to my face as the increasingly inept Lestrade.

So all in all, I enjoy this series. It is not the best mind you but I wasn't expecting that. I was looking forward to a fun series, and I got exactly that. 8/10 Bethany Cox

Howard is a believable Holmes, he carries off an almost absentminded humour in his portrayal of Sherlock. He is second in my book only to Jeremy Brett (except Howard has better hair, rather curly, which I found attractive).

The writing and dialogue was well done and charming. Howard and Crawford play off each other beautifully, and obviously enjoy their roles.

Some of the camera angles in this show are awful, but only add to the comedy (at least to me). It seemed a little too obvious at times that some actors were shot independently of the rest of the scene, and jumped places.

In short I laughed a lot at it all, and loved every minute of it. If you haven't, go buy this show.

I remember seeing this series on local television in New Orleans in 1955 when I was seven years old.It was one of my favorites then, but I haven't seen it since. I just finished looking at it on IMDb.I am glad to see that it still holds up pretty well.Too bad that there aren't more episodes.

One thing that no one has mentioned is that this is one of the few interpretations of Holmes that show the stereotypical Holmes. Most of them avoid the "traditional" image, like they are ashamed of it. But here it is played to the hilt. Deerstalker hat, caped coat, pipe, the works. Just like you always see in cartoon versions of Holmes.One of the Basil Rathbone movies shows Holmes reaching for his deerstalker hat, and Watson says something like"Oh really Holmes, not THAT!", and Rathbone takes another hat. But this series GLORIES in the stereotypes,with splendid results.The sets are pretty good, and 221B Baker street looks just like you expect it to be. The street is obviously a studio street,just like in 40's movies, but convincing.The Victorian atmosphere is so thick you could cut it with a knife. Howard, Crawford and Duncan are all excellent in their roles, and it is a pity that they didn't do any Holmes movies. The plots are simple and easy because of the half hour format,but you can't have everything.I think that the black and white filming definitely helps.20 or 30 years later Sheldon Reynolds did another Holmes series, with British actors filmed in POLAND! It was TERRIBLE!

By the way, my earliest exposure to the Holmes stories on TV was a few years earlier, a children's version in which the characters were played by chimpanzees!

In a nutshell, I grew up with Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce, yet I do recall seeing the Ronald Howard episodes on TV in the late 50's. Only after I picked up a dollar DVD at Walmart featuring Ronald Howard did I realize what a totally charming performance he gave as the super-sleuth. H. Marion Crawford is equally charming as Dr. Watson, and the pair interact and play off each other in a manner much different than the Rathbone/Bruce pairing. Howard portrays Sherlock as a much more human and compassionate character and is a joy to watch. There are many nuances in his words and actions which one does not immediately observe on the first viewing which help enhance his portrayal. If you are a Sherlock fan, you must sample this delightful series. Kudos also for photography and editing, at least in the limited number of chapters I have been able to view thus far. As some have mentioned, the plot lines are somewhat shallow-- you will watch these less for the intrigue of the mystery and more for Howard's acting and the wonderful chemistry between Howard and Crawford.