Sherlock Holmes (1968) (The Surviving Episodes) Peter Cushing

[BarnDoor]

Surprising news yesterday that a Blu-ray set of the 5 (technically 6 if you correctly count Hound of the Baskervilles as two parts) surviving episodes of the 1968 Sherlock Holmes series starring Peter Cushing is in the works. Sherlock expert David Stuart Davies tweeted this:

Originally Posted by David Stuart Davies

Tomorrow I'm off to London to join friends and colleagues Barry Forshaw and Kim Newman to provide commentaries for a forthcoming Blu Ray release of the five existing episodes of the BBC Sherlock Holmes series from the sixties. A daunting prospect but exciting...

Presumably this is coming either from BBC themselves, BFI, or perhaps Network. I don't believe this series was shot on film, but perhaps survives on 16mm telerecordings?

Obviously it's a tremendous shame more of the series doesn't survive (much more of the earlier Douglas Wilmer series does). I believe clips of other episodes have been found, so perhaps they'll be included.

[ravenus]

I have this series on DVD. Basically the exteriors are shot on film (16mm?) and the interiors are shot on video. I don't know how much they will benefit from HD.

[BarnDoor]

Do we know if any of those original 16mm materials survive?

[Kieran Seymour]

Originally Posted by BarnDoor

Presumably this is coming either from BBC themselves, BFI, or perhaps Network. I don't believe this series was shot on film, but presumably survives on 16mm telerecordings.

No. They're the original 625-line VT copies, in colour. Once they're upscaled and encoded they should be a noticeable upgrade on the prehistoric DVDs. Not proper HD, obviously, but as good as they're ever going to be - assuming no restoration interference from people who ought to know better.

For my money the two-part Hound of the Baskervilles is the best adaptation I've seen, and I think I'm up to 7 or 8 different versions by now.

[Gacivory]

This is exciting!

[WaverBoy]

Originally Posted by Kieran Seymour

No. They're the original 625-line VT copies, in colour. Once they're upscaled and encoded they should be a noticeable upgrade on the prehistoric DVDs. Not proper HD, obviously, but as good as they're ever going to be - assuming no restoration interference from people who ought to know better.

For my money the two-part Hound of the Baskervilles is the best adaptation I've seen, and I think I'm up to 7 or 8 different versions by now.

I think Hammer’s version is far and away the best; Peter’s characterization of Holmes in the TV version isn’t nearly as interesting IMO, among other things, although I do like it ok. In fact, the Hammer Hound is my fave Holmes adaptation full stop. I wish that it had been a hit so they would have made more Holmes films.

[Killer Meteor]

Originally Posted by WaverBoy

I think Hammer’s version is far and away the best; Peter’s characterization of Holmes in the TV version isn’t nearly as interesting IMO, among other things, although I do like it ok. In fact, the Hammer Hound is my fave Holmes adaptation full stop. I wish that it had been a hit so they would have made more Holmes films.

Hammer's version is great...apart from the Hound, which looks absurdly cuddly. See the 1983 Ian Richardson version for a great and scary Hound!

[Kieran Seymour]

Originally Posted by WaverBoy

I think Hammer’s version is far and away the best; Peter’s characterization of Holmes in the TV version isn’t nearly as interesting IMO, among other things, although I do like it ok. In fact, the Hammer Hound is my fave Holmes adaptation full stop. I wish that it had been a hit so they would have made more Holmes films.

Oddly enough this thread prompted me to rewatch the Hammer film on Wednesday night. I was on the extras last night!

There's a lot of good stuff in there, the cast in superb - Cushing, Morell, Malleson - but the changes to the story irritate the hell out of me. I've read the book way too many times to enjoy tampering to this extent. I've got the same problem with Hammer's first Dracula movie - I enjoy the sequels much more.

Best Holmes adaptation for me has to be the Jeremy Brett version of The Sign of Four. The only thing that lets it down is the boat chase.

That's the good thing with Holmes stories. There's usually something to enjoy in all of them, and enough of them for everyone to have a different favourite.

[Mark27b]

Blu-ray announced in

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?sto...00063613478264

[DavidGallow]

That's very much the Cushing version of their Lee sets - "what do we have the rights to? OK..it's a box!" despite being an aviation drama, a BBC TV series, a softcore flick, some cold-war stuff..ALL over the place!

Would still expect Holmes to be released separately here, BFI most likely.

[Mark27b]

[fatboyslim142]

Originally Posted by DavidGallow

Would still expect Holmes to be released separately here, BFI most likely.

Maybe as part of a complete surviving set considering they released the other Sherlock Holmes episodes on DVD.

[DavidGallow]

Originally Posted by fatboyslim142

Maybe as part of a complete surviving set considering they released the other Sherlock Holmes episodes on DVD.

I wouldn't hold out for the Wilmer ones for a full restoration. Severin being able to sell based on Cushing, and co-funding the restoration costs, would be a massive hurdle jumped.

[ravenus]

Originally Posted by DavidGallow

That's very much the Cushing version of their Lee sets - "what do we have the rights to? OK..it's a box!" despite being an aviation drama, a BBC TV series, a softcore flick, some cold-war stuff..ALL over the place!

Would still expect Holmes to be released separately here, BFI most likely.

I'm averse to seeing the genteel Mr. Cushing in some sleazy enterprise (the reason I avoided Corruption), but I wouldn't mind the other dramas, the best-possible-presentation of the Sherlock Holmes episodes, and the extras and book make it tempting.

[oddbox83]

Originally Posted by DavidGallow

That's very much the Cushing version of their Lee sets - "what do we have the rights to? OK..it's a box!" despite being an aviation drama, a BBC TV series, a softcore flick, some cold-war stuff..ALL over the place!

I like that though! It celebrates the varied nature of roles plays, not a specific genre they worked in.

Originally Posted by ravenus

I'm averse to seeing the genteel Mr. Cushing in some sleazy enterprise (the reason I avoided Corruption), but I wouldn't mind the other dramas, the best-possible-presentation of the Sherlock Holmes episodes, and the extras and book make it tempting.

That's a shame. Cushing may have disliked the film, but on screen he does a bloody good job regardless. It's not that sleazy by modern standards.

[Django100]

The only minus point for me is I already have the Network blu of 'The Man who finally died'.

The pluses are that I have always wanted to see 'Tender Dracula' since I read about it as a kid in House of Hammer.

Blood Suckers (Incense of the Damned) is the most complete version remastered.

I don't have 'Code of Silence' and 'Suspect' on blu ray although I have seen them before and they are good films.

I've never seen the remaining episodes of 'Sherlock Holmes'.

Add the booklet and presentation and I'm in.

[Cosmo Valdemar]

There's a good chance that a title or two from the set will be released in the UK a little later. As happened with Severin's Christopher Lee sets (The Torture Chamber of Dr. Sadism, Dark Places).

[James Lee]

I'm surprised the Tom Baker Hound of the Baskervilles hasn't had a UK release. The Australian DVD is long OOP.

[DavidGallow]

Originally Posted by James Lee

I'm surprised the Tom Baker Hound of the Baskervilles hasn't had a UK release. The Australian DVD is long OOP.

And the German doesn't port over the Tom commentary which is more than half the value of the set.

[WaverBoy]

That Cushing box set is a genius idea and an absolute must. Can’t wait to upgrade my old DVDs of Holmes, Suspect and Cone of Silence, and I’ve never seen the other three but am very much looking forward to them. And, man, what a mother lode of extras!!!