Basil RathboneThe Sherlock Holmes Collection - Volume 2: (The House of Fear / The Spider Woman / Pearl of Death / The Scarlet Claw)

For all fans of classic mystery films, you should seriously consider investing in this particular set from the 14 original Sherlock Holmes movies starring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce during the 1930's and 1940's. Lovingly restored by UCLA and liberally adapted from the original Arthur Conan Doyle stories, there isn't a weak link among the four selected films here.In "The Spider Woman," Holmes is forced to fake his own demise in order to counter the title character's fiendish plot. Perhaps the best sequence of the film is the circus shooting gallery finale.In "The Pearl of Death," Holmes and Watson face off with a ruthless serial killer who is intent on recovering a lost jewel by burglarizing the homes of seemingly random victims. Before it is too late, Holmes must realize that he is facing more than one opponent.Another serial killer is on the loose in "The Scarlet Claw," as Holmes make a rare visit to Canada to attend a convention. In a remote village, a sinister master-of-disguise is at work bumping off a list of unsuspecting victims that he has long sought vengeance on. The mark of death is a gardening tool used as a gruesome claw. I'll note that this particular film is surprisingly violent for the Rathbone series, but it only adds a greater sense of realism to the plot.Finally, the "House of Fear" may be well the best of the series from the World War II era, as nicely woven humor is added by the befuddled presence of Inspector Lestrade. An insurance company hires Holmes and Watson to look into the bizarre deaths of an exclusive club of recluses known as the "Good Comrades." One by one, the comrades are brutally dispatched by one of their own after they are each left a warning of their impending demise by the receipt of a mysterious packet of orange pips. Holmes, however, is left with too many baffling clues and a narrowing field of suspects. The finale is well worth waiting for.Of the three available collector's sets, I would recommend starting with this one before making a decision on the other two since all four titles are of a similiarly excellent caliber. I have no doubt that Rathbone and Bruce will likely insure your entertainment for hours to come.

... this is an extrordinary collection. The quality is the best I've seen on dvd (previous versions) or vhs. The color (black and white) tones are sharp and clean, and the audible track is without hiss, noise and surpassingly clear. Didn't see all the promised extras (there is a booklet w/ some of the history of the film titles included in the case), but then I am more interested in the film itself anyway. The four discs come in a handsome multicompartmented case which looks great on your library shelf. One thing I have noticed as missing from these releases is the occassional background voice-over (painfully evident) that was used for side conversations. Fans of the movies will know what I mean. Still, not having those in the film does not detract from the movie.As to the movies themselves ... well, if you're a fan of what I regard as the best Sherlock Holms/Dr Watson duo, then this is a collection not to be missed. The movies are campy and fun, and provide a great passtime for those rainy Sunday afternoons in front of the fireplace w/ a bag of popcorn. I've always enjoyed Nigal Bruce as the bumbling, vacant-eyed Watson [Watson "it's so simple, a child could see it"; Holmes "not your child"; Watson "huh? I never had a child"] and the cynical, resourceful Holmes. The mysteries themselves are trite and melodramatic -- but then, we're talking about an era in film making when this was the norm.Seriously, if you have ever enjoyed one of these films, this is the series to buy. Twelve of the movies are already slated to be released (the ones from Universal). Hopefully the first two ('Hound of the Baskervilles' and 'The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes') will also find their way into this excellent set.***Cheerfully Recommended ***

Love these movies. Perfect condition.

Although the Rathbone and Bruce 'combo' made no bad "Holmes" effort, I would dare say the "House of Fear" and "the Scarlet Claw" are the 2 best here AND the 2 best of the 14 they made. The other 2 next would be "the Hound" and "Faces Death." You can dispute that BUT I'm just saying . . . . . . .

This resurrected series is a delight to see and the restoration by the folks at UCLA is superb. The viewer will not be disappointed with the restored audio and video quality. It brings back those wonderful "late late show" memories to see Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce sleuthing around London again solving murders and making fools out of Scotland Yard - especially in the original crisp, clear black and white that most of us have never seen. However, I was disappointed to discover that the "Bonus Materials" are only on "The Scarlet Claw" disc of the Volume Two Collection. The packaging and marketing would lead one to believe that each film in the series is accompanied by an audio commentary by David Stuart Davies. Unfortunately, "The Scarlet Claw" is the only film that has a commentary track. Needless to say, the "Loaded With Special Features" blurb on the DVD casing is somewhat deceptive. Although there is an introduction by the preservation officer at UCLA, production notes, and a photo gallery of stills and movie posters, MPI Home Video should have at least indicated that the audio commentary was for "The Scarlet Claw" only. Aside from the misleading claims regarding the "DVD Extras", the films are just as entertaining as they ever were and still a bargain. I just wish they had been a little more up-front about the special features since I would have purchased the DVDs anyway. Classic Sherlock Holmes fans are very loyal.