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By SCOTT O'REILLY
In 1942 Basil Rathbone and
Nigel Bruce -- the definitive Sherlock Holmes and
Dr. Watson -- stepped out of Victorian England to
battle the Nazis in Universal's "Sherlock Holmes
and the Voice of Terror." Three years prior the
duo had collaborated in what are generally
regarded as the finest film adaptations of the
legendary Sherlock Holmes adventures, Fox Studio's
"The Hound of the Baskervilles" and "The
Adventures of Sherlock Holmes." The former, in
particular, brilliantly captures the mood,
mystery, and magic that has made the great
detective such a compelling figure. Rathbone was
perfect. Tall, with angular features and a unique
singular intensity, Rathbone looked perfect
carping through the fog-draped Moor clutching a
lantern in a deerskin cap and cloak. Nigel Bruce,
too, was at his best here, conjuring up the loyal,
gentlemanly, though intellectually ordinary
compatriot, Dr. Watson. The chemistry between the
stars was evident, and the two made 14 feature
films as Holmes and Watson in addition to more
than 240 radio episodes and stage productions.
The 12 films that make up the Universal series
never achieved the same critical acclaim as the
Fox classics -- though "The Scarlet Claw" is
certainly a worthy entry -- but the films have
nevertheless achieved a certain cult status thanks
to the impeccable performance of Rathbone as
Holmes, the undeniable chemistry between Bruce and
Rathbone, and the otherworldly gothic atmosphere
Director Roy William Neill creates. The rather obvious use
of low-budget rear-screen projection in some
scenes, stock footage, and relatively short
running times of these films give them an
unmistakable B flavor. And yet the memorable turns
by veteran characters actors -- perennial heavies
like George Zucco, Lionel Atwill, and Henry
Daniel -- stylish direction, and atmospheric
settings still stir the imagination. The films
have, however, been long out of print, or
available only in second rate DVD or VHS versions.
MPI has remedied that with this restoration
series. This 4-disc collection, the first in a
series, contains "Voice of Terror," "Secret
Weapon," " In Washington" and "Faces Death."
Several years ago Key Video set the standard with
the release of the entire Holmes series on VHS.
Now MPI exceeds that high standard by a notch. The
restoration by the UCLA Film and Television
Archive -- culled from the surviving 35mm prints
and portions from second and third generation
duplicates -- is sharp, vivid, with great contrast
and clear sound. The original Universal titles
have been restored, as has the war bond tag that
accompanied the films during their original
theatrical runs. Though a few flaws remain this is
probably the best anyone could have hoped for with
these films given their age and the condition of
the surviving film elements.
The DVD extras included with this set are
satisfying but not as generous as one might have
hoped for. The sixteen page booklet included with
the set is the best of the extra features,
featuring well-written commentary and production
notes on each of the individual films. The text
includes interesting background on the films, its
stars, snippets from reviews, and personal
reminiscences. Also included is an account of the
restoration process. Author David Stuart Davies' commentary,
included only on the "Sherlock Holmes Faces Death"
disc, is
informed and edifying, though he sheds little
light on the principals, Rathbone and Bruce. A
short video montage of Sherlock Holmes posters and
stills rounds out the extras. Considering that
MPI's packaging boasts "Loaded with DVD Extras"
the actual amount of bonus material is a bit of a
letdown.
MPI has yet to release the next two
volumes in their set, so perhaps there is still
time to remedy this issue by including
biographies, filmographies, trailers, and other
DVD goodies. But as it stands this set
deserves a solid recommendation. |
