Sherlock Wilmer comes to region 1 DVD

[didi-5]

*groan*

[jaycad]

name='Gerald Lovell' timestamp='1285359527' post='477121']

I'm waiting for it to arrive in (a) Cardboard Box . . .

i 'ear that's the usual packaging method! (i'll stop now for didi's sake!!!)

[vanmunchen]

Just received this as well. It's really good to have these episodes on DVD. Have only watched "The Speckled Band" so far but picture quality is fine considering the age of the material. I saw the Douglas Wilmer series when it was first broadcast and he has remained my favourite TV Holmes; looking very much like the original Strand Magazine illustrations of Holmes. I recall being disappointed when Peter Cushing took over the role (I believe Wilmer had filming committments) because his acting range was extremely limited and I thought Jeremy Brett far too mannered.

[jaycad]

name='vanmunchen' timestamp='1285402639' post='477213']

Just received this as well. It's really good to have these episodes on DVD. Have only watched "The Speckled Band" so far but picture quality is fine considering the age of the material. I saw the Douglas Wilmer series when it was first broadcast and he has remained my favourite TV Holmes; looking very much like the original Strand Magazine illustrations of Holmes. I recall being

disappointed when Peter Cushing took over the role (I

believe Wilmer had filming committments) because his

acting range was extremely limited and I thought Jeremy

Brett far too mannered.

yes,wilmer takes the cake for looking like the paget drawings-even mire than gillette and rathbone! peter cushing makes a good holmes but i can understand your disappointment at the time-i had the same feeling with edward hardwickes watson at the time but now enjoy his performance as much as david burkes portrayal,i think cushing should have dyed his hair for the role but otherwise his performance was thorough! my favourite holmes is jeremy brett-i can understand your criticism of his 'theatrics' but remember holmes was related to a famous artist and was also a musician so i translate them as 'artistic temperament'! (believe me,this is not a myth-i am both an artist and a musician and suffer costly tantrums on a regular basis!!)

[cornershop15]

Set arrived today - the region 1 is a 2 disc set ... but the discs are double-sided! ... Haven't taken a look yet to see what the quality is like.

I am not keen on these "double-sided" discs, didi. The Doctor Zhivago one is okay but the DVD containing two versions of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde wouldn't play when I inserted it and I've been reluctant to try again.

Just received this as well. It's really good to have these episodes on DVD. Have only watched "The Speckled Band" so far but picture quality is fine considering the age of the material.

I finally got round to watching this, the pilot episode, last night, sandwiched between first viewings of Honey West and Volume 2 of Peyton Place, which I purchased at the same time. All in black-and-white and all on Region 1. Maybe I have an inferior multi-region player but none of them looked clear, or remastered, and it was a real struggle to cope with the picture quality of The Speckled Band at times. It was even difficut to see the actors' faces at the beginning.

After a while, I got used to the programme and liked what I saw but was irritated by a spot, or a Speck if you like, in the middle of the picture that remained constant throughout. DVD featurettes on the restoration of The Sweeney and My Fair Lady reminded me of moments where I saw some frames being cleaned up and I longed to see some magical brush remove this one.

As for the actors, Douglas Wilmer and Nigel Stock looked a good match and I was surprised to recognise the voice of Donald Douglas in an early scene - his only contribution, disappointingly. The main guests, Felix Felton and Liane Aukin, were new to me, although I was struck by the latter's credit in Sunday, Bloody Sunday: 'Daniel's sister-in-law'. Is she the lady who looks as if she's attracted to Peter Finch at the dinner table (wedding reception?). A memorable moment.

I'm sure I will enjoy this version of Sherlock Holmes but do hope other episodes will be easier on the eye.

[stuartfanning]

no UK release for the Wilmer Holmes.

Hi Stuart
After much debate (again) and looking very closely at the North American sales, 2entertain have decided not to extend clearance and not to release on DVD in the UK.
Sorry to be the bringing of bad news.
Best
Ally

Ally WardHead of Programming

[didi-5]

That's bad news Stuart but not unexpected. Sadly the BBC just aren't interested in releasing anything here that they don't expect to sell by the shed-load. I wish they would licence their material to someone like Network who would take a chance rather than 2entertain who are, frankly, rubbish when it comes to Region 2 releases.

[Gerald Lovell]

As this is the only (almost) complete series of traditional Sherlock Holmes stories the BBC has in existence, it is indeed a disgrace it is not being released in Region 2. I would have thought that the success of the recent SHERLOCK series would have encouraged the BBC to take a chance on this. But it's in black and white . . .

[jaycad]

As this is the only (almost) complete series of traditional Sherlock Holmes stories the BBC has in existence, it is indeed a disgrace it is not being released in Region 2. I would have thought that the success of the recent SHERLOCK series would have encouraged the BBC to take a chance on this. But it's in black and white . . .

I totally agree yet any frustration is easily put to bed via a simple code change on your dvd player! The BBC are top w*****s with regards to their archive material and there doesn't seem to be any signs that Network dvds success with their release of mostly ITV material will change their mindset.

[image45]

no UK release for the Wilmer Holmes.

Hi Stuart
After much debate (again) and looking very closely at the North American sales, 2entertain have decided not to extend clearance and not to release on DVD in the UK.
Sorry to be the bringing of bad news.
Best
Ally

Ally WardHead of Programming

If we did get a region:2 release, what would we gain from a content point compared to the region:1 version?
I bought the U.S version because I expected the region:2 version would never happen!!

[didi-5]

The presentation was awful though in the region 1 set. Double sided discs. No list of episodes or even an information sheet. And because the discs are NTSC the transfer looks worse than it originally did in PAL.

However - this series has been out of circulation for years except for that two episode release in the 1980s. Any DVD release is therefore welcome.

[jaycad]

Network have returned to making the odd BBC release recently ('The Dark Angel' for example) so maybe a suggestion on their Facebook page might inspire them to ask the BBC for permission to release the set since they're not interested in doing so.