BFI Sherlock Holmes DVD English

Regarded by many to be the best incarnation of the Baker Street sleuth, Douglas Wilmer gives a career-defining performance in this celebrated BBC series. Intelligent, quick on his heels, and bearing a striking resemblance to the original Sidney Paget illustrations, Wilmer’s portrayal is possibly the closest to Conan Doyle’s original vision that there has ever been. In 2012, his status as legend within the Sherlock pantheon was cemented when he was asked to make a cameo appearance in Sherlock with Benedict Cumberbatch.

The first story in the series, The Speckled Band, was originally produced as part of the BBC drama strand Detectives. Appearing alongside Wilmer, as Holmes’ loyal companion Dr John Watson, was the great Nigel Stock. Such was the success of the adaptation that Wilmer and Stock were reunited a year later for a full 12-part series. With a supporting cast that included Clochemerle star Peter Madden as Inspector Lestrade, TV veteran Derek Francis as Mycroft Holmes, and guest stars such as Peter Wyngarde (Department S, The Innocents) and Patrick Troughton (Doctor Who), the popularity of the series gave rise to a second series, in which the role of Sherlock was played by Peter Cushing.

Presented for the first time on UK DVD, this long-awaited release also includes an array of fascinating special features, including two reconstructions of partially-surviving episodes, an alternative presentation of the Detectives pilot, an alternative title sequence, an interview with Douglas Wilmer and a number of newly-recorded audio commentaries.

The Speckled Band (1964) Director: Robin Midgley
The Illustrious Client (1965) Director: Peter Sadsy
The Devil’s Foot (1965) Director: Max Varnel
The Copper Beeches (1965) Director: Gareth Davies
The Red Headed League (1965) Director: Peter Duguid
The Abbey Range (Reconstructed Episode) (1965) Director: Peter Green
The Six Napoleons (1965) Director: Gareth Davies
The Man With the Twisted Lip (1965) Director: Eric Tayler
The Beryl Coronet (1965) Director: Max Varnel
The Bruce-Partington Plans (Reconstructed Episode) (1965) Director: Shaun Sutton
Charles Augustus Milverton (1965) Director: Philip Dudley
Retired Colourman (1965) Director: Michael Hayes
Disappearance of Lady Frances Carfax (1965) Director: Shaun Sutton