The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - Vol. 1: (A Scandal in Bohemia/ The Dancing Men/ The Naval Treaty/ The Solitary Cyclist)

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"A Scandal in Bohemia"
The very first Sherlock Holmes short story (following the detective's introduction in the novels A Study in Scarlet and The Sign of the Four) was also the first Granada Television production in the long-running Holmes series featuring Jeremy Brett's definitive performance as the famous sleuth. No deerstalker cap, cape, curved meerschaum pipe, or Basil Rathbone mannerisms for this Holmes: Brett's portrayal went straight to the heart of the character Sir Arthur Conan Doyle created, with all the manic-depressive, coldly clinical, drug-dependent, and unnervingly focused brilliance intact. Just as on-the-money is David Burke's Dr. John Watson, who is hardly the loyal puppy of widespread assumption but rather a dedicated ally and determined chronicler of the publicity-wary Holmes. "A Scandal in Bohemia," ironically, is one of the few instances of Holmes being bested by an equally intelligent adversary--an actress by the name of Irene Adler (Gayle Hunnicutt), who has threatened to reveal damaging evidence of her own affair with the king of Bohemia (Wolf Kahler), a ridiculous pseudonym invented by Watson to protect the real royal personage in trouble. It's Holmes to the rescue, going undercover in disguise to take away the blackmailer's trump, though it's he whose head will ultimately be turned by the extraordinary Irene. The cast is wonderful (meet Rosalie Williams as Baker Street housekeeper Mrs. Hudson), and the drama is great fun. (For a contemporary movie reinvention of this story, check out the 1998 feature Zero Effect, starring Bill Pullman as a whacked-out variation on Holmes, Ben Stiller as his long-suffering Watson, and Kim Dickens as an updated Irene.) --Tom Keogh

"The Dancing Men"
What is the meaning of the stick figures that appear scrawled one day on the exterior wall of a Northfolk manor? Why do they so terribly upset the American wife (Betsy Brantley) of the gentleman (Tenniel Evans) who lives there? The case proves one of the most tantalizing for Sherlock Holmes (Jeremy Brett) and his ally and chronicler, Dr. Watson (David Burke). Then it proves among the gravest of Holmes's career when murder enters the picture and the distraught woman is charged with the crime. This is one of those stories from the Holmes canon that practically invites an adaptation; Sherlockians will enjoy seeing the oddly disturbing "dancing men" on screen, while newcomers to Holmes will find the tale particularly compelling. As always, Brett remains the definitive Holmes. --Tom Keogh

"The Naval Treaty"
An old schoolmate of Dr. Watson's, Percy Phelps (David Gwillim), has asked the longtime friend of Sherlock Holmes to intercede on his behalf with the famous detective. Phelps, a member of the Foreign Office, has stolen a copy of a naval treaty with serious international consequences, but the document has been missing for two months. His nerves shattered from worry, Phelps is under the care of his fiancée (Alison Skilbeck), but so far the treaty has not surfaced. Holmes (Jeremy Brett), aided by Watson (David Burke), agrees to take the case, which is handsomely adapted in this episode from the Granada Television series. As usual, Brett is the most fascinating, most complex, and truest of the many Holmes portrayals in film and TV history, Burke is solid as the good doctor, and Rosalie Williams is delightful in her fleeting appearance as the Baker Street housekeeper, Mrs. Hudson. --Tom Keogh

"The Solitary Cyclist"
Sherlock Holmes (the incomparable Jeremy Brett) is unhappily interrupted during a major investigation by the appearance at Baker Street of a young, regal-looking woman named Violet Smith (Barbara Wilshere). Frightened for her safety, Smith tells the busy sleuth and his friend Dr. Watson (David Burke) of her recent life since being left penniless. Employed as a music teacher in the Charlington home of one Bob Carruthers (John Castle)--a man who, along with a quite dangerous and "hideous" fellow named Woodley (Michael Siberry)--knew her late father in South Africa, Smith has lately been harassed by Woodley and followed on bicycle by a mysterious, bearded fellow. Watson is dispatched to look into the matter, but the mystery only deepens and darkens even after the Master finally arrives. One of the strongest episodes in the long-running Holmes series from Granada Television, "The Solitary Cyclist" never lets up its taut suspense. Brett and Burke are magnificent, as always, but even the most loyal fans are taken aback by the rare sight of Holmes throwing punches, as he does in a boxing duel with the beastly Woodley. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

The Best!.......2007-04-13

In one of my classes at college, our professor made us watch a Sherlock Holmes episode the first day. As a rule, I prefer to read stories as opposed to watching them on TV because usually the TV versions are not as good as the books from which they are derived. However, after watching Jeremy Brett's portrayal of the legendary slueth, I was well satisfied with the excellent job of both the actors and the producers in bringing these extrordinary tales to life. I have since watched every episode, and I can say with confidence that Jeremy Brett's Sherlock Holmes is the best I have ever seen.

There's no better version of the Sherlock Holmes stories.......2007-03-24

I've loved these since I first saw them on television decades ago- Brett delivers, without a doubt, the truest, and most accurate picture of Holmes at Conan Doyle wrote him. Brett's Holmes is detached from humanity- uninterested in other peopel, except insofar as they can provide him with an intellectual challaneg. For him, the case is the thing; if he solves a mystery, he considers himself to have succeeded- even if the client happens to die along the way.

The people and places depicted in this series may not be terribly true to history, but they are very true to Conan Doyle's depiction of the age, and thus very satisfying to any serious Holmsian. The rigid societal roles, the predictable behavior, the overdone stereotypes- this is the world of Sherlock Holmes, where all can be induced from a few clues, where invalids take to divans and fan themselves, and where the criminal always returns to the scene of the crime. If you're Holmes fan- and you must be, to have read this far- you'll absolultley love this series.

Vintage Homes.......2006-11-04

A Scandal in Bohemia is my favorite Holmes story. I bought this to get it but found the other three stories just as well done. The people that write the scripts for this series all do a formindable job and the casting as is usual for English TV is excellent. Would that American TV would learn to cast as well. But most of the actors and actresses on American TV never learned their craft. You're lucky if one of two members of a cast are real pros while in England even the small roles are well done.

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - Vol. 1: (A Scandal in Bohemia/ The Dancing Men/ The Naval Treaty/ The Solitary Cyclist) .......2006-07-07

HI,
This version of the DVD has helped me to recollect the memories of the old days when I used to view Holmes series in my home TV duiring my childhood. Good and fresh memory.

But I expected a better quality DVD. This one tht have reached me sometimes stops for a fraction of a second and it srarts automatically. I expected a flawless and superior quality. Although I am returning it back but Amazon should take care of this in future.
Thanks,
Sanjib

Technical problems with two copies of this DVD.......2005-11-01

This DVD appears to be encrypted or mastered in a slightly unusual way. My DVD player could not play it, nor could any of the normal DVD players on my computers play it. This was true of two copies of this DVD that I bought.

Eventually I discovered that VLC (VideoLan Client) on the Mac could play it and we did get to see it in the end. The episodes are good, but I agree with most of the other reviewers in saying that the quality of the DVD is far below what is expected. There are sound problems on "The Naval Treaty" and a piece of dirt appeared to get caught in the projector's film gate at one stage during one of the episodes!

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A Sunday in Hell
Starring: A Sunday in Hell Cyclists
Director: World Cycling
Manufacturer: World Cycling
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Sports | Genres | DVD | Video
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ASIN: B000NO1ZTS
Release Date: 2002-01-15

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Yoga for Cyclists DVD

Manufacturer: Yoga Ventures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

ASIN: 0976605821

Product Description

Whether youre riding long road miles or challenging single track, yoga will benefit you by increasing endurance, strength, flexibility, balance, and blood flow throughout the body. Cyclists will benefit most from yoga designed by cyclists for cyclists. Avid rider and yoga instructor Andria Baldovin brings a set of exercises designed to strengthen and stretch the areas of a cyclists body that need it most. This full-featured DVD contains two 28-minute sessions of poses with detailed instruction, including brief instruction in breathing and meditation.

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ABC News UpClose with Lance Armstrong

Manufacturer: ABC News
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Biography - Lance Armstrong: Racing for His Life (A&E DVD Archives)

ASIN: B000QRIKIQ
Release Date: 2007-05-14

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Lance Armstrong stands above the rest, not just for what he has done, but for who he is. When the going gets really tough and the hills seem insurmountable and the pain kicks in, Armstrong retreats to his secret place. That's what the champion cyclist calls his particular mental state. You might call it perspective or even wisdom. It's a place where he knows the physical pain of racing up mountainsides in the Tour de France cannot possibly compare with the Hell of the other uphill climb in his life, the victory over cancer that spread from his testicles to his lungs and his brain. Lance Armstrong rides high on support he's gotten from all those who, like him, battle the disease.

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Seven Sampler 1999-2005
Starring: 1999-2005 cyclists
Director: World Cycling
Manufacturer: World Cycling
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000NO1ZVG
Release Date: 2005-11-01

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2005 Paris-Roubaix
Starring: Paris-Roubaix cyclists
Director: World Cycling
Manufacturer: World Cycling
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000NO1ZUM
Release Date: 2005-06-15

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Kimstim Collection: Cyclist
Director: Mohsen Makhmalbaf
Manufacturer: Kino Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00092ZMBQ
Release Date: 2005-05-10

Climbing Acceleration (Cycling Fitness Results, Vol. 6)

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Climbing Acceleration (Cycling Fitness Results, Vol. 6)
Starring: Cyclists
Director: Endurance Films
Manufacturer: Endurance Films
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Bicycling | Sports | Genres | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B000NJVYXK
Release Date: 2004-04-22

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The crudeness of the human nature!

The Cyclist
Director: Mohsen Makhmalbaf
Manufacturer: Image Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00063MCPM
Release Date: 2004-11-23

Description

In need of money to pay his wife's medical expenses, Afghan refugee Nassim succumbs to the pleas of a slick con artist with a fantastic plan to stage a bicycle marathon with only one contestant: Nassim himself. Billing himself as the Afghani Superman, the swindler wagers that Nassim can ride his bicycle, day and night, for an entire week. The normally mild-mannered townsfolk soon turn vicious on the sidelines as they place wagers on Nassim's fate, trying to turn his suffering into their profit. One of Iran's greatest filmmakers, director Mohsen Makhmalbaf displays a fantastic visual flair while confronting a variety of serious social issues. Here he tackles the issues of poverty and the ways that people exploit one another in an arresting and visually sophisticated work.

Customer Reviews:

The crudeness of the human nature!.......2004-11-30

A refuge from Afghan needs money to pay his wife medical expenses . He was in his youth a famous cyclist and through an unusual deal with a nasty mercenary , he accepts to receive the money with one condition . He will be the main attraction of a cheap, depressive and shameful spectacle. Nassim our man in disgrace will have to round in circle a small area with his bicycle on the outskirts of town day and night , for a week , without any minute of rest .
Along the film the sinister and unscrupulous businessman you will watch a filthy microcosmos composed by all kind of gamblers, bookies , food vendors and vileness people will come to see the great and original challenge .
This was one the twenty most important movies of the eighties . Winner of the Best Film at the Rimini Cinema Film Festival Farsi .

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LANCE ARMSTRONG: RACING FOR HIS LIFE

Manufacturer: A&E Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

( L ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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ASIN: B000E3713W
Release Date: 2001-01-22

Description

Just five years after he took up competitive cycling, he was world champion. Three years later, he was fighting for his life.Lance Armstrong became famous as an American athlete in a sport dominated by Europeans. But it was his highly publicized battle with cancer that made him a hero. BIOGRAPHY® follows the brash Texan from his angry childhood to his back-to-back Tour de France championships in 1999 and 2000, victories that were shared with cancer victims and survivors worldwide. In probing interviews, Lance talks about how he fought the disease, while his family, friends, teammates and rivals offer intimate insights into his personality, on the race course and off it.Filled with footage of his greatest victories, this is a moving portrait of an athlete who has transcended his sport.

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