Charlie Chan Collection, Vol. 2 (Charlie Chan at the Circus / Charlie Chan at the Olympics / Charlie Chan at the Opera / Charlie Chan at the Race Track)

Average customer rating:

Charlie Chan Collection

Charlie Chan Collection, Vol. 2

CHARLIE CHAN AT IT'S BEST!

Best of the clasicical Movie who dun it crop.

Excellent!

Charlie Chan Collection, Vol. 2 (Charlie Chan at the Circus / Charlie Chan at the Olympics / Charlie Chan at the Opera / Charlie Chan at the Race Track)
Starring: Warner Oland
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Similar Items:

Charlie Chan Collection, Vol. 1 (Charlie Chan in London / Charlie Chan in Paris / Charlie Chan in Egypt / Charlie Chan in Shanghai / Eran Trece)

Charlie Chan Collection, Vol. 3 (Charlie Chan's Secret / Charlie Chan at Monte Carlo / Charlie Chan on Broadway / The Black Camel)

Mr. Moto Collection - Vol. 2 (Mr. Moto's Gamble / Mr. Moto in Danger Island / Mr. Moto Takes a Vacation / Mr. Moto's Last Warning)

Mr. Moto Collection, Vol. 1 (Mr. Moto Takes A Chance / Mysterious Mr. Moto / Thank You Mr. Moto / Think Fast Mr. Moto) (4DVD)

The Charlie Chan Chanthology (The Secret Service / The Chinese Cat / The Jade Mask / Meeting at Midnight / The Scarlet Clue / The Shanghai Cobra)

ASIN: B000GY728I
Release Date: 2006-12-05

Amazon.com

"Size of package does not indicate quality within," Honolulu's finest, Charlie Chan sagely observes in Charlie Chan at the Circus, and while this boxed set contains only four films, it does this venerable franchise justice, with some of Chan's most arresting cinematic outings. All four films star Swedish-born Warner Oland, who is to Charlie Chan what Sean Connery is to James Bond. The high note of this set is Charlie Chan at the Opera, in which the curtain comes down on two opera singers during a performance. Boris Karloff (whose frightening presence accounts for a very funny reference to Frankenstein) costars as an amnesiac who escapes from a sanitarium to haunt the theatre like some phantom of the... well, you know. William Demarest steals his scenes as a cop in dire need of sensitivity training. He refers to Chan as "Chop Suey" and "Egg Fu Young," and when No. 1 son (Keye Luke) gives his dad a note, he asks if it's a laundry ticket. In Charlie Chan at the Circus, a Chan family excursion (with all 12 children!) to the Big Top is interrupted when the nasty circus owner is murdered.

Charlie Chan at the Olympics is another gold-medal outing that finds Chan embroiled in international espionage when an experimental automatic pilot device is stolen. His investigation leads him to the Berlin Olympics (via the Hindenburg), where his son is on the track team. Newsreel footage of the games integrated into the film features Jesse Owens running the 400-meter relay. Less of a sure bet but still an efficient mystery is Charlie Chan at the Race Track. Each restored film looks great, and each is enhanced with featurettes that illuminate interesting aspects of the series. One profiles prolific Chan director H. Bruce "Lucky" Humberstone (who, we learn, fortified his star with drink), and another Keye Luke. "Charlie Chan at the Movies" examines these films' places in the Chan canon. There are certainly enough 1930s cultural and racial stereotypes (John Allen as stableboy "Streamline" Jones in Race Track) here to keep the PC police working overtime, but for Charlie Chan buffs and B-movie fans, this is an essential collection that is, to quote Chan, a "chip off ancient block." --Donald Liebenson

Description

Disc 1: CHARLIE CHAN AT THE OPERA Full Screen Feature (Black & White) Charlie Chan's Lucky Director: H. Bruce Humberstone Restoration Comparison Trailer

Disc 2: CHARLIE CHAN AT THE OLYMPICS Full Screen Feature (Black & White) Layne Tom,Jr: The Adventures of Charlie Chan, Jr. Restoration Comparison Trailer

Disc 3: CHARLIE CHAN AT THE RACE TRACK Full Screen Feature (Black & White) Number One Son: The Life of Keye Luke Restoration Comparison Trailer

Disc 4: CHARLIE CHAN AT THE CIRCUS Full Screen Feature (Black & White) Charlie Chan At The Movies Restoration Comparison Trailer

Customer Reviews:

Charlie Chan Collection.......2007-09-13

Very fine quality product. It brought back memories of watching Charlie Chan movies late at night during our college days. We especially enjoyed the extras - i.e. interview with the actor who played one of Chan's sons. The interview gave a very interesting perspective on how Asians were treated during that era.

Charlie Chan Collection, Vol. 2.......2007-09-04

I am so grateful that these are on DVD for our family to use. We absolutely adore this set and have watched them through four times already by ourselves (my husband and I) Great quality - takes me back to years of the "great movies" . I look forward to sharing these with our grandchildren for years to come. They don't make them like this anymore and I love the nastalgia. These are funny, great story lines, family clean, and show well in my opinion. I'm getting all the others. But then, I am an "old movie buff", and watch movies for content and story line - not special effects and shock value. I believe if more families watched these "oldies" now and then, I believe their attitude and sense of humor would be affected in a clean, positive way big time!

CHARLIE CHAN AT IT'S BEST!.......2007-08-30

This collection is Set #2 of 3 starring Warner Oland. There is a 4th set featuring Sidney Toler. Oland is clearly my favorite of the two and is considered the best by most Chan fans. Oland's untimely death led to Toler taking over as Charlie.

Set #2 includes Charlie Chan at the Circus, Charlie Chan at the Opera, Charlie Chan at the Race Track and Charlie Chan at the Olympics. "At the Circus" is my favorite of the four probably because I've always loved the circus.

Up-coming Set #3 is due to be released soon and will feature 5 more films - four will feature Oland in the lead role. It will also include the very first Chan film ever filmed. To my knowledge, Set #3 will complete the Charlie Chan films with Oland. I wish there were more.

Charlie Chan is always top notch while his #1 son just doesn't seem to measure up. All four films have been masterfully restored. They appear as if they were shot yesterday. This set is another must have for your video collection.

Best of the clasicical Movie who dun it crop........2007-08-27

Any fan of the who dun it movies form the 40`s must have all Chan disks they can find.

Outstanding.

Excellent!.......2007-08-25

I am a big fan of the Charlie Chan series. I have Volumes 1 2 and 3 and have watched all the films and special features. All of these Warner Oland films are the best in the series. I encourage you to watch them and see that they are not racist, and show that Charlie was a detective in the true sense of the word in the Warner Oland films. The Sidney Tolar films were more played for laughs as Monogram went this route to change up the character. Enjoy!

The Tarzan Collection Starring Johnny Weissmuller, Vol. 2 (Tarzan Triumphs / Tarzan's Desert Mystery / Tarzan and the Amazons / and the Leopard Woman / and the Huntress / and the Mermaids)

Average customer rating:

Johnny Weismuller is the best Tarzan!!!!
The Tarzan Collection Starring Johnny Weissmuller, Vol. 2 (Tarzan Triumphs / Tarzan's Desert Mystery / Tarzan and the Amazons /
I wish they'd get Lex on DVD
Tarzan of the 40s and 50s
Tarzan Collection Vol.1 and Vol.2

The Tarzan Collection Starring Johnny Weissmuller, Vol. 2 (Tarzan Triumphs / Tarzan's Desert Mystery / Tarzan and the Amazons / and the Leopard Woman / and the Huntress / and the Mermaids)
Starring: Johnny Weissmuller , Johnny Sheffield , Frances Gifford , Stanley Ridges , and Sig Ruman
Director: Wilhelm Thiele , and Kurt Neumann
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000HEWEG2
Release Date: 2006-10-31

Amazon.com

The movies in this second collection of Tarzan adventures pass the Samuel L. Jackson Snakes on a Plane title test. Either you want to own a film called Tarzan and the Leopard Woman or you don't. And if you're a fan of the original Tarzan movies, then no doubt you must. These are the last six Tarzan films to star Johnny Weissmuller in the iconic role that spawned a thousand hollers (so ingrained is Carol Burnett's imitation of his signature shout-out that Weissmuller's own performance seems lacking!). Produced for RKO, they are low-budget affairs, but really, who watches Tarzan movies for the production values? The more fake the backdrops and the more obvious the mismatched stock animal footage the better! Tarzan Triumphs (1943) is the best of the bunch. World conflict rears its ugly head in the jungle as Nazis invade a hidden city for its precious oil and tin. Almost worth the price of this set alone is the climactic scene in which Tarzan pursues an evil German through the jungle, tauntingly calling out "Nazi," from behind rocks and trees. There's more wartime intrigue in Tarzan's Desert Mystery (1943), which somehow combines a stranded female USO magician (Nancy Kelly), Arab sheiks, more Nazis, and, most memorably, a giant spider and a man-eating plant. Tarzan and the Amazons (1945) and 1947's Tarzan and the Huntress (with a great climactic elephant stampede) offer more traditional jungle villains, exploitative explorers, and unscrupulous animal collectors, respectively. Exotic cults figure in Tarzan and the Leopard Woman (1946) and Tarzan and the Mermaids (1948), which was Weissmuller's vine-swinging swan song.

Maureen O'Sullivan has left the jungle, but Brenda Joyce makes for a very fetching Jane. Johnny Sheffield matures before our eyes as Boy. And Weissmuller still manages to avoid loincloth malfunctions as he swings through the trees and tangles with animal and human adversaries. He is both a role model ("Never kill for fun, only for food," he tells Boy at one point) and something of a jungle chauvinist ("Jungle much more peaceful before woman come," he jokes with Jane). But the breakout star of these films is Cheetah, who effortlessly steals every scene he's in, whether covering his eyes when Tarzan and Jane kiss or parachuting out of an airplane. His finest moment comes at the end of Tarzan Triumphs, when his simian squeals broadcast over a shortwave radio are mistaken by German officers for the voice of "the Fuehrer" It's a Hollywood cliché, but truly, they don't make 'em like this anymore! --Donald Liebenson

Description

Beasts roar, danger abounds and Johnny Weissmuller swoops into the last 6 of his 12 adventures as film's definitive Tarzan. The vine swinger provides World War II heroics in Tarzan Triumphs and Tarzan's Desert Mystery. Next, he welcomes Jane (Brenda Joyce) home and champions a secluded female tribe in Tarzan and the Amazons. A deadly cult proves no match for the jungle lord in Tarzan and the Leopard Woman. And the Ape Man calls in elephants to deal with poachers in Tarzan and the Huntress and rescues a pearl-diving community in Tarzan and the Mermaids. What came next? Weissmuller would return to the wilds as Jungle Jim, Johnny Sheffield (Boy) became Bomba the Jungle Boy, Joyce played Jane again in Tarzan's Magic Fountain and Cheetah became the world's oldest chimp, celebrating birthday 74 in 2006. Ungawa!

Customer Reviews:

Johnny Weismuller is the best Tarzan!!!!.......2007-07-02

This is a must for all you Tarzan fans! The quality of the DVD is excellent and the price is reasonable too.

The Tarzan Collection Starring Johnny Weissmuller, Vol. 2 (Tarzan Triumphs / Tarzan's Desert Mystery / Tarzan and the Amazons / .......2007-04-11

Arrived in good condition.

I wish they'd get Lex on DVD.......2007-04-01

I wish the ones with Lex Barker would become available. I think Lex was the best looking Tarzan although Johnny was still good. A good watch although I say again Lex is better.

Tarzan of the 40s and 50s.......2007-03-20

I think it is great to be able to see the wonderful Taran films of the 40s and 50s. They are fantastic in themselves and nothing can compare. I think the next step is to release the Lex Barker Tarzan films. Both he and Johnny Weismuller shared the screen as Tarzan back then and they both mean a lot to people.

Thanks for asking my opinion.

Tarzan Collection Vol.1 and Vol.2.......2007-03-15

This is a wonderful collection. It brings back memories of my youth. The quality of the DVD's are excellent. If you are a fan of Johnny Weissmuller's Tarzan then you will love this collection.

The Mystery Science Theater 3000 Collection, Vol. 2 (Angels' Revenge / Cave Dwellers / Pod People / Shorts, Vol. 1)

Average customer rating:

Best or Second Best Collection (as of Volume 11)
A Starter Kit & Collector's Must-Have
Top Notch MST3k
Best of the collections
Funny, Witty and just a bit (the good kind of ) Stupid!

The Mystery Science Theater 3000 Collection, Vol. 2 (Angels' Revenge / Cave Dwellers / Pod People / Shorts, Vol. 1)
Starring: Mystery Science Theater 3000 , Jack Palance , and Peter Lawford
Manufacturer: Rhino Theatrical
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000087EYI
Release Date: 2003-02-11

Customer Reviews:

Best or Second Best Collection (as of Volume 11).......2007-08-27

Briefly: this is my favorite collection, save perhaps volume 10 which is not available for any reasonable sum at this point (and I do not own, but remember the episodes). These aren't the watchable bad films like Manos, but they are so poorly conceived if produced competently enough as to be hilarious. The shorts hit a little close to home at times too. Enjoy!

A Starter Kit & Collector's Must-Have.......2007-04-16

This MST3K collection is the perfect set for both die-hard fans and viewers who are new to the show. The movies are bad in a ripe, juicy way, making it easy to squeeze every last drop of possible humor out of their horrendous dialogue, lame-duck plots, and trapped-in-a-paper-bag acting.

For collectors and afficianados, this collection is a no-brainer. For everyone else, it makes an excellent starter kit to get you into and hooked on this intelligent, delightful, and addictive show. This particular set contains the following:

CAVE DWELLERS - Miles (and miles) O'Keefe stars as Ator, the greasy, chesty hero who must travel to the ends of the earth in order to stop a strange and mystical device (the Geometric Nucleus -- never seen, never explained, never mind) from falling into the evil hands of some man with a black swan helmet. Along the way he fights invisible warriors (this film's version of cost-saving casting), a fiberglass cobra, and -- of course -- a few cave dwellers. Both well-read and beefy, Ator is assisted in his quest by his mostly mute sidekick, Dong (or is it Wong? Chong? Ba-da-bong?), and a hubcap-clad warrior woman whose name, I believe, is Linda. Joel and the bots discuss foley artist techniques, reprise the opening credits of the film in their own tongue-in-cheek fashion, and discuss ways bad movies make bad props sound better than they are. Delicious if for no other reason than the hang-glider scene.

ANGELS REVENGE - A thinly disguised rip-off of Charlie's Angels, this self-righteous dud treats us to feeble-minded drug dealers beating up school children and a typically-squinty Jack Palance doing as little acting as he possibly can. Other down-on-their-luck stars exploit their dwindling fame as well (Peter Lawford, Pat Burtrum, Alan hale, Jim Backus, and Arthur Godfrey), prompting Tom to invent a Shame-O-meter, just to gauge how pathetic the movie really is. A few of the host segments fall a little flat and seem short-changed, but that doesn't detract from Mike and the bots' able and always incisive commentary. Listen for KPLOT, watch for the scenes of young teens being instructed on proper gun use, cringe at the overly-excessive administration of groin torture, and laugh at eight women "sneaking" into a drug compound in broad daylight while wearing downy-white Evel Kineval jumpers.

POD PEOPLE - The filet mignon of MST3K episodes, "Pod People" features some of the best jokes and gags Joel and the bots have ever pitted against a film. This travesty of a movie concerns the deaths of a few brain-dead poachers (one of them is a Leslie Nielsen look-alike, the other looks like he belongs around the potato cauldron at a Renaissance Fair), the "antics" of a horrendous band (boasting a combined IQ of 12), and the machinations of a couple of murderous aliens that look like the love-children of Alf and an upright Hoover (with attachments). The plot also follows a precocious young boy as he deals with parental neglect, his uncaring and alcoholic grand/father, and a whole host of traumatizing sights. Featuring a hilarious spoof of one of the band's feature songs ("It stinks!") and a delightful recreation of Trumpy's abilities, this episode contains everything that made MST3K a brilliant show. If this one doesn't turn you into an fan, nothing will.

SHORTS, VOL. 1 - Okay, well, maybe this would be better for newbies. Hosted by Tom Servo, this disc provides viewers with 10 and 15 minute "shorts," brief, bite-sized educational clips hailing mostly from the 50s and designed -- primarily -- to teach suppression and the Great White Way to unsuspecting schoolchildren. A short on Home Economics (one of my all-time favorites) follows four girls through college as they major in various things like baby sitting, how to set a table, and (no fooling!) being a good wife. A short on good grooming encourages not just clean skin and hair, but also unswerving conformity to all traditional standards of clothing. Speaking of conformity, "A Date with Your Family" is one of the most frightening short films I've ever seen, a diatribe on familial duty that demands that children dress casually for a home meal, never ask dad for money, and always make sure dinner time conversations are as unemotional as possible. (Seriously. The narrator uses the word "unemotional.") Others include an industrial arts segment (much like the Home Economics clip, except here you have guys talking about how much they love the "smooth feel of wood pushing through a buzzing saw"), a piece on "The Chicken of Tomorrow" (a bizarre title for a boring subject), cheating (in which a young boy who cheats on a test is treated as a leperous pariah by rib-less students and teachers alike), and a Junior Rodeo in which young children risk their lives and spines for a fleeting moment of unbridled, bucking fame.

Unsettling Depression-era edutainment, 70's technicolor plaigarism, sci-fi/fantasy tomfoolery, and self-congratulatory heavy handedness: this collection harbors some of MST3K's worthiest (and cheesiest) foes. It's a treasure to be able to watch Mike, Joel, Tom and Crow chop them to bits with high-brow allusions, goofy witticisms, and hilarious insights. If you like watching bad movies with your best friends (or if you're the type who can't help making wise comments when you see something lame), MST3K should be a treat, making this collection the equivalent of a candy shop of humor.

Top Notch MST3k.......2007-03-23

I would recommend this box set for anyone who is new to Mystery Science Theater 3000; and if you're already a fan and you don't have this one, what are you waiting for? "Cave Dwellers" and "Pod People" are two of the finest episodes in the shows ten year history. The movies are just so goofy that they beg for commentary from Joel and his robot pals. And they deliver with some of their best and funniest commentary ever. (Though some fans who prefer the Sci-fi channel era may disagree). "Angels Revenge" is another fine episode because the movie is so terrible that you simply have to laugh. Also features "Shorts vol. 1, which contains several short films with classic commentary from Joel, Mike, Crow and Servo that will keep you laughing for hours. Also, the skits on the Satellite are very funny as well, with several parodies of scenes from the featured movies. For me, this is the best MST3k compilation from Rhino home video, along with volume five. They are a little high priced, but check out Amazon's new and used section for a good deal. It will be worth it.

Best of the collections.......2006-12-23

MST was pretty great throughout its run, but these flicks mark the apogee of the show's excellence.

"Cave Dwellers" and "Pod People" are the best. Both are, of course, horrid flicks, but even on their own are tremendously enjoyable. Joel and the Bots are completely on top of their riffing game, from their evisceration of Trumpy to Ator's hang-gliding performance (the latter answers the age-old question: How much Keefe is in this movie? The answer is obvious: Miles O'Keefe.

"Angel's Revenge" is a tremendous '70s/'80s homage/ripoff of "Charlie's Angels", with a nod to Russ Meyer. The cast reads like a who's-who of spent actors of the era: Peter Lawford, Jim Backus, Alan Hale Jr., Jack Palance. Only "Mitchell" comes close to replicating the latter phenomenon.

The shorts are good, but somewhat superfluous.

Any fan of the series should have this as part of their collection.

Now if we could just get "Master Ninja" I & II, "Alien from L.A.", "The Giant Gila Monster" amd "Warrior of the Lost World", my life would be complete. And "Puma Man".

Funny, Witty and just a bit (the good kind of ) Stupid!.......2006-08-07

This is a classic show! I used to watch these as a kid on the SciFi channel and they are just as funny now that I am an adult! The characters are great, and you will think that they made the movies up because they are just that bad... The best part about this, is that when my sister-in-law was a kid and these were on TV, she saw her favorite movie as the subject of one of them. I wont reveal which movie, but it is pretty funny when you recognise one of these!

Mr. Moto Collection - Vol. 2 (Mr. Moto's Gamble / Mr. Moto in Danger Island / Mr. Moto Takes a Vacation / Mr. Moto's Last Warning)

Average customer rating:

Mr. Moto Film Collection
Mr. Moto Rides Again
Murder Mystery and Suspense
GOOD STUFF
Peter Lorre - a great actor

Mr. Moto Collection - Vol. 2 (Mr. Moto's Gamble / Mr. Moto in Danger Island / Mr. Moto Takes a Vacation / Mr. Moto's Last Warning)
Starring: Peter Lorre , Joseph Schildkraut , Lionel Atwill , Virginia Field , and John 'Dusty' King
Director: Norman Foster , and Herbert I. Leeds
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Classics | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Classics | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

Espionage | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

Classics | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

Action & Adventure | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B000K7VHMI
Release Date: 2007-02-13

Description

Disc 1: MR.MOTO IN DANGER ISLAND Disc 2: MR. MOTO'S GAMBLE Disc 3: MR. MOTO'S LAST WARNING Disc 4: THINK FAST MR. MOTO

Customer Reviews:

Mr. Moto Film Collection.......2007-08-06

Absolutely a must if you are a Moto fan! The best reproductions ever! I have copies from several sources of the Mr. Moto films. These are highly superior to all my other copies. Don't miss this collection! I give it my highest recommendation.

Mr. Moto Rides Again.......2007-07-27

If you like the genre, you will like this set. Although each movie is very similar to every other, the restoration is very well done. And old film buffs will enjoy them.

Murder Mystery and Suspense.......2007-07-12

I have enjoyed the Mr. Moto series for as long as I can remember, after seeing it on TV when I was eight or nine years old. The company did a great job of restoration on both sets and I thought Peter Lorre did a fine job of playing the part of Mr. Motto, it is true the plots were pretty easy to figure out but that does not detract from the films and they were fun to watch, the scenes were mr Motto gets into a fight with the bad guys is interesting and in a couple of them you have to ask your self is that a stunt man or a dummy dressed up like the bad guy being thrown around.
If you like a mystery, comedy, and suspense film and you enjoy the other films of this type like Charlie Chan, Boston Blackie, Mr Wong, The lone Wolf , Nancy Drew (original four movies), The Falcon, The Saint, The Thin Man, and Bulldog Drummond, you will enjoys The Mr. Motto Series as well

GOOD STUFF.......2007-07-09

IF YOU'RE BUYING THE MISTER MOTO FILMS, IT'S PROBABLY BECAUSE YOU ALREADY KNOW WHAT YOU'RE IN FOR. THEREFORE THE ONLY PERTINENT QUESTIONS ARE HOW THEY LOOK, SOUND, ETC. THEY ARE VISUALLY VERY CLEAR AND THE SOUND IS QUIET. IF YOU LIKE CLASSIC BLACK & WHITE DETECTIVE MYSTERYS, YOU WILL LIKE THESE. THEY SEEM TO BE COMPLETE AS OPPOSED TO HAVING BEEN CUT FOR TV. I'VE ONLY WATCHED 3 SO FAR, BUT SO FAR THEY PLAY FINE AND ARE QUITE ENTERTAINING.

Peter Lorre - a great actor.......2007-07-05

The role of Mr. Moto is such an intriuging character and Peter Lorre plays him perfectly. Mr. Moto's Last Warning has just the right amount of suspense and chracter development. Very nice clean entertainment.

The Mystery Science Theater 3000 Collection, Vol. 3 (The Atomic Brain / The Sidehackers / The Unearthly / Shorts, Vol. 2)

Average customer rating:

Great show, good price
Expensive, but nearly worth it!
Funny, Witty and just a bit (the good kind of ) Stupid!
Bad, but in a good way!
Not the best Collection of MST3K, but great nonetheless!

The Mystery Science Theater 3000 Collection, Vol. 3 (The Atomic Brain / The Sidehackers / The Unearthly / Shorts, Vol. 2)
Starring: Joel Hodgson , Kevin Murphy (II) , Michael J. Nelson , Trace Beaulieu , and Marjorie Eaton
Director: Vince Rodriguez , Jim Mallon , and Joseph V. Mascelli
Manufacturer: Rhino Theatrical
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Television | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

General | Television | Genres | DVD | Video

( M ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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ASIN: B00008DDI5
Release Date: 2003-04-08

Customer Reviews:

Great show, good price.......2007-04-12

Any review of Mystery Science Theater 3000 written by me is boilerplate. MST3K was one of the funniest and most intelligent TV series ever to inhabit the ether. I am proud to possess a copy of every episode (except the missing K0-K3 titles, and you Misties know of what I speak).

Expensive, but nearly worth it!.......2007-01-05

Love this series too much to not get this and all the rest, but would appreciate more episodes per box....wish they would have included the essentials or something, to make it worth the 55.00, instead of 55.00 for four episodes. But even saying that, I'm probably going to buy every one of them as my Saturday nights wouldn't be the same w/out them!!!

Funny, Witty and just a bit (the good kind of ) Stupid!.......2006-08-07

Bad, but in a good way!.......2005-03-18

(Warning: contains spoiler about one of the movies)

I've never met a MST3K collection I didn't like, and this one is no exception. The plots of the various movies and shorts in Volume 3 have been sketched out by other reviewers, so I won't be redundant. Or be redundant. Just a few comments:

In "The Atomic Brain," you can play "Name That Accent." It's fun! One character arrives from London, yet her accent is all over the map -- sometimes it's English, frequently it's Australian, sometimes it's straight from Dixie, but most of the time it's totally absent. The other foreign girls play hide and seek with their accents also. And isn't it amazing how the mad scientist accomplishes all his surgeries and brain transplants without those pesky visible incisions and stitches??

There seems to be some confusion over a major plot point in "The Sidehackers," which is totally understandable. A main character just disappears and Crow has to intone, "For those of you following at home, Rita is dead." Seems like a shoddy, un-MST3K way to do things, no? There's a good reason for it: as Mike Nelson explained in the book "The Mystery Science Theater 3000 Amazing Colossal Episode Guide" (available here at Amazon and worth every penny), "We learned a harsh lesson with this episode. When we were selecting this movie for the show, we had watched only a portion of it. When it came time to write the movie, the writing team was stunned when there came a brutal, graphic scene of Rommel's girlfriend Rita being raped and killed. We were all traumatized, the scene was cut, and from that day forward, movies were watched in their entirety before they were selected."

There, now don't you feel better?

Not the best Collection of MST3K, but great nonetheless!.......2004-03-08

In case you're new to the world of "Mystery Science Theater 3000" (MST3K for short, that's what us fans -- "Misties" -- call it), this is the famous TV show where a silhouette of a man and two robots in theater seats provide running commentary for some of the worst movies ever made. The ninety-minute episodes are scattered with sketches and songs and amount to some of the smartest, most pop-culture savvy, side-splitting comedy ever made.

This is Rhino's third MST3K collection of four DVDs. It's a bit weaker than the first two volumes (as well the next two), and probably not the greatest place to start if you're new to the show, but it's still hilarious stuff and worth four stars. It has three episodes from widely separated seasons, and a fourth disc that's a compilation of short subjects from various episodes.

Two episodes feature Joel Hodgson as the host. The first one is from extremely early in the second season, when MST3K first started to air on Comedy Central and the writers and performers were still developing the show's style. The second Joel episode comes from the late days of the excellent third season. The third DVD features Mike Nelson as host, late in the fifth season soon after he replaced Joel; he's very fresh and still learning the ropes of being host. The Shorts on the last DVD are brief films that the MST3K boys would sometimes make fun of before the movie. Originally, they watched episodes of old movie serials, but when those became tiresome, they turned to educational, commercial, and industrial filmstrips (you know, those annoying things you had to watch at school assemblies in sixth grade?). They contain some of the funniest riffing in the series, and are favorites of the fans.

Here's what's in this collection:

THE ATOMIC BRAIN. Episode #518. Mike Nelson had only recently become host when this episode was shot, so the show is in the middle of a re-adjustment, but nonetheless, Mike gets into the swing of things pretty quickly, and the show is already developing the more sarcastic style of the later seasons. This cheap science-fiction movie has an old lady and a mad scientist capturing foreign beauties in their creepy mansion so they can transplant the old lady's brain into one their bodies. There's no atomic brain, but there are sick scenes of the old lady pawing her intended new bodies. The film is fairly sluggish, but the hosts have a load of fun with the "plink-plink-plink" music and the ludicrously fake accents of the leading ladies. There is also a very funny educational short before the movie, "What About Juvenile Delinquency?" which shows just how wimpy teen gangs were back in the 1950s. (THEY STEAL PENS!) A good, solid episode.

THE UNEARTHLY. Episode #320. The Joel Hodgson years were in high gear when this episode was shot, and it's the best of the three full episodes in this set. "The Unearthly" has a lot in common with "The Atomic Brain," with a mad scientist capturing people in his lonely mansion so he can conduct experiments on them. But "The Unearthly" has real B-movie snap, with such stars as John Carradine (the world's greatest mad scientist), the incomprehensible Tor Johson (from Ed Wood's films), and smug Myron Healy. There's also a perky blonde and a wisecracking palooka, and a lot of scenes of people walking up and down stairs. Adding to the enjoyment are not one, but two hilarious 1950s education shorts shown before the film: "Posture Pals" (elementary school kids, STAND UP STRAIGHT OR ELSE!) and "Appreciating Our Parents" (elementary school kids, OBEY OBEY OBEY!). A great episode all around.

THE SIDEHACKERS. Episode #202. This is only the second episode of the years that the show was on Comedy Central. Kevin Murphy had just taken over the role of Tom Servo, and the show was still a bit wobbly, but they were rapidly improving. This is one of the best episodes from this season, but isn't as sharp as anything from seasons three or four. The movie, however, is a wonderful stinker: a sleazy, icky 60s biker revenge flick centered on the odd sport of `sidehacking' (motorcycle racing with a man in a side car balancing out the bike on turns). This is an important episode for fans because it provided many of the show's running gags: "He Hit Big Jake!" , "Chili Peppers Burn My Gut!" and "That Was Number Nine!" Some good stuff here, and a promise of the terrific stuff to come.

SHORTS, VOL. 2. These short films come from many seasons, and all are great. "Catching Trouble" (from episode #315) is a reprehensible documentary from the 30s about a wild game trapper who cruelly torments baby animals. The hosts are frankly disgusted by the whole thing, but this is a great episode for satiric humor. "What to Do on a Date" (from episode #503) teaches teens of the 50s how to save money on dates by showing how a loser named Nick lures Kay to a...gasp...scavenger sale for their first date. Kiss the second date goodbye, Nick! "Last Clear Chance" (from episode #520) is aimed at farm kids getting their drivers' licenses. A cruel cop explains the many ways a train can kill you, and despite his lectures, people die anyway. "A Day at the Fair" (from episode #608) is sponsored by the Four-H Club to tell you how much fun visiting the local fair can be. It all looks pretty bleak. "Keeping Neat and Clean" (from episode #613) explains to elementary school kids how to conform to 1950s beauty standards through relentless grooming. "The Days of Our Years" (from episode #623) is similar to "Last Clear Chance," only instead of a cop, it's the minister of a small railroad town who wonders why people keeping maiming and killing themselves around trains. This is a great short, with bitter and sharp commentary. Overall, the funniest disc in this collection!

Amazon.com

Taut, styish, and smart, Second Sight is the rare detective thriller with a brutal poetry in its premise. Detective Chief Inspector Ross Tanner (Clive Owen) is a maverick cop and workaholic who solves crimes by putting his faith in facts he can see for himself. What more cruel irony could beset him than a slow and irreversible loss of vision? While a rare disorder attacks his cornea, causing intermittent blindness and hallucinations, Tanner conceals his problem in the pursuit of a murderer who brutally beat a 19-year-old man to death. The suspects are largely people the victim knew well, including his mother (Phoebe Nicholls) and stepfather (Stuart Wilson), the nanny (Louise Atkins) of his young sister, a gardener (Eddie Marsan) who supplied him drugs, and an uncle (Stuart Wilson again, playing twins) who has allegedly been out of the country for years but in fact has been keeping a low profile in London. Tanner faces an added strain, initially, when he is partnered with a female detective, Catherine Tully (Claire Skinner), whose reliance on intuition is the antithesis of his own methods. Nevertheless, the two make a bargain after Skinner deduces Tanner's medical troubles: she'll be his eyes if he promises to give her equal credit for apprehending the killer. Utterly engrossing, Second Sight is part of that tradition of somber crime thriller done so well on British television, from Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy to Prime Suspect. Stars Claire Skinner (Sleepy Hollow) and Clive Owen carry the load exceptionally well. Owen (Closer, Bent), who looks like a slightly more rugged version of Kevin Costner and is instantly likable onscreen, conveys Tanner's necessary conversion to a more intuitive approach to police work with great care. Owen has looked like a candidate for international stardom for a while, and Second Sight certainly reinforces that perception.

Second Sight 2 follows the critically acclaimed, highly popular miniseries Second Sight with three bracing, two-part thrillers challenging ordinary notions of perception and deduction. Clive Owen returns as Chief Inspector Ross Tanner, whose eyesight is failing (his doctor sounds less certain this time that Tanner will absolutely go blind), subjecting him to blurry, distorting vision and even occasional hallucinations. Unwilling to give up his job, Tanner continues to rely upon confidantes working under him in his Special Murder Unit (now called the "Special Money Unit," investigating cold crimes and unusual cases), particularly Catherine Tully (Claire Skinner), who became Tanner's "eyes" in Second Sight and is his lover in the first story here, "Hide and Seek." Created and written by Paula Milne, Second Sight was most interesting as a study of a man who can no longer use his eyes to solve crimes and must turn to a kind of sixth sense, heightened intuition, instead. Second Sight 2 extends that idea into chilling storylines in which only Tanner can "see" what his colleagues merely look upon. "Hide and Seek" is a strong and tragic tale in which Tanner re-opens an investigation into the apparent murder of a world-class violinist. While the SMU team pokes through three possible murder scenarios, Tanner takes the extraordinary measure of building a mock-up of the victim's home within police headquarters. (Meanwhile, Catherine endures the humiliation of being found out as Tanner's secret girlfriend.) "Parasomnia" is an absolutely spooky story about a sleepwalker (who fascinates Tanner on several levels) who has no memory of crossing town in her nightdress and bashing in her fianci's head. Finally, "The Kingdom of the Blind" finds Tanner's young son missing during an investigation into the racially charged killing of an activist. Through all of these, Owen's laser-focused, powerful performance is something special to behold. --Tom Keogh

Description

This taut psychological thriller from Paula Milne (The Politician's Wife) introduces Ross Tanner (Clive Owen, Closer; Bent), a hotshot police detective who lives for the thrill of the chase—while desperate to conceal a terrifying secret: he's losing his vision. Claire Skinner (Inspector Morse; The Wingless Bird; Sleepy Hollow) co-stars as D.I. Catherine Tully, drafted into Tanner's crime unit to aid in the investigation of the apparently motiveless, brutal murder of a 19-year-old college student. As Tanner's relationship with the world becomes increasingly fragile, he learns that there is more to murder than meets the eye. Insight prevails over eyesight as he discovers that success and survival both will depend on the alchemy of all his senses. Then, Clive Owen returns as Detective Chief Inspector Ross Tanner in three new cases of Second Sight. Still afflicted with a rare and incurable eye disease, Tanner's vision is slowly dimming, yet his crime-solving senses are as sharp as ever. He's just been chosen to head the Special Murder Unit, an elite group assigned only the toughest cases. Tanner has to hone his observation skills while staying several steps ahead of his colleagues—who are unaware of his debilitating secret.

Special DVD features include: article by series creator Paula Milne about developing Second Sight; bonus arficle "Disabled Detectives Develop New Ways to Fight Crime;" selected cast filmographies; selected cast list; link to the Mystery! Web site; scene selections; closed captions; and described video for the visually impaired.

On four DVD9 discs. Region coding: All regions. Audio: Dolby stereo. Screen format: Letterboxed.

Customer Reviews:

Clive Owen is wonderful.......2007-05-16

I was pleasantly surprised at how well Clive Owen acted in this series. In some of his movies he seems a little too stiff, however, in this series he is warm and believable. This is the story of a detective on the fast track who is losing his sight. Reading the synopsis you may think that "Second Sight" is referring to being able to see into the future/past; however that is not the case. He is losing his sight due to a viral infection that is uncurable. He is unable to hide this condition from his most able coworkers (they are detectives after all), and has to lean on a few of them which is something he hates to do. This series would have been better has the intro been deleted off of it, but the show was very good and the last show of the series had a wonderful and satisfying ending.

Great detective video with AUDIO DESCRIPTION for blind viewers.......2007-05-07

DVD or Video--This is an engrossing 2-part detective movie PBS (or BBC?)about a detective who is losing his sight after an accident. He tries to hide the fact from his police force, while solving a case. Great plot and acting.

NOTE TO AMAZON: Can Amazon Note in their product description when a DVD or Video (like Second Sight) offers DVS--Descriptive Video Service, an audio descripton option for viewers with visual impairment--low vision or blindness?
Same way you may list when a product offers CC --Closed Captioning for viewers with hearing impairment--deaf, hard of hearing, etc.

For those who have visual impairment, this DVD/video/TV movie offers the option of Descriptive Audio, a quiet voice that describes key visual scenes (e.g., "The man slips into the room and hides a key under the phone.") To use this, check SECOND SIGHT video menu for additional features. On regular TV, you click the MTS or SAP button on your TV remote and highlight MTS or SAP-- when a program has it, a subtle voice describes all the video action. The voice in no way interferes with the video voice--in fact, it helps the viewer.

My husband is blind, and this way we can both watch DVD. (If the program does not have it, clicking SAP or MTS will play classical music or Spanish translation).
I'm sighted, but I love Descriptive Audio for when I'm tired, too--I never miss a trick this way!

We urge ALL DVD/video makers to add descriptive video---PBS tv stations offer a great many programs with DV (e.g., Masterpiece Theatre, series, etc.)--some networks--NBC, CBS, ABC--must also, by law--look oline on tv schedule to see if DA or DV appears (where the initials CC, for "Closed Captions" for deaf viewers, normally appears).

Another Clive Owen hit.......2007-02-08

Excellent in everyway-acting & storyline. I would highly recommend-British television & Owen at their best.

A Wonderful Surprise.......2007-01-19

Clive Owen caught my eye in Inside Man (Widescreen Edition). Ever since then I've been a fan. After checking out his movies on amazon I came across "Second Sight". It sounded pretty interesting- Clive Owen plays a police detective who is losing his sight. He has to deal with temporary blindness and hallucinations- not to mention solving the case.

I've never purchased a British television show before so I was a bit apprehensive. I was afraid I wasn't going to be able to understand some of the accents, or even the terms. Overall though, I was able to understand it very well. I can only remember one time where I rewound two or three times before giving up on that one phrase because I had no idea what they said.

Clive was fabulous. He plays the tough detective (Ross Tanner) so well, but was also able to show that he was a loving father to his son. His difficulty in accepting that he had a problem was hard to watch. Claire Skinner costars as his partner (Catherine Tully). It was interesting to watch her mind work, whether it was figuring out the crime, or noticing her partner had a problem.

I thoroughly recommend this series to anyone who loves mysteries or detective stories. Or if you're a Clive Owen fan like me. Buy "Second Sight Vol. 1 & 2". There's only four episodes total, but they are each two parts due to the length. I was sorry to see them end!

Enjoyable.......2007-01-10

Have only watched the first two episodes so far, but am greatly enjoying the show. It is alot of fun and I enjoy seeing some recognizable British actors with smaller parts. The mysteries are in depth and not easily solved. We make bets about half way through the show to see who is right (or closest) in solving the mystery.

Agatha Christie's Poirot - The Classic Collection, Vol. 2

Average customer rating:

A caution
Good but disappointing
beware of jewel case scratching
What is in the collection?
I plan on getting this set but...

Agatha Christie's Poirot - The Classic Collection, Vol. 2
Starring: David Suchet
Manufacturer: Acorn Media
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000NVKZWE
Release Date: 2007-06-26

Amazon.com

Snooty, fastidious, self-important--and yet delightful. Agatha Christie's famous Belgian detective, Hercule Poirot, continues to engage his "little grey cells" in this mammoth and consistently strong collection of nine feature-length murder mysteries, all full of Christie's skillful twists and cunning misdirection. In the best of these, such as The ABC Murders or One, Two, Buckle My Shoe, the murders are only the tip of the iceberg, hiding or indirectly revealing a more insidious plot. The Classic Collection 2 ranges from the very first Poirot story--The Mysterious Affair at Styles, which also introduces the recurring characters Captain Hastings (Hugh Fraser) and stalwart Chief Inspector Japp (Philip Jackson) as Poirot investigates the murder of a family's matriarch--to later stories like Hickory Dickory Dock, in which Poirot's secretary Miss Lemon (Pauline Moran) makes one of the only mistakes in her precise career (an event of more import to some fans than the actual mystery, which revolves around diamond smuggling in a student hostel). The set also includes Death in the Clouds (in which murder is committed on an airplane, right under Poirot's nose), Peril at End House (which culminates in a staged seance), Dumb Witness (in which a fox terrier helps Poirot suss out the truth), Murder on the Links (in which Hastings, so often smitten with a suspect, loses his heart completely), and Hercule Poirot's Christmas (a particularly colorful mystery, featuring a fiery Spanish girl and a very unsavory murder victim).

Ironically, television makes Christie's work even stronger. Though always prized for the intricate mechanics of her mysteries, her characters are more often dismissed as flat. In the hands of wily British thespians, these same characters become vivid and eccentric. Though casts include a few familiar faces, including Polly Walker (Rome, Enchanted April), Damian Lewis (Band of Brothers, Friends & Crocodiles), and Christopher Eccleston (Heroes, Dr. Who), most of the actors are capable unknowns. But they're all supporting players to David Suchet, who, after playing Poirot in more than 60 TV movies, completely owns the role. Suchet brings the perfect blend of warmth, prickliness, and obsession to the finicky sleuth, who refuses to overlook inconvenient details; every loose thread must be explained or he will not rest. The Classic Collection 2 features an engaging documentary that, though titled Agatha Christie's Garden, is a well-wrought biographical look at the author, filtered through her beloved estate and narrated by Pam Ferris (Rosemary & Thyme). --Bret Fetzer

Description

As portrayed by DAVID SUCHET, Agatha Christie's brilliant Belgian sleuth became the most-watched detective in the history of the PBS Mystery! series and a hit all over again on A&E. The incomparable Poirot cracks his most challenging cases in these feature-length episodes.

The Mysteries
The ABC Murders
Death in the Clouds
Dumb Witness
Hercule Poirot's Christmas
Hickory Dickory Dock
Murder on the Links
The Mysterious Affair at Styles
One, Two, Buckle My Shoe
Peril at End House

INCLUDES BONUS PROGRAM! Agatha Christie's Garden -- An intimate look at the author's life at her beloved garden and summer retreat in Devon, with Rosemary & Thyme's Pam Ferris as your guide.

DVD SPECIAL FEATURES INCLUDE biographies of Agatha Christie and David Suchet, interactive trivia, cast filmographies, and Agatha Christie materials.

Customer Reviews:

A caution.......2007-09-16

For me, this set would be nice but isn't necessary. I have and love all the episodes on it already. I did get the first classic collection set though, and love its compact size for the many episodes included. My caution is to check the set out thoroughly and promptly, because two of the discs in my set skip parts and when we found out it was too late to return the item (bought it elsewhere, maybe Amazon would have taken it back). The problem is that discs in multiple sets can come loose in transit so check that they haven't, aren't scratched, and then watch them promptly. I know it kind of takes the fun out of savoring each one, but at least you'll be sure you didn't get a damaged set like we did.

Good but disappointing.......2007-08-27

I had expected to see all for lead characters (Poirot, Hastings, Japp and Miss Lemon) in all of these mysteries. In fact they are all only present in two of the mysteries. Most of the others have only Japp or Hastings with one or two having both of them. Poirot is always good, but it's the four-actor ensemble that makes the mysteries great. By all means buy this collection. I'm sure you'll enjoy it. Just don't expect a complete compliment of lead characters in most of the stories.

beware of jewel case scratching.......2007-07-03

I've just received The Classic Collection Vol 2 today and can't wait to sit down this holiday weekend to enjoy it! Thank you Acorn Media!!

I strongly advise customers of both the Classic Collection Vols 1 & 2 to relocate their discs from the existing jewel sleeves to a safer album, tho. I've noticed on both of the jewel case sets there is a raw nub right on each sleeve that will SCRATCH and SCORE your DVDs if the dvds are ever rotated or moved upon this surface. This is some kind of manufacturing flaw in the cases itself (not with the DVDs).

What is in the collection?.......2007-06-04

It would really be of great help in deciding whether to buy this set or not if a complete list of the contents were enumerated somewhere in the advert or summary.

I plan on getting this set but..........2007-05-08

what does 2 V10 mean? Is this set formatted for USA DVD players? That code is confusing and it should be explained in the details...unless I missed it. Please clarify.

The Sherlock Holmes Collection, Vol. 2 (The House of Fear/The Spider Woman/Pearl of Death/The Scarlet Claw)

Average customer rating:

Unbelievable
Sherlock Holmes DVD Set
Sherlock Holmes Collection, Vol. 2
Major Ripoff
Sherlock Holmes Collection, Vol. 2

The Sherlock Holmes Collection, Vol. 2 (The House of Fear/The Spider Woman/Pearl of Death/The Scarlet Claw)
Starring: Basil Rathbone , Nigel Bruce , Gerald Hamer , Paul Cavanagh , and Arthur Hohl
Director: Roy William Neill
Manufacturer: Mpi Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0000APVBY
Release Date: 2003-11-25

Amazon.com

Here are four strong entries (each beautifully restored by the UCLA Film and Television Archive) from the peak of Basil Rathbone's prolific, seven-year run as a definitive Sherlock Holmes for the big screen. Three of these films were released in 1944 alone, beginning with the gripping Pearl of Death, a then-contemporary update (set in the World War II years, as with most of the Rathbone-Holmes features) of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's "The Six Napoleons."

A reluctant Holmes agrees to help a London museum recover a stolen, rare pearl. But the investigation takes a strange turn when the great detective and his sidekick, Dr. Watson (Nigel Bruce), find their mystery linked to a series of odd murders involving the destruction of porcelain china. Typically, "Pearl of Death" has its share of inside jokes for true Sherlockians, including Holmes's declaration, "If I'm wrong, I'll move to Sussex and raise bees." Of course, that's exactly what Doyle's most famous character did upon retirement.

The Scarlet Claw is an original screenplay with elements loosely inspired by Doyle's "The Adventure of the Dancing Men." A skeptical Holmes and Watson attend a meeting of the Royal Canadian Occult Society in Canada, but are soon looking into a killing spree attributed to a fanciful marsh monster. Fantastic events are soon supplanted by an even stranger horror concerning a master actor bent on revenge.

The Spider Woman employs details of Holmes's apparent death and resurrection between "The Final Problem" and its follow-up, "The Adventure of the Empty House." But the movie takes a different direction when a bizarre series of late-night "pajama suicides" finds Holmes probing the involvement of a femme fatale. Of the quartet of features in this set (all produced and directed by the energetic Roy William Neill) Spider Woman has the most vivacity and familiar textures from Doyle's canon.

Finally, "The House of Fear," adapted from "The Five Orange Pips," is a chamber mystery concerning successive murders of the members of an elite club, the Good Comrades. On film, the tale seems a bit ludicrous, but its conclusion is among the most startling in the Rathbone films. There's also a fair amount of comedy between Watson and Inspector Lestrade's bumbling ways. --Tom Keogh

Description

The master detective Sherlock Holmes (Basil Rathbone) and his faithful cohort Dr. Watson (Nigel Bruce) are back, preserved and digitally restored in 35mm to original condition by the UCLA Film and Television Archive. This newly restored version of the classic film includes the period war bond tag and studio logo and credits from its original theatrical release. Filled with ominous shadows and interesting camera angles, the visual beauty of the film in 35mm is stunning. Includes: Sherlock Holmes and The Scarlet Claw Sherlock Holmes and The Spider Woman Sherlock Holmes and The House of Fear Sherlock Holmes and the Pearl of Death

Customer Reviews:

Unbelievable.......2007-03-08

Excellent quality. It's unbelievable that such a tremendous improvement could be made to the film. After seeing these and comparing to what I've seen broadcast in the past, the films floored me.

Sherlock Holmes DVD Set.......2007-01-03

These are great! They came within a couple days and were well packaged. I've been greatly enjoying watching these old movies and have ordered more.

Sherlock Holmes Collection, Vol. 2.......2006-03-15

Perfect Holmes. I just ordered more of this genre. Movies that you watch over again.

Major Ripoff.......2005-12-27

For the price they are asking, and the lack of extras, these collections are a major disappointment. Don't believe the packaging. These disks are far from being 'loaded with extras'. There are no extras on 3 of the disks, and the 4th has only a commentary track, and an 8 minute featurette about the restoration. Don't get me wrong, I love the films themselves, I just hate the way they have been packaged and sold. I mean they could easily have put 2 or even 3 of the films on one disk without any degradation, and issued the entire series in one collection for the price of a single one of these 'volumes'. I guess they are trying to recoup the cost of restoration. My advice, wait a couple of years for them to release the entire collection at a much lower price, because that is what they will have to eventually do.

Sherlock Holmes Collection, Vol. 2.......2004-10-21

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.

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - Vol. 2: The Crooked Man/ The Speckled Band

Average customer rating:

We love it!
"My profession is it's own reward"
Sherlock Holmes has returned!
A great record of a definitive performer
Brett = Holmes

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - Vol. 2: The Crooked Man/ The Speckled Band
Starring: Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
Manufacturer: Mpi Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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