Murder Rooms - The Mysteries of the Real Sherlock Holmes - The Patient's Eyes, The Photographer's Chair, The Kingdom of Bones & The White Knight Stratagem - Starring Ian Richardson + In the Footsteps of Sherlock Holmes - Patrick Macnee [DVD]

To be honest I came across this series by pure chance, as a fan since a young child of Sherlock Holmes I endeavour to collect whatever I can on adventures, I have everything Conan Doyle ever wrote and now have nearly everything ever produced on film/dvd. I was slightly concerned as we have recreated a situation where Conan Doyle is in front of the camera as it were as is the gentleman he modelled Sherlock on Dr Bell once his tutor and great friend. Unfortunately I purchased this dvd thinking it was 'from the start' which it actually isn't, there is another dvd out there which has the pilot episode on which you must buy first or you will be confused as the actor who plays Doyle in the pilot is not the actor who continues the role in the remainder of the series. Ian Richardson though remains the enigmatic medical detective Dr Bell, Doyles tutor and friend who arrives normally by chance to be on the scene of a grisly murder and with Doyle goes on to uncover the facts and the real killer. The use of costumes and scenery to recreate the early years of the 19th century add to the atmosphere, more shades of grey than black and white which gives it depth and sets your heart thumping, ala Alfred Hitchcock. 4 episodes which will have you glued to your seat and if you are anything like me, you will no doubt be going to bed later than anticipated with the resultant 'looking like death' in the morning. It really galls me when I find a good series then find out that only a few episodes were ever made, in this case only 5, the addition of Patrick Mcnee, aka Steed from the Avengers who takes you on a stroll down Holmes lane is not worth it and I switched him off after 2 minutes, when you want to watch Sherlock Holmes or in this case Dr Bell in action, Mcnee is a poor substitute. Worthy of a place in everyone's Holmes library and I think up there with the best of them, Ian Richardson will always be Dr Bell, a fine character actor and superb performances from him in this role, why didn't they make any more?

I enjoyed this series

Excellent

You love Sherlock Holmes? Good. Then the Game's afoot!Murder Rooms is the "behind the scenes" original mini-series to the origins of Sherlock Holmes, and it is as thrilling and entertaining as any other Sir Arthur Conan Doyle tale of the great Sleuth.The quality on these DVDs is impeccable. Images are crystal clear and the sound is also well balanced.But what impresses the most are the stories contained in this collection, as well as the wonderful actors giving life to their characters.An absolute must for any mystery fan.

It was loose in the container when it arrived, and I could hear it knocking about before I even opened the bubble wrap. I know from experience that even if the damage looks minor, the fact there is a permanent mark at all means that large sections of the dvd will be unplayable.The show itself is quite good (though their is not nearly enough Ian Richardson for my tastes, it seems to mainly focus on Arthur Conan Doyle, who's actor is good, but, um... isn't as good as Ian Richardson) from what I have been able to watch of it. I just would rather the unnecessary Patrick Macnee extra was scratched instead. it has clearly just been added to inflate the price of a four episode set- which could have been done much easier by including the pilot.

I imagine that the commercial thinking behind this release involves a gamble on the continuing Richie/Downey/Moffatt/Gatiss movie and TV euphoria... the individual shows have been around on DVD for a while but in a form I've always recommended avoiding. They were soft, muddy 'fullscreen' transfers, released when the 4:3 format was already on its last legs. The target market seemed to be technophobes and pensioners; the discs could be had for a fiver in Past Times shops and at one point were even given away with The Daily Express. The original material was actually gorgeously lit and shot in full widescreen on crisp Super-16. The episodes would look great in Hi-Def or on Blu-Ray.Despite being advertised as "the ultimate collection" they're those same inferior cropped transfers repackaged. I can't imagine that these discs meet any technical standard approved by the BBC.The distributor seems to think that the quality's acceptable and calls it a 'multi-aspect ratio transfer' - which means that it's a 4:3 that'll distort itself to fit whatever TV screen you show it on.Disappointing, perplexing... I have to say, don't touch this set. It looks awful.

if, like us, you wanted to continue from the original 'Murder Rooms' then you will love this collection. Ian Richardson is a joy to watch and to listen to as is the actor who plays the role of Dr.Doyle. 'In the footsteps of Sherlock Holmes' was a bit naff but that is merely an add on.

Top-notch TV series about Conan Doyle’s raisons d’etre to create Sherlock...

Written from the literary perspective of Conan Doyle (Author of Sherlock Holes) when he was a Medical Student of Dr. Joseph Bell played by Ian Richardson. Well written and well acted and well scripted. Companion to Murder Rooms - The Dark Beginnings of Sherlock - Dr. Bell and Mr. Doyle. Wikipedia: Joseph Bell (2 December 1837 – 4 October 1911) was a Scottish surgeon and lecturer at the medical school of the University of Edinburgh in the 19th century. He is best known as an inspiration for the literary character Sherlock Holmes.