The Public-Domain Movie Database

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Nehring

new member

1 posts

posted on 12/17/2004 4:34:00 PM

I was wondering if you knew how many episodes were in public domain?

Thanks

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Bobh

senior member

151 posts

replied on 12/20/2004 6:46:00 AM

Welcome to the public domain TV Shows forum, Nehring!

I'm assuming that you are referring to the 1954 Sherlock Holmes series produced by Sheldon Reynolds and starring Ronald Howard as Holmes and H. Marion Crawford as Dr. Watson. To the best of my knowledge, the entire series of 39 episodes is in the public domain. Episodes from the series are fairly easy to find and, in fact, have even shown up on some dollar DVD compilations. However, I'm not sure if all 39 episodes are available on DVD. Madacy Entertainment released both a 10 episode and 20 episode set of the series and Alpha Video has a number of 4-episode volumes, and there are several other multi-episode compilations available from companies that specialize in public domain releases. I really enjoy this show and have been able to collect 22 episodes from the series so far. One of the dollar DVD releases, from Digiview Productions, replaces the original opening and ending theme music.

Hope you'll post again in the near future.

Bob H.

Nehring

new member

1 posts

replied on 12/20/2004 4:47:00 PM

Thanks for the information.

Yes, this was the series I would wondering about, I should have been more specific in my original post.

I have the 2 Digiview DVD releases and 13 episodes on VHS from Madacy. Could not believe I did not think to check Alpha Video, they are up to Volume 6.

Thanks again for the reply.

Bobh

senior member

151 posts

replied on 12/21/2004 6:57:00 AM

I'll have to pick up a few of the newer Alpha Video releases as well . . . . they have a number of episodes that I haven't seen on other Sherlock Holmes collections. I have Volume 3 from Alpha and the visual quality is among the very best of the Sherlock Holmes releases. Also, with 24 episodes released over 6 volumes, it looks like Alpha has the largest number of episodes released for this series. I like the fact that on their web site (http://www.oldies.com) you can find out what episodes are contained in each of the volumes, so as to avoid buying duplicate episodes that you may already own.

Alpha is also expanding its classic television offerings with some fairly obscure titles . . . . looks like a company to keep an eye on.

Bobh

senior member

151 posts

replied on 5/9/2005 8:18:00 AM

Another Sherlock release from Alpha Video

Alpha Video has released volume 7 of the 1954 Sherlock Holmes series with Ronald Howard and H. Marion Crawford. See:

http://oldies.com/product/view.cfm/id_4671D.html

Tha makes for a total of 28 of the 39 episodes that Alpha has released of the series.

Bobh

senior member

151 posts

replied on 9/22/2005 12:34:00 PM

Madacy's 20 Episode Collection

By no means are they the best looking episodes available of this entertaining series, but I spotted Madacy's 5-DVD, 20-episode collection of Sheldon Reynolds' 1954 production of "Sherlock Holmes" at Suncoast Video for ten bucks. This represents half of the series' run of 39 episodes. This very definitely is Sherlock Holmes "lite," but I've enjoyed this series immensely since first "discovering" it a few years ago.

Bobh

senior member

151 posts

replied on 9/23/2005 2:07:00 PM

Just learned today that Treeline Films has released a boxset of all 39 episodes of the Sherlock Holmes series. I don't expect that we'll see restored material used for this set but, let's give credit to Treeline Films . . . this is the very first DVD release of the entire 1954-55 series. DVD Empire has this for under $12.00.

Bobh

senior member

151 posts

replied on 3/8/2006 7:06:00 AM

I finally picked up the 39 episode set from Millcreek Entertainment (formerly Treeline Films) and have to say that if you're a fan of the series, this is the collection that you'll want to get. As far as image quality is concerned, it's unrestored and there is appreciable audio hiss. In comparison with some of the other releases available, I'd rate this slightly below Alpha's and the dollar DVD release from Genius Entertainment, but it's much better than the episodes that Madacy has released. There is a "generic" introduction by Christopher Lee at the beginning of each of the five discs that was filmed in color, but it's not specifically related to this 1954-55 series, and was also featured on the Madacy releases. The real reason to get this set, of course, is to obtain the series' entire run; to date, no other U.S. DVD releasing company has released all of the episodes.

I paid just $9.99 at Best Buy for this five disc, 39 episode set. This has to be one of the least expensive TV-on-DVD sets on the market.