I've always loved a good mystery, but who doesn't? My father is the real buff in the family, though, with stacks of old-time radio shows on tape and CD which may rival any collection in the state. I've grown up around most of these, and while I'm not nearly as rabid a fan as he is, I've at least acquired an appreciation for the genre.

Sherlock Holmes is the most well-known face in the world of detectives, and has transcended the genre to become a bonafide cultural icon. It may seem far-fetched now, but Holmes was like Batman or Superman to many kids who grew up hearing the stories of this seemingly real character. One of the most famous incarnations of the detective was played by Basil Rathbone as Sherlock Holmes, paired with Nigel Bruce as Dr. John H. Watson. They appeared in approximately a dozen films together between the years of 1942-1946, not to mention countless radio programs of the same era. Quite a track record these two have!

Critics' Choice DVD has seen fit to release a majority of them in a series of "budget double features", releasing them two at a time for the low, low price of $9.99 a pop, and usually much cheaper if you shop around. You know that expression, "You get what you pay for?" Well, here it is, in full effect. These aren't exactly 'Special Editions' in the least, but fans of the film should still take note. The disc in my possession is the first of what seems to be a continuing collection, and contains two of the better 'episodes', covered below.

The Secret Weapon was originally released in 1942, and was the second in the Rathbone-Bruce era. Why these films are being released out of order is beyond me, unless Critics' Choice is only choosing some of them. Anyway, I usually don't try to explain too much plot, and mysteries demand even more spoiler-free attention. So instead, I'll just give you a few hints: it involves a kidnapping, a bombing, and the Nazis (well, it was released in 1942...). Also deserving special mention is Lionel Atwill as the vile Moriarty, Holmes' most famous adversary. Hey, maybe it's aged a bit, but the movie's over 60 years old! Nevertheless, it still holds up pretty well and should please fans of the series.

The Woman in Green was released a few years later (1945), but was already the ninth in the series. More hints? Nah, I'll just give you the tagline for this one..."From Her LIPS...Poison That Bred MURDER!" Sounds cool to me! Moriarty appears once again, although this time he's portrayed by Henry Daniell (sic). The previous Moriarty, Lionel Atwill, died just one year after this film's release (of pneumonia), so perhaps his health prevented him from returning. Either way, this 'episode' is still entertaining, if not slightly less so than Secret Weapon.

Now, on to the disc itself. Here's where it really gets mysterious...

The DVD

Video

The stories hold up pretty well, but the video leaves something to be desired. Again, at $9.99 for both films, I wasn't expecting much. The usual dirt and scratches show, as well as a lack of overall detail. Blacks are more like dark greys, and the overall image is somwhat undefined and lacks the high contrast seen on most current DVDs. Still, these are over 60 years old, so I'd imagine these are the best they've looked in a long time. But don't get me wrong...they could look much better.

The films are each presented in full-frame. I'm not sure of the original aspect ratios, but they seem to be framed correctly. One thing that bugged me on more than one occasion, though, was the strange camera angles used. During several scenes, it almost seems as if you're watching the characters through the angle of a security camera. You'll know what I mean once you see it.

Audio

The audio fared somewhat better. Presented in the original mono, the dialogue and sound came through pretty well, if not a bit muffled. Again, the source material must be considered in this case.

Extras

No extras were included...not even subtitles. Bummer.

Menu Design

Very basic static menu, which only gives you the option to select either film.

Should anything else have been included?

Of course there could have been more! Trailers or TV spots would have been nice (although I'm not sure of the level of marketing these got). How about biographies or tributes to the wonderful actors involved? At least some cool old-time commercials for Petri Wine (radio fans will know what I mean)!

Subtitles?

Anything?

Final Thoughts

Good films, not-so-good DVD...this was a little disappointing overall. Oh well, it beats having old, worn out VHS tapes, but these films weren't treated with much respect. Critics' Choice isn't exactly making me itch for future releases, but fans of the series who only want a cheap fix may be interested in this one. Personally, I'll wait around for better versions of these classics, and some have already surfaced. I'd normally advise you to Rent It...but at the prices these are going for, you might be able to buy them cheaper. Reluctantly Recommended.