Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #40550 in DVD
• Released on: 2003-04-28
• Rating: Parental Guidance
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 104 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
The Sign of Four is a 1987 feature-length version of Conan Doyle's second Sherlock Holmes novel, and is faithful to the original story except in one important detail: Dr Watson (Edward Hardwicke) does not get the girl. Otherwise, the familiar tale of the death of Bartholomew Sholto and the theft of the Agra treasure is all here, featuring a snappy performance by Jeremy Brett as Holmes doing some of the finest investigative work of his career. The famous climax, a chase on the Thames in which Holmes is almost struck dead by an exotic weapon, is handled very well. Sherlockians may have a hard time not seeing Watson's romantic pursuit of Mary Morstan (Lila Kaye), his first wife according to Doyle's book, but it would hardly have been practical in the context of the long-running Granada Television series. The rest is to be enjoyed, however. --Tom Keogh

Special Features
English
Region 2

Synopsis
Originally produced by Granada Television, this fine dramatic series is based on the stories of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. THE SIGN OF FOUR tells of the puzzling predicament of Mary Morstan (Jenny Seagrove), whose father disappeared ten years ago. Every year, she receives a valuable pearl from an anonymous benefactor. As she sets out to find the source of these beautiful but mysterious gifts, a sudden murder adds to the complexity of the case and Sherlock Homes (Jeremy Brett) finds himself again the perfect man to get to the bottom of it.

Customer Reviews

A Fitting Birthday Present
Made to commemorate a hundred years of Conan Doyle's sleuth, this is indeed a fitting tribute. Brett scintilates as Holmes in one of Conan Doyle's finest tales. Hardwicke provides an ever reliable performance as Watson, and while he might not get the girl as in the book (but beggaring around with a wife in the series would have been impracticle), you can't help but notice the frisson between himself and Jenny Seagrove putting in a splendid performance as heroine Mary Morstan. Add to that key character actor Ronald Lacey in a well judged performance as the eccentric Sholto twins, the excellent John Thaw as villain Jonathan Small, and a cracking boat chase up the Thames, and you have a real winner.