The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes (TV Mini Series) The Cardboard Box (1994) User Reviews

The final episode is a Christmas cracker!!

[Sleepin_Dragon · 9/10 · 22 August 2016]

The series ends on a wonderful high note, The Cardboard Box ranks as one of the very best, the production values are fantastic, it has a lavish, high budget feel about it, the Christmas score is also enjoyable and fitting. Sadly the effects of Brett's illness are very evident, mainly in his appearance and energy, but he still delivers a fine, commanding and charismatic performance. Ciaran Hinds and Joanna David both deliver wonderfully memorable performances, but after watching it again, it's Deborah Findlay's rebellious and jealous performance as Sarah that I particularly enjoyed, Findlay is so underrated, she's excellent in whatever she does.

Favourite line (possibly in the whole series) 'Mrs Hudson, How dare you take my Aspidistra,' it's just a wonderful line, delivered tongue in cheek.

9/10

Wonderful episode

[TheLittleSongbird · 9/10 · 3 June 2011]

While not my absolute favourite of the entire set of Granada adaptations, The Cardboard Box is up there as one of the better ones, and possibly my personal favourite of the series The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes.

The Cardboard Box is wonderful. The story is quite dark in tone sometimes, but there are a few parts such as Holmes' final words that are both very powerful and poignant, and it maintains the classic feel that the best episodes have.

The script is powerful and thoughtful, especially with what I spoke of above, and I think The Cardboard Box is one of the better-directed episodes of the series too. As always, the production values and music are wonderful, the period detail never takes you out of the setting and the photography and lighting are suitably atmospheric, while the music gives me chills and brings tears to my eyes too.

The acting is very good too. We have two fine actors, Joanna David and Ciaron Hinds, they are great in their roles, Hinds particularly for me is one of the series' more memorable guest stars alongside Jeremy Kemp(The Speckled Band), Norman Jones(The Crooked Man) and John Thaw(The Sign of Four). This episode is not one of Jeremy Brett's finest hours, but he still gives a very commanding and moving performance, and Edward Hardwicke proves himself an ideal contrast.

All in all, a wonderful episode. 9/10 Bethany Cox

One of the last of the series and possibly the best of all

[trimmerb1234 · 7/10 · 17 July 2008]

This, one of the last of the Jeremy Brett Sherlock Holmes series, is a class above the earlier episodes in terms of the power of the story as well as of the acting. Whilst nearly all Holmes stories involved violent death they were as written essentially entertaining puzzles rather than literature with any artistic pretensions. This adaptation though raises it to art due to the inclusion two fine actors: Joanna David and Ciaran Hinds, the powerful script and excellent direction. It is more in the league of a classic book adaptation. As mentioned by an earlier reviewer, the tone is considerably darker than others in the long running series and not quite the comfortable tea-time viewing of its predecessors.

Brett's Last is one of his best! An almost Flawless Gem!

[bickeler · 10/10 · 1 August 2014]

Brett and Granada deliver in this taut and very well acted episode. Well above the last dozen episodes that preceded it. Some have commented about Brett not being at the height of his powers but rather the opposite nearing the end of his short life. My take is rather the opposite the tone of this story is rather dark and somber and Brett's performance matches that tone oh so well. The story of a new marriage gone wrong through the influence of a jealous scheming sister is the perfect dose of reality for a dark Holmes tale. The story taking place on Christmas no less really makes it even more so. Ciaran Hinds performance is Oscar worthy and Joanna David as the third sister is perfect. Hinds makes this dark and sordid tale even more so with a physicality and presence that is hard to ignore. Even Deborah Findlay puts down a strong performance as the jealous sister.

Holmes is tasked to not only sorting out this domestic disaster but also the case of grave robbers. There is more than enough story in fact it's amazing they put all in such a short episode. Brett even leaves us with philosophical musings about the nature of humankind and the evil that we do. Absolutely one of my favorites and I suspect it will be yours! I'm glad that Brett's last performance as Homes was one of his best, unlike a few of the other "Casebook" episodes. Not to be missed if you are a Homes fan!

Good but Problematic

[ericksonsam60 · 8/10 · 5 October 2011]

This adaptation is a fine last episode for the Granada Holmes series. The story is well-written and complex, with very strong elements which include adultery, jealousy, and alcoholism. The production values are still lavish, as is the photography, musical score, and direction. Not to mention that Ciran Hinds gives a memorable performance as Jim Browner. However, the episode's major weakness is that Jeremy Brett's illness is becoming more apparent and is reflected in his performance. His energy and dynamics in portraying Holmes are noticeably diminished due to his health issues, and at times he mumbles his lines. Still, even with his illness, Brett delivered an unforgettable performance as the definitive Sherlock Holmes, and Jeremy Brett fans are grateful that he played the role as long as he did. His extraordinary talent and captivating portrayal of the super sleuth will be missed.

What a Wonderful End of Wonderful Era

[susanhudek53 · 10/10 · 6 October 2020]

How fitting that the last Sherlock should be one of the best and Christmas themed as well. Plenty has been written about how the illness has taken its toll on Jeremy Brett. I am grateful he continued for as long as he did. There will never be anyone who could take such command of a role and totally make it his own like JB. Am a fan of Joanna David and with Ciaran.Hinds and Deborah Findlay its a great cast for the last stand..RIP Jeremy Brett

Lend Me Your Ears!

[Hitchcoc · 9/10 · 19 February 2014]

A cardboard box arrives by messenger, containing a pair of mismatched ears (not attached to the original heads, of course). This leads to an investigation as to who would have sent such a thing. We now become embroiled in a story of spousal abuse, jealousy, and murder. Holmes lives for these kinds of cases and dives in head first. It's all about relationships and connecting the dots. There is betrayal and vengeance here. It's also about siblings who have a history that leads to some pretty remarkable. The actress who plays the principle character is quite good. Jeremy Brett does a good job, despite the fact that his heart is failing. It has all the elements of a really good whodunnit and is one of my favorites.

Decent farewell for Sherlock Holmes...and Jeremy Brett

[grantss · 7/10 · 8 January 2023]

Mary Browner has disappeared and her sister Susan Cushing asks Sherlock Holmes to find her. Holmes isn't particularly interested but has a change of heart when Susan Cushing receives two severed ears in a parcel. Suspicion falls on Marcel Jacottet, a medical student and former tenant whom Ms Cushing evicted.

The final episode of the Jeremy Brett-starring series of Sherlock Holmes. All through this final season Brett was in ill health - he died 18 months after this episode was released. Thus, in some way this was a farewell to Jeremy Brett as well as the series.

A fairly decent episode to end things off. Reasonably intriguing and interesting though not 100% engaging. Due to his ill-health Brett isn't quite as dynamic as he was and the episode-specific characters aren't that likeable. The director also lets the episode go on for several minutes past its natural ending, leaving things feeling a bit clumsy and drawn-out at the end.

Still, not a bad way to end things.

Some Christmas Gift.

[rmax304823 · 6/10 · 19 May 2010]

If you didn't know better, some of the early scenes suggest a relatively warm Christmas story. Here is Brett as Holmes, slumped in his chair, asking Mrs. Hudson what he can possibly give Watson. "Christmas," he says, his face wrinkled with distaste. (He settles on a bile-green poncho that seems unmade for the human frame.) But it quickly turns serious when a nice Victorian lady, Susan Cushing, one of three sisters, receives a present in the post -- two roughly severed human ears packed in salt. Not only is the "gift" revolting in itself, but the ears don't even match.

Was it the young Belgian medical student that Susan threw out after it was revealed that he was schtupping Sarah, the plainest of the three sisters? Medical students have access to ears, don't they? Was it a practical joke on his part? Things turn pretty grim pretty quickly. It's a dark story of jealousy, intrigue, adultery, alcoholism, and murder.

This is one of the better episodes from late in the series, but Jeremy Brett was having problems, both mental and physical. His features seem set in a perpetual sneer. You can see the effect for yourself by wrinkling your nose in front of the mirror. And his locutions vary from a resigned mumble to an occasional screeching shout. Hardwicke is his reliable self as Watson and Rosalie Williams as Mrs. Hudson is sassy. Nice performance by Ciaran Hinds as Jim Browner, the husband driven half mad.

The Cardboard Box

[Prismark10 · 6/10 · 26 November 2020]

The final episode of the Jeremy Brett Sherlock Holmes saga. The actor would die a year later in 1995.

Set at Christmas time. Holmes asks Mrs Hudson the best place to buy Christmas presents. You would think the great sleuth would had been able to deduce this himself.

It is also sets place in the background about rumours of body snatching going on in London.

Holmes is contacted by Miss Susan Cushing, who is worried that her younger sister, Mary Browner has gone missing. Later Miss Cushing gets a box with two differing severed ears.

Holmes believes that Sarah Cushing was meant to receive those ears. She had caused her riff in Mary's marriage as she had eyes for her sailor husband.

The setting is very atmospheric. There is a haunting and melancholic end to the episode. Ciaran Hinds was very effective in his role as Jim Browner.

It did look like another short story that was stretched out. You just think that the director is using some flourishes to stretch out the running time.

Not bad, but I wish the show had left on a higher note

[planktonrules · 6/10 · 22 September 2023]

The Jeremy Brett TV shows he did as Sherlock Holmes are amazing...the best incarnation of any of the Holmes movies or television shows. However, as the years passed, occasionally the show had a few letdowns...and in the final few episodes, there seemed to be more. Part of this is because the producers tried retooling the series but stretching the shows out to double length (a HUGE mistake in hindsight). Another part probably was because Brett was dying and simply didn't have the strength to give it his best. Sad...but he soldiered on. In this case, "The Cardboard Box", Holmes is given very little to do...again, most likely because he was so sick. He was so sick that the previous Sherlock Holmes episode starred Charles Gray as Sherlock's brother, Mycroft...and Mycroft investigated the crime instead of Sherlock in the original stories. Because of this, the final series ended on a bit of a whimper instead of in a blaze of glory.

The story begins with two sisters fighting and you assume the oldest sister is just a nasty twit. Well, don't make any such assumptions! It turns out much of the reason the older one is so angry is that she has reason to suspect her sister Sarah had done her best to break up the third sister's marriage! When the youngest sister disappears, the oldest engages Holmes to find out where she is. Soon after, a police inspector approaches Holmes about a grisly discovery...a woman received a pair of human ears as a Christmas present!! And, perhaps coincidentally, this is the SAME woman who engaged Holmes to find her sister!

The case just gave Holmes very little to do, though it is interesting and worth seeing. Not a strong episode but one that isn't bad at all.