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Philip St. John Basil Rathbone (13 June 1892, Johannesburg--21 July 1967, New York) and William Nigel Bruce (4 Sep. 1895, Ensenada--8 Oct 1953, Santa Monica) starred in 14 Sherlock-Holmes films as, respectively, Holmes and Watson. The first two films (1939) are period pieces whereas the last 12 (1942-46) are contemporary ("modern"). "The complete Sherlock Holmes collection" is a 6/06 reissue on 5 DVDs of a 14-DVD set (in 5 boxes) previously issued by MPI 10/03-4/04. The reissues by MPI, which involve restorations of the 1942-46 films, have been critically acclaimed. This review thus just compares the 2006 and 2003-04 sets of reissues (this review also supplements the previous two reviews by R. Smith, 7/18, and E. Hornaday, 4/10): OVERVIEW: 2006 reissue = 14 films on 5 DVDs (see below for track listing) in 1 box 1 1/4" wide VERSUS 2003-04 reissue = 14 films on 14 DVDs in 5 boxes totaling 4 3/8" wide. DVD CONTENT: Same in both reissues except the 2006 box set has for "Dressed to kill" an added (i.e., unfortunately, not on the earlier issues) commentary by actress Patricia Morison and Holmes scholars David Gregory and Richard Valley. BOOKLET/INSERT AND TEXT CONTENT: The 2006 box set has 2 pages of text besides the front cover. The 2003-04 reissues have 5 booklets ("production notes") written by Richard Valley, 8 pages each for "Hound" and "Adventures," 16 pages each for volumes 1-3. Although there is some overlap material, these 64 pages have many pictures and have much information on the 14 films, including cast listings. SUMMARY OF PROS AND CONS OF 2006 BOX SET: PROS: (1) much less expensive--$129.99 list ($119.99 Amazon in 7/06) versus $249.90 list ($224.95 Amazon in 7/06); (2) takes about 3" less shelf space; (3) more convenient to shuffle only 5 DVDs than 14; (4) added commentary for "Dressed to kill." CONS: (1) no booklet insert and thus almost no information on the films included--a major deficiency; (2) appearance rather stark, with only 1 picture of Rathbone on the box (a pic of Bruce should also have been included); (3) flimsy cardboard case with 5 slim clear plastic DVD holders that fold out clumsily with the aid of a cloth puller and that are awkwardly hinged with only cellophane tape (and thus becoming easily unhinged, that is, DVD trays 1-4 separating from tray 5). TRACK LISTING (dates from IMDb, times by reviewer): DVD #1: Introduction by restorer Robert Gitt (2003)--TT0:4:38 (film 1) The hound of the Baskervilles (Mar. 1939)--TT1:19:38 (13 scenes), with commentary by David Stuart Davies (film 2) The adventures of Sherlock Holmes (Sep. 1939)--TT1:21:37 (13 scenes), with commentary by Richard Valley (film 3) Sherlock Holmes and the voice of terror (Sep. 1942)--TT1:05:17 + 12-second war-bond trailer (11 scenes) DVD #2: (film 4) Sherlock Holmes and the secret weapon (Jan. 1943)--TT1:08:23 + 12-second war-bond trailer (12 scenes) (film 5) Sherlock Holmes in Washington (Apr. 1943)--TT1:11:20 + 12-second war-bond trailer (13 scenes) (film 6) Sherlock Holmes faces death (Sep. 1943)--TT1:07:54 + 12-second war-bond trailer (12 scenes), with commentary by David Stuart Davies DVD #3: (film 7) Sherlock Holmes and the spider woman (Jan. 1944)--TT1:02:00 + 12-second war-bond trailer (12 scenes) (film 8) The scarlet claw (May 1944)--TT1:13:48, but no war-bond trailer (11 scenes), with commentary by David Stuart Davies (film 9) The pearl of death (Aug. 1944)--TT1:08:29 + 12-second war-bond trailer (12 scenes) Note: From "The scarlet claw" onward "Sherlock Holmes" was dropped from the titles to appeal to a wider audience. DVD #4: (film 10) The house of fear (Mar. 1945)--TT1:09:06, but no war-bond trailer (14 scenes) (film 11) The woman in green (June 1945)--TT1:07:32 + 12-second war-bond trailer (12 scenes), with commentary by David Stuart Davies (film 12) Pursuit to Algiers (Oct. 1945)--TT1:05:05 (12 scenes) DVD #5: (film 13) Terror by night (Feb. 1946)--TT0:59:40 (13 scenes) (film 14) Dressed to kill (May 1946)--TT1:11:50 (13 scenes), with commentary by actress Patricia Morison and Holmes scholars David Gregory and Richard Valley Additional bonus material: (a) Photo galleries 1-5 (each TT0:2:35 with same musical background): gallery 1 = of Hound; gallery 2 = of Adventures; galleries 3-5 = of films 3-6, 7-10, 11-14, respectively (b) Theatrical trailers (6, not restored--for films 7-10, 13, 14--TT0:7:05) (c) Footage of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle--TT0:1:15. Note: This is from a summer 1927 Movietone film of Conan Doyle (1859-1930) and is much abbreviated. The film is TT0:11:45 on the 2001 DVD of "Terror by night" by Focus Films. FINAL COMMENT: The 2006 box set crams 3 films on one DVD (e.g., DVD #1 with 232 min.). Some compression may be involved, but film quality seems equal to the 2003-04 issues with only one film per DVD.