Sherlock Holmes Faces Death (1943)

Director:

Roy William Neill

Writers:

Bertram Millhauser (screenplay)
Arthur Conan Doyle (story)

Release Date:

17 September 1943 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Horror | Mystery

Plot:

During WWII several murders occur at a convalescent home where Dr. Watson has volunteered his services...

Plot Keywords:

Murder | Detective | Old Mansion | Care Home | Hidden Treasure

Cast

Basil Rathbone	...	Sherlock Holmes
Nigel Bruce	...	Doctor Watson
Dennis Hoey	...	Lestrade
Arthur Margetson	...	Doctor Sexton
Hillary Brooke	...	Sally Musgrave
Halliwell Hobbes	...	Brunton
Minna Phillips	...	Mrs. Howells
Milburn Stone	...	Captain Vickery
Gavin Muir	...	Phillip Musgrave
Gerald Hamer	...	Langford
Vernon Downing	...	Clavering
Olaf Hytten	...	Captain MacIntosh
Frederick Worlock	...	Geoffrey Musgrave (as Frederic Worlock)

Runtime:

68 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

USA:Approved (certificate #9405) | UK:U | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

The sixth of fourteen films based on Arthur Conan Doyle's fictional consulting detective Sherlock Holmes starring Basil Rathbone as Sherlock Holmes and Nigel Bruce as Doctor Watson.

Goofs:

Continuity: Just after the butler finishes telling Watson about the flighty girl's description of a ghost she alleged to have seen, the camera angles switch, making Watson reach for his open book on his desk twice.

Quotes:

Sherlock Holmes: There's a new spirit abroad in the land. The old days of grab and greed are on their way out. We're beginning to think of what we *owe* the other fellow, not just what we're compelled to give him. The time is coming, Watson, when we cannot fill our bellies in comfort while the other fellow goes hungry...
[...]

Movie Connections:

Follows Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon (1943)

Into The Shadows

SHERLOCK HOLMES FACES DEATH while stalking an egomaniacal murderer in an ancient English manor house.

Basil Rathbone & Nigel Bruce return again as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's beloved creations, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. This time they become involved in an Old Dark House murder mystery, investigating crimes at the decrepit stately home-turned-convalescent hospital where Watson is looking after four officer patients. The film is fun, including elements such as a hidden crypt, a bloodthirsty raven and an antique ritual of the beleaguered Musgrave family intertwined with an unusual chess game. There is perhaps a bit too much plot--the old clock tower that strikes 13 is never explained--but this never gets in the way of enjoying the picture.

To say that Rathbone & Bruce remain perfect in their roles is but to state the obvious; by this point in the series the old pros were working together like the gears in an antique clock. They are given fine support by elderly Halliwell Hobbes as the manor's eccentric butler and Minna Phillips in the role of the Musgrave's sinister housekeeper. Dennis Hoey is back as the dogged, but inept, Lestrade of Scotland Yard. Milburn Stone has a minor part as an American captain suspected of being the killer.

Other small roles handled well are essayed by Frederick Worlock, Gavin Muir & Hillary Brooke as the unfortunate Musgraves; Gerald Hamer, Vernon Downing & Olaf Hytten as the invalided officers; and Arthur Margetson as Watson's hospital assistant.

Movie mavens will recognize Norma Varden as the barmaid at The Rat and Raven; seaman Peter Lawford as one of her clientele; and dear Mary Gordon making her brief obligatory appearance as Mrs. Hudson, all uncredited.

Based very loosely on Conan Doyle's short story The Musgrave Ritual, the film follows SHERLOCK HOLMES IN WASHINGTON (1943) and precedes SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE SPIDER WOMAN (1944).