Sherlock Holmes Faces Death (1943)

Director:

Roy William Neill

Writers:

Arthur Conan Doyle (story)
Bertram Millhauser (screenplay)

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:

Hidden Treasure | Chess | Doctor | Riddle | Care Home

Cast

Basil Rathbone	...	Sherlock Holmes
Nigel Bruce	...	Dr. John H. Watson
Dennis Hoey	...	Insp. Lestrade
Arthur Margetson	...	Dr. Bob Sexton
Hillary Brooke	...	Sally Musgrave
Halliwell Hobbes	...	Alfred Brunton
Minna Phillips	...	Mrs. Howells
Milburn Stone	...	Capt. Vickery
Gavin Muir	...	Phillip Musgrave
Gerald Hamer	...	Major Langford
Vernon Downing	...	Lt. Clavering
Olaf Hytten	...	Capt. MacIntosh
Frederick Worlock	...	Geoffrey Musgrave

Runtime:

68 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

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

Company:

Universal Pictures

Goofs:

Continuity: The head on Holmes' incredibly quickly-pulled bitter at The Rat and the Raven varies considerably from shot to shot - and the pint seems to be mainly foam, which any pub drinker would ask to be topped up.

Quotes:

[Lestrade brings a suspect's shoe to compare to recovered footprints. They match]
Insp. Lestrade: And that's Alfred Brunton's shoe.
Sherlock Holmes: Fits perfectly, Inspector. But the fact that these prints were made by Brunton's shoes does not prove that Brunton's feet were in them.
Insp. Lestrade: Why not? Where should Brunton's feet be, if not in his own shoes?
Dr. John H. Watson: Well, they're not in them now, are they?

Movie Connections:

Follows The Hound of the Baskervilles (1939)

Another excellent adventure for detective literature's greatest duo

Sherlock Holmes films are always better when they have a horror edge to them - The Hound of the Baskervilles and The Scarlet Claw prove this best - and Sherlock Holmes Faces Death makes another nice entry in the list of Holmes films with a horror slant. The story this time round takes place in a foreboding old house where people are turning up dead. Holmes is brought in to investigate, along with his good friend Dr Watson and Scotland Yard's most inept inspector - the hilarious Lestrade - joins in the fun also. The acting from the central three is great, and they offset each other brilliantly. Rathbone gives another great performance as the brilliant detective of the title, while Nigel Bruce provides some of the more inept moments as Dr Watson; and Dennis Hoey always amuses as Inspector Lestrade. The mystery itself is a little messy at times, and can become a little slim on logic at times; but it all comes together at the end. The ending itself is great as usual for Universal's Holmes series, with the title character thwarting the villain with a combination of intelligence and skill. I would much prefer the movie if it cut off before the ending speech, however – even Watson looked like he was about to fall asleep! The title is perhaps a little over-dramatic for what the film is, and the supporting cast can be a little drab at times; and although this isn't one of the absolute best Sherlock Holmes films, it's certainly a very worthy entry in the series and comes with high recommendations.