Terror by Night (1946)

Director:

Roy William Neill

Writers:

Arthur Conan Doyle (characters)
Frank Gruber (screenplay)

Release Date:

1 February 1946 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

One Way Ticket to DEATH..!

Plot:

When the fabled Star of Rhodesia diamond is stolen on a London to Edinburgh train and the son of its owner murdered, Holmes must discover which of his suspicious fellow passengers is responsible.

Plot Keywords:

Diamond | Train | Inspector | Theft | Sherlock Holmes

US TV Schedule:

Sat. Dec. 26

5:15 PM

TCM

Cast

Basil Rathbone	...	Sherlock Holmes
Nigel Bruce	...	Dr. John H. Watson
Alan Mowbray	...	Major Duncan-Bleek
Dennis Hoey	...	Inspector Lestrade
Renee Godfrey	...	Ms Vedder
Frederick Worlock	...	Prof. William Kilbane (as Frederic Worlock)
Mary Forbes	...	Lady Margaret Carstairs
Skelton Knaggs	...	Moran's Accomplice-killer
Billy Bevan	...	Passenger Car Attendant Taking Tickets
Geoffrey Steele	...	Roland - Lady Carstairs's son

Also Known As:

Sherlock Holmes: Terror by Night (USA) (DVD title)

Runtime:

60 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

Australia:PG | Finland:S | Sweden:15 | UK:A (original rating) | UK:U (video rating) (1992) | USA:Approved (PCA #11349)

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

The thirteenth 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:

Factual errors: Early in the movie the discovery of the Star of Rhodesia is shown. The diamond picked out of the mud looks perfectly clear, with sharp edges. However, raw diamonds have rough round edges and appear quite ordinary, with only a hint of regular crystal form.

Quotes:

Dr. John H. Watson: Try some of this curry. It's excellent.
Sherlock Holmes: [ignoring him and speaking to the waiter] Steak and kidney pudding, please.
Major Duncan-Bleek: Of course, the Bengal curry doesn't compare to that of Madras. It's the quality of the mutton that makes the difference, don't you think?
Dr. John H. Watson: The meat isn't important. It's the spices that make the difference. Don't you agree with me Holmes?
Sherlock Holmes: [he hasn't been paying attention to the discussion] What?
Dr. John H. Watson: I say, we were discussing curry.
Sherlock Holmes: Oh, yes, curry! Horrible stuff!
Dr. John H. Watson: Oh, really? One man's meat is another man's poison.

Movie Connections:

Follows Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon (1943)

Clever, brisk and thoroughly entertaining...

There's not a second of screen time wasted in telling the tale of the Star of Rhodesia diamond that is stolen aboard an express train--and, of course, Sherlock Holmes, Dr. Watson and Insepctor LeStrade are all aboard the train, having been advised that someone is going to make an attempt to steal it.

This low-budget Universal entry is easily one of the best of the Universal features co-starring BASIL RATHBONE and NIGEL BRUCE. Bruce is especially funny as he decides to do some investigating himself, with amusing false clues leading him astray. Rathbone is completely suave and relaxed as Holmes, less snappy than usual in the way he treats Watson and much more likable in the role than he has been in other entries.

The plot abounds with the usual assortment of suspicious characters, but of all the supporting players ALAN MOBRAY is the one who stands out as the man who befriends Watson.

Despite the low-budget trimmings and overuse of miniatures to show a train racing through the fog at night, the story is taut and the whole affair is intriguing enough to keep you watching until the unusual ending--where a double twist is completely unexpected.

Highly enjoyable Holmes adventure, well-paced and entertaining.