Sherlock Holmes und das Halsband des Todes (1962)

User Rating:

5.8/10   

Directors:

Terence Fisher
Frank Winterstein

Writers:

Arthur Conan Doyle (novel)
Curt Siodmak (screenplay)

Release Date:

30 November 1962 (West Germany)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

Plot:

Sherlock Holmes and Watson do battle with their nemesis, Professor Moriarity, over an ancient necklace attributed to Cleopatra.

Plot Keywords:

Cleopatra | Sherlock Holmes | Necklace | Moriarty | Auction

Cast

Christopher Lee	...	Sherlock Holmes
Hans Söhnker	...	Professor Moriarty
Hans Nielsen	...	Inspector Cooper
Senta Berger	...	Ellen Blackburn
Ivan Desny	...	Paul King
Wolfgang Lukschy	...	Peter Blackburn
Leon Askin	...	Charles
Edith Schultze-Westrum	...	Mrs. Hudson
Bruno W. Pantel	...	Auctioneer (as Bruno Panthel)
Heinrich Gies	...	Texas Buyer
Bernard La Jarrige	...	French Policeman (as Bernard Lajarrige)
Linda Sini	...	Light Girl
Roland Armontel	...	Doctor
Danielle Argence	...	Times Librarian
Franco Giacobini	...	Texas Collector

Also Known As:

La valle del terrore (Italy) (TV title)
Sherlock Holmes and the Deadly Necklace (USA)
Sherlock Holmes et le collier de la mort (France)
Sherlock Holmes la valle del terrore (Italy)
Valley of Fear (UK)

Runtime:

Germany:87 min | UK:86 min | USA:84 min

Country:

France | Italy | West Germany

Language:

German

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:K-12 | Sweden:11 | West Germany:12 (nf)

Filming Locations:

CCC-Atelier, Spandau, Berlin, Germany

Company:

Central Cinema Company Film (CCC)

Trivia:

As was common in German films of the era, this movie was shot without live sound, and all voices were dubbed in post-production. Christopher Lee and Thorley Walters were not scheduled to dub their own voices for the English dubbed version (or any other), and were dubbed by other actors.

Movie Connections:

Version of Sherlock Holmes and the Valley of Fear (1983)

"Deadly is the word."

Sherlock Holmes (Christopher Lee) and Dr Watson (Thorley Walters) investigate the theft of Cleopatra's necklace that was uncovered by archaeologists in Egypt.

The ingredients for a good movie were all here. Christopher Lee as Holmes, Thorley Walters as Dr Watson and director Terence Fisher who did a superb version of "The Hound Of The Baskervilles" in 1959 was brought in to direct. Some consider the latter to be the best ever Sherlock Holmes film. It was certainly a strong contender for this and it was one of Hammer's finest hours, but alas, this low budget German production was a disaster from the word go. The storyline wasn't worthy of Conan Doyle and the music score which varies between jazz and pop robbed the film of any atmosphere. And to make matters worse the voices of Christopher Lee and Thorley Walters were dubbed by second rate English actors because the producer didn't want to fly in Lee and Walters from Germany for just one day in order to do the dubbing. The film has some historical interest for the amount of talent involved and the art director did a first class Baker Street set, but apart from that this is a very unwatchable dud and in Lee's own words in an interview "...deadly is the word."