PURSUIT TO ALGIERS (Universal, 1945), produced and directed by Roy William Neil, is not a continuing saga of Pepe LeMoko, a role immortally enacted by Charles Boyer in the classic motion picture ALGIERS (1938), but a continuation to the popular Sherlock Holmes series, the twelfth installment in fact, starring Basil Rathbone (Sherlock Holmes) and Nigel Bruce (Doctor Watson). Although it might have been interesting having Holmes and Watson coming face to face with LeMoko as part of their new assignment returning the gentleman thief back to the authorities, this Sir Arthur Conan Doyle based story carries on another tale set mostly on board an ocean liner. As in most series films, a need for change of scenery was usually necessary, at times beneficial. Missing in this segment are series regulars Mary Gordon (Mrs. Hudson) and Dennis Hoey (Inspector Lestrade). Rather than the usual five to ten-minute prologue revolving around other people, Holmes and Watson of 22-B Baker Street appear in the very first scene, carrying the story together or individually in this tightly scripted 64 minutes.
In the fade-in, Sherlock Holmes (Basil Rathbone) and his colleague, Doctor Watson (Nigel Bruce), have purchased and arranged a delivery of a rifle from Stimson's (Olaf Hytten) store to take with them on their hunting trip in Scotland. With Watson assuring Holmes they'll be no more cases on their holiday, they're soon approached on the dark streets by total strangers, one passing Holmes the London Chronicle newspaper, the other advising him to come to the Soho Oyster House for some fish and chips. While at the pub, Holmes notices written code in the newspaper that soon leads him to place in Fishbone Alley. As they enter a building, they're soon met and summoned by men for Holmes to undertake a mission returning King Nikolas to his country of Rovenia, and with his help, prevent an assassination plot that has already taken place on the young man's father. Later, Holmes boards an airplane with the men, leaving Watson behind to board the S.S. Friestland with plans on meeting him at a latter date. While mingling with other passengers, Watson comes across some mystery of his own, asking himself, "What would Holmes do?" Later, Watson reads in a wireless that Holmes and others on the airplane having perished, only to soon discover Holmes very much alive and on board ship. Accompanied by King Nikolas (Leslie Vincent) posing as Watson's nephew, situations occur with the involvement of international jewel thieves; Sheila Woodbury (Marjorie Riordan) a singer from Brooklyn, who fears the sight of Holmes; Agatha Dunham (Rosalind Ivan); a rich woman with a pistol in her purse whose famous emerald had been stolen; a couple of odd looking gentlemen, Jordi (John Abbott) and Kingston (Gerald Hamer); plus three additional passengers boarding the ship while stopping in Lisbon: the knife throwing Mirko (Martin Kosleck), the deaf mute, Bruno (Wee Willie Davis), and their rugged leader Gregor (Rex Evans) who add to Holmes' worries as they room in the cabin across the hall from him.
Though Holmes doesn't use acquire any disguises as he's done in the past, the fun part of PURSUIT TO ALGIERS is how the master detective manages to outwit the would-be assassins in certain instances. However, Holmes' cleverness is put to a halt when he is subdued by one of them, socked on the jaw and thrown on his bed bound and gagged in his cabin, leading the henchmen free to abduct King Nikolas. Lots of neat twists follow to keep viewers wondering what happens next before the boat ports at its proposed destination, with no Pepe LeMoko greeting a tour of passengers saying, "Come with me to the Casbah." Other than the usual fun and games of mysterious circumstances and some utter confusion regarding Nikolas, co-star Marjorie Riordan takes time entertaining on board with such tunes as "There Isn't Any Harm in That," "Cross My Heart" and "Flow Gently Sweet Afton." Nigel Bruce shows he can carry a tune just as well by singing "Loch Lomond."
Distributed to Key Video in 1988, and later onto DVD, PURSUIT TO ALGIERS, being broadcast on numerous television and cable channels, including Turner Classic Movies (TCM premiere: December 26, 2009 for an all night tribute to Sherlock Holmes movies), PURSUIT TO ALGIERS comes with some criticism by Holmes devotees for not being the best in the series. It may not be perfect but still a watchable little item as movie detectives in transition go. Next in the series: TERROR BY NIGHT (1946). (**1/2)
In the fade-in, Sherlock Holmes (Basil Rathbone) and his colleague, Doctor Watson (Nigel Bruce), have purchased and arranged a delivery of a rifle from Stimson's (Olaf Hytten) store to take with them on their hunting trip in Scotland. With Watson assuring Holmes they'll be no more cases on their holiday, they're soon approached on the dark streets by total strangers, one passing Holmes the London Chronicle newspaper, the other advising him to come to the Soho Oyster House for some fish and chips. While at the pub, Holmes notices written code in the newspaper that soon leads him to place in Fishbone Alley. As they enter a building, they're soon met and summoned by men for Holmes to undertake a mission returning King Nikolas to his country of Rovenia, and with his help, prevent an assassination plot that has already taken place on the young man's father. Later, Holmes boards an airplane with the men, leaving Watson behind to board the S.S. Friestland with plans on meeting him at a latter date. While mingling with other passengers, Watson comes across some mystery of his own, asking himself, "What would Holmes do?" Later, Watson reads in a wireless that Holmes and others on the airplane having perished, only to soon discover Holmes very much alive and on board ship. Accompanied by King Nikolas (Leslie Vincent) posing as Watson's nephew, situations occur with the involvement of international jewel thieves; Sheila Woodbury (Marjorie Riordan) a singer from Brooklyn, who fears the sight of Holmes; Agatha Dunham (Rosalind Ivan); a rich woman with a pistol in her purse whose famous emerald had been stolen; a couple of odd looking gentlemen, Jordi (John Abbott) and Kingston (Gerald Hamer); plus three additional passengers boarding the ship while stopping in Lisbon: the knife throwing Mirko (Martin Kosleck), the deaf mute, Bruno (Wee Willie Davis), and their rugged leader Gregor (Rex Evans) who add to Holmes' worries as they room in the cabin across the hall from him.
Though Holmes doesn't use acquire any disguises as he's done in the past, the fun part of PURSUIT TO ALGIERS is how the master detective manages to outwit the would-be assassins in certain instances. However, Holmes' cleverness is put to a halt when he is subdued by one of them, socked on the jaw and thrown on his bed bound and gagged in his cabin, leading the henchmen free to abduct King Nikolas. Lots of neat twists follow to keep viewers wondering what happens next before the boat ports at its proposed destination, with no Pepe LeMoko greeting a tour of passengers saying, "Come with me to the Casbah." Other than the usual fun and games of mysterious circumstances and some utter confusion regarding Nikolas, co-star Marjorie Riordan takes time entertaining on board with such tunes as "There Isn't Any Harm in That," "Cross My Heart" and "Flow Gently Sweet Afton." Nigel Bruce shows he can carry a tune just as well by singing "Loch Lomond."
Distributed to Key Video in 1988, and later onto DVD, PURSUIT TO ALGIERS, being broadcast on numerous television and cable channels, including Turner Classic Movies (TCM premiere: December 26, 2009 for an all night tribute to Sherlock Holmes movies), PURSUIT TO ALGIERS comes with some criticism by Holmes devotees for not being the best in the series. It may not be perfect but still a watchable little item as movie detectives in transition go. Next in the series: TERROR BY NIGHT (1946). (**1/2)