User reviews

Sherlock Holmes Faces Death is the first film in the Universal Sherlock Holmes series (1942 -1946) to abandon the idea of Sherlock Holmes as a prototypical 007 spy-hunter, battling Nazi agents and keeping Britain safe from the Axis powers. The bizarre experiment which began, apparently without a shred of irony, with Sherlock Holmes and the Voice of Terror was brutally maimed when Sherlock Holmes in Washington flopped. And so, the direction of the series changed (for the better) with the fourth outing, Sherlock Holmes Faces Death...to the point that it can almost be viewed as the starting point of a completely new Holmes series.

Here, the allusions to WWII are vague, at best. Gone are the overt references to the Nazis and the intrusive patriotic speeches...which merely impeded upon the proceedings in the previous films. Holmes is in his element here, solving a dense mystery by using deductive reasoning. The film is still modern, making use of such devices as automobiles, telephones, and electric lights. But this is all incidental. If we overlook the updating of the surface elements, the story itself is rather timeless. Telephones and automobiles were present in Conan Doyle's later Holmes stories, anyway...and the Gothic tone of this film (and several of those which followed) gives it an almost Victorian or Edwardian feel, despite being obviously set in the mid-20th Century. And most importantly, Holmes is back to the business he should never have abandoned.

Loosely based on The Musgrave Ritual, the film is entertaining and certainly of higher technical quality than its predecessors, despite the fact that the series was forever doomed to the ranks of the low budget B-picture. The camera work is evocative, with fluid motions and intriguing angles...which would become a staple of the Holmes series...and the direction is excellent, with Roy William Neill (who also began his role as Associate Producer with this film) really coming into his own as the driving force behind the franchise. Rathbone's Holmes (whose hair has, thankfully, undergone quite a transformation) is in better form here than in previous entries...detached and focused, he relies on reasoning, rather than chance, in order to solve the mystery that's presented to him. Nigel Bruce, as Watson, turns in his usual bumbling-yet-lovable performance. Dennis Hoey once again manages to out-bumble Watson as Inspector Lestrade of Scotland Yard...a canonical character who made his first Universal appearance in Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon, and would go on to appear in a total of six of the twelve films.

Overall, not the best film in the series, but a step in the right direction. Once the filmmakers got their proper footing, in regard to the series' new and improved direction, they produced much better work...peaking, many (myself included) would attest, in 1944 with The Scarlet Claw. Other subsequent Holmes titles, such as The Spider Woman and Terror By Night, also outshine, in my estimation, this fourth Universal venture. But this film marked the great change that heralded all the treasures to come...and as such, has amassed much favor among fans and critics alike. And rightly so.

Sherlock Holmes (Basil Rathbone) and Dr. Watson (Nigel Bruce) investigate murders at Musgrave Manor, an estate being used as a convalescent home for soldiers suffering from combat fatigue during WW2. Fourth in Universal's marvelous Sherlock Holmes series is a highly enjoyable murder mystery within a gloomy old mansion. This one's just loaded with atmosphere. Great wind and lightning effects, nice use of shadows, and some cool sets. Good supporting cast includes lovely Hillary Brooke, Dennis Hoey, Halliwell Hobbes, and Milburn Stone of Gunsmoke fame, who at this point was a contract player at Universal. A very good entry in the series.

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.

This is one of a good number of solid, interesting mysteries in the series of Sherlock Holmes movies starring Basil Rathbone & Nigel Bruce. This one takes the basic idea from the Doyle story "The Musgrave Ritual", and combines it rather freely with several other plot elements to create an essentially new mystery. Some of the additions are rather imaginative in themselves, and overall the mystery has the kind of intriguingly offbeat tone that fits well with the famous characters.

The setting has Watson staying in the Musgrave house, which is being used as a convalescent home for army officers, when a series of violent crimes breaks out. The mystery that arises combines suspense with an interesting puzzle that must be solved. The villain in many of the movies in the Universal series is known from the beginning, but this is one of the exceptions, allowing the viewer to try to deduce what is happening from the same clues that Holmes has available.

Rathbone and Bruce always work well together, and Dennis Hoey always adds some good moments whenever he appears as Inspectator Lestrade. Some of the secondary characters, especially some of the recovering officers, are also interesting. Although this, like the rest of the Universal Holmes features, is set in the (then) present, the setting in the old mansion gives it an atmosphere more like the earlier era of the Doyle originals. Anyone who enjoys the other features in the series should not be disappointed by this one.

The opening world turning and the Universal anthem playing and then the foggy cut to Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce as the great Sherlock Holmes and his trusty sidekick Watson staring at us telling us that yet another one of their adventures lies before us always sent shivers of joy down my spine and engendered the greatest anticipation when I was young. These films hold up remarkably well considering,well, everything. The stories are not always the best, the scripts sometimes make too many assumptions about what they feel the audience knows or should know. The acting is very decent but like the script and direction - very formulaic and predictable. But somehow all of it works and we have little screen gems to be viewed again and again. Director Roy William Neill does yet again a fine,workmanlike job in this tale of Dr. Watson working in a convalescent home when murder and the the Musgrave Ritual collide. Though based on the short story by Arthur Conan Doyle, the screenwriter takes several liberties here. Firstly, we are in the present time rather than Victorian England. After the first two films in the Rathbone-Bruce series, Universal(when they took the series over from Twentieth Century Fox) changed the venue for cost reasons. They also had Holmes as a fighter against Nazism and such. This sixth film in the series makes a dramatic departure from that and goes back to the mystery roots delved into in the first two films. Wisely done. The story here concerns a ritual and people dying when the clock chimes thirteen bells. The real heart of these films is the performances of Rathbone and Bruce. they are not great. There is no pathos. No great acting scenes. But each man imbues his character with warmth and solidity that breeds confidence in what they are doing. Rathbone seems so earnest at times yet always has a way with words and a clever phrase. Bruce embodies the almost cartoonish buffoon with a heart of gold and loyal to the core. Character actors of great ability surround them. Dennis Hoey is always fun as Inspector Lestrade and his wit fencing with Watson is great fun. This film also has a gem of a performance by Halliwell Hobbes as Brunton the butler. He is comic perfection in his scenes particularly in his drunken one. Look for Gunsmoke's Milburn Stone(Doc) as Capatain Vickery. Like all the later Holmes pictures by Universal during WWII - look for the heavy-handed(No argument here as it being a necessary one)message delivered between Holmes and Watson. This is good stuff.

Considering Universal Studios churned out no less than three Sherlock Holmes pictures in 1943, after resurrecting the series with 'Sherlock Holmes and the Voice of Terror (1942),' it's often easy to underestimate the creative talents behind the camera. Not being particularly in the mood for an overdose of WWII Allied propaganda, I conveniently skipped over 'Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon (1943)' and 'Sherlock Holmes in Washington (1943)' until a later date, and was delighted to discover that 'Sherlock Holmes Faces Death (1943)' is perhaps, in my limited experience, the finest Holmes adaptation I've seen to date. Technically, the picture is not only competent, but surprisingly proficient, and Charles Van Enger's shadowy cinematography superbly captures the desired mood. In a break from Holmes' all-important war efforts, most of the film takes place in an ancient mansion, now serving as a convalescent home for shell-shocked combat soldiers. The film openly acknowledges its somewhat cliché scenario, that one of the home's trusted residents must be a murderer, and the directness with which the narratives progresses consistently keeps us interested.

'Sherlock Holmes Faces Death (1943)' was adapted, rather loosely, from Arthur Conan Doyle's short story, "The Adventure of the Musgrave Ritual," which was first serialised in "The Strand Magazine" in 1893. Still in the midst of the Second World War, Dr. Watson (Nigel Bruce) has volunteered his services at Musgrave Hall, now a convalescent home, in Northumberland. Detective Sherlock Holmes (Basil Rathbone) is first summoned to the old house after Watson's assistant (Arthur Margetson) is unexpectedly attacked by an unknown assailant. By the time the detective arrives, however, the head of the house has been murdered and covered with autumn leaves. The fiancé of the murdered man's innocent sister (Hillary Brooke) is immediately suspected, and a cocky Insp. Lestrade (Dennis Hoey) wastes no time in placing him under arrest, after formulating an unashamedly inadequate solution. Holmes, meanwhile, begins to deduce that this mystery goes back considerably further than anticipated, perhaps stretching back to a centuries-old family ritual, whose meaning has been lost for generations. Can he solve the mystery before it claims its next victim?

Not surprisingly, Rathbone and Bruce are excellent in their signature roles, successfully avoiding the "going through the motions" performances that usually accompany such familiarity with a character. The supporting players are adequate, if not notable, though Dennis Hoey is very enjoyable as the smug and incompetent police detective Lestrade. The story has a few indirect references to combat, but Holmes' talents don't contribute anything to the war-effort; he's much more at home when he's tackling smaller and more cunning foes than the Nazis. Above all else, Van Enger's cinematography is the picture's major star, and, considering that the filmmakers must surely have been working with a restricted budget, the crisp black-and-white photography brilliantly evokes the mood of a considerably more expensive film. Director Roy William Neill delights in subtle storytelling tools that increase the film's creepiness, including the mansion's blustery, leaf-strewn entrance, a uncannily-clever black raven, a clock-tower that occasionally strikes thirteen at midnight, and a supposed dead body that reaches out a clammy hand to ensnare the cold-blooded murderer.

always enjoyed the atmosphere of this movie. spooky manor, wind and thunder and lightning. pleasure to watch over and over. its in my top 3 of the whole series starring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce. if any of you enjoy this movie then the other 2 that make up my top 3 would be of interest to you. they are House of Fear and Hound of the Baskervilles. another one that has great atmosphere but doesn't have the stately manor to speak of is the Scarlet Claw. the selections i have mentioned are best viewed at evening with all the lights off. i even go as far as lighting candles to give my own surroundings similar atmosphere.

David

A nice entry in the Rathbone Holmes film series (6/14), but the one I feel most weak in the plot department. Most of the film appears to be padding of one kind or another, and almost every scene could be analysed and shredded by an expert, leaving a 2-reeler. But as I like this I would only want it an hour longer than it is already!

Ignoring the minor non-sequiteurs and non-explicables, the whole chessboard Ritual unravelling sequence was a colossal waste of time - all Holmes had to do was read the message to realise where to go. Think of how excellent his method of finding the message was in the first place Watson!

Some nicely atmospheric photography, beautiful nitrate-based light and shade contrasts also help, along with the 3 well-delineated if almost OTT hospital in-patients providing unstable character support. Listen to Dr Bob's voice - it's like being transported to the cellar scenes in Robert Newton's Obsession! Well worth while watching.

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).

Fine Sherlock Holmes movie with nice settings , thrills , plot twists , suspense , unanswered mysteries and an outstanding , first-class villain . Dr. Watson (Nigel Bruce) is staying at Musgrave Manor where lives three brothers : Phillip Musgrave (Gavin Muir) , Geoffrey Musgrave (Frederick Worlock) and Sally Musgrave (Hillary Brooke) . There Watson assists convalescing military officers during World War II who are rooming there . When the owner of the manor Dr. Sexton (Arthur Margetson) is assaulted and injured by an unknown assailant, Watson summons Sherlock Holmes (Basil Rathbone) to the mansion to detect who the culprit is , and as soon as they arrive another dead body shows up . As Holmes and Watson uncover more clues Sally Musgrave (Hillary Brooke) is required by family tradition to recite the Musgrave Verse for a ritual performed at a funeral. Later on , there happens other grisly murders . But Holmes suspects these killings have been committed by a sinister mastermind , an ominous murderous who is as cunning as Doctor Moriarty . Holmes helped by his bumbling , dumb colleague Doctor Watson , along with Inspector Lestrade (Dennis Hoey) starting investigating the strange events . Believing that the clue to the identity of the murderer is located in the Musgrave Verse , Holmes finds language referring to Chess Game .THEIR NEWEST AND GREATEST ADVENTURE! . As Startling as a Scream in the Night! .To convalescing military officers during World War II. The crime masters at their greatest! New Thrills! Holmes Haunts a House! . Screen's weirdest Terror. His best Mystery of all !. Grim Mystery to hold you breathless!. As the mystery wizards tackle a trackless terror! .

A genuine ripping yarn with much suspense , thrilling events and moody intrigue at a mansion . Interesting and suspenseful entry with Basil Rathbone facing off a strange and terrible murderer at a house where several ex-soldiers suffering from different battle psychoses . The film gets mystery , tension , thrills , detective action , red herrings and packs an exciting deal of outstanding surprises with great lots of fun . Of course , Holmes and Watson solve the bloody mystery at the end .Displaying atmospheric settings , adequate cinematography with plenty of lights and shades, as well as evocative musical score from Hans J. Salter and Frank Skinner .This is a top-drawer and intriguing film with horror elements in Universal style , freely based on the splendid novels by Arthur Conan Doyle . Nice atmosphere similar to classic filmed in 1939 The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sidney Landfield with Basil Rathbone , Nigel Bruce y Richard Greene . Magnificent Basil Rathbone's interpretation , considered to be the best and most authentic Sherlock Holmes . Rathbone plays Holmes as an intelligent , obstinate , broody, pipesmoking sleuth , his acting is similar to subsequent actors as Peter Cushing and Jeremy Brett for TV or Nicol Williamson (Seven-per-cent-solution) or Christopher Plummer (Murder by decree) . As usual , Dr. Watson plays his botcher, bungler or clumsy partner , masterfully incarnated by Nigel Bruce . They are well accompanied by notorious secondaries as Milburn Stone ,Arthur Margetson and Hillary Brooke . In addition , usual secondaries as Inspector Lestrade : Dennis Hoey , and Mrs Hudson : Mary Gordon

It contains adequate and brilliant cinematography by cameraman Charles Van Enger. This atmospheric motion picture was compellingly directed by Roy William Neill who shot efficiently various episodes of the attractive series . Neill directed in his ordinary style , in fact he was regular filmmaker -along with John Rawlins- of the stunning series , such as : Dressed to Kill, Terror by Night , Pursuit to Algiers , The Woman in Green, The House of fear , Sherlock Holmes in Washington , Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon , Scarlet Claw , among others . Rating : Better than average. 7/10. The picture will appeal to fans of the excellent series starred by Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce, resulting to be one of the best episodes.

Oh I do like this one, this is what I want from my Sherlock Holmes, a sneaky little murder mystery to be solved all set inside a rickety old manor that oozes foreboding as our protagonists walk up the path. A manor that has secret chambers, creaking floorboards, creaking servants, the mystery basement, and of course the impending glee of knowing Holmes & Watson are thrust into a dastardly murder mystery in this creepy place.

The cast are up to the usual standard we have come to expect in the series, the plot is simply effective with a few delightful sequences thrown in for good measure, and the film's running time is just about perfect.

Love it, now anyone for a game of human chess? 9/10

Another in the Rathbone-Holmes series of films. While using the usual casts of actors, who all produce workman-like performances, the film seems to lack the interest of the original Holmes story "The Musgrave Ritual". Reflects the time that it was made by the main lady "Sally Musgrave" marrying an American Airman. The usual wartime speech is excellently delivered by Rathbone at the film's end.

Perpetually battered by violent storms, the impossibly creepy Musgrave Manor is an unlikely place to find a convalescent home for WWII soldiers suffering from post-traumatic stress, but it's where we find Dr. Watson (Nigel Bruce) doing his bit for the war effort by helping the psychologically scarred recover from their battle fatigue. With the answer to a centuries-old family secret laying hidden in its dusty cellar, a prize worth millions in the wrong hands, the manor is also a prime location for murder, meaning that it isn't long before Watson is joined by his old pal Holmes (Basil Rathbone).

Faces Death isn't one of the strongest of the Rathbone/Bruce Holmes series, lacking a truly challenging mystery for the great detective (the chess-based clues hidden in an ancient family rhyme being far too easy to solve for a brainiac like Holmes). The film also suffers from some irritatingly farcical antics from Scotland Yard's inept Inspector Lestrade and a somewhat out-of-place optimistic rant from Holmes designed to stir patriotism and raise wartime morale, but which these days seems depressingly poignant considering the current sad state of the country (as I type, England is licking its wounds after four days of mindless rioting in its major cities).

Thankfully the film compensates for its sillier moments, less than ingenious plot, and Holmes' misguided positivity about England's future with plenty of atmosphere and lots of overtly Gothic trappings—who doesn't love tried and trusted murder/mystery elements such as a creepy manor replete with secret passageways, a pair of sinister housekeepers, a clock that strikes thirteen, and an assortment of dead bodies popping up all over?

Holmes and Watson investigate murders and an attempted murder on the Musgrave estate, part of which is a convalescent home for soldiers. Watson works there.

In the original story, this is a case that Holmes tells Watson about as it happened before they met. Here, Watson no longer lives with Holmes and is visiting.

Everything hinges on the annual Musgrave Ritual, which must be recited aloud. In the story, it's by one of the male members of the family; here, the female Musgrave (Hillary Brooke) recites it.

The character of the nosy butler Brunton is here, as he is in the book, and he meets the same fate.

One of the best things about this is the atmosphere and camera work. Downright spooky! And very effective. Also, there are no Nazis.

Pretty good story, with a nice monologue by Holmes at the end which seems timely for today.

This is a very entertaining Sherlock Holmes film with some of the best - maybe THE best - camera-work I've seen in the Basil Rathbone-Nigel Bruce series.

The photography was better than the story, which was disappointing only in that it was too easy to spot the killer. Heck, even I found it no problem, so it must have been too easy.

The characters were interesting and all quite different. Some were mental patients who had suffered from World War II. Miburn Stone played the lone American and I didn't recognize the man who went on to play "Doc" in the long- running hit TV series "Gunsmoke." However, his voice sounded familiar.

Filmed mid-world war two, with the usual team of basil rathbone and nigel bruce. Watson is helping the war effort by volunteering at musgrave manor. But when bodies start turning up, holmes is on the case! New york born hilary brooke is sally musgrave, and she may be next! A few quotes from that shakespeare guy in this one. Keep an eye out for peter lawford in an early role... he's a sailor in the bar. Also norma varden as the barkeep. She was in gentlemen prefer blondes and sound of music! And that family ritual of having to recite a silly verse in front of the fireplace was just ridiculous. Can holmes come up with the solution before the coppers? It's pretty good! A bit of a sense of humor in this one, as holmes picks on lestrade. But holmes' speech right at the end was clearly just war time propaganda. Directed by roy neill, who made a whole bunch of the sherlock holmes films. And died pretty young at 59.

Sherlock Holmes Faces Death (1943) : Brief Review -

War time Sherlock Holmes has a speech and a trick when the killer underestimates him. The 6th film in the franchise, Sherlock Holmes Faces Death, may be a little out of the way from regular mysterious stuff, but the outcome is quite satisfactory. Set in wartime, it uses multiple cliches to send a positive message to humanity and civilization. That's the sense of timing and how you play with the current affairs in the world. In one scene, Dr. Watson is caught while attempting to enter the door, and he says, "Well, I am Dr. Watson." The cop who doesn't take his words seriously replies, "Oh yeah. I am Mrs. Minivers." Now, that's smart humour for movie buffs; as we know, Mrs. Minivers had swapped all major Oscars and box office records from the previous year. Wyler and Garson would have had a grin on their faces seeing this scene in a Sherlock Holmes film. Also, the last speech by Holmes, what a beautiful gesture. Such ideas and comments were needed at that time because people were looking for hopes and courage, and movies were/are one of the biggest mediums of spreading messages like wildfire. Just before that scene in the climax, the killer tells Holmes, "I surely underestimated you, Holmes." That was a perfect scene. Just a moment ago, we all thought that he would be dead or miss the killer, and two moments later, we have him surrendering his mastermind egomania in front of the greatest detective ever. Some Sherlock Holmes movies are so good at this: the glorification of the character. Reading about such a character in the novel is a different experience, but watching that come to life on screen is a whole new and different experience altogether. Sherlock Holmes Faces Death does that while keeping the mystery on a mid-level, but that's well covered by the performances and the ending trick.

RATING - 6.5/10*

By - #samthebestest.

For those that know "The Musgrave Ritual," one of the better stories of the Holmes canon, this doesn't do too badly. It takes place in a convalescent home where Watson is helping veterans who suffer from a type of PTSD. The patients, sadly, provide some comic relief, and Watson's role is once again foolish and clutzy. However, once the bodies start showing up all over the place, under piles of leaves, in the rumble seats of cars, etc., Holmes must come to the rescue. There is a lot of lightning and thunder and dark and stormy night stuff going on. There is funeral service where the heroine is asked to recite the Musgrave ritual, an ancient set of cryptic statements that eventually become significant to the solving of the case. Holmes pull a few tricks from his bag of deceptions. Like the original, everyone ends up in a hidden cellar which holds a secret. It is a reasonably resonant offering in the Rathbone series and worth a watch. The atmosphere is worth the price of admission.

Roy William Neil directed this entry, loosely based on 'The Musgrave Ritual', and sees Sherlock Holmes(played by Basil Rathbone) & Doctor Watson(played by Nigel Bruce) investigating a convalescent home for soldiers during WWII. It seems someone is trying to find the fabled buried treasure of the Musgrave family located somewhere on the estate, and is not above murder to do it. The culprit is someone among the staff or clients, but who? A return to form in the series, with a nice atmospheric feel and the downplaying of the war itself, making appropriate use of Holmes' deductive ability. Only negatives are a bit of padding and a weak villain, but otherwise a fun installment.