Sherlock Holmes and the Voice of Terror Review Nytimes
"There's an east wind coming, Watson."
When the sinister Voice of Terror taunts England over the radio with news of acts of sabotage against the Allies, the Inner Council of British Intelligence has no choice but to turn to England's greatest detective, Sherlock Holmes (Basil Rathbone). Holmes, with help from his criminal underworld connections, investigates and uncovers the truthful identity of the Voice of Terror.
After two fine films at Play a joke on and a three-year gap, the Sherlock Holmes series movies to Universal. The change of studios also brings with it the updating of Holmes to the 1940s, where he understandably spends the early on entries in the series battling Nazis. This change upsets many purists, who already take problems with the Rathbone series for its portrayal of Watson as comic relief and its deviations from the books. If you're ane of those, I doubt anything I can say will alter your stance. I don't happen to be bothered by the changes. I actually enjoy the movies more because of them.
As in his 2 films at Pull a fast one on, Rathbone hither is the perfect Holmes. One of my favorite scenes from any of his Holmes films occurs in this one when Holmes and Watson become to a seedy pub frequented by criminals. 1 of the criminals, a specially frightening thug Sherlock put away years before, approaches the duo and nosotros're led to believe any second now he will try to exact some violent revenge on Holmes. I won't spoil how the scene ends just pay attention to the way Rathbone plays this unabridged scene. Information technology'due south wonderful stuff. I would exist remiss in doing any kind of review for Voice of Terror without mentioning Rathbone'southward hairstyle. For some reason they decided to give him a rather silly-looking haircut where the hair on the sides is combed frontward. It's hard not to chuckle when you start see information technology. Thankfully he wears a hat for a lot of the picture.
For his part, Nigel Bruce is a great sidekick. He has less to do here than some of the other movies but, as always, he's pleasant and fun to watch. The supporting cast is keen, with the likes of Henry Daniell, Reginald Denny, and Thomas Gomez giving solid turns. Special mention goes to Evelyn Ankers, who gives one of her most different performances here. She plays the married woman of a criminal killed for helping Holmes who then agrees to help the detective herself. Non for the sake of law & order simply for the love of land. Her all-time scene is when she gives a rousing speech communication to her fellow criminals and lowlifes, enlisting them to help Holmes and England.
This is a solid get-go to the Universal Holmes series. Not the all-time but very entertaining still. Reading some of the older reviews hither is a bit tum-churning. Jeez, you lot'd think these people WANTED the Nazis to win! They seem and so bitter and angry over the film existence pro-England during World State of war II. What'south this globe coming to when people detest patriotism and nationalism so much they gripe nearly it more the Nazis? The fact that most of these reviewers place themselves every bit beingness from England or America makes the whole thing doubly sorry.
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I Wonder if Lord Haw Haw saw this?
The first two Basil Rathbone - Nigel Bruce Sherlock Holmes outings (THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES and THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES) are normally considered the best of the series, although several of the "modernized" ones (THE SCARLET CLAW, SHERLOCK HOLMES FACES DEATH, THE House OF FEAR) take really really clever mystery stories in them. This ane, the first of the 20th Century Play tricks modern stories, is based on HIS Concluding BOW. But information technology has an interesting modern source to the tale, also as a secondary source from a non-Conan Doyle writer.
The original Conan Doyle story is (chronologically) the terminal i in the canon (of 56 short stories and 4 novels by Sir Arthur). HIS LAST BOW was written in 1917, and was supposed to be a memoir of Holmes final espionage service for the British Government in wrecking the espionage piece of work of one Heinrich Von Bork, the Kaiser's most brilliant amanuensis in England. There are references in it to zeppelins and other wartime machines and events (including the involvement of Irish - American allies to the Kaiser against the hated British). Suffice information technology to say that information technology has, what is the archetype ending (in terms of dialog) for Holmes and Watson. This is the "In that location's an east current of air, Watson...." dialog, which actually ends this story. I am glad (at least for this much) that the screenplay writers knew enough to use this wonderful dialog to conclude the movie.
To bring information technology up to date (1939 - xl), the story includes reference to the antics of one of the most aggravating people the British people faced between 1939 and 1945: Mr. William Joyce, a.k.a. "Lord Haw Haw". At that place are elements of Joyce in the character of Meade (Thomas Gomez) and the bones story in the film well-nigh the radio broadcasts. Joyce was an Irish American (he was built-in in New York City), who moved to England in the 1920s. He was a very intelligent man, who felt he was ignored past too many junior people, and harbored not bad resentments as a outcome. This is Meade to a tee. Joyce happened to have a wonderful speaking voice, but he looked rather ordinary. He gravitated to Fascist circles, soon ascent in the British Union of Fascists (BUF) and condign a leading speaker and propagandist for Sir Oswald Mosley (the would-be Fascist dictator of England).
Mosley was quite an egomaniac, simply so was Joyce. After awhile a split developed between the men, as Joyce felt that Mosley was depending likewise much on British republic (which Joyce despised). Joyce increasingly looked with admiration at the Nazi model (more so than Mosley was ever willing to look). When the 2 nations drifted into war Joyce traveled to Germany and offered his services to Josef Goebbels. Goebbels knew a good thing when he could apply it, so he agreed. Joyce (once state of war began) had a High german passport that was dated prior to September 1, 1939. But he besides had a British passport and an American passport. Joyce planned carefully to keep all three - just in example.
Soon he began broadcasting in his nasal, just pleasing phonation, as "Lord Haw Haw". He was an expert in presenting brutality as an expected hereafter way of life - Osama Bin Laden and Al Quaeda could take good lessons from Joyce'southward still surviving propaganda recordings. For the first iii years of the war the British public had to live through his broadcasts, on top of the Blitz past his allies in the Luftwaffe. At the time THE VOICE OF TERROR was fabricated, everyone in Uk, the United States, and the globe knew who was the model for that radio voice of doom in the film.
I don't know if Joyce always saw the moving picture, but he probably would have dismissed it equally allied propaganda (which it was). It might even have flattered him that he was targeted in it. At the time the Centrality was winning the war (Stalingrad, El Alemein, and Midway were in the future). Only as the state of war turned against the Axis, Joyce plant that his function in Nazi circles was non as thou equally he had hoped. Had they won against England, probably he would have been important (every bit Meade hoped to exist in the film), but every bit England and the U.S. and the Soviet Matrimony advanced (and were gradually joined by France in 1944), Hitler and Goebbels basically treated Joyce every bit a paid employee. He took to potable - he could see the state of war was going desperately, despite the propaganda he spewed out. When the regime collapsed in ruins in May 1945, Joyce got shot past an Centrolineal soldier, and was returned to the British to stand trial for treason.
Information technology's an interesting trial (if you study the business organization nearly the three passports). To this day there is an actually good argument to say Joyce had non committed treason in 1939 - 45 because the German passport made him a German denizen. But his defense was brushed aside, he was found guilty, and he was hanged.
The third element in the moving-picture show was the novel, THE Peachy IMPERSONATION, by Eastward. Phillips Oppenheimer. Set before World State of war I, it describes how a German language aristocrat meets his verbal double (Sir Everard Dominey) in Africa, and decides to kill him and accept his identify in British society in order to assistance German state of war plans. This is part of the conclusion of the film, regarding ane of the council.
Information technology is a skilful film, because of the performances of Rathbone, Bruce, Henry Daniell, Reginald Denny, Evelyn Ankers, and (best of all) Thomas Gomez as the power-hungry/paranoid Meade. But information technology is not amidst the best of the Sherlock Holmes series. As for "Lord Haw Haw" it is not the but film that his character popped up in. Trevor Howard plays a character based on him in RUN FOR THE SUN with Richard Widmark.
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Awkward "modernization" of Holmes, simply all the same fun
Basil Rathbone'south third appearance every bit Arthur Conan Doyle's eccentric sleuth and the starting time in Universal'south series of 12 films in which the master detective is transplanted from Victorian England to the modern era in which the films were made. "Sherlock Holmes and the Vox of Terror" was not that unusual in that, until 20th Century Flim-flam produced "The Hound of the Baskervilles" in 1939, most previous Holmes films had also placed our hero in contemporary society. It was not until this film, however, that the contemporary aspects were given such strong emphasis.
At that place's no Moriarty on hand this fourth dimension, equally Holmes and Watson (played, of form, past Nigel Bruce) bring together United kingdom of great britain and northern ireland in battling the Nazis. It's all a little awkward, just at that place is some fine atmosphere, specially in a scene in which Holmes and Watson visit a seedy pub in search of information. The cast is good, with Thomas Gomez as a very effective villain, Evelyn Ankers every bit the proverbial bad girl with a heart of aureate, and, as a diplomat, the wickedly suave Henry Daniell who would return to play Professor Moriarty in "The Woman in Green." Best of all is Rathbone, who is razor sharp despite a very peculiar hairstyle that looks like it belongs in a gladiator flick.
The series improved considerably one time Roy William Neill took over every bit director with the 2d pic, and later entries that did not emphasize the "mod" concept, like "Spider Woman" and, most particularly, "The Scarlet Claw," are far superior, but "Phonation of Terror" is still an entertaining testify, perfect viewing on a rainy, fog shrouded nighttime.
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Fabulous Photography Elevates This Holmes' WWII Tale
Hither'southward another case of a flick I first thought was so-and then until I purchased the Complete Sherlock Holmes Collection that was carefully "restored" on DVD with a package of at present-cute transfers of these famous films. Instead a poor- quality record, which was the but thing available in the '90s, now every scene is clear.
In this movie, having a good transfer is more than important than normal because this might be the best-looking SH film of them all. In that location are a ton of dark-fourth dimension scenes, like a movie noir, and a lot of facial closeups. In fact, I would say this motion-picture show was better filmed than many film noirs I've seen.
The story is most a "Tokyo Rose"-type vocalisation telling the British how inferior they were and how the Nazis were going to were going to commit their terrorist-type activities at the moment of the circulate. And, indeed they did, as promised. This propaganda over "the wireless," as Dr. Watson and other chosen the radio back then, was driving English folks crazy. The government and Scotland Yard, in desperation, calls Sherlock Holme to the rescue, if he can help.
Holmes deduces that all these acts are but a prelude to some "huge, diabolical act withal to come up" and sets out to discover what that would be and who is responsible for the broadcasts. He finds some in the high muckety-muck society that hired him is a traitor and doing the broadcasts from within, as well as spilling secrets to the Germans.
Evelyn Ankers equally "Kitty" helps Holmes and is a very attractive helper. Henry Daniell plays his normal irritating grapheme (he was proficient at that) and Thomas Gomez was interesting as a Nazi.
Overall, a decent story with super photography.
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Holmes & Watson--Updated
Sherlock Holmes strives to destroy the ring of Nazi saboteurs whose actions are extolled by THE Voice OF TERROR.
After a hiatus of three years, and a change of studios from Play a joke on to Universal, Basil Rathbone & Nigel Bruce returned to portray the beloved characters they had embodied twice earlier on the screen. And at that place was one other significant alter--the stories were now set during Earth War Two and served every bit morale boosters too equally cinematic entertainment.
This bound alee of nearly 50 years does no violence to Holmes & Watson, although purists might lament the absence of late Victorian ambiance. Indeed, if Shakespeare tin be performed in modern dress and get the basis for Broadway musicals, then the inhabitants of 221B Baker Street are served no injustice by this updating. The moving picture offers this explanation as its preamble: `Sherlock Holmes, the immortal grapheme of fiction created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, is ageless, invincible and unchanging. In solving significant bug of the present day he remains - as e'er - the supreme primary of deductive reasoning.'
Here, in a plot very loosely based on Conan Doyle's short story 'His Last Bow,' Rathbone & Bruce play their roles every bit comfortably as one might clothing an former pair of well-worn slippers. Rathbone, triumphantly cerebral, and Bruce, comfortingly common, are but perfect for their roles, actually seeming to become Holmes & Watson, rather than just enacting them. In the tiny commutation, where Watson stops Holmes from leaving their flat wearing his famed deerstalker rather than modern headgear, the actors give a wink and a nod to the original conceptions of their historic characters.
Kindly Reginald Denny and angry Henry Daniell give their usual stalwart performances as high government officials struggling with the Nazi depredations. Evelyn Ankers adds a bit of spice every bit the Limehouse lassie who has her own motives for helping Holmes. Thomas Gomez gives a compelling portrayal as a Nazi agent with strange delusions of grandeur.
Movie mavens will recognize an uncredited & lovable Mary Gordon as Mrs. Hudson, Holmes landlady, who has also been time transported along with her tenants. That's Edgar Barrier, first-class as the Vocalism of Terror.
This was the third in the Sherlock Holmes film serial, following THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES (1939), and preceding SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE Hush-hush WEAPON (1942).
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First of a revamped Universal-fabricated serial
Warning: Spoilers
SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE Vocalism OF TERROR is the 3rd of the Basil Rathbone series and the showtime to be fabricated past Universal rather than 20th Century Fox. The Universal films were lower budgeted and had shorter running times, and they likewise updated the stories to the then-present day with no caption. Thus we get Holmes and Watson tackling Nazis rather than the classic Conan Doyle villains.
This story is a mixture of bits from the written story HIS Terminal BOW along with a fictional version of the infamous 'Lord Haw Haw' Nazi broadcaster. It doesn't take long for Holmes to notice himself on the trail of the scheming villain, and there are plenty of atmospheric touches forth the way and a few exciting shoot-outs. Henry Daniell and Evelyn Ankers co-star. Given that this was made during the war, expect lots of sentimental chest-thumping and propaganda moments.
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OK only suffers from propaganda and the modern setting
In wartime Britain, morale is falling amongst the troops equally a covert radio broadcast calling itself `the vocalization of terror' directs Nazi agents to behave out attacks and espionage. The Government calls in Sherlock Holmes to track down and stop the broadcast and, equally a result, the attacks and espionage.
I have seen several of the modern set Holmes films, most recently `Sherlock Holmes in Washington'. Despite non actually liking that one, I decided to give this 1 a stab anyway. The modernistic setting seems equally much a manner of using the films as wartime propaganda rather than equally a way of improving the moving-picture show or annihilation similar that. For that reason this film struggles just because all the changes have been made for that reason and hence, if they do act equally an improvement, then information technology is simply past risk.
The plot is reasonable but not great. It is more about getting the Nazis rather than Holmes' taking on whatever one foe or trying to solve a specific crime. Rathbone is all the same good but he looks like a modern fop in his dapper clothes and light-headed hairdo! Bruce is skillful only non used every bit much every bit he has been in other films. The Nazi'southward take no grapheme and the support cast is not that strong. Of the film only the conclusion is exciting but even that basically is hinted at heavily all the way through.
Overall, this has all the stuff that I like well-nigh Holmes but the modern setting really hurts it. Instead of a good plot, an existing story is twisted to exist prepare in WW2 and deducting is replaced by propaganda and triumphalism over a foe that is never anything more than a caricature.
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Holmes & Watson: The Mystery Broadcast
SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE VOICE OF TERROR (Universal, 1942), directed by John Rawlins, marks the render of Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce in their now legendary screen roles every bit Sherlock Holmes and his friend/acquaintance, Medico Watson. Having been last seen in a pair of 1939 releases ("The Hound of the Baskervilles" and "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes") for 20th Century-Fox, this edition was an easy attempt for a new pic serial (1942-1946). Bated from its lead actors now performing their original roles for another studio, the Victorian characters of the 1890s have been modernized into the now contemporary locale ready during the London rush of Globe War II. For this rather drastic modify, the opening title explains its reasoning for it: "Sherlock Holmes, the immortal character of fiction created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is ageless, invincible and unchanging. In solving significant problems of the nowadays solar day, he remains - every bit e'er - the supreme master of deductive reasoning." And there you accept information technology. In true Hollywood fashion, Holmes and Watson, having moved fifty years into the future from a trip downwards the Time Tunnel, physically showing Holmes, Watson and their landlady, Mrs. Watson, all haven't aged a bit. The just change would be their wearable. Gone are the horse and buggy replaced by automobiles. Gone are the gas-lit street lamps replaced by electric calorie-free-bulbs. What retains here is Sherlock Holmes masterful reasoning of crime solving that never goes out of manner.
For this newly formatted series opening, the story, based on Conan Doyle'due south "His Concluding Bow," starts off with a view of Germany before revealing those listening to a radio broadcast from an Axis enemy mastermind known every bit "The Phonation of Terror" predicting various acts of sabotage that are to have place in their homeland of England. Sir Ryan Barham (Reginald Denny) of the British Inner Council, calls in ace detective Sherlock Holmes (Basil Rathbone) and Physician Watson (Nigel Bruce) of 221B Bakery Street, to help cease Nazi saboteurs working in England. During his latest assignment, Holmes presently finds his life threatened, followed by Gavin (Robert Barron) stumbling into his apartment to keel over with a pocketknife in his back. His terminal words before dying is "Christopher." Subsequently, Holmes and Watson, come to Limehouse in a very rough department of town to notify, Gavin's girlfriend, Kitty (Evelyn Ankers) of what has but occurred. Holmes acquires further help from the young girl whose determined to fight for England and get the 1 responsible for Gavin's death. Considering of her secret meetings with R.F. Meade (Thomas Gomez - in movie debut), information technology is uncertain whether Kitty is secretly working for or against this supposed Nazi, adding more suspense to the story, which is the writer'south intention.
Too in the supporting cast are Henry Daniell (Anthony Lloyd); Leyland Hodgeson (Captain Roland Shore); Montagu Beloved (General Jerome Lawford); Olaf Hytten (Admiral Fabian Prentiss) and Hillary Brooke (Jill Grandis, a female person taxi cab driver). Mary Gordon as Mrs. Hudson appears with no screen credit.
Placing Sherlock Holmes in contemporary times is cypher new, having been done previously in some before screen adaptations, notably SHERLOCK HOLMES (Fox, 1932), where Holmes (Clive Beck) and Watson (Reginald Owen) are seen in 1930s Chicago. Universal's view of modernizing Holmes was to take advantage of its dated wartime propaganda theme commonly used in endless other films in the early forties. After a few more like state of war-related themes, the writers of this series eventually had it phased out in favor of either original screenplays or those adapted whole or in part from the Conan Doyle stories. Many Holmes fanciers label Rathbone's initial Universal entry to be somewhat on the weak side, making its 65 minute presentation to feel a fleck longer that it really is, but overall, it does have some good points, also. Fortunately nether Roy William Neil, who was to direct all future films in the series, some even improving from its predecessor, fifty-fifty to a bespeak of reviving Holmes' arch enemy of Professor Moriarty such as THE Adult female IN GREEN (1945) equally played by Henry Daniell, the aforementioned Daniell who appears in this edition of THE Phonation OF TERROR.
Sherlock Holmes is ageless, and quite popular, proving so to what adult into a 16 film theatrical serial that lead to Sherlock Holmes festivals quite commonly circulate on idiot box on whatever given weekend from the 1950s to 1980s, mainly those Universal editions that open with Holmes and Watson, with credits superimposed over their images as the camera follows them walking through the street of uncertainty.
Distributed to home video in the 1980s and afterwards DVD, SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE Voice OF TERROR's most recent cable Television receiver offering turned up on Turner Classic Movies where this, and others in that series, premiered December 26, 2009, to commemorate the release of the latest theatrical SHERLOCK HOLMES as portrayed by Robert Downey Jr. Though the 2009 edition of Holmes retained its turn of the century outlook, it's even more contemporary through its actions. Regardless of how many actors have played Holmes and Watson on screen, the best remains for many, to be the one and only Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce. Next installment: SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE Cloak-and-dagger WEAPON (1942) (***)
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Elementary Dear Watson, this was not made by 20th Century Fob!
I've read some of the reviews regarding this film and there seems to be a grave misunderstanding regarding this film.
Many list it as the third in the "series" of Sherlock Holmes films starring Basil Rathbone, only that's quite inaccurate.
This movie was not the 3rd in a series, following "The Hound of the Baskervilles" and "The Take chances of Sherlock Holmes.
"The Hound of the Baskervilles" and "The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes were a series aborted past 20th Century Play tricks because of the start of WWII.
With the start of WWII, 20th Century Fox decided these films, set in Victorian times, were far too elaborate and expensive to continue during war times. Thus, the entire serial was dropped.
After this, Rathbone and Bruce continued doing Sherlock Holmes on the BBC as a serial of radio productions. (this included Mary Gordon who always played Mrs. Hudson) With the success of the BBC radio serial, Universal pictures in 1942, picked upward Rathbone and Bruce to play Holmes and Watson. Notwithstanding, because it was still during WWII, Universal decided to set their Holmes in what was mod times. Universal did this for extremely applied reasons which had nothing to exercise with creative "estimation." This was washed every bit a cost cutting feature as the aforementioned sets and supporting actors (as any keen eye would notice) were and then used in other films and vice versa. (The other films unremarkably featuring Bela Lugosi, Lon Chaney, Jr. or Boris Karloff) Such a cost cutting feature would not have been possible had Universal gear up the films in Victorian, London.
Thus, "The Voice of Terror," although the third fourth dimension for the team of Rathbone and Bruce, was the get-go pic in the Sherlock Holmes series, for Universal pictures.
It is a grave misunderstanding to misfile the two serial (the outset by 20th Century Fox and the second by Universal). The first were made in the 30s in pre-war Hollywood with much larger budgets. The 2nd were made during the state of war with the rationing and most understandable budget bug that accompanied such pictures of the day.
Which brings the states to the subject area of the Vox of Terror. Information technology happens to exist my favorite of the Universal Sherlock Holmes movies, despite it'south brusque comings. Rathbone is still at the top of his game and doesn't have the "bored to death with Holmes" appearance he had by the time of his last Holmes film, "Dressed to Impale." Despite reusing the train crash from "The Invisible Homo" the film has the tension and mystery intended to requite audiences who still saw the Nazis as a real nightmare, instead of the pantomime joke they have get today.
Total of British patriotism and the stalwart attitude the British still brandish when their abode is attacked as the contempo London attacks prove. Thus, the "Vocalisation of Terror" is not really every bit much archaic hokum as the modernistic, casual viewer might presume. Instead, the same attitudes in display today, remind us that the more times change, even with "Vocalisation of Terror," the more than they remain the same.
Thus, savor "The Vocalisation of Terror" even though information technology is merely VERY LOOSELY based on the Conan Doyle swell detective. The film is still a lot of fun, and people forever when thinking of Holmes and Watson cannot fail to evoke the mental memory of Rathbone and Bruce.
Worth the Watch.
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"The cutthroats of the world menace us all".
Warning: Spoilers
I'm finding it hard to believe how badly the story vicious apart when the reveal comes near the stop of the moving-picture show. For the 'Vocalization of Terror' to have attained it's goals, the viewer is asked to take that a German amanuensis killed a British soldier 20 FOUR years before!! and assumed his identity, working his way into the British Intelligence Inner Quango!! Homo, I've heard of hush-hush operations earlier but this one takes the proverbial cake. Information technology's simply non very apparent at all.
Up till then, the story had a nicely mysterious quality equally Sherlock Holmes (Basil Rathbone) is brought into the British government's inner circumvolve by it's leader, Sir Evan Barham (Reginald Denny). We don't know it at the time, but Barham is really German Heindrich Von Boch, secretly pulling strings for the Nazis and setting up British targets for assault past the German armed services. When you think about it, Von Bach/Barham fabricated the bonehead blunder of his life by inviting Holmes to the table to unmask the Phonation of Terror. In the confrontation in which the German agent is revealed, Von Boch explains that information technology was his big-headed conceit that made him think he could outwit Holmes with this masquerade. I guess he never read Arthur Conan Doyle.
I'd like to say more about the moving-picture show simply I think information technology all becomes a moot exercise, nigh similar one of those stories that ends up being a dream sequence. One affair did strike me though relative to the flick'due south release date. England was already engaged in Earth State of war II at the time, so a remark Sherlock Holmes makes to his partner Watson (Nigel Bruce) was strikingly prescient - "There'due south an East Wind coming...". The moving picture ends on a patriotic note heralding a victory against the Nazis that no one could have predicted accurately at the fourth dimension, not fifty-fifty Sherlock Holmes for all his brilliant deductive reasoning.
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Enjoyable and WWII set Sherlock entry , in which the British Defence Committee calls Holmes to comport out a mysterious mission
Offset-rate and intriguing Holmes moving picture with anachronical set up , including an exceptional villain and patriotic feeling in WWII . Sherlock Holmes (Rathbone) and Watson (Bruce) , the detecting duo living in 223 Baker Street , again are up against an ominous Nazi contender , equally the baffled Homeland Security Inner Council (Reginald Denny , Montagu Love , Henry Daniell amongst others) assigns a dangerous mission . Threatening wireless broadcasts , 'Voice of Terror', apparently from Nazi Germany are heard over the BBC while predicting disaster and destruction . Afterward on , Holmes (Basil Rathbone) and his companion, Dr. Watson (Nigel Bruce), receive a visitor in 223 Baker Street and he suddenly falls dying from a knife in the back on their doorstep . His last word leads Holmes into the slums where he meets Kitty (Evelyn Ankers), the girlfriend of the mysterious slain person , who promises to help the twisted case in any mode she tin . Along the way Sherlock must solve the killing and some vitally important . The master minds of mystery ¡ From Conan Doyle's gripping books! From your favorite radio mystery! THE Principal MINDS OF MYSTERY...leap to life to challenge the menace of modern criminal offense!
This jingoist outing set at the starting time of World War Two , it concerns the usual battle Holmes vs. a nasty enemy , but this time in an effort to relieve the British state of war confronting the Nazis .The film is an excellent Holmes thriller with gripping wartime setting , unanswered mysteries and unstopped suspense in which Holmes has to help in a world crisis. This is a Rathbone-Bruce effort for the WWII along with ¨The undercover weapon¨ in which we are asked for believe the magnificent detective could have lived in this century . Both stories are completely patriotic and flag-waging movies . In fact , on the terminate of ¨Secret weapon¨ there'south an advertising about buying of state of war bonds with evident propaganda . And the set up used as a pub/bar in ¨The Vocalism of Terror¨is the aforementioned as Professor Moriarty's hideout in ¨Sherlock Holmes and The clandestine weapon¨ (1942) . The plot of the picture is freely based on story "His Final Bow" by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle , adding original elements based on some historical events which actually happened . This is the fifth of xiv films based on Arthur Conan Doyle's fictional consulting detective Sherlock Holmes starring Basil Rathbone as Sherlock Holmes and Nigel Bruce as Doctor Watson. Here Basil Rathbone performance is splendid , he'south the all-time cinema's Holmes , similar to television's Peter Cushing and Jeremy Brett . Rathbone as whimsical sleuth is top-notch , he'south in cracking form , intelligent , broody and impetuous . He's finely matched in battle of wits with the Nazi arch-enemy , and some commencement-range villains . Nigel Bruce plays Watson with humour , jinx , goofy and mirth . He's the perfect counterpoint to Holmes . Too , actualization briefly distinguished secondaries as Evelyn Ankers, Reginald Denny , Thomas Gomez, Henry Daniell , Montagu Love , uncredited Hillary Brooke and Edgar Barrier as Vocalization of Terror . This classic motion-picture show gets an atmospheric black and white cinematography with plenty of lights and shades past Elwood Bredell , merely bachelor colorized in a horrible version . Adequate music score plumbing equipment to suspense past Frank Skinner . This was the 3rd Holmes feature to be produced and professionally realized at Universal and it was the first to be directed by John Rawlins , replacing Roy William Nell, the usual saga director and habitual in the Universal monsters movies .
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Let down by a few things, but still well worth seeing.
All of Universal's Sherlock Holmes movies are well worth watching, and even though The Voice of Terror is a lesser entry in the series, it however captures a lot of what makes the residuum of the series so brilliant. As usual, the performances are correct on cue; with the quintessential Sherlock Holmes, Basil Rathbone, once again bringing all the right cards to the tabular array that make his performances every bit the dandy detective and so brilliant. Nigel Bruce impresses one time once more besides as Holmes' sidekick Md Watson. These two are ever great to watch, and they could be investigating why pigment dries and it would however exist interesting. The plot takes on a dissimilar stance from usual Holmes mysteries, and this time sees him working for the British government subsequently a series of mysterious broadcasts from 'the Vocalisation of Terror' baffle the country. Holmes is put in a state of affairs where he's working for someone bigger than himself, and information technology puts something of a damper on the usual mystery plot. Because this film was made at the meridian of the 2d world state of war, it's social comments are a little out of engagement now; but you tin see how the plot may have been frightening to the people at the fourth dimension that this was made. Another thing that lets the film down is propaganda. It's obvious why the flick is patriotic, but it goes over the top sometimes and Rathbone'south monologue in a public firm is of item, cringe-worthy note. Still; this is a decent mystery and, similar the residual of the serial, is well worth seeing.
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One of the weakest films of the Universal series
Egad,...although I like serial B-movies from the 1940s (such every bit Charlie Chan, The Falcon and Sherlock Holmes), I can't get over how insanely positive some of the ratings are for the films on IMDb. How over xxx% of the ratings for this film are 10s is beyond me--specially since Basil Rathbone fabricated several other Holmes movies that were light-years better than this ane. In fact, this film and SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE HOUSE OF FEAR are pretty bad movies,...saved only considering Rathbone was such a 'swell' histrion (nice 40s word, huh?).
Why was information technology and then poor compared to the other films? Well, outset off, the best Rathbone Sherlock Holmes films were the first two made by Fob Studios--THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES and THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES. None of the Universal versions of the series come close to the quality of these films--particularly since Holmes and Watson live in the late Victorian London of the original stories. Putting Holmes in the role as a propaganda-spewing enemy of Hitler but doesn't seem right! Second, the plot is absolutely paper thin and Holmes doesn't do much 'detecting' at all--at to the lowest degree not like the Holmes of erstwhile. He jumps to lots of conclusions and the motion picture simply moves as well fast to permit for realism in his deductions. Third, the motion picture simply isn't fun or interesting--and this is what made many of this serial and so worth seeing. And fourth, several times throughout the film, Holmes turned towards the camera and began reciting VERY HEAVY-HANDED propaganda speeches. And while I love American propaganda films from WWII, I tin't stand to be preached at and having it all laid on so thick!! So my advice is STILL spotter films from the series--just salvage this one and THE Firm OF Fearfulness for your final films to sentinel. Otherwise, you lot might exist tempted to stop before you've seen them all.
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Interesting but one of the lesser Rathbone Holmes films
I saw Sherlock Holmes and the Vocalisation of Terror as a big fan of Sherlock Holmes and of Basil Rathbone'southward portrayal, and while it was interesting and I'grand glad I saw it information technology didn't come across as i of the best of the Rathbone films series, if anything it was the opposite. The patriotic speeches exercise come across as rather heavy-handed and melodramatic with the one with Holmes in the public firm plenty to brand anybody cringe. Watson is also underused, while the story is somewhat low on mystery and rather ridiculous. It is non badly paced though and the catastrophe was exciting. The film is also atmospheric and well made, with a score that drives the atmosphere and activeness very nicely and fittingly. The dialogue, speeches aside, is intelligently thought out and literate, any interplay betwixt Holmes and Watson is always a please. As well as the product values, the acting was the best thing nearly Sherlock Holmes and the Vocalisation of Terror, Basil Rathbone is superb every bit always and Nigel Bruce is besides practiced in one of his more subtle performances as Watson. Henry Daniell, Evlyn Ankers and specially Thomas Gomez requite compelling back up. In conclusion, didn't enthral me very much but it is interesting and still has enough to catch your attention. half-dozen/10 Bethany Cox
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"I wouldn't come down here if I was you, this is Limehouse & we don't fancy your sort of bloke in these parts." Not Sherlock Holmes all-time.
Warning: Spoilers
Sherlock Holmes and the Voice of Terror starts with the revelation that 1940's war-torn London is having information technology'southward airwaves hijacked past the Nazi's who broadcast sinister, boasting & fearfulness inducing radio messages from Germany, these broadcasts have become known as 'The Voice of Terror'. The British 'Intelligence Inner Council' decide they tin can't let these broadcasts continue & Sir Evan Barham (Reginald Denny) takes the unusual stride of calling in the worlds foremost detective Sherlock Holmes (Basil Rathbone), an idea the rest of the council is not happy near just get along with it. Together with his trusty assistant Dr. Watson (Nigel Bruce) Holmes sets nigh unmasking the voice of terror & the ulterior motivations behind it. Holmes has little to proceed until i of his scouts named Gavin (Robert Barron) is murdered on his doorstep, Holmes locates Gavin's girlfriend Kitty (Evelyn Ankers) & persuades her to help. As Holmes gets closer to revealing the voice of terror attempts are made on his life & on those of the council, Holmes feels the answers lie a lot closer to home than in Frg...
Directed past John Rawlins Sherlock Holmes and the Voice of Terror was the third out of fourteen films to star the duo of Rathbone & Bruce equally Holmes & Watson. The script by Robert Hardy Andrews, Lynn Riggs & John Bright is based on the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle novel 'His Last Bow', running for about an hr the film moves along at a dainty footstep & is never boring or tedious but the war time propaganda is in that location for all to encounter. This isn't really the sort of thing I want in a Sherlock Holmes mystery, information technology overshadows the story somewhat & the notion that Holmes foils a Nazi plan to invade Britian while the entire ministry building of defense force tin can't is a little lightheaded to say the least. I also felt that the plot was a bit predictable, I'1000 not normally very good at guessing how these mysteries turn out but I was pretty much spot on with this one, both who did information technology & why. Inspector Lestrade is absent-minded from this particular adventure while the usual endmost speech by Holmes is present & correct.
Director Rawlins piles on the war time propaganda & patriotism, he keeps reminding us how groovy a nation United kingdom of great britain and northern ireland is & how horrible the Nazi's are, I actually would have preferred the motion picture to concentrate on Holmes as a key graphic symbol more. Apart from a Gothic Church setting at the end there isn't whatsoever real horror overtones as is usually the instance with Holmes. He doesn't give the motion picture much style & information technology is somewhat forgettable. The footage of the (model) train crashing at the first is taken from The Invisible Man (1933).
Technically the film is good, the blackness and white photography is perfectly adequate & as a whole the motion picture is more often than not well fabricated with prissy production values although some of the special effects are somewhat dated & that fight in the warehouse lacks any real enthusiasm from anyone involved. The acting is OK but as i would expect some of the lesser cast members are somewhat wooden.
Sherlock Holmes and the Vox of Terror is a pretty good mystery pic, it's not the all-time Holmes ever as I found the story a flake predictable & the wartime setting only didn't feel right, merely I remember it'due south still just about worth a watch nevertheless.
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An Entertaining Outset To The New Series
This Sherlock Holmes characteristic, the first of Universal'due south serial that took the two stars (though piffling else) from the 2 earlier 20th Century Fox Holmes movies, got the new series off to a practiced kickoff with an involved, entertaining story and a very practiced supporting bandage. Information technology has its flaws, but they by no means keep it from being an enjoyable movie with skillful characters and plenty of action. Though the credits cite the Arthur Conan Doyle story "His Last Bow" equally the source, it is really an entirely new story with only a handful of small elements remaining from the original.
The choice to motion the stories from the original Victorian setting to the (and so) present meant that the new series would never have quite the same feel equally the Doyle originals, but as some bounty it allowed for Holmes to be portrayed battling enemies that were then foremost in viewers' minds. This story of "The Voice of Terror" makes full employ of anxieties and unpleasant possibilities that must have been merely too frequently in the minds of its original viewers. It however succeeds in building tension and interest with its tale of Nazi-created disasters and mocking threats.
The story is very interesting, although it has a few overly convenient turns and plot holes. It gave Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce a chance to perform the kinds of material that they had already gotten used to doing together. They are helped considerably here past the supporting bandage, which includes Reginald Denny and Henry Daniell every bit the most prominent members of the government quango that is employing Holmes's services. Merely it is Thomas Gomez and Evelyn Ankers who actually make a difference. Gomez has one of his best grapheme roles as a crafty enemy agent, and Ankers does a fine job as a woman of depression continuing who gets a chance to serve her country.
The series would become even ameliorate as information technology went along, as Rathbone and Bruce connected to develop their camaraderie and as the production team eased into a familiar formula that could be varied as needed. But this one already got the series off to a solid start with a good movie that is still worth seeing.
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Holmes and Watson battle the Nazis
Warning: Spoilers
This is such an unusual outing for Holmes and Watson, made when World War 2 was happening, it sees Holmes battle the Nazis. I tin imagine at the time this was in the Cinemas this would have had a massive outcome on the British audiences, information technology has hugely patriotic themes throughout, The BBC, spitfires and British commandos etc, I can almost imagine the creators of the story writing information technology in a way to offer hope to the British audiences watching, fearing the Nazis were infinite.
It'due south not my favourite of Rathbone's outings, Holmes and Watson seem to fit awkwardly into this story, but information technology's very worth of a watch, information technology is beautifully filmed, it looks incredible, astonishing to consider it's over seventy years quondam. Rathbone and Bruce work tremendously well as always, sadly it lacks any of the sense of humor that afterward productions would have.
Worth a look, a scrap unlike. half-dozen/10
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Find out what "Christopher" ways
Alarm: Spoilers
This entertaining little melodrama does a decent job of moving Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson from the Victorian comforts of Bakery Street into the WWII London of blitzes and blackouts. I accept been watching this moving-picture show off and on for over thirty years, and it has never looked as crystal clear every bit it does in UCLA'due south stunning print on the recent DVD. Audio is abrupt and clear, too, with some lines of dialogue understandable to my ears for the very kickoff time. Speaking of dialogue, it's quite an indictment of today'due south Idiots-R-Us culture that a cheap B-movie from 60 years ago sounds like Shakespeare now. For example, when Basil Rathbone's Holmes reminds Thomas Gomez that the English language believe every life has value, the sweaty little Nazi sneers "A quaint notion of an even quainter nation." Nifty. The plot purports to exist based on Sir Arthur'due south wonderful endpaper Holmes story "His Terminal Bow," but it uses cypher beyond the villain'south last name and the great endmost lines. In its twenty-four hour period, the British were outraged at this flick, with its suggestion of treachery and treason at the highest levels of government, and the state attributable its salvation to the noble bravery of a prostitute. Doesn't sound then shocking now, does it?
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Holmes Makes State of war On Nazis.
Alarm: Spoilers
The budget was cut drastically when Holmes and Watson moved from Fox to Universal Studios, just this isn't as poorly done as I'd expected. Not that this resembles the original Sherlock Holmes in many ways. Rathbone makes a couple of improbably deductions at the beginning but that puts an stop to his penetrating insights. Afterwards that, the story turns into a rather ordinary anti-German B characteristic. Instead of Sherlock Holmes information technology could exist Boston Blackie or Charlie Chan. Information technology doesn't wait or sound like Conan-Doyle's character until the very stop, when Rathbone recites the last passage from the last story, a patriotic analogy of state of war every bit weather.
Nevertheless, it really wasn't bad, for a couple of reasons. 1 is that the story itself involves a very real and important threat to England at the time of shooting, an invasion beyond the channel by German troops. (Actually the Germans were nowhere near ready only no ane knew that.) As a potential martial event, the invasion of Corking United kingdom of great britain and northern ireland stands somewhat college in importance than Doctor Tobel's fictional flop sight in a afterward episode.
Then, too, Holmes is a scrap different. Make Upwards gave Rathbone a few wisps of hair curling frontward over his temple but he didn't nevertheless look like a lithograph of Lord Byron. And Rathbone seems to bring more gusto to the function, although it may just be my imagination. He was pretty fagged out by the end of the series. Nigel Bruce as Doc Watson is far less than the mumbling and disgruntled companion he was to go.
And somebody ought to mention the cinematography of Woody Bredell. Maybe it'due south besides nighttime in some scenes simply it's e'er dramatic. Besides bad the budget confined all the scenes to indoor stages. In none of his movies does Holmes become to spend much time outdoors. Even when he'southward on a cruise ship in the Mediterranean ("Pursuit to Algiers") he'due south stuck on an indoor phase.
The cast are a bunch of stalwarts. They striking their marks, speak their lines, and do what they're supposed to. The existent heavy, the mastermind backside the Voice of Terror, eluded me. I had picked Henry Daniell. (He was to play Moriarty in a later film.) Okay, so the writers foxed me, simply I was wrong for good reasons. When has Henry Daniell ever been innocent of anything? He was Lord Wolfingham in "The Sea Hawk". He was always a bad guy. Fifty-fifty in his best, well-nigh cryptic function, the Scots doctor in Val Lewton's "The Torso Snatchers", he was driven by his ego to grave robbing. And that confront -- that bony but flabby jaw, those thin lips, that icy voice. Mayhap he wasn't the villain here just he SHOULD have been.
There's something else as well that occurred to me while watching this. I saw information technology as a kid, on re-release or television, and I recall vividly the scene in which Holmes is listening to a performance of Beethoven'southward 5th Symphony while he fiddles with a chart and watches an oscilloscope. It'due south of no importance just it was the first time in my life I realized there was more than to Beethoven's Fifth than but the familiar opening of the commencement movement -- da-da-da-DAHHH. The experience almost made my pilus stand on end. In that location might be more to all classical music. And then I went on to study limerick and theory, changed my name for professional person reasons to John Williams, made millions, partnered a parade of pretty girls, and accept had a satisfying career as a composer. All thanks to this movie.
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A Universal appeal
Voice of Terror as the first Holmes foray against the Nazis wasn't too bad, and certainly is very watchable simply as a film. Maybe it would have been better if a fantasy scene had been tacked onto the get-go showing how they'd been kidnapped past Moriarty who had discovered the hush-hush of time travel to dump the pair into WW2. I don't recommend watching this straight after Adventures, although equally no further aligning is needed for The Undercover Weapon breezing through the remaining Universals does me no damage! Simply as previously posted, updating Shakespeare into any time - even the time to come - is OK, and also operas such as La Boheme are similarly always tinkered with too. They call information technology Arty, I call it trying to salvage coin on costumes and sets!
VOT on its own merits: dark and smoky atmospheric images, cute use of nitrate b&w , an interesting subplot with the interplay betwixt Kitty and Meade, and a stirring finale meant to spur people into risking their lives. "Nosotros'll think" is the consolation if death is the result.
Rathbone needed a haircut, Bruce representing an England he obviously didn't know was "unchanging" - because England was changing every bit they spoke, Daniell and Denny were first-class as usual, Gomez was perfect in his office as Satan's human being in London, and Evelyn Ankers never looked lovelier, even every bit a prostitute! I'm slightly surprised that Rathbone himself wanted the update, but all things taken I'm rather glad the serial was moved to 1942!
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Sherlock Holmes Versus The 3rd Reich
Warning: Spoilers
The Ministry of Defence bring in Sherlock Holmes to assist in the fight against Nazi 5th-columnists and saboteurs.
One of the more than minor merely improve-budgeted in the serial of Universal's Sherlock Holmes films, based very loosely on Arthur Conan Doyle'southward His Last Bow. If yous can become past the anachronism of a Victorian character fighting Nazis and the slightly pedestrian script, this is an enjoyable fiddling chance, fuelled primarily equally ever past Rathbone's brilliant portrayal of Holmes. Information technology also has some excellent art-design (past Jack Otterson), specially in the Limehouse and Kentish ruin locations, and a nice gallery of B-movie stalwarts like Ankers and Daniell (both of whom play different roles in other films in the series), plus Chaney in a two-second walk-on part. Chief villain Gomez bears an amusingly uncanny resemblance to sixties British comic hero Tony Hancock, and there is a priceless moment when Watson accidentally leaves his cane behind at a Ministry meeting.
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Unproblematic disappointing.
The title refers to a Nazi-broadcaster who petrifies the inhabitants of London with his drivel most the Third Reich and the annunciations of terrorist actions. The defense quango hires Sherlock Holmes to discover the identity of vicious radio DJ but, of course, our brilliant detective unravels a lot more, similar political conspiracies and high-level betrayal. Practically all the installments in the Sherlock Holmes-series were made during the years of WWII, so there ever are references towards the Germans and their vile acts. "Phonation of Terror", however, is the but Holmes-flick that entirely revolves on the war and therefore it'southward a lot less accessible than other, well plotted murder-mysteries like "The House of Fright" and "Sherlock Holmes Faces Death". Basil Rathbone remains brilliant as the deductive genius merely all the rest is pretty disappointing. Nigel Bruce (equally Dr. Watson) has well-nigh no lines, there's a total lack of appealing set pieces and all the British patriotism was really, Actually annoying. Especially the tedious "your country needs you" speeches in the pub are the absolute low indicate in over 10 Sherlock Holmes movies.
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A Classic Wartime Picture show
Any criticism today of the plot'south credibility has to exist put in the context of the reason the moving picture was made in the first identify. Merely information technology was a jingoistic, morale boosting piece of theatre for the motion picture going public, past 1942 ravaged by the rush in London, rationing and the fear of Lord Haw Haw broadcasts.
Sure the plot is thin, Evelyn Ankers plays an E Terminate waif with more than a affect of Southern American drawl and the red herrings are obvious.
That said Rathbone remains the pinnacle Sherlock Holmes and Bruce the lovable bumbling side kicking. Peachy entertainment.
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Lesser Holmes Entry Has Its Merits
After ii features produced at Twentieth Century Fox in 1939, Sherlock Holmes and Medico Watson moved to Universal Studios in 1942. Like the original Conan Doyle stories, the two Play a trick on films were set up in the Victorian era, but when the master sleuth and his side kicking worked at Universal, the plots were moved to the then-nowadays 24-hour interval, which was World War II. "Sherlock Holmes and the Vocalism of Terror," the outset of the contemporary features, is heavy on British patriotism and anti-Nazi propaganda; the audience is even advised to "Buy War Bonds" after the stop credits take faded. In a script adjusted from Conan Doyle's story, "His Last Bow," classified information from the Inner Quango is finding its way to the Nazis and has led to railroad train crashes, bombings, and other sabotage in state of war-town Great britain. The Council, against the wishes of some members, enlists the assistance of Holmes and Watson to track down the leak.
Although often expounding patriotism and anti-Nazi warnings, Basil Rathbone always remains in character and fine form as Holmes; his iconic performance is unerring and solid. Nigel Bruce is every bit fine as Doctor Watson, who ably supported his friend and provided comic relief through 14 movies. While the moving picture'due south depression budget is evident, the bandage is full of pros and boasts some splendid character actors beyond the reliable Rathbone and Bruce; Bruce Denny, Montagu Love, and Henry Daniell among others testify the talent and dedication to arts and crafts that kept them consistently employed in dozens of archetype and non-and so-archetype movies. Elwood Bredell, the cinematographer, lensed the film with skill; the inky blackness shadows of Limehouse, the foggy streets of London, the well-baked closeups of Rathbone and Evelyn Ankers, the female person lead, elevate the film's visuals to nearly-A-picture status.
While far from the best in the Sherlock Holmes series and a step down from the ii preceding entries at Fox, "Sherlock Holmes and the Voice of Terror" has enough moments and avails to satisfy Holmes fans. The propaganda and message are heavy handed, dated, and but pad the running fourth dimension; the screeching vox of terror grates on the ear; and experienced watchers of who-dunnits will easily pick out the villain. Yet, the interim is superlative notch, the photography first rate, and the fun of watching Rathbone and Bruce solve a criminal offence is unmatched.
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Pretty Good
Sherlock Holmes and the Phonation of Terror (1942)
** 1/2 (out of four)
First motion picture in Universal's Holmes series following two previous installments from Fox. This time out the BBC are receiving strange wireless broadcasts from the German language's telling of hereafter attacks, which all happen to come up out truthful. Holmes (Basil Rathbone) and Watson (Nigel Bruce) are called in to try and track the phonation of terror. Information technology takes quite a while to become apply to seeing Holmes in the 1940's but overall the motion-picture show is pretty good, although the Nazi plot had already been washed to death past previous films and series. The 65-minute running time flies by in a very quick manor, which isn't unremarkably the case for these types of mysteries. The story itself is somewhat skillful but again, the German thing had been done to expiry and this motion-picture show doesn't actually offering up any new slants on the story. The existent greatness backside the film certainly vest to Rathbone and Bruce who are simply terrific in their roles. The way the two men play off each other adds a lot of charm to the picture and Rathbone is certainly swish enough to fill his office perfectly. Evelyn Ankers gets to polish every bit an informant and it was prissy seeing Henry Daniell and Reginald Denny in their roles. The ending is a tad bit rushed in my opinion and I retrieve they were able to handle the German's a bit too hands but this is still an enjoyable footling mystery.
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Source: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0035318/reviews