Sherlock Holmes Faces Death (1943)

Very best movie i ever watch

Purely Joyful Movie!

Fun premise, good actors, bad writing. This film seemed to have potential at the beginning but it quickly devolves into a trite action film. Ultimately it's very boring.

The film may be flawed, but its message is not.

Review - Sherlock Holmes Faces Death 9-17-43 6th in the Series The storyline has Dr. Watson overseeing the needs of convalescing soldiers from WWII battles, each suffering some traumatic incident, resting at the historic centuries old Musgrave Manor, also occupied by three Musgrave's, two of which shall meet with a fatal end, plus the butler is killed, too. It is for Holmes to find the killer of the three gentlemen through whatever clever means possible. Holmes gives Bob Sexton multiple reasons he is the killer. The man who murdered the Musgraves, with such a sure hand, would never have missed killing Sexton. Also, Dr. Sexton examined both bodies, but failed to report the real cause of death. The case of systemic needles in his possession found earlier by Holmes, just after Geoffrey Musgrave was found murdered. Matrimony was motive, Miss Sally was the object of Sexton's affections. He planned on marrying Sally Musgrave in order to gain possession of the estate. Sexton claimed he knew nothing about the game of chess, but he named the square in chess parlance, when Holmes suggested he must have moved off it. Holmes finds a button on the cellar floor, asking Sexton if per chance it was his button. Sherlock Holmes faces death from Dr. Sexton, stating he thinks he could manage killing Holmes with one shot. He fires, Holmes goes down, Sexton rises to the next level, with Lestrade, Watson and policemen waiting for him. Sexton fires at all of them, but Holmes admits he put blanks in the weapon. Holmes asks Watson if he heard his confession. Watson acknowledges hearing it all. Lestrade heard likewise. Holmes admits to the risk being alone in the crypt with a killer, even with blanks, and adding, these egomaniacs are always so chatty, when they seem to have the upper hand. Some notable appearances included the following: The series' movies with Dennis Hoey portraying Lestrade and Hillary Brooke as a heroine are my favorites. Milburn Stone looked a young 39, in this 1943 release, no matter what his actual height, he played his part well, although briefly, in only two scenes. A very young Peter Lawford, appearing, at 20, in the opening scene at The Rat and The Raven. A bit of whimsey includes the following: When the proprietor tells of the raven in the bar coming from Musgrave Manor, it does seem a little far-fetched, but I suppose the scavenger bird could have travelled from the spooky estate to the pub. Question is, why did he let it in the establishment? Answer, it coincides with the name of the place. Rated high on favorites list in series based on the mystery, the cumulative clues, the background of the Manor, the pub and the characters; most of all how Holmes put all parts together to catch the killer.

The Musgrave ritual is one of those stories that in whatever format, be it book or television, that I'm not a great lover of, dare I say I find it a little uninteresting, and while the film is largely based on that text, it manages to be fairly intriguing.It's a more traditional outing for Holmes, he's very much here in the guise of Detective, not a Spy, he's been called in to solve a mystery, not clear up Nazi spies or such like.The amendments to the plot are interesting, making it a fairly interesting story-line, I must say that it is beautifully shot, it is so fluid and beautifully made. The production values are incredibly high, you almost wish some of the others in the series had such attention to detail.Less banter between Lestrade and Watson, this movie took on a more serious tone I guess. It's a little slow in the middle, but the ending is great, boasting some real tension. All in all it's a very good watch, 7/10

Finally, After Three WWII Tainted Holmes Films Universal Advisedly went the Direction Fans were Hoping, with the Moody, Atmospheric, Dank Dungeons, Ghostly Mansions, and Eccentric Characters that the Doyle Enthusiasts were Waiting for, this Movie Delivered Holmes to the Creepy Environs where He seemed so at Ease.This is a Neat Little Murder Mystery with Many a Set Piece that Impress, like the Chess Board, the Cellar, the Funeral, and the Musgrave Mansion Itself, Populated with Weary War Vets and a Family Cursed by Generations of Evilness.It is One of the Better in the Series and Paved the Way for a Few More Very Good Films to Follow. Rathbone and Bruce Never Waiver in Their Character Portrayals and here are Sharply Dialoged and have Much to do. There are some Very Clever Monologues and Exchanges in and around the Mansion and the Pub.Holmes is as Cruel as Usual to His Faithful Companion...Watson: "Simple Holmes a Child could figure it out." Holmes: "Not your Child Watson."

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.