Terror by Night (1946)

Fantastic!

Best movie ever!

I really wanted to like this movie. I feel terribly cynical trashing it, and that's why I'm giving it a middling 5. Actually, I'm giving it a 5 because there were some superb performances.

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

It has been decades since I watched one of the old Sherlock Holmes flicks starring Basil Rathbone, but when you're home sick for several days, you'll watch almost anything.For the first two-thirds of the film I was surprised at how good it was. A nifty little mystery with some clever touches. But the last third of the film seemed to be grasping at plot twists to come to a conclusion that only Holmes could have known. So, plot-wise, what started out as a strong "7" deteriorated to a weak "6". Ultimately, you get what you pay for, and these were done on the cheap; nevertheless, this outing is better than I remember the series beingOf course we all know the characters of Holmes and Dr. Watson, and they did well in this series. I particularly get a kick out of Nigel Bruce. The rest of the actors in this film are pretty forgettable, although any fan of old flicks will recognize Alan Mowbray. The film, as shown on cable, is quite deteriorated. But, it's still very watchable. So if you're home sick for a few days and this flick comes along on cable...you could do worse.

TERROR BY NIGHT (Universal, 1946), produced and directed by Roy William Neil, is not another "wolf man" thriller starring Lon Chaney Jr., nor a horror film featuring any one of the Universal monsters for that matter. It's only the eleventh installment to the studio's own "Sherlock Holmes" popular series starring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce. With the previous effort, PURSUIT TO ALGIERS (1945), set mostly on an ocean liner, this next in line entry places the suave London detective on board a train where he encounters more than just conductors, ticket takers or another train of thought for his effort in another baffling mystery.Adapted from an untitled story by its creator, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the epilogue focuses on an open book on the "Star of Rhodesia" where an off-screen narrator talks about this priceless diamond: "Star of Rhodesia is one of the most famous of the earth's treasures. ... It would have been better had it not been found. To all those who possess it come to sudden and violent deaths." With all that said, the story gets underway as Vivian Wedder (Renee Godfrey - resembling that of forties actress Patricia Morison) in a carpenter shop, Mock (Harry Cording) and son (Bobby Wissler), where she arranges for the coffin of her late mother be sent to the undertakers and delivered onto the next train leaving London to Edinburgh. At the Euston Train Station, Sherlock Holmes (Basil Rathbone) awaits for his friend and associate, Doctor John H. Watson (Nigel Bruce) as he observes the passing crowd around him. He is then greeted by Ronald Carstairs (Geoffrey Steele), a young man who has engaged Holmes to watch over his mother, Lady Margaret Carstairs (Mary Forbes), who now possesses the Star of Rhodesia she's acquired by her late husband for their fifth wedding anniversary. Having already attended a reception at Buckingham Palace, and earlier met with near robbery experience, it is Holmes' job to safeguard her against possible thieves. Watson, accompanied by his scholarly friend, Major Bleek (Alan Mowbray, in excellent support), narrowly miss the train as it slowly departs the station. Also on board happens to be Holmes' friend, Inspector Lestrade (Dennis Hoey) of Scotland Yard, taking a fishing holiday for himself. During the trip, situations occur as young Carstairs is found dead inside his locked stateroom, Compartment E. With no murderous signs evident, and the priceless diamond missing, Lady Carstairs feels Holmes has failed in his duties. Regardless of a threatening note and life threatening experience, Holmes resumes with his theory, "Find the murderer, you'll find the diamond." Other members of the cast include Billy Bevan (The Train Attendant); Leyland Hodgson (The Train Conductor); and Boyd Davis (Inspector MacDonald).An improvement over PURSUIT TO ALGIERS, TERROR BY NIGHT shows at times how train mysteries are more exciting than shipboard ones. With screenplay by Frank Gruber, the film contains every ingredient necessary for a tightly-knitted 60 minute suspense thriller. Gerald Hamer, who seems to have appeared in practically all the "Sherlock Holmes" entries, is seen, once again, this time as one of the unusual assortment of passengers, Alfred Shallcross, a teapot collector, accompanied by his mother (Janet Murdoch). Skelton Knaggs, a creepy character notable for Universal's "House of Dracula" (1945), resumes his nightmarish creepiness in his Peter Lorre-type mannerism in the role of Sands. Frederick Worlock (Professor William Kilbane) has the film's brightest moment in a sort of Abbott and Costello twist and turn routine as fellow passenger who's supposed to be subject to questioning by Doctor Watson, only to have situations happening in reverse, and quite amusingly in fact. Another highlight comes as Holmes gets pushed out of the train with door slamming shut behind him, holding on to his very life as train goes in high speed, especially through the curves. Another great moment is its conclusion, almost reminiscent to how author Agatha Christie ("Murder on the Orient Express") or famed movie director Alfred Hitchcock ("The Lady Vanishes") might have handled a train mystery such as this.Being another Holmes entry to have fallen into public domain, TERROR BY NIGHT, available on video cassette and DVD formats from various distributors, presented on numerous public broadcast or cable television stations over the years, should not disappoint any devotees of the series, especially when shown from time to time on Turner Classic Movies (TCM premiere: March 8, 2004) or anywhere else. Next installment: DRESSED TO KILL (1946). (***)

Roy William Neil once again directs Basil Rathbone & Nigel Bruce as Sherlock Holmes & Doctor Watson in this film using elements from previous stories of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Holmes & Watson are hired to prevent the theft of the valuable Star Of Rhodesia, held by Lady Margaret Carstairs and her son Roland. Holmes switches the diamond for a fake, which is stolen, but Roland is murdered in the process. Chief suspect is a former associate of the late Professor Moriarty, using an alias, but is better known as Col. Sebastian Moran... Marginal entry is set mostly on a train, a nice change, but ultimately comes up short, with a rather anti-climatic ending.

Mysterys set on trains are always thrilling because of the claustrophobic feeling of all the suspects, investigators and usual red herrings being placed so close together and unable to get away. In this case, the mystery surrounds a precious diamond, the Star of Rhodesia, stolen from a wealthy British dowager. It just so happens that Sherlock Holmes has been hired to guard the stone so the occurrence of a murder to get possession of the jewel is perfect timing. While the movie gets a little slow at times, there's still a lot of thrills to be had, particularly Rathbone's desperate fight with the unseen killer that almost knocks Holmes off the side of the train. The identity of the killer and their relation to a previous Holmes villain is ingenious.