The Pearl of Death (1944)

Director:

Roy William Neill

Writers:

Bertram Millhauser (screenplay)
Arthur Conan Doyle (story)

Release Date:

1 August 1944 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Horror | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

THE SECRET OF THE GEM OF DOOM! (original print ad - all caps)

Plot:

When a valuable pearl with a sinister reputation is stolen, Sherlock Holmes must investigate its link to a series of brutal murders.

Plot Keywords:

Pearl | Murder | Sherlock Holmes | Museum | Beautiful Woman

Cast

Basil Rathbone	...	Sherlock Holmes
Nigel Bruce	...	Doctor Watson
Dennis Hoey	...	Lestrade
Evelyn Ankers	...	Naomi Drake
Miles Mander	...	Giles Conover
Ian Wolfe	...	Amos Hodder
Charles Francis	...	Digby
Holmes Herbert	...	James Goodram
Richard Nugent	...	Bates
Mary Gordon	...	Mrs. Hudson
Rondo Hatton	...	The Creeper

Runtime:

69 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

UK:U | Sweden:15 | USA:Approved (PCA #10184)

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

For some curious reason Holmes' cluttered Baker Street apartment has a photograph of a beardless Abraham Lincoln.

Quotes:

Dr. John H. Watson: How does the, the thing work?
Sherlock Holmes: Electricity. The high priest of false security.

Movie Connections:

Follows Sherlock Holmes in Washington (1943)

Classic Sherlock Holmes mystery.

Expertly directed by R. William Neill, who was responsible for the film noir classic "Black Angel", "The Pearl Of Death" is based on the Arthur Conan Doyle story "The Adventure of the Six Napoleons". This film has it all: mystery, action, comedy, horror, even a half-assed patriotic message tacked on to the end (it was made as WWII was coming to a close). I was impressed by Basil Rathbone's characterization of Holmes: he consistently utters lines that, coming from an inferior actor, would probably sound ridiculous, yet he manages (probably because this was his sixth turn at the character) to impress me with his believability and sheer presence on the screen. Until I saw this film I was always irritated by Nigel Bruce's bumbling Dr. Watson, whose character is miles away from the Watson portrayed in the books, but I now realize that he was the perfect foil for Rathbone's Holmes. The updating of Holmes into the modern era also troubles me, but the film manages to maintain a kind of 'timeless' quality by avoiding too many 'modern' references. Virgil Miller's cinematography is beautiful: I would hate to see it "Colorized" by Turner and his evil band. Miller, who shot another one of my favorite films, "Mr. Moto Takes A Chance" is the perfect compliment for Neill's great direction: together they make every shot interesting, and provide many unforgettable images.