Terror by Night (1946)

Director:

Roy William Neill

Writers:

Arthur Conan Doyle (characters)
Frank Gruber (screenplay)

Release Date:

1 February 1946 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

One Way Ticket to DEATH..!

Plot:

When the fabled Star of Rhodesia diamond is stolen on a London to Edinburgh train and the son of its owner murdered, Holmes must discover which of his suspicious fellow passengers is responsible.

Plot Keywords:

Diamond | Train | Inspector | Theft | Sherlock Holmes

Cast

Basil Rathbone	...	Sherlock Holmes
Nigel Bruce	...	Dr. John H. Watson
Alan Mowbray	...	Major Duncan-Bleek
Dennis Hoey	...	Inspector Lestrade
Renee Godfrey	...	Ms Vedder
Frederick Worlock	...	Prof. William Kilbane (as Frederic Worlock)
Mary Forbes	...	Lady Margaret Carstairs
Skelton Knaggs	...	Moran's Accomplice-killer
Billy Bevan	...	Passenger Car Attendant Taking Tickets
Geoffrey Steele	...	Roland - Lady Carstairs's son
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Gilbert Allen	...	Dining Car Steward (uncredited)
Harry Cording	...	Mock the Coffin Maker (uncredited)
Boyd Davis	...	Inspector MacDonald (uncredited)
Gerald Hamer	...	Alfred Shallcross - Teapot Thief (uncredited)
Leyland Hodgson	...	Train Conductor (uncredited)
Colin Kenny	...	Constable (uncredited)
Charles Knight	...	Guard (uncredited)
Janet Murdoch	...	Mrs. Shallcross (uncredited)
Tom Pilkington	...	Baggage Car Attendant (uncredited)
Bobby Wissler	...	Mock's Son (uncredited)

Directed by
Roy William Neill

Writing credits
Arthur Conan Doyle		(characters)
Frank Gruber		(screenplay)

Produced by
Howard Benedict	....	executive producer
Roy William Neill	....	producer

Cinematography by
Maury Gertsman		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Saul A. Goodkind

Art Direction by
John B. Goodman
Abraham Grossman

Set Decoration by
Russell A. Gausman
Carl J. Lawrence		(as Carl Lawrence)

Costume Design by
Vera West		(gowns)

Makeup Department
Carmen Dirigo	....	hair stylist
Jack P. Pierce	....	director of makeup

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Melville Shyer	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Jack A. Bolger Jr.	....	technician
Bernard B. Brown	....	sound director

Music Department
Milton Rosen	....	musical director
Ralph Freed	....	composer: stock music (uncredited)
Richard Hageman	....	composer: stock music (uncredited)
Leigh Harline	....	composer: stock music (uncredited)
William Lava	....	composer: stock music (uncredited)
Charles Previn	....	composer: stock music (uncredited)
Hans J. Salter	....	composer: stock music (uncredited)
Paul Sawtell	....	composer: stock music (uncredited)
Frank Skinner	....	composer: stock music (uncredited)

Other crew
Raymond Kessler	....	dialogue director

Production Companies

• Universal Pictures

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (1946) (USA) (theatrical)
• Associated Artists Productions (AAP) (1954) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Celebrity Home Entertainment (1985) (USA) (VHS)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (1990) (USA) (VHS)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (1994) (USA) (VHS)
• Madacy Entertainment (1998) (USA) (VHS)
• Republic Pictures Home Video (1998) (USA) (VHS)
• Take 2 Video (1998) (USA) (VHS)
• VCI Home Video (2000) (USA) (VHS)
• BFS Video (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• BFS Video (2001) (USA) (VHS)
• FOCUSfilm Entertainment (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• Front Row Entertainment (2001) (USA) (VHS)
• MPI Home Video (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• Alpha Video Distributors (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• Alpha Video Distributors (2002) (USA) (VHS)
• United American Video (2002) (USA) (VHS)
• FOCUSfilm Entertainment (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Alpha Video Distributors (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Delta Expedition (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• MPI Home Video (2004) (USA) (DVD) (re-master)
• MPI Home Video (2004) (USA) (VHS) (re-master)
• National Film Museum (2004) (USA) (TV) (as National Film Museum Incorporated)
• Reel Media International (2004) (worldwide) (VHS)
• Unicorn Video (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2005) (USA) (DVD) (colorized)
• MPI Home Video (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• Filmiseppo (1947) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Continental Home Vídeo (2005) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Legend Films (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Motion Pictures for Television (MPTV) (????) (USA) (TV)
• Pan Vision Oy (2007) (Finland) (DVD)
• RCV Home Entertainment (2007) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Reel Media International (2007) (worldwide) (all media)
• St. Clair Entertainment Group (2008) (USA) (DVD)
• Video Cellar, The (2006) (Australia) (all media)
• Yleisradio (YLE) (1975) (1995) (2000) (2003) (Finland) (TV) (TV2)

Other Companies

• Hypercube  digital restoration (National Film Museum print)

Also Known As:

Sherlock Holmes: Terror by Night (USA) (DVD title)

Runtime:

60 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

Australia:PG | Finland:S | Sweden:15 | UK:A (original rating) | UK:U (video rating) (1992) | USA:Approved (PCA #11349)

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

One of several titles in the Sherlock Holmes series whose original copyrights were apparently not renewed and have thereby fallen into public domain; as a result, seriously inferior copies are presently being offered by a number of VHS and DVD dealers who do not have access to original studio masters.

Goofs:

Miscellaneous: The exterior shots of the train show different trains, including a model and non-British trains.

Quotes:

Lady Margaret Carstairs: My husband gave it to me on our fifth anniversary.
Sherlock Holmes: 423 carats, isn't it?
Lady Margaret Carstairs: The original diamond was over 700 carats.
Sherlock Holmes: Really?
Lady Margaret Carstairs: [to her son] Your father had it cut. Less ostentatious.
Dr. John H. Watson: Less ostentatious? It's as big as a duck's egg.

Movie Connections:

Follows The Pearl of Death (1944)

Pretty Good Atmospheric Holmes Mystery

One of the many Sherlock Holmes movies with Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce appearing as Holmes and Watson, "Terror By Night" is distinguished by a good, atmospheric setting on a train. Much of the plot itself is fairly routine, but the setting and a good climax make this a worthwhile film.

The action takes place on a train heading from London to Edinburgh, with Holmes being employed to protect a valuable diamond. Not only is there a robbery, but a murder as well, and Holmes must investigate within the confines of the train. Much of it is routine by the standards of the series, but there are a couple highlights, plus a good climax with some interesting final twists.

The train setting is the best aspect of this one. The details of the train's motion and arrangement are done convincingly. They make the film pleasant to watch, and a train is an ideal setting for a Holmes mystery. The setting also allows Bruce, as the well-meaning but bumbling Dr. Watson, to have some of his best moments as he earnestly but unsuccessfully tries to help with the investigation.

While unspectacular, most fans of the Holmes series should find "Terror By Night" pleasant and entertaining.