The House of Fear (1945)

Simply A Masterpiece

Please don't spend money on this.

It's entirely possible that sending the audience out feeling lousy was intentional

This movie was so-so. It had it's moments, but wasn't the greatest.

Although beginning suspiciously like a rework of Agatha Christie's "And Then There Were None," the eighth entry in Universal's Sherlock Holmes series, "The House of Fear," accumulates clue after clue that lead to a solution only a few sharp viewers will guess before Holmes himself does. Seven wealthy retired gentlemen with no close relatives gather at a remote seaside manor house in Scotland. An envelope addressed to one of the men arrives mysteriously with seven orange pips inside, and the recipient is later found murdered. The victim's insurance policy names the other six men as beneficiaries, and an agent from the insurance company enlists the aid of Sherlock Holmes to investigate the death. Produced and directed by a veteran of the Holmes series, Roy William Neill, from a screenplay that Roy Chanslor adapted from Arthur Conan Doyle's story "The Five Orange Pips," the engrossing film ranks among the best of the Universal series. The script offers Nigel Bruce as Doctor Watson amusing opportunities to verbally spar with Dennis Hoey as Inspector Lestrade and to shine in several solo scenes, in one of which he identifies a critical clue that leads to Holmes solving the mystery. Basil Rathbone inhabits the Holmes persona with perfection, perhaps to his own disenchantment at being stereotyped as the character. Paul Cavanaugh, who played Lord Penrose in "The Scarlet Claw, returns as Doctor Merrivale, a member of the men's group. Among the supporting players, Aubrey Mather stands out as Bruce Alistair, another of the original seven gentlemen, and Sally Shepherd is the memorably humorless housekeeper, Mrs. Monteith, who delivers the envelopes that contain the orange pips. Virgil Miller, who lensed "The Pearl of Death," provided the evocative black and white photography that utilizes dramatic shadows and occasionally askew angles to enhance the mystery that enshrouds the sinister Scottish manor.What initially seems overly familiar Agatha Christie territory soon evolves into a deeper mystery that fully engages Holmes's intellect to unravel. From Rathbone and Bruce to the group of seven, the housekeeper, a tobacco merchant, and a group of seamen, the performers are all in fine form; the script is excellent, the direction taut, the photography atmospheric, and "The House of Fear" stands tall among the Basil Rathbone/Nigel Bruce Sherlock Holmes films.

A club of retired rich men called "The Good Comrades" lives at an isolated Scottish castle. One by one the men are being killed off and an insurance agent believes one of them is responsible. Sherlock Holmes (Basil Rathbone) and Dr. Watson (Nigel Bruce) investigate but fail to prevent more murders from occurring. Soon they are joined by Inspector Lestrade (Dennis Hoey), who will undoubtedly get to the bottom of things ("Suffering cats! What IS going on here?!?").Fun Sherlock Holmes movie from Universal, the eighth in their series (tenth overall, counting the first two Fox films). It's loosely based on the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle "Five Orange Pips" story. Really the only similarity is the murder victims receiving envelopes with orange seeds before they're killed. That story is hardly one of Conan Doyle's best, by the way. The series regulars Rathbone, Bruce, and Hoey are all great. The supporting cast is made up of good character actors like Holmes Herbert, Paul Cavanagh, Harry Cording, and Aubrey Mather. Solid direction from Roy William Neill with interesting camera-work from Virgil Miller. Nicely paced with great "old dark house" atmosphere. Not the best of the series but a very entertaining one.

Roy William Neil directed Basil Rathbone & Nigel Bruce as Sherlock Holmes & Doctor Watson in this loose adaptation of 'The Five Orange Pips'. Holmes & Watson are called to Scotland by an insurance company to investigate a case where seven men who belong to an exclusive club, and all of whom have taken out life insurance policies naming the others as the beneficiaries. Two have died already, and Holmes must prevent further deaths, and determine who the murderer is. Like the past two films, this is atmospheric and exciting, with a clever story and surprise ending. The series was at its peak here, but unfortunately would begin to decline afterward.

The 10th of 12 movies that Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce shared the screen as Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson.A prime suspect and lots of bizarre deaths indicating something that only Holmes can figure out.Watson is his usual bumbling self providing much hilarity as he stumbles about and chats with owls.The feature was also directed by Roy William Neill, who did several Holmes movies. It was an excellent story told brilliantly at Neill's hands.Mystery, comedy, and cleverness all were hallmarks of these films and make them timeless.