By this time, Roy William Neill and the other creative forces behind the Sherlock Holmes series at Universal had learned how to make an updated version of Holmes work...by pushing the updated elements into the background and letting the character of Holmes take center stage. The House of Fear is a fine example of this philosophy, featuring Holmes in a story that would play just as well in Victorian Britain as in the WWII era.
Indeed, the film is based (albeit very loosely) on Conan Doyle's Holmes story The Five Orange Pips. Only the main device is borrowed for the film...the foretelling of violent death by the mysterious delivery of orange pips (that's "seeds" for all us Yanks)...but the main thrust of the otherwise entirely original script is quite Holmesian, in itself, and gives the character of Sherlock Holmes plenty of room to utilize his singular gift for deductive reasoning.
This cinematic reworking of Conan Doyle's tale has Holmes at the home of the Good Comrades Club, a suitable location for the mystery which unfolds. The members of said club are frightened out of their minds (hence, the "House of Fear") as, one by one, they receive the ominous warning of the orange pips, then soon after, die horrible deaths...their corpses, mangled beyond all recognition, then to be discovered by the surviving members of the club. No one knows who will be next, and it seems very likely that the killer is, in fact, one of the club's own members. Sherlock Holmes must solve the mystery, hopefully before the club's roster dwindles any further.
There are ample twists and turns along the way...and also, this being a traditional whodunit, red herrings galore. The cinematography and direction are on a par with the best of the series' films, and the performances are of the usual admirable quality (especially given the brief shooting schedules and appallingly low budgets afforded the filmmakers). The atmosphere, I'd say, is most comparable to that of Sherlock Holmes Faces Death...but is slightly more effective here. As always, Sherlockian purists may be offended by Nigel Bruce's bumbling portrayal of Watson. But these are the little things we allow to slide in order to enjoy this film for what it is...a fun and entertaining mystery which, even if it defies some of the principles of the Holmes canon, at least follows in the tradition of the original Holmes character. A definite improvement over the first three films.
Overall, one of the top entries in this series...which started out with little promise, and went on to deliver great things. 1944 was the best year for the series, but 1945 delivered the goods more than once...this being the first example. Definitely recommended for series fans, or anyone with an appreciation of Sherlock Holmes or classic whodunits.
Indeed, the film is based (albeit very loosely) on Conan Doyle's Holmes story The Five Orange Pips. Only the main device is borrowed for the film...the foretelling of violent death by the mysterious delivery of orange pips (that's "seeds" for all us Yanks)...but the main thrust of the otherwise entirely original script is quite Holmesian, in itself, and gives the character of Sherlock Holmes plenty of room to utilize his singular gift for deductive reasoning.
This cinematic reworking of Conan Doyle's tale has Holmes at the home of the Good Comrades Club, a suitable location for the mystery which unfolds. The members of said club are frightened out of their minds (hence, the "House of Fear") as, one by one, they receive the ominous warning of the orange pips, then soon after, die horrible deaths...their corpses, mangled beyond all recognition, then to be discovered by the surviving members of the club. No one knows who will be next, and it seems very likely that the killer is, in fact, one of the club's own members. Sherlock Holmes must solve the mystery, hopefully before the club's roster dwindles any further.
There are ample twists and turns along the way...and also, this being a traditional whodunit, red herrings galore. The cinematography and direction are on a par with the best of the series' films, and the performances are of the usual admirable quality (especially given the brief shooting schedules and appallingly low budgets afforded the filmmakers). The atmosphere, I'd say, is most comparable to that of Sherlock Holmes Faces Death...but is slightly more effective here. As always, Sherlockian purists may be offended by Nigel Bruce's bumbling portrayal of Watson. But these are the little things we allow to slide in order to enjoy this film for what it is...a fun and entertaining mystery which, even if it defies some of the principles of the Holmes canon, at least follows in the tradition of the original Holmes character. A definite improvement over the first three films.
Overall, one of the top entries in this series...which started out with little promise, and went on to deliver great things. 1944 was the best year for the series, but 1945 delivered the goods more than once...this being the first example. Definitely recommended for series fans, or anyone with an appreciation of Sherlock Holmes or classic whodunits.