SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE MASKS OF DEATH (1984) a final TV outing for Peter Cushing, is one of those films that's been sat on by Tyburn's Kevin Francis for decades due to his rumoured greed. While it's not a classic on par with THE GHOUL or LEGEND OF THE WEREWOLF, it is a shame that such a star-studded production, directed by Roy Ward Baker no less, no languishes in obscurity. The story isn't based on Conan Doyle's efforts but instead sees an aged Sherlock coming out of retirement to investigate the kidnapping of a German prince.
There are some big holes and inconsistencies in the plotting but it just about keeps you watching, although a great amount of it seems to be a wild goose chase. The outset-of-WW1 setting is a good one and the cast is excellent. Cushing always delights as Holmes while Watson couldn't be more dependable in the form of John Mills. Then you get Anton Diffring, Anne Baxter, Susan Penhaligon, Ray Milland and plenty of others besides harking back to the golden age of cinema in a kind of last-gasp sayonara which tugs at the heartstrings a little. Lots of incident, some mystery, even a few action scenes take place here, so it's hard to dislike it too much.
There are some big holes and inconsistencies in the plotting but it just about keeps you watching, although a great amount of it seems to be a wild goose chase. The outset-of-WW1 setting is a good one and the cast is excellent. Cushing always delights as Holmes while Watson couldn't be more dependable in the form of John Mills. Then you get Anton Diffring, Anne Baxter, Susan Penhaligon, Ray Milland and plenty of others besides harking back to the golden age of cinema in a kind of last-gasp sayonara which tugs at the heartstrings a little. Lots of incident, some mystery, even a few action scenes take place here, so it's hard to dislike it too much.