binapiraeus In contrast to most of the other 'Sherlock Holmes' movies with Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce, where we know almost from the beginning who's the 'villain', "The House of Fear" is a REAL, classic whodunit; and a real complicated one, almost Agatha Christie style... And besides that, it's also got many of the features of the good old 'dark old house' mysteries - alright, the house isn't dark, but there's no telephone, and not a soul around for miles, because it's built on top of a cliff in Northern Scotland; the IDEAL surroundings for mysterious murders...And that's just what happens: the members of the 'Good Comrades' club, consisting of seven men, are being 'reduced' one by one by horrible accidents - and every time, the next victim receives a mysterious envelope with orange pips (an old Asian symbol for death) in it, each time one less... Reminds us of the 'Ten Little Indians', doesn't it? But let's not jump to conclusions. The case is VERY twisted, and VERY interesting to follow, and requires the full attention of our 'little gray cells' throughout the whole duration of the movie.The cast is supreme, the directing extraordinary, the settings creepy and old-fashioned, the plot is simply fascinating - and yet, there's also room for some humor in between, mainly thanks to Dr. Watson, grumpy but helpful as always, and of course Inspector Lestrade, slow-witted as always...IMO, except for the two 'classic' adaptations made at 20th Century-Fox, this is probably the very best of the Rathbone/Bruce 'Sherlock Holmes' movies - enjoy the masterful crime entertainment, but don't let the many red herrings deceit you; will you find out the solution??

bkoganbing Sherlock Holmes gets called in on a case by insurance underwriters who have been paying out policies on a couple of deaths that are highly suspicious. The two men were members of a clique of retired gentlemen who have all taken up residence in the Scottish castle of one of the members Aubrey Mather. The place itself has a sinister reputation from back in the middle ages. A reputation that possibly some more modern sinister forces are taking advantage of.This Arthur Conan Doyle Story the Five Orange Pips is one of the best received of his Holmes stories. Even after Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce arrive at the castle and later Dennis Hoey as Inspector Lestrade arrives, the deaths still keep coming. All of the members are mutually insured and whomever might survive is going to be worth some considerable cash. The story bears a lot of resemblance to Agatha Christie's Ten Little Indians, maybe Christie got her idea from Conan Doyle.Some fine members of the Hollywood British colony like Gavin Muir, Holmes Herbert, Harry Cording, and Paul Cavanaugh are some of the gentlemen in residence. And they have a Mrs. Danvers like housekeeper in Sally Shepherd.One of the best of the Basil Rathbone Sherlock Holmes series.

Robert J. Maxwell An insurance company investigator asks Holmes and Watson to look into the situation in a remote Scottish mansion. It seems that the half a dozen or so retired professionals who live there have taken out insurance and made the other members their beneficiaries. Recently, one member received an envelope containing the same number of orange pips or pits as the number of members, only minus one. The recipient dies a mysterious death forthwith. Then another member receives a similar enveloped and is found mangled. Time for Holmes and Watson to look into the affair. It's very loosely based on Conan-Doyle's "The Five Orange Pips."The remaining five members are a diverse lot, some sinister in aspect and behavior, some innocent, and one babyish and accommodating. Yet, as the members continue being knocked off in accordance with the motto of the mansion, that no man shall go to his grave whole, it appears that one of them is knocking off the others in order to get the insurance at the end.The plot turns out to be improbably complex. The sepulchral housekeeper is a red herring. And there is one big loose end in the narrative. If everyone is murdered except for one man, isn't he the beneficiary and de facto the killer? Or suppose ALL of them are killed. Then who gets the insurance? As Holmes, Basil Rathbone is his usual crisp and authoritative self. Watson and Dennis Hoey as Inspector Lestrade seem to be engaged in a duel of wits to see who is the most foolish. Some of their shenanigans are plain silly, with Watson alone in the dark, believing he's surrounded by ghouls, and shooting at phantoms. The other cast members turn in professional performances, and the old dark castle and stormy setting evoke the proper atmosphere. The nearby village doesn't exactly look Scottish. It looks more like turn-of-the-century Mitteleuropa, probably because the sets were left over from "The Son of Frankenstein." I realize that old stone mansion is supposed to be spooky but it actually looks kind of inviting. Okay, it's chill and drafty but what could be better than to sit next to an eager fire while wrapped in a thick wool tartan and being served haggis and brandy by that specter of a housekeeper? Well, I guess she would be something of a problem but could easily be replaced by a dozen young Swedish maids. If you can own the castle, you can afford a larger staff.

BA_Harrison Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce once again give sterling performances as legendary crime fighting duo Holmes and Watson, but the real star of this particular yarn is its marvellous location, the aptly named Drearcliff House, a sprawling Scottish cliff-top mansion. It is within the sturdy walls, shadowy corridors, magnificent oak panelled rooms and dingy secret passageways of this wonderfully atmospheric building that Holmes attempts to unravel the case of the 'The Good Comrades', the systematic murder of a group of friends who have each taken out a life insurance policy, naming the others as beneficiaries.Ceaslessly battered by the elements, windows lashed by heavy rain, the wind howling outside, lightning and thunder crashing above, Drearcliff is the archetypal 'old dark house', a labyrinthine structure offering countless hiding places and escape routes for any quick-witted felon. Its extensive grounds also offer ample opportunity for nefarious activity: a craggy cliff overlooking a lonely beach (perfect for pushing large boulders from), a system of caves, and an untended garden with a shed full of dynamite. With such a cool setting, so many suspects to choose from, umpteen 'murders' and red herrings aplenty, this is another fine adventure for the world's most distinguished sleuth.