After three war films, Universal came up with a good old-fashioned nasty family story for Holmes (although it does have a war link, being set at a house that’s been converted into a home for convalescent soldiers). The horrible Musgraves live in isolated Musgrave Manor, complete with an eavesdropping alcoholic butler, windswept grounds, secret passageways, crypts, a family curse and a clock that strikes thirteen times (“the last time that happened was the night X died”) –and a house guest, Watson, who is looking after the soldiers. Someone is stabbed in the neck, so Holmes is called in.
Rathbone is in particularly fine form in this one, all darkened expressions and quick movement - nothing escapes him. I love how he takes on those vowels – words like “room” and “lured”. Watson talks about narrowly escaping marriage – loved that confirmed bachelorism – and Lestrade has become an idiot – when he says he’s lost and all turned around, Holmes comments that he has been for years and asks one of the servants to give him a saucer of milk.
It’s very bright and entertaining; the house is marvellous fun, with a terrific Musgrave curse turning into a chess board – though they perhaps could have got more spook factor out of it. The support cast is a bit mild, with the exception of the guy who plays the shell-shocked soldier. A young Peter Lawford appears at the beginning, saying “blimey”.
In Holmes final speech is downright socialist - he talks about how England is changing, less guilty – how people won’t think of themselves while others are starving, etc. That’s the sort of thing that could get you blacklisted in the 50s. (One of the great things about this series – Holmes’ homilies at the end were always a bit different.)
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