PURSUIT TO ALGIERS/ SHERLOCK HOLMES PURSUIT TO ALGIERS
US, 1945, 69 minutes, Black and white.
Basil Rathbone, Nigel Bruce, Marjorie Riordan.
Directed by Roy William Neill.
Pursuit to Algiers is one of a series of Sherlock Holmes stories (updated to the middle of the 20th century) made by Universal Studios after the initial success of The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes at 20th Century Fox in 1939. Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce continue their partnership as the eminent detective and his friend Dr Watson. Rathbone clearly has made the role his own, a strong presence, sharp logic, interest in detection - never smiling but able to be humorous and ironic at the expense of Dr Watson. Nigel Bruce continues to be the bluff Dr Watson.
This film has the atmosphere of the war, assassination attempts on royalty from some European states. Holmes is called in to protect the young Prince was studied in England, homes flying to collect the Prince in Algiers, Watson accompanying the Prince by boat.
There are plotters on board, some brutal murderers and assassins, but Holmes turns up, confronts the assassins, says the Prince – who is not the young man whom Watson was accompanying but rather the steward who serve them, hiding his identity.
Marjorie Riordan is pleasant as a singer from Brooklyn – with Watson having an opportunity to sing.
The usual enjoyment with Basil Rathbone and his homestyle and deductive reasoning, Watson and his not always been fully abreast of the goings-on. He begins to tell the story of the Rat of Sumatra, from one of Doyle stories, with references to different ships from Doyle stories and this screenplay borrowing from adventures Adventures of the Red Circle.
1. The popularity of Sherlock Holmes stories and films? Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce incarnating Holmes and Dr Watson? The early 40s and the popular series of short films? In retrospect and in comparisons with other casts of Sherlock Holmes films and television series?
2. Black and white photography, the studio, the suggestions of England, the ship?
3. The political situation, the assassinations in England and on the continent, preserving the Prince who had studied in England? The politicians and their discussions? The plane and its crash?
4. Holmes, recruited to save the Prince, flying, not on the plane, appearing on the ship?
5. The groups on the ship, the politicians, the assassins, Mirko, his attempts and failures, Holmes catching his hand in the window?
6. The singer from Brooklyn, her contract, her singing, avoiding Holmes, his saving her, singing with Watson?
7. The young man, the audience assuming he was the Prince, the attraction to the singer, under Watson’s care? His going from the ship, being taken?
8. Holmes, allowing himself to be captured, Watson and the others freeing him – and the irony that the Prince was really the steward who was serving them and so his identity concealed?
9. A neatly wrapped-up case?
