SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE VOICE OF TERROR
US, 1942, 65 minutes, Black-and-white.
Basil Rathbone, Nigel Bruce, Evelyn Ankers, Reginald Denny, Thomas Gomez, Henry Daniell, Montague Love.
Directed by John Rawlins.
Sherlock Holmes and the Voice of Terror is the first of a series of three films with Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson living in the contemporary world, propaganda stories at the height of World War II. This was the only film after the introductory features that was not directed by Roy William Neill.
The screenplay capitalises on propaganda radio broadcasts made during the war from both Germany and Japan. This time it is Germany. It also features the idea that the Germans had planted “sleepers” in England well before the outbreak of war, under a respectable cover, who could feed information to the broadcasts, and who could implement information, sometimes misleading, from the broadcasts, labelled The Voice of Terror.
Sherlock Holmes is called in to help unmask the radio voice by a government Council (including Henry Daniell who was to be a villain in a later film). An agent is murdered and gives a clue for the identity of the Voice, his wife, Kitty (Evelyn Ankers who was to appear as a villain in another Holmes adventure) becomes entangled with an agent, played by Thomas Gomez. This leads people to a mansion in the British countryside, on the coast, and the unmasking of the member of the Council who owns the house as a German spy. Misleading evidence about a landing on the British coast is interpreted by Holmes as an attack in another location.
There is a spirit of patriotism about the film, necessary for World War II, and Holmes and Watson contributing their part.
1. An entertaining Sherlock Holmes story? Mystery? Investigation and solution?
2. Black-and-white photography, the London settings, the British countryside, the mansion on the grounds, the coast? The musical score?
3. The Sherlock Holmes stories used as World War II propaganda, the basis in a Conan Doyle story, His Last Bow?
4. The title, the radio broadcasts, their prevalence during the war, British voices, traitors? The messages, the taunting of the British, the superiority of Germany and Hitler?
5. The council meeting, calling in Holmes, the members of the council, under suspicion or not?
6. The work of Holmes, assisted by Watson?
7. The message from the Voice of Terror? Misleading? Holmes and his interpretation, the attack on the coast? His going to the coast, the confrontation with the owner, his unmasking? The shock of the Council?
8. The murder, the victim giving a clue, his relationship with Kitty, Holmes and his friendship, using her, her contact with Meade, Meade and his role as an agent, espionage, contact with the English Lord? Holmes hunting him down?
9. The climax, the revelation of the truth, the unmasking of the villain, the reality of the intended invasion?
10. The sense of patriotism and Sherlock Holmes’ contribution to the war effort?
