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SHERLOCK HOMES AND THE DEADLY NECKLACE
West Germany, 1962, 84 minutes, Black and white.
Christopher Lee, Hans Sohnker, Thorley Walters, Hans Nielsen, Senta Berger, Ivan Desny, Leon Askin.
Directed by Terence Fisher.
Some audiences very happy with this film, others considerably not. While it has the background of Hammer Studios film, especially with Christopher Lee in the central role and director Terence Fisher, it is a German production of the early 1960s, filmed in Germany with a very German looking supporting cast as well as some scenes in Dublin.
One of the complaints is that Christopher Lee and Thorley Walters have been dubbed and not effectively – the comment made that the producers refused to pay money to bring Lee and Walters to Germany to do the dubbing. For audiences familiar with Lee and his voice, it is very offputting.
However, Hans Sohnker is a very effective Moriarty (pronounced by homes and Watson as Moriarity). Hans Nielsen is good as Inspector Cooper. There is a minor subplot, a touch of the romantic with Senta is one and Ivan Desny, both of whom appeared in international productions. Actor from the 1930s on and in television in the 1960s, Leon Askin is a sinister villain as well.
The plot is fairly commonplace. Holmes enjoys himself in disguise, especially deceiving Watson and the landlady. There is also a scene where Holmes is investigating and kills a deadly snake. Very effective other scenes between Holmes and Moriarty, especially when Moriarty actually thinks he might be able to recruit Holmes to his group.
So, a historical item, a curiosity item.
1. The German production? German cast? British cast? Filming in Germany, in Dublin?
2. The significance of the dubbed voices for the English version? Christopher Lee and Thorley Walters not doing their voices? Alternate voices and audience expectations of a Christopher Lee voice? The British director, Terence Fisher and his experience with Hammer Studios and The Hound of the Baskervilles and Christopher Lee? The German associate director? The German in charge of the English language version?
3. The 1910 setting, the streets of London, the wharves, Baker Street and Holmes’s house and office, Moriarty’s home, Scotland Yard?
4. The portrayal of Holmes, Christopher Lee, stature, clothes, hat, not deer stalker? His many disguises? Audiences picking Christopher Lee? Thorley Walters as Dr Watson? Associate, sometimes babbling, sometimes dithering, helping as chauffeur, helping a sounding board?
5. Scotland Yard, Inspector Cooper, his attitude towards Holmes, discussions and conversations, his participating in the plan to unmask Moriarty?
6. Moriarty, the archvillain, the professor, his range of associates, respectable associates, thugs? The murders? His goal in getting Cleopatra’s necklace? The sarcophagus, the box, the snake – and Holmes killing the snake?
7. The characters of Paul and Ellen, the situation with the case, with Holmes, their wanting to leave?
8. Charles, chauffeur, sinister villain, being unmasked?
9. The convolutions of the plot, the presence of the necklace, its reputation, ownership, Moriarty wanting it, getting it, the role of the police? Holmes and Watson?
10. Holmes going to Moriarty’s library? The later discussion with Moriarty, Moriarty trying to get Holmes to join him? Holmes integrity? Moriarty’s extreme villainy?
11. The resolution of the plot, the style of Conan Doyle – but a European mixture of the British and the German?