Sherlock Holmes: Pursuit to Algiers

Director: Roy William Neill Roy William Neill

Overview

Sherlock Holmes (Basil Rathbone) and his sidekick Dr, Watson (Nigel Bruce) find mystery and murder on the open seas in this suspense drama, which has been given an efficient presentation for its DVD release. Pursuit to Algiers (aka Sherlock Holmes in Pursuit to Algiers) has been transferred to disc in its original full-frame aspect ratio of 1.33:1 and digitally mastered from restored 35 mm film elements. The audio has been mastered in Dolby Digital Stereo. No subtitles, multiple-language options, or bonus materials have been included for this edition, but the improved picture and sound quality of this release should still make it a desirable item for fans.

Product Details

Release Date:	01/27/2004
UPC:	0030306758299
Original Release:	1945
Rating:	NR
Source:	MPI HOME VIDEO
Region Code:	1
Presentation:	[B&W]
Language:	English
Time:	1:05:00
Sales rank:	50,045

Special Features

[None specified]

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Basil Rathbone	Sherlock Holmes
Nigel Bruce	Dr. Watson
Marjorie Riordan	Sheila Woodbury
Martin Kosleck	Mirko
Olaf Hytten	Simpson, gunsmith
Morton Lowry	Sanford, Ship's Steward
Rosalind Ivan	Agatha Dunham
Leslie Vincent	Nikolas "Watson"
Rex Evans	Gregor
John Abbott	Jodri
Gerald Hamer	Kingston
Wee Davis	Gubec
Frederic Worlock	Prime Minister
Wilson Benge	Mr. Arnold Clergyman
Gregory Gaye	Ravez
Sven Borg	Johansson, Ship's Purser
Tom Dillon	Restaurant owner
H.J. Salter	Composer
Edgar "Cookie" Fairchild	Composer

Technical Credits

Leonard Lee

Howard Benedict	Producer,Executive Producer
Roy Neill	Director,Producer
Leonard Lee	Screenwriter
Bernard Brown	Sound/Sound Designer

Scene Index

Side #1 --
1. Opening [1:21]
2. Fish 'n' Chips [4:40]
3. Fishbone Alley [4:38]
4. Sitting Duck [5:48]
5. All at Sea [6:51]
6. The Girl From Brooklyn [6:46]
7. Unexpected Passengers [7:42]
8. A Man Unguarded [2:33]
9. Paying the Penalty [9:40]
10. Party Popper [9:52]
11. The Last Trick [5:06]
12. End Credits [:05]

Menu

Side #1 --
   Play Movie
   Scene Selection
   Subtitles: On
   Subtitles: Off

Editorial Reviews

Pursuit to Algiers will disappoint those Sherlock Holmes fans who expect -- not without reason -- a mystery film with all sorts of clues, red herrings, etc. Algiers is in fact really a thriller more than a mystery, and for those who can accept this fact, it's a very decent entertainment. One of the longer of the Holmes films from Universal, Algiers dawdles a bit in places, but not really dangerously so. Unlike in some of the entries in the series, Holmes behaves like the intelligent man that he is, not placing the person he is supposed to be protecting in absurdly dangerous situations and not letting his ego get the best of him; he clearly appreciates the gravity of the situation in Algiers and acts accordingly. If Algiers is not one of the better of these films, it's mainly because the screenplay is a bit tired in places. The same can be said of Roy William Neill's direction, which is effective and occasionally features some of his trademark little visual flourishes, but which overall is somewhat perfunctory. The leads are their usual excellent selves, and there's fine assist from an amusing Rosalind Ivan, a slimy Martin Kosleck, and a by-the-unwritten-rules rigid Rex Evans, among others. Not great, but good fun.

All Movie Guide - Craig Butler