Sherlock Holmes Faces Death (1943)

Sherlock Holmes Faces Death (1943) is loosely based on The Adventure of the Musgrave Ritual. The short story was published in The Strand Magazine during May 1893. It was later compiled in The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes. In the story, the Musgrave Mansion held a secret that even it’s inhabitants did not know. This film follows the same plot line but all the other details are different.

This film is once again set in the 1940s during World War II. Dr. Watson, played by Nigel Bruce, is using his medical skills to help tend to invalided soldiers at a country estate. The Musgrave Estate is run by Geoffrey Musgrave, a rather cold patrician of a very old family. After a doctor is attacked in the grounds, Geoffrey Musgrave asks Dr. Watson to call for his friend Sherlock Holmes to look into the incident. Watson quickly agrees.

After Watson convinces Sherlock Holmes, played once again by Basil Rathbone, to accompany him back to Musgrave Manor, Holmes and Watson find the murdered body of Geoffrey Musgrave. Sherlock Holmes must determine if Geoffrey Musgrave was killed by the many enemies that he has in the surrounding country or some of the war fatigued soldiers on the estate.

Dennis Hoey returns as Inspector Lestrade, a role he played in six of the Universal Film Studios productions of Sherlock Holmes. He is still best known for these six films.

Dennis Hoey was born Samuel David Hyams on March 30, 1893 in London, England. He started as a singer. He began acting on the stage after World War I.

In 1931, he moved to the United States to act in films. He would appear in movies and later on television until right before his death in 1960. His filmography contains 74 different production. He passed away on July 25, 1960 at 67 years of age.

This film (affiliate link) runs about 68 minutes. In comparison to other films, the murderer was not as easy to identify in this film.

Did you figure out who was responsible for Sir Geoffrey’s murder or was it a surprise? How does this film stack up against the other Universal productions of Sherlock Holmes?

You can leave a comment or ask a question about this or any post on my Facebook page and Twitter profile.

Pin It