In the midst of World War 2 strange broadcasts begin to appear across the radio from a man who simply calls himself "the voice of terror." To help them to track down the voice of terror, a security council contingent bring in Sherlock Holmes to investigate. Whilst all signs point to the broadcast originating in Germany, Holmes becomes convinced that the threat is much closer to home...
There's something atmospheric about these old Sherlock Holmes films being filmed in black and white; it gives these films a certain creepiness and seediness that I don't think could be recaptured in the same way through the use of colour.
Of course these things are all well and good, but a film needs more than that and the voice of terror delivers well in pretty much every other area; the story is a pretty decent one (though in retrospect releasing this film during the middle of World War 2 must have been a pretty brave call). Holmes once again showcases his intelligence and his powers of deduction which strike fear amongst even the most determined of criminals.
At a shade over an hour long pacing is never an issue with the film and it moves along very well; Holmes and Watson cut through the story nicely and one by one you can see all the pieces start to come together. The acting is good; particularly from Rathbone, but the support cast all do their bit as well.
If I have one slight reservation with the film then it lies with Watson; nothing to do with Nigel Bruce's performance I think that he's good as Watson, but I'm still trying to get to grips with what he's doing here; Holmes can seemingly function well enough on his own without an assistant. Whilst this may be explained in more detail in the books or possibly in other films I just find him a puzzling addition ( I may well come back and edit this review when I have seen more films or got more information). It's only a minor niggle though;
Voice of Terror is an enjoyable Holmes entry with a solid investigative structure and enough intrigue to ensure that you'll remain invested in the story. It's well worth seeing.
There's something atmospheric about these old Sherlock Holmes films being filmed in black and white; it gives these films a certain creepiness and seediness that I don't think could be recaptured in the same way through the use of colour.
Of course these things are all well and good, but a film needs more than that and the voice of terror delivers well in pretty much every other area; the story is a pretty decent one (though in retrospect releasing this film during the middle of World War 2 must have been a pretty brave call). Holmes once again showcases his intelligence and his powers of deduction which strike fear amongst even the most determined of criminals.
At a shade over an hour long pacing is never an issue with the film and it moves along very well; Holmes and Watson cut through the story nicely and one by one you can see all the pieces start to come together. The acting is good; particularly from Rathbone, but the support cast all do their bit as well.
If I have one slight reservation with the film then it lies with Watson; nothing to do with Nigel Bruce's performance I think that he's good as Watson, but I'm still trying to get to grips with what he's doing here; Holmes can seemingly function well enough on his own without an assistant. Whilst this may be explained in more detail in the books or possibly in other films I just find him a puzzling addition ( I may well come back and edit this review when I have seen more films or got more information). It's only a minor niggle though;
Voice of Terror is an enjoyable Holmes entry with a solid investigative structure and enough intrigue to ensure that you'll remain invested in the story. It's well worth seeing.