This Blu-ray is currently available from Severin Films. It can also be found as part of The Eurocrypt of Christopher Lee Blu-ray box set.
It looks like Sherlock Holmes is getting a lot of love this week on Blu-ray. A little over a month ago, Severin Films released The Eurocrypt of Christopher Lee box set and now they’ve made one of the titles available for purchase individually. Sherlock Holmes and the Deadly Necklace is a mystery that was produced in Germany and shot in Ireland, with the noted Hammer actor playing the role of the famous detective. Besides Lee, the financiers managed to land director Terence Fisher (The Curse of Frankenstein Horror of Dracula, The Curse of the Werewolf, The Phantom of the Opera) to helm the project.
Alas, there was difficulty behind-the-scenes between director Fisher, producer Artur Brauner and star Lee. The intent was a series of Holmes pictures, but the finished product, which was made for German and European audiences, arrived with some issues. Lee was furious that he was dubbed over in both German and English by voice-over artists (the actor was fluent in both languages) and the film itself wasn’t a box office success. While the movie isn’t perfect, it is quite entertaining and features some incredible black and white photography..
Of course, it’s better to watch this picture in German with English subtitles, so as not to be distracted by the dubbing of star Lee. The plot follows Sherlock Holmes (Christopher Lee) and Dr. Watson (Thorley Walters) as they learn about the discovery of an ancient artifact, a necklace owned and worn by the Egyptian queen Cleopatra. The sinister Prof. Moriarty (Hans Sohnker) wants the valuable jewel for himself and makes elaborate plans to steal it before it comes up for auction. This story turns into a series of moves and countermoves as the two foes do their best to outsmart each other and recover the jewelry. It all ends up on something of an odd note, setting up the possibility of more sequels that never ultimately materialized.
Perhaps because of the fact that it was produced out of Germany and that the dialogue was re-recorded in post-production, the film didn’t get a big release in English-speaking countries and has been difficult to locate ever since. Severin Films have done a wonderful job of presenting this on disc for the first time in North America with a 2K scan of the German negative. It’s a really impressive transfer that looks so good it actually helps raise the quality of the movie.
This isn’t a perfect adaptation and it’s an odd choice of a story to adapt. Most would expect a Sherlock Holmes adaptation to be a traditional mystery. Indeed, characters are murdered, but the focus is primarily on the two leads setting up plans and counterplans to get the valuable necklace. As mentioned, it isn’t the ideal way to introduce these famous characters, but at least it’s reasonably fun to watch. Lee looks the part and is a genial and direct Holmes. Sohnker makes for a fine Moriarty as well and the two actors play well off of each other (if only both of their original voices had been used!).
The movie itself is well shot and, at times, looks incredible. In particular, scenes of Lee, Moriarty and his hoods meeting in the night on the docks near a shipbuilding site are incredibly moody, with dark patches, stark bricks and impressive metallic structures surrounding them. There is also fantastic footage of Lee and Watson underneath the city in the sewers that dazzles. The locations are visually interesting and despite the production troubles, Fisher knew how to set up a dynamic shot and use real locations to maximum effect.
As the last act, including a finale plays out with big moves being made around an auction, the movie ends on a note of promise that could have led to much more. In the end, it’s a competent adaptation with some great visuals that kept me engaged throughout.
This Blu-ray contains some fun extras as well. Author and Holmes enthusiast Kim Newman appears for a commentary track (he also appears on the other Sherlock Holmes BBC series release) with Barry Forshaw and the two have a lively and enjoyable discussion about the movie and its history. There’s a lot of funny back and forth as the two note some of the movie’s inconsistencies. Amusingly, they are very aware that the story is set in London, but looks nothing like that city (it’s very clearly Dublin that was used instead). To them, even the sets and apartment details feel more German than British.
They talk about the problems and disagreements behind the scenes (even the Holmes estate became something of a problem and forced reshoots). Naturally, the pair also go into what they like and dislike about the film. It’s all good-natured and very humorous, making it an entertaining track to listen to. Both are also kind to Lee, stating that he did a decent job in the role and that, for audiences, the unusual story with more talking than murder and mystery was probably the major sticking point.
The disc also comes with a good archival audio interview featuring biographer Tony Dalton. Fisher discusses his career and this effort. Known for being a nice man, Fisher gives some insight into the challenges he faces and the problems making this movie. He also talks about his personal favorite Hammer film, Horror of Dracula, how some of the iconic images in it came about, and why this particular feature stands out as a career highlight.
Dalton returns with a lengthy interview recorded on Zoom during the pandemic. The author, who knew Fisher personally, talks about the book he wrote on the filmmaker and the friendship that blossomed between them. You’ll get a full career retrospective about how he got his start and eventually ended up at Hammer Films. It’s very informative, particularly in detailing some of the director’s earlier and equally well-regarded works at the Rank Organization. Another title that Fisher was proud of is Portrait from Life (1949) aka Lost Daughter that I now need to find.
A trailer is also included.
Sherlock Holmes and the Deadly Necklace may not be the greatest presentation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s famous detective, but it is an interesting and very rare movie from a great director with a lot of great elements (particularly some of the imagery courtesy of an exceptional 2K scan from the original negative). Thanks should go to Severin Film for putting it out on Blu-ray and bringing it to the attention of Sherlock Holmes enthusiasts. They’ll likely find something to enjoy here.