The House of Fear

DVD, The House of Fear (1945) film

Apparently based on the story 'The Five Orange Pips' though as usual I can't remember that very clearly so I'm not sure how much of it was used as inspiration (probably not much going on how loose the previous adaptions have been!). This was the first of the Holmes films I saw, back when they were shown on TV in the summer of 2000, and the atmosphere of confusion and suspicion that lingered over each character, while mixing in the amusement of Dr. Watson's incompetent meddling was more than enough to make me want to see more. Even now, seeing it on this occasion I was fooled right up until the last moment about who was responsible. I did suspect that one of the murdered victims might have faked their death, but I was never sure until Holmes and Lestrade descend the stairs to the lair. A clever solution to a solidly-made story.

I noticed the direction was especially strong, the shadow and light used to great effect to produce tension and certainly proved enough to send Watson round the bend. The scene where he's chasing in and out of the house on a stormy, rain-soaked night, and gets to a state of near-hysteria was probably the most gripping moment, but I also enjoyed the unconventional beginning as we see events unfold to an unknown narrator's words, eventually dissolving to the insurance man telling his story in Baker Street. He'd been in at least one before, as had the actor's playing Dr. Merivale and Captain Simpson. Lestrade is at his most professional in this one, which isn't saying much, but he doesn't come across as idiotically as previous appearances! The sets are suitably grand and homely the one minute, then haunting and forbidding the next, depending on how many people are there and what they're doing. All around one of the better entries in the series.

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