The Pearl of Death

DVD, The Pearl of Death (1944) film

They went for a closer retelling of a proper story (The Six Napoleans) than they have in most films and successfully strung it out to an hour's length, although this did mean some scenes are noticeably there as padding and the pace is fairly pedestrian throughout. When the padding succeeds is when it's furthering certain characters, the main scene being Dr. Watson's height of bumbling charm as he convinces himself he's practically another Sherlock Holmes while playing the fool the whole time! Lestrade too is on fine form in his ridiculing persona and slow on the uptake sarcasm, gleefully mocking the great detective when Holmes makes an uncharacteristic blunder, setting off the foul play by his diligent attempts to prove the inadequacy of the pearl's security measures.

Dennis Hoey has really relaxed into the Lestrade role by this film and provides as much comedy as Bruce's Watson, who mutters himself in and out of rooms in his usual fashion. Watson doesn't have a lot to do with the plot, however, and he pretty much just follows his friend around and does what he's told. Perhaps he was feeling a bit under-used and that was what got him to thinking on his own deductive powers? Mr. Hodder and the sculptor of the Napolean busts had both been in previous films in the series, I'm sure, and as usual there are plenty of characters to keep track of. The Creeper was very creepy and sensibly only seen in shadow or silhouette until the moment he advances on Holmes. It was his attraction to the girl that made him more frightening as she clearly didn't even want to be in the same room, and the teasing of her associate on the subject showed his cruel streak plainly.

Holmes' disguises now make me wonder if anyone remotely of the same build and height could be him, and the early experiences with the clever ruse to save the pearl had me fooled for a while! Rathbone does the voices and mannerisms so well and in the monochrome half-light he can get away with a lot. The film ends on a less uplifting sentiment than usual, the pearl inspiring him to talk of the many deaths such avarice inspires.

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