Touches You

Absolutely the worst movie.

I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.

The film creates a perfect balance between action and depth of basic needs, in the midst of an infertile atmosphere.

Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce are back as the detecting duo Holmes and Watson, in Terror by Night, the 13th of 14 films starring the pairing. Hired by Roland Carstairs to prevent the theft of the Star of Rhodesia on a train between London and Edinburgh Holmes and Watson have their hands full with lots of potential suspects. This is generally a good film and romantically portrays the duo due to it's limited set and enclosed surroundings. Dialogue and acting performances definitely drive this film forward and as ever Rathbone and Watson are brilliant, the supporting cast which includes Dennis Hoey as Inspector Lestrade and Alan Mowbray as Maj. Duncan-Bleek are decent too (if not occasionally bumbling). Even though Renee Godfrey's acting and accents are awful it's still forgivable as she adds some beauty to the picture. Despite being shot by Universal Studios, by Roy William Neill, even the die hard Holmes fans seem to not mind this instalment. While it's not the strongest Holmes film it's still enjoyable for 60 minuets. As with other Rathbone/Bruce Holmes/Watson films this is a none offensive film ready to be enjoyed on a lazy Sunday afternoon. Enjoy.

What a brilliant combination of mystery, suspense and comedy! This movie is like a great wine - it gets better with each airing. The casting is perfection and the cast delivers flawlessly. But they have an incredible script to work with. Mary Forbes as the haughty Lady Carstairs is a snobbish delight. Heaven forbid that she say anything as common as 'What is the meaning of this?' but instead 'What does this mean?' with complete indignation. Or the dashingly refined Alan Mowbray 'Doctor would you care to join me in a glass of whiskey and a dash of soda?' Beautiful! Or Frederick Worlock as the disagreeable Professor Kilbane -'To what am I indebted for this intrusion'. But my favorite is the unflappable Vivian Vedder played marvelously by the gorgeous Renee Godfrey. Rathbone was really on top of his game for this one. 'Really Watson aren't you a little stout for this sort of thing?' he teases as he pulls the good doctor into the railroad car. Bruce's retort is priceless -'Rubbish I'm the ideal weight for a man my age". Watch Rathbone's facial expressions throughout this movie. What a great actor he was. Director Roy William Neill wrings out every bit of movie magic from a taut 1 hour. The plot is straight forward - the theft of the Star of Rhodesia by a gang led by Holmes nemesis Col. Sebastian Moran. I've been enjoying this film for over 50 years now and it has become addicting. And inexplicably more enjoyable with each viewing. Highly recommended.

This is the installment on a train, and it's very well directed, and eerie; it has the comic book story this kind of show could afford: suspenseful and eerie. It also has an awesomely nice actress in a supporting role, a mercenary vamp. Maybe my installment of predilection, more atmospheric than others: I liked the cast (here, a frightening henchman, plus the colonel …), the plot, the speed; its genre is action suspense, not the whodunit. The pace and the eerily looking supporting characters (also by a smart use of lighting) make it so exciting. And Rathbone is in good shape; he even has an action scene.The ideas of such a plot are speed and action: to keep Holmes wired. And for these, they had the requisite cast; Rathbone couldn't make a Holmes who was more than an action star always on the move (and, in other renderings of the character, the attempt to add depth led to adding gloom and creepiness, as in the '80s TV show, which I used once to analyze at length). The main asset is a script that keeps Holmes busy in public, it keeps Rathbone on the move, and this advantages his own understanding of Holmes as a plausible action star (not also as a recluse thinker …). (I am under the impression that Rathbone didn't make a very good indoors Holmes, a very good meditative Holmes; on this train, and with these colleagues, we are spared the conveying of an indoors Holmes.)

Penultimate Rathbone Holmes film sees Sherlock and Watson on a train trying to prevent the theft of a priceless diamond and figure out who murdered the son of the diamond's owner. I love train movies so perhaps that's why this one's always been a sentimental favorite of mine. Last of the series to feature Dennis Hoey's Inspector Lastrade. Lots of colorful characters as red herrings. Who the culprit turns out to be is rather obvious but there's an added twist that makes it pretty cool for fans of the series. Renee Godfrey is nice on the eyes but uses one of the worst British accents I've ever heard. Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce are excellent, as always. Bruce is especially fun in his interrogations. A little more comedy than usual in this one but it works well. A very entertaining movie.