SHERLOCK H-& THE PURSUIT TO ALGIERS (DVD) (BASIL RATHBONE) DVD

Pursuit to Algiers
Taking place almost exclusively on a transatlantic ocean liner, this easygoing Sherlock Holmes entry finds Holmes (Basil Rathbone) and Watson (Nigel Bruce) escorting Far Eastern regent Nikolas (Leslie Vincent) on a diplomatic mission. A group of assassins have targeted Nikolas for extermination, and they're not averse to knocking off Holmes and Watson to achieve their goals. In the end, it seems as though the villains have gained the upper hand -- but that's before the cagey Holmes reveals the film's biggest surprise (which, for a change, really is a surprise). Throughout Pursuit to Algiers, it's fun to watch bad guys Martin Kosleck and Rex Evans making like a road-company version of Peter Lorre and Sydney Greenstreet. The film's only disappointment is Watson's recital of the case of the Giant Rat of Sumatra, which we never get to hear in its entirety! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Cast Basil Rathbone as Sherlock Holmes

Crew Martin Obzina - Art Director John B. Goodman - Art Director Vera West - Costume Designer Seward Webb - First Assistant Director Roy William Neill - Director Saul A. Goodkind - Editor Howard Benedict - Executive Producer Edgar "Cookie" Fairchild - Composer (Music Score) Hans Salter - Composer (Music Score) Edgar "Cookie" Fairchild - Musical Direction/Supervision Everett Cutler-Rosen - Songwriter Jack Brooks - Songwriter Milton Rosen - Songwriter Jack Pierce - Makeup Paul Ivano - Cinematographer Roy William Neill - Producer Ralph Sylos - Set Designer Russell A. Gausman - Set Designer Bernard B. Brown - Sound/Sound Designer Leonard Lee - Screenwriter Arthur Conan Doyle - Short Story Author

Pursuit to Algiers
Pursuit to Algiers will disappoint those Sherlock Holmes fans who expect -- not without reason -- a mystery film with all sorts of clues, red herrings, etc. Algiers is in fact really a hriller more than a mystery, and for those who can accept this fact, it's a very decent entertainment. One of the longer of the Holmes films from Universal, Algiers dawdles a bit in places, but not really dangerously so. Unlike in some of the entries in the series, Holmes behaves like the intelligent man that he is, not placing the person he is supposed to be protecting in absurdly dangerous situations and not letting his ego get the best of him; he clearly appreciates the gravity of the situation in Algiers and acts accordingly. If Algiers is not one of the better of these films, it's mainly because the screenplay is a bit tired in places. The same can be said of Roy William Neill's direction, which is effective and occasionally features some of his trademark little visual flourishes, but which overall is somewhat perfunctory. The leads are their usual excellent selves, and there's fine assist from an amusing Rosalind Ivan, a slimy Martin Kosleck, and a by-the-unwritten-rules rigid Rex Evans, among others. Not great, but good fun. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
 

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General Specifications: Language Options: English Subtitle Options: English Sound Processing: Additional Features: none specified DVD Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1: Pre-1954 Standard MPAA Rating: NR DVD Discs Included: 1 DVD Sides: 1 DVD DVD Region Code: 1 Content Length: 65 min   DVD Chapters: Side #1 -- 1. Opening [1:21] 2. Fish 'n' Chips [4:40] 3. Fishbone Alley [4:38] 4. Sitting Duck [5:48] 5. All at Sea [6:51] 6. The Girl From Brooklyn [6:46] 7. Unexpected Passengers [7:42] 8. A Man Unguarded [2:33] 9. Paying the Penalty [9:40] 10. Party Popper [9:52] 11. The Last Trick [5:06] 12. End Credits [:05]