Sherlock Holmes in Pearl of Death (1944)
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73% of users liked it
(2,853 ratings)
This above-average entry in Universal's Sherlock Holmes series is loosely based on the Conan Doyle story The Six Napoleons. On this occasion, Holmes (Basil Rathbone) and Watson (Nigel Bruce) are assigned to guard the priceless Borgia Pearl, a "cursed" gem that has inspired scores of… More This above-average entry in Universal's Sherlock Holmes series is loosely based on the Conan Doyle story The Six Napoleons. On this occasion, Holmes (Basil Rathbone) and Watson (Nigel Bruce) are assigned to guard the priceless Borgia Pearl, a "cursed" gem that has inspired scores of murders over the years. Their principal antagonist is master criminal Giles Conover (Miles Mander), who, though he is constantly thwarted in his efforts to pilfer the pearl, manages to discredit Holmes in the eyes of the public. Conover's chief assistant is the beautiful Naomi Drake (Evelyn Ankers), who adopts several clever disguises in the course of the action. Complicating matters is a series of seemingly unrelated murders, in which the victims are found with their backs broken, lying amidst piles of shattered China. Holmes deduces the connection between the murders and the Borgia Pearl, and in so doing nearly becomes the latest victim of The Creeper (Rondo Hatton), a horribly disfigured homicidal maniac. In addition to providing Basil Rathbone and Evelyn Keyes endless opportunities for bravura disguise scenes, The Pearl of Death launched the short starring career of the tragic Rondo Hatton, a real-life victim of the disfiguring disease known as acromegaly. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Directed By
- Roy William Neill
- Written By
- Bertram Millhauser
- Genres
- Horror, Mystery & Suspense, Classics
Unrated,
- In Theaters
- Aug 1, 1944 Wide
- Studio
- Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment
Critic Reviews
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Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
The suspenseful film was entertaining.
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Michael W. Phillips, Jr., Goatdog's Movies
It's certainly not the worst film in the series, but it's pretty weak.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
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Cast
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Basil Rathbone
as Sherlock Holmes
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Nigel Bruce
as Dr. Watson
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Dennis Hoey
as Inspector Lestrade
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Evelyn Ankers
as Naomi Drake
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Miles Mander
as Giles Conover
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Ian Wolfe
as Hodder antique shop owner
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Charles Francis
as Digby museum curator
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Holmes Herbert
as James Goodram Diamond Courier
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Richard Nugent
as Bates Museum Guard
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Mary Gordon
as Mrs. Hudson Sherlock Holmes' Housekeeper
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Rondo Hatton
as The Creeper
- Wilson Benge
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Billy Bevan
as Constable
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Lillian Bronson
as Maj. Harker's Housekeeper
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Harry Cording
as George Gelder Plaster Bust Manufacturer
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Leslie Denison
as Constable Murdock
- Al Ferguson
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Leyland Hodgson
as Customs officer
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Colin Kenny
as Guard
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Charles Knight
as Bearded Man
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Connie Leon
as Ellen Carey
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John Merkyl
as Dr. Boncourt
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Eric Wilton
as Chauffeur
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Harold De Becker
as Boss
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Audrey Manners
as Teacher
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Arthur Mulliner
as Sandeford
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Arthur Stenning
as Steward
