DVD Reviews

A Study in Terror - Columbia Classics On Demand Review

By Jeff Swindoll Nov 3, 2010, 23:20 GMT

“You’ll never see anything like it this side of hell.” 

When Robert Downey Jr. made Sherlock Holmes cool again, one film I hoped would appear would be a Study in Terror.  Rumors made it sound like that was to be, but it vanished like Whitechapel fog.  However, now the game involving Jack the Ripper and Sherlock Holmes is afoot through Sony’s new manufacture on demand DVD service.

In 1888, a killer of prostitutes is afoot in the unsavory Whitechapel district of London and the press has dubbed him Jack the Ripper and suspect that he is a doctor.  Sherlock Holmes (John Neville) is at his digs on 221B Baker Street with his chronicler Dr. Watson (Donald Houston) when a package arrives.

It’s a surgeon’s kit, the long scalpel is missing, and the return address is listed as Whitechapel.  Now that Holmes’ attention is peaked, he discovers a family crest hidden on the case.  After discovering it is the crest of Duke of Shires (Barry Jones) he pays a visit to the family manor. 

He finds a hostile Duke who says the case belongs to his disowned, missing son Michael (John Cairney) and he quickly dismisses Holmes and Watson.  On the way out, they encounter the Duke’s younger son Lord Carfax (John Fraser).  The investigation then shifts to Whitechapel and the soup kitchen of Dr. Murray (Anthony Quayle), the last location that Michael and his bride, prostitute Angela (Adrienne Corri), were seen. 

When Holmes inquires about Michael, the doctor does not offer any information, even though he seems to know something.  Holmes follows Murray’s assistant Sally (Judi Dench), who overheard his asking about Michael, and discovers that Lord Carfax has lodgings in Whitechapel and has been helping Murray in his charity. 

Holmes is deep in the investigation, which now casts suspicion on sinister, blackmailing barkeep Max Steiner (Peter Carsten), when his brother Mycroft (Robert Morley) asks him to investigate the killings for the crown and help Inspector Lestrade (Frank Finlay) track down the Ripper. 

Sherlock Holmes and Jack the Ripper are closely associated with the London fog (ironically the film was shot under the title Fog) so its no stretch to have the world’s greatest detective tackle the world’s most famous uncaught serial killer.  

It wouldn’t happen on-screen until this 1965 production and more famously in 1979 in Bob Clark’s Murder by Decree (Christopher Plummer as Holmes and James Mason as Watson). The film would come from low-budget filmmaker Herman Cohen, but would be a classier production than some of his others - although some of those exploitation tricks would still appear. 

John Neville, who would later regain some fame as Baron Munchhausen and on the X-Files, is an excellent Holmes although the mystery of the Ripper really isn’t that hard to figure out.  Houston is a blustery Watson and more on the comic relief side, but still acquits himself nicely. 

Robert Morley is a treat as Mycroft and other English players (Quayle, a young Dench, Finlay [who also played Lestrade in Murder by Decree], etc.) show up in the cast.  A Study in Terror is certainly a delight for Holmesians and perhaps the highlight of Cohen’s productions. 

He does inject cleavage in keeping with his exploitation (dare I say titillation?) roots.  The disc certainly is a highlight as the colors leap off the screen and the film is in fine shape. 

Oddly the film was marketed in the manner of a popular television show of the era – the Adam West starring Batman – and the original poster art on the cover is laughable (though thankfully used and not some photoshop monstrosity). 

Holmes is billed as the “original caped crusader” and this made the film seem more kid friendly than it actually was. 

Sony is starting their own burn-on-demand DVD-R service (www.columbia-classics.com) and if this disc is any indication then we’re in for some treats from them. 

A Study in Terror is presented in widescreen (1.85:1) and is enhanced for 16x9 televisions.  There are no special features, not even a menu.  The disc just plays when you put it in and stops when the movie is over.  That might be a bit strange, but the quality transfer makes up for any lack of amenities. 

A Study in Terror has a fine Holmes in the form of John Neville.  The screenplay may not earn much praise, but you have to praise pitting Holmes against Jack the Ripper.  The print looks gorgeous.  It’s elementary that fans should add this disc to their collections. 

A Study in Terror is available to order at Columbia Classics On Demand.