Pursuit to Algiers - A Sherlock Holmes Movie

With Basil Rathbone As Holmes and Nigel Bruce as Dr. Watson

Sep 28, 2009

Pursuit to Algiers was the tenth installment in the popular Universal series starring Rathbone As Holmes and Bruce as Watson. Unfortunately, it has little to recommend.

When Universal Studios bought the rights to the Sherlock Holmes stories in 1942, the original plans were to make 21 movies, at least two-thirds of which were to be based on the Arthur Conan Doyle stories. In the end, 12 films were actually made with Pursuit to Algiers being one that had no resemblance at all to any of the original tales.

Basil Rathbone as Sherlock Holmes

Basil Rathbone first appeared as Holmes in 20th Century Fox’s 1939 production of The Hound of the Baskervilles. Fox and, later, Universal’s, decision to cast Rathbone as the legendary detective was an inspired one. The actor’s angular face, well defined jaw, and high forehead fit the description of Holmes, and his sharp and incisive voice gave authority to the role.

Nigel Bruce as Dr. Watson

Rathbone’s campaigning was instrumental in his good friend Nigel Bruce being given the role of Watson. Bruce had built his career playing loyal and amiable, but slow-witted characters. Rathbone argued that Bruce’s acting traits were the perfect complement to the often cold, calculating persona of Holmes. Together, the two men created a memorable pair.

Synopsis of Pursuit to Algiers

The king of the mythical Mediterranean country of Rovenia is assassinated and Holmes is asked to escort the young Crown Prince, Nikolas (Vincent), from England back to his homeland. Holmes concocts a plan whereby he and the prince will take a chartered plane while Watson, acting as decoy, goes by ship to Algiers. The plan seemingly goes astray when the plane crashes with the loss of all life.

However, a distraught Watson soon discovers that Holmes and the prince have been on the ship the whole time. When three on-board assassins (Kosleck, Evans, Davis) discover this, several attempts are made on the young man’s life. In the end he is kidnapped and taken ashore at Algiers where he is rescued and the conspirators arrested.

Holmes then reveals that the man presumed to be Nikolas was actually a red herring and introduces the real Nikolas who has taken the guise of the ship’s steward, a character who has been in the background for most of the picture.

Analysis of Pursuit to Algiers

There is much that is wrong with this movie. Unlike the other entries in this series, the story is not a mystery, but simply a chase film and not a very good one. Even the revelation of who the real heir to the throne is comes across, not as a clever twist, but a needless con played on the audience.

Much of the movie seems padded. Holmes only appears in about two-thirds of the film and, when he does, often stands in the background looking bored or making strange, dead pan comments such as: “The late Professor Moriarty was a virtuoso of the bassoon.” A sub-plot involving stolen jewels, unknowingly being carried by the ship's singer, Sheila Woodbury (Riordan), is superfluous.

The film features four completely unnecessary songs (one by Bruce and three by Riordan), Watson’s recounting of the adventure of the giant rat of Sumatra, and his, somewhat funny, repartees with a fellow passenger, Agatha Dunham (Rosalind Ivan), which come across as a poor man’s Groucho Marx - Margaret Dumont routine with Ivan as Groucho.

The villains are obvious from the start. The two major “bad guys” appear to have been meant as imitations of Sidney Greenstreet and Peter Lorre from The Maltese Falcon. Unfortunately, unlike the latter duo, they are not very menacing. The other characters, with the exception of Sheila and Agatha are colorless and bland.

Still, for Holmes-Watson aficionados, Pursuit to Algiers, is probably worth a look and does rate rather well on IMDb. Also, Nigel Bruce does give some nice touches to his performance. His reaction to the news of Holmes’ “death” is quite poignant and his infatuation with Sheila is subtly played and nicely done.

Overall, though, Pursuit to Algiers is the weakest entry in the Rathbone-Holmes movies being a complete 180 from the best, The Scarlet Claw. Fortunately, the Universal series rebounded somewhat with the next film, Terror by Night, and, more so, with the series finale, Dressed to Kill.

The entire Universal series of Rathbone/Holmes movies has been released on DVD in a three volume set. The last volume contains Pursuit to Algiers.

The copyright of the article Pursuit to Algiers - A Sherlock Holmes Movie in Classic Films is owned by John K. Davis. Permission to republish Pursuit to Algiers - A Sherlock Holmes Movie in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.