Pursuit to Algiers

1945 1h 5m EN

👍

6.9

SOLID

★6.9TMDB · 85

MysteryCrimeThrillerAdventureRomance

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

After the King of Rovenia has been assassinated, Holmes and Watson are engaged to escort his son to Europe via Algiers, aboard a transatlantic ocean liner which also carries a number of suspicious persons, any of whom may be involved in a plot to also assassinate him.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Where to watch · US

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Cast

Basil Rathbone
Sherlock Holmes
Nigel Bruce
Doctor Watson
Marjorie Riordan
Sheila Woodbury
Rosalind Ivan
Agatha Dunham
Morton Lowry
Steward
Leslie Vincent
Nikolas Watson
Martin Kosleck
Mirko
Rex Evans
Gregor

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Roy William Neill
Writers: Leonard Lee
Languages: English
Countries: United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

Tight 65-minute runtime — shorter than most television pilots.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

81 years old — a genuine piece of film history.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

CINEMA

Did you know

Part of the "Sherlock Holmes (Basil Rathbone) Collection" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Roy William Neill, shot by Paul Ivano. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Saul A. Goodkind shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce and Marjorie Riordan carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0038008 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

Only 85 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Roy William Neill directs. Paul Ivano behind the camera. Saul A. Goodkind cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Tight 65-minute runtime — shorter than most television pilots.
281 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
3Part of the "Sherlock Holmes (Basil Rathbone) Collection" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.
4Directed by Roy William Neill, shot by Paul Ivano. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Editor Saul A. Goodkind shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce and Marjorie Riordan carry the top of the cast.
7IMDB entry: tt0038008 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
8Only 85 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.
9Classified under 10 themes, including "assassin", "heir to the throne", "ocean liner", "black and white".

The technical file

Cinematography: Paul Ivano
Editing: Saul A. Goodkind
Costume design: Vera West
Makeup / hair: Jack Pierce
Runtime: 65 min · 1h 5m
Status: Released
Original language: EN
Certification (US): NR
IMDB: Pursuit to Algiers (1945)

Part of

Sherlock Holmes (Basil Rathbone) Collection

A series of fourteen films based on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories was released between 1939 and 1946; the British actors Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce played Holmes and Dr. John Watson, respectively. The first two films in the series were produced by 20th Century Fox and released in 1939. The studio stopped making the films after these, but Universal Pictures acquired the rights from the Doyle estate and produced a further twelve films. Although the films from 20th Century Fox had large budgets, high production values, and were set in the Victorian era, Universal updated the films to the contemporary era of the Second World War, and produced them as B pictures with lower budgets. Both Rathbone and Bruce continued their roles when the series changed studios, as did Mary Gordon, who played the recurring character, Mrs. Hudson.

Also by

Roy William Neill

Trailers & featurettes

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Community reviews

What people are saying

CinemaSerf2022-07-01
★ 7/10
This is one of my favourite outings for Messrs. Rathbone and Bruce as "Holmes" and "Watson". Possibly because this one gives more screen time to the amiable Nigel Bruce - he even gives us a rendition "The Bonny Banks of Loch Lomond" as the pair embark on a dangerous mission to repatriate the King of Rovinia to his country following the assassination of his father. In order to, theoretically, avoid suspicion, they sail from the UK to Algiers hoping to smuggle their charge without mishap. Fat chance! Of course it doesn't work out that way - and we have a few fun maritime escapades, and an intriguing little sub-plot - on their way. Plaudits must go the rather formidable Rosalind Ivan as "Miss Dunham" and to Martin Kosleck as the slimy "Mirko" who help our duo keep us entertained for just over the hour. Probably not one for Holmesian purists, but still entertaining stuff.

Production companies