A Study in Terror

Sherlock Holmes tracks Jack the Ripper in Victorian England.

A Study in Terror isn’t bad as far as Sherlock Holmes pictures go. John Neville and Donald Houston make a reasonable Holmes and Watson, although Neville does seem to lack the commanding presence usually attributed to the character. The casting of Robert Morley as Mycroft Holmes is inspired though, as he seems perfect as the seldom used character from Doyle’s works.

Director James Hill does a good job with the Victorian atmosphere, and handles the few action scenes deftly. The more suspenseful scenes involving Jack the Ripper may seem tired by todays standards, but they get the job done.

The mixing of Sherlock Holmes and Jack the Ripper is a natural one, and the script produces a mystery that is sufficiently complex to keep the viewer interested without seeming convenient or forced. Some of the characterizations are a little thin, but for the most part the script is solid; leading to a respectable—but not spectacular—movie