The House of Fear

1945
A
1h 9m

IMDb RATING

YOUR RATING

Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce in The House of Fear (1945)

Film Noir Crime Drama Horror Mystery Thriller

Sherlock Holmes investigates a series of deaths at a castle with each foretold by the delivery of orange pips to the victims.Sherlock Holmes investigates a series of deaths at a castle with each foretold by the delivery of orange pips to the victims.Sherlock Holmes investigates a series of deaths at a castle with each foretold by the delivery of orange pips to the victims.

Director
- Roy William Neill
Writers
- Roy Chanslor
- Arthur Conan Doyle
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.2/10

5.8K

YOUR RATING

Director
- Roy William Neill
Writers
- Roy Chanslor
- Arthur Conan Doyle
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

Photos7

Top cast21

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Basil Rathbone

Sherlock Holmes

Nigel Bruce

Doctor Watson

Aubrey Mather

Alastair

Dennis Hoey

Lestrade

Paul Cavanagh

Simon Merrivale

Holmes Herbert

Alan Cosgrave

Harry Cording

John Simpson

Sally Shepherd

Mrs. Monteith

Gavin Muir

Chalmers

Florette Hillier

Alison MacGregor

David Clyde

Alex MacGregor

Richard Alexander

Ralph King
(uncredited)

C.E. Anderson

Mourner
(uncredited)

Wilson Benge

Guy Davies
(uncredited)

Hobart Cavanaugh

Bit Part
(uncredited)

Alec Craig

Angus
(uncredited)

Cyril Delevanti

Stanley Raeburn
(uncredited)

Leslie Denison

Sergeant Bleeker
(uncredited)

Director
- Roy William Neill
Writers
- Roy Chanslor
- Arthur Conan Doyle
All cast & crew
Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
The shot of the "grim old house perched high upon a cliff on the west coast of Scotland" was also used in Sherlock Holmes and the Voice of Terror (1942). The house in the shot could not possibly be the Alastair home because, firstly, it is a church and not a house, and, secondly, close inspection reveals that the front of the house is in ruins.

Goofs
As the murders took place in Scotland, a local policeman would have been sent to the crime scene, not Inspector Lestrade from London. The local constabulary contacted Scotland Yard/Inspector Lestrade at the behest of Sherlock Holmes. It is unlikely a policeman would have been sent from London to the north of Scotland during wartime, even at the request of Sherlock Holmes.

Quotes
Sherlock Holmes: Murder is an insidious thing, Watson. Once a man has dipped his fingers in blood, sooner or later he'll feel the urge to kill again.

Connections
Edited into Who Dunit Theater: Sherlock Holmes and the House of Fear (2021)

User reviews80

Featured review

7/10

Eighth Modern Day Sherlock Holmes.

Roy William Neil directed Basil Rathbone & Nigel Bruce as Sherlock Holmes & Doctor Watson in this loose adaptation of 'The Five Orange Pips'. Holmes & Watson are called to Scotland by an insurance company to investigate a case where seven men who belong to an exclusive club, and all of whom have taken out life insurance policies naming the others as the beneficiaries. Two have died already, and Holmes must prevent further deaths, and determine who the murderer is. Like the past two films, this is atmospheric and exciting, with a clever story and surprise ending. The series was at its peak here, but unfortunately would begin to decline afterward.