Coventry Review of Sherlock Holmes and the Masks of Death

Sherlock Holmes and the Masks of Death (1984 TV Movie)

Once more, for old times' sake!

[7/10 · 14 March 2019]

If you're a fan of traditionally British suspense and cult cinema, it's pretty much impossible to dislike this modest, made-for-TV Sherlock Holmes oddity. In the mid-80s, long after the heyday of British studio-horror, veteran Roy Ward Baker directs his former Hammer regular Peter Cushing as he depicts Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's creation Sherlock Holmes for one last time. Cushing played Holmes in the fifties ("The Hound of the Baskervillers") and in a TV-series of the sixties, so for this occasion, the super-detective is allegedly retired, but still in close contact with his good buddy Dr. Watson and Scotland Yard inspector MacDonald. The latter begs Holmes to help with a curious case of three dead bodies that were discovered in the Thames. The corpses show no signs of physical violence, but the expression on their faces indicate that they died of pure fear. Before Holmes can properly start to investigate, his services are confiscated by the British Home Secretary and a dubious German ambassador named Von Felseck. They urge Sherlock Holmes to find a young German prince who went missing from Von Felseck's residence, as his disappearance might lead directly to a war between Germany and England. "The Masks of Death" certainly isn't the greatest Sherlock Holmes story ever penned down (it's not even based on an A.C. Doyle original, in fact) but it's tense and compelling enough to keep you guessing along with Holmes and Watson. It's quite far-fetched and implausible, but there are a several inventive plot twists and scenes with plenty of action. Holmes' retirement age also turns out to be an ingenious gimmick, as he's occasionally less observant, sharp or subtle. Especially his thoughts on strong, opinionated women are chauvinist and old-fashioned.