Rent A Study in Terror (1965)
3.4 of 5 from 61 ratings
1h 34min
- General info
- Available formats
- Synopsis:
- When Sherlock Holmes (John Neville) receives a mysterious and chilling package in the post, he and Dr Watson (Donald Houston) find themselves on the trail of a maniac. It's 1888 and Jack the Ripper is about his bloody work, slaughtering prostitutes and terrorising London. From the fog shrouded streets of Whitechapel to the stately homes of Britain's aristocracy, Holmes follows the clues in a terrifying mystery that will keep you guessing until the very last moments!
- Actors:
- John Neville, Donald Houston, John Fraser, Anthony Quayle, Barbara Windsor, Adrienne Corri, Frank Finlay, Judi Dench, Charles Regnier, Cecil Parker, Georgia Brown, Barry Jones, Robert Morley, Dudley Foster, Peter Carsten, Christiane Maybach, Kay Walsh, John Cairney, Edina Ronay, Avis Bunnage
- Directors:
- James Hill
- Producers:
- Henry E. Lester, Michael Klinger
- Voiced By:
- Michael Collins
- Writers:
- Donald Ford, Derek Ford, Arthur Conan Doyle, Jim O'Connolly
- Studio:
- Fremantle
- Genres:
- Classics, Drama, Horror, Thrillers
- Collections:
- Cinema Paradiso's 2025 Centenary Club: April - June
- BBFC:
- Release Date:
- 11/11/2013
- Run Time:
- 94 minutes
- Languages:
- English Dolby Digital 1.0
- Subtitles:
- None
- Formats:
- Pal
- Aspect Ratio:
- Widescreen 1.78:1 / 16:9
- Colour:
- Colour
- BLU-RAY Regions:
- (0) All
- Bonus:
- Trailer
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Reviews (2) of A Study in Terror
Interesting premise - A Study in Terror review by BN
1965 95 mins.
Produced by Sir Nigel Films who wanted to make stories based on Sir A C Doyle's stories of Holmes. Well filmed.
Never seen John Neville as Holmes before, very pinched face, but actually he was quite good. Donald Houston as Doctor Watson is also very like multiple other Watsons through the years.
Loads of well known actors/actresses, including Judi Dench, Barbara Windsor and Robert Morley. Holmes makes a conclusion on who Jack the Ripper was according to this story, based on the initial characters introduced but after a century it's still not known in reality who it was: speculation, nothing more.
1 out of 1 members found this review helpful.
Jack Knife - A Study in Terror review by Steve
The title obviously refers to the first of Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories, A Study in Scarlet... but there is zero terror on show. It's a mid budget adventure which quite reasonably wonders what might have happened if the great detective had ever investigated the Whitechapel murders. Well, Holmes was contemporary with Jack the Ripper...
The intriguing premise isn't explored with much creativity. This is mid-budget, studio staged Victoriana, full of fog and period atmos, but short on thrills and virtuoso acts of deduction; director James Hill is more reliable than inspired. The narrative is commonplace, and there's a really odd music score which might be better suited to a Harry Palmer film.
The merit of any Sherlock Holmes story primarily rests on the quality of its intrepid twosome. John Neville is a decent Holmes though lacks charisma and is stiffed with lame deductions. But Donald Houston is fun as Dr. Watson, not quite a blundering fool, yet still comical... and loyal and bullish. And there are some authentic delights in the support cast...
Robert Morley is a dream come true as Mycroft! You can almost smell the paint on the sets, but they're hidden in the pea-soupers of 19th century London or the smoke from gentlemen's cigars, as cheerful East End sex workers sing the classics of the Victorian music hall in the boozer, or are murdered. It's pure make-believe, but the old formula still sparks.
0 out of 0 members found this review helpful.