Directed by Roy William Neill, Terror by Night is one of the final entries in the Universal Pictures Sherlock Holmes series, starring Basil Rathbone as Holmes and Nigel Bruce as Dr. Watson. This brisk, atmospheric mystery unfolds almost entirely aboard a train, blending classic whodunit elements with wartime noir sensibilities.
Plot Summary
Holmes is hired to protect the Star of Rhodesia, a priceless diamond being transported from London to Scotland. Lady Margaret Carstairs owns the gem, and her son Roland is accompanying it. But when Roland is murdered and the diamond vanishes, Holmes must unravel a web of deception among the train’s passengers.
Suspects include a nervous entomologist, a grieving widow, a mysterious inspector, and a coffin that may not contain who it claims. As the train speeds through the night, Holmes deduces that the theft and murder are part of a larger criminal plot led by his old nemesis Colonel Sebastian Moran.
Cast Highlights
- Basil Rathbone as Sherlock Holmes
- Nigel Bruce as Dr. Watson
- Alan Mowbray as Major Duncan-Bleek
- Dennis Hoey as Inspector Lestrade
- Renee Godfrey, Billy Beaumont, and Frederick Worlock round out the ensemble
Production Notes
- Runtime: Just 60 minutes, making it one of the shortest Holmes films in the series
- Shot on studio sets, with clever use of lighting and camera angles to simulate train movement
- The film reuses footage and music from earlier Universal productions to save costs
- Released during the final year of WWII, it reflects the era’s taste for tight, suspenseful mysteries
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