Leofwine_draca This thoroughly enjoyable caper is one of the few Rathbone/Holmes films not to be based on a short story. Instead, it transplants the central pair of characters into an action-filled thriller, as they battle over the life of an heir to the throne against some ruthless killers. The setting is an ocean liner, a great location for a thriller such as this, and there's a cracking pace along with it too. Okay, so it may not be the most complex or original of thrillers, but it does a good job of creating an atmosphere of unease when we don't know which characters to trust or when the next threat will arise.The acting is typically flawless, with Rathbone being particularly cool yet authoritative as Holmes here. Nigel Bruce is given quite a substantial role and excels in it, and the various guest stars are also excellent, fleshing out their somewhat clichéd roles with relish. Despite being devoid of any mystery and, therefore, clues, there are plenty of puzzles and devious plot twists which keep things moving nicely along. The baddies here are particularly sinister in a comic book way, with a nasty Frenchman complete with beret and glasses rounding them off. There's also a knife-thrower and a hulking mute thrown in for good measure, giving Rathbone and co. some serious opposition. There are many good ideas in this film. A bomb in a cracker, a poisoned cup of coffee, the death attempts just keep on coming and getting better and better. My favourite scene? The one where the knife-thrower attempts to get Holmes through a porthole but instead gets his wrist snapped, just like that!

Paul Evans An outing that seems hugely removed from anything that could have possibly been penned by Conan Doyle, the film sees Holmes and Watson accompany a handsome played by Leslie Vincent, who's heading to Algiers to replace his assassinated father on the throne.The film boasts a clever bit of deception, and some interesting concepts, the beginning is really intriguing and full of mystery. Sadly once the voyage begins it becomes a little silly, funny hats, mutual smugness and a world almost unimaginable pre globalisation.Rathbone and Bruce as excellent value as always, but some of the other performances are a little on the shaky side, no names.It doesn't boast the suspense and intrigue that most of the Universal movies have, but it's well worth watching. 6/10

dglink Stolen emeralds, an endangered prince, a fog-bound steamship, a plane crash, a revolver hidden in a purse. Through a clever series of encounters, which Sherlock Holmes deciphers with his usual sharp intellect, Holmes and his dear friend, Doctor Watson, are directed to a specific address at a specific time in a foggy London back alley; there, Holmes is engaged by a group of foreign gentlemen to escort an important personage from England back to his home country. While Holmes and Watson do not battle spies in "Pursuit to Algiers," the sleuths do return to matters of foreign intrigue. Leonard Lee wrote the first of two Holmes screenplays for this, the tenth in Universal's Sherlock Holmes series. Lee's screenplay is light on suspense, and, despite the assured direction of veteran Holmes' director Roy William Neill, the film can only be rated better than average among the Rathbone-Bruce movies.Despite some sinister fog-shrouded scenes in London's back streets, cinematographer Paul Ivano shoots most of the film aboard the S.S. Friesland, a steamer bound for Algiers. While interior shots are crisp black-and-white images, the deck scenes are murky and layered with obviously fake fog. Although the producer-director and the two above-the-title stars are back, not only the writer and cinematographer, but most of the supporting cast are fresh faces in the series. Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce are in good form, and Watson is given a bit more to do than usual, including a song entitled "The Bonnie Banks o'Loch Lomond" that spotlights Nigel Bruce's own fine voice; the retelling over dinner of a Holmes adventure, "The Giant Rat of Sumatra;" and a few solo errands of responsibility at Holmes's direction. None of the supporting players stand out, although lovely Marjorie Riordon as a young singer from Brooklyn has a nice voice, and the cold sexually ambiguous Martin Kosleck is appropriately sinister as the knife thrower.Perhaps after ten episodes the Universal Holmes series had become routine and perfunctory to the participants. The proceedings play out almost entirely aboard a ship, and the plot lacks a single diabolical villain of the caliber of Professor Moriarty or Adrea Spedding, the Spider Woman. However, most Holmes fans should be pleased, and even the sharpest viewers may not guess Holmes's final revelation. While not the best of the series, "Pursuit to Algiers" is good fun and definitely entertaining.

davidwayne7865 Nowhere near one of my favorites but i do enjoy it. My biggest complaint is the incredibly obvious use of voice dubbing when Dr. Watson and Sheila sing. I do however like the way they "hid" the real Prince. In first viewing it came as a complete surprise. I was led to believe that he was just a mischievous steward. I also liked the continuous word games between Mr. Holmes and the antagonists. One other redeeming factor is it is pretty fast paced so we don't have to watch it drag along to much. I am glad to say i own the entire series on DVD. not a month goes by where i don't take the time to take one of the DVD's out and enjoy it.