Pursuit To Algiers (1945)

Starring Basil Rathbone, Nigel Bruce, Marjorie Riordan, Rosalind Ivan, Morton Lowry
Directed by Roy William Neill
(actor & director credits courtesy IMDB.com)

Sherlock Holmes takes the assignment of escorting a foreign prince to his democratic country, but enemy assassins are soon on their trail.

This entry is less of a mystery than the other films in the Universal Holmes series, but it's still an engaging picture, with a featured spotlight on Nigel Bruce, who gets to show off his fine singing voice in a rendition of "Loch Loman."  There's much to enjoy and we get a trio of villains played by actors who hadn't yet appeared in the series, in a refreshing change of pace.  Rex Evans, probably best known for playing the outraged bartender Vazec in Frankenstein Meets The Wolf Man, shows his range by playing Gregor, the leader of the three and a more patient and calculating mastermind who gets to verbally spar with Rathbone.  Martin Kosleck, the sinister villain of films like The Mummy's Curse and House Of Horrors, plays Mirko the expert knife-thrower who's eager to do away with Sherlock Holmes.  And playing the mute but imposing Gubec, William "Wee Willie" Davis is effective as the strongman of the group.  They may not be the quality of other foes for Holmes and Watson in the series, but I still enjoyed their performances as well as the steamship setting for their skullduggery.  It's not one of the best of the series, but I certainly enjoyed it.