THE TRIUMPH OF SHERLOCK HOLMES On Blu-ray From The Film Detective

 

THE TRIUMPH OF SHERLOCK HOLMES (1935) is the fourth film in which English actor Arthur Wontner starred as Holmes. It is included in THE SHERLOCK HOLMES VAULT COLLECTION from The Film Detective. 

At the beginning of this film Holmes is moving out of his rooms at Baker Street, and preparing to start his retirement in the English countryside. The great detective's nemesis, Professor Moriarty (Lyn Harding) shows up to gives Holmes a stern warning. Later, Holmes' beekeeping activities are interrupted by Dr. Watson and Inspector Lestrade, who interest him in a case that involves murder. Holmes convinces the victim's wife to tell a long flashback about the couple's past in America. At the climax Holmes reveals all, including the fact that Moriarty was behind the nefarious doings. 

THE TRIUMPH OF SHERLOCK HOLMES was based on the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle novel THE VALLEY OF FEAR. It's a fairly close adaptation, which means that Holmes appears only in the first and last parts of the story. The middle of the story is taken up with the flashback dealing with the murder victim and his wife, in which Doyle was inspired by the historical incident involving the Irish-American group called "The Molly Maguires". This flashback is very melodramatic and hammily acted, with a bunch of British performers trying to be American tough guys. 

Arthur Wontner is a fine Holmes, especially for those who prefer their Sherlock to be thoughtful and stately. Wontner is much suited to play a Holmes on the verge of retirement. Lyn Harding is a bulky and blustery Moriarty, and Ian Fleming (not that one) and Minnie Rayner return as Dr. Watson and Mrs. Hudson. 

The visual quality on this Blu-ray of THE TRIUMPH OF SHERLOCK HOLMES is above-average for a title that has had plenty of public domain home video releases. The picture is clear, if not very sharp. It does look as if the print used has been somewhat smoothed out digitally. The sound quality is not impressive...at times it's hard to make out what the actors are saying. 

The extras include a 1912 silent short film called THE COPPER BEECHES, based on Doyle's story. The visual quality of this short is excellent--it looks better than the main feature--but unfortunately it has a music score attached to it that is much more suited to a slapstick comedy. A half-hour episode of the 1954 TV series SHERLOCK HOLMES is on this disc as well. The episode is entitled "The Case of the Blind Man's Bluff", and Ronald Howard plays a rather lightweight Holmes. 

Also included is the second part of a featurette involving independent producer Sam Sherman, who gives some background detail on THE TRIUMPH OF SHERLOCK HOLMES. There's also a booklet with an essay by Jason A. Ney, who examines the lasting appeal of the Holmes character. Ney also does the audio commentary, and it's a fine one, well-paced and filled with info about the making of the film and the novel if was based on. 

THE TRIUMPH OF SHERLOCK HOLMES is a decent Holmes picture, but it is dragged down by the mediocre flashback.