A Study In Terror 1965 [DVD] [2013]

This 1965 film of Sherlock Holmes on the trail of Jack the Ripper is full of atmosphere. The foggy streets of London and the rowdy atmosphere within the pubs is perfectly captured and it is easy to be transported back to the Victorian times when prostitutes worked the streets in the East End of London, aware that a terrible serial killer was on the loose.This is a tale of fiction, placing Sherlock Holmes and his aide Doctor John Watson on the trail of the notorious Jack the Ripper. The first death shown is Emma Smith, who is stabbed through the neck with a knife. As any Ripperologist will tell you, Emma Smith is not widely accepted as a victim of Jack, though I believe Martha Tabram, whose body was left repeatedly stabbed on the first floor of George Yard Buildings, was indeed Jack's first victim but is not mentioned in this film. However, to make up for this, we have the outstanding performance of Barbara Windsor as Annie Chapman, one of the Canonical Five victims of Jack. The "Dear Boss" letter, sent to the news agency, plays an important part of Holmes's investigation and it was a delight to hear it read out, giving Holmes more clues to the person he suspects of being the Ripper.Overall, a wonderful film I shall enjoy watching over and over again, especially for those wonderful foggy streets and alleyways.

It's been a very long time since I have watched this and while probably not as good as I remember, if you are a fan of Sherlock Holmes you will likely enjoy this Holmes/Ripper mash up. John Neville, now probably more known now as the well manicured man from The X Files, does a half decent job as Holmes and Donald Houston does a fine job as Dr Watson.The plot doesn't require much to think about and if you are familiar with Jack The Ripper and Holmes you should get the gist of what is going on. Very reminiscent of a Hammer film, while not being one. A whole host of familiar faces pop up (Depending on your age!), including Judi Dench, Barbara Windsor and interestingly Frank Finlay and Anthony Quayle who would both go on to appear in the other Holmes/Ripper mash up Murder By Decree.

There are many fans who debate the merits of this film. I for one really enjoy it and I am glad to have this region free copy of the film. I saw this in the theater as a kid and went out and found the novel tie in and read it several times which started me on my way to all the many Holmes stories out there. That being said I really want to let you know that this film though not great is a fun treat and will entertain you.Sherlockians have a tendency to have very strong opinions on any film that puts Holmes in situations that seem unrealistic or unbelievable. This is the case here. Yes Holmes meeting up with Jack would never be like this because too many of the elements in the real crimes are ignored. But I believe that was done on purpose to make a potential franchise off this film.If you take your Holmes with wink and a grin this film will entertain and amuse you. .

For some reason, I had managed never to see this film before but when Kim Newman referred to it on the bluray of the wonderful Murder by Decree, i thought I'd give it a go.It is a decent stab (if you will pardon the pun) at a Jack the Ripper/Sherlock Holmes story and whilst for me, it is nowhere near as good as the aforementioned Murder by Decree, it does offer a different take.There is a wealth of good acting talent on show and a cameo from Barbara Windsor which whilst perhaps not being in tonal keeping with the rest of the film, is fun. John Neville as Holmes is very good and Donald Pleasance as Watson entertaining if a little underwhelming.This has a taste of the horror film about although by any standards it is tame but there is a nice story woven and it is an entertaining if not mindblowing way to spend a couple of hours.This is not at the high end of Holmes films (for me that's the Rathbones, Private Lifes of Sherlock Holmes and Murder by Decree) but it's a worthy entry and well worth a watch if you like Holmes films or Hammer-ish horror-ish films or Penny Dreadful type films.

Great atmosphere and sets!, Neville looks the part as Holmes but is a more "balanced" and subtle Holmes , the subject matter of the Ripper case is a great idea and although it is a similar plot to "Murder by Decree" I did prefer this version ,the latter containing weird Segway involving Donald Sutherland as a Psychic.Just some minor annoyances stopped it from being five stars ,including the scenes with Barabara Windsor ,who obviously flavour of the day was given a part.I have nothing against Barbara Windsor but just when my mind had drifted to Victorian London I was mentally ripped into a Carry on film "ere guvna" an all that.I still feel it's a worthy film if your a Holmes fan!

Wonderfully cheesy in parts and heavily influenced by the fashions on the day but I still loved it.

An atmospheric Holmes film which is in the vein of hammer horror. Definitely a must if you're a fan of Sherlock Holmes.

Very good mix of fact and fiction. Sherlock Holmes goes looking for Jack the Ripper.