Sherlock Holmes Faces Death (1943)

Murky Murders at Musgrave Manor. Oh I do like this one, this is what I want from my Sherlock Holmes, a sneaky little murder mystery to be solved all set inside a rickety old manor that oozes foreboding as our protagonists walk up the path. A manor that has secret chambers, creaking floorboards, creaking servants, the mystery basement, and of course the impending glee of knowing Holmes & Watson are thrust into a dastardly murder mystery in this creepy place. The cast are up to the usual standard we have come to expect in the series, the plot is simply effective with a few delightful sequences thrown in for good measure, and the film's running time is just about perfect. Love it, now anyone for a game of human chess? 9/10

Whilst still set during WWII, this outing for Holmes and Watson is less to do with Nazis and more to do with good old-fashioned greed. Set in a stately home that is being used as a home for convalescing officers; our pair of sleuths are asked to investigate after one of Dr. Watson's patients there dies in mysterious circumstances. This is a welcome return to the more traditional storylines associated with Conan-Doyle and, as such, makes for a much better story. There is also a little humour, with Halliwell Hobbes great as the slightly (permanently) sozzled butler.