Sherlock Holmes: Pursuit to Algiers (1945)

Holmes is recruited to escort the heir to a European throne safely back to his homeland after his father's assassination.

Director: Roy William Neill
Cast: Basil Rathbone, Nigel Bruce, Marjorie Riordan, Rosalind Ivan, Morton Lowry, Leslie Vincent, Martin Kosleck, Rex Evans, John Abbott, Gerald Hamer, William 'Wee Willie' Davis, Frederick Worlock, Wilson Benge, Sven Hugo Borg, Ernst Brengt, James Carlisle, Ashley Cowan, James Craven, Sayre Dearing, Tom Dillon, John Dutra, Alan Edmiston, Curt Furburg, Gregory Gaye, Olaf Hytten, Dorothy Kellogg, George Leigh, Charles Millsfield, Sam Savitsky, Cap Somers

Walking the fog-laden streets of London one evening, making plans for their impending Scottish holiday, detective Sherlock Holmes and his associate Dr. Watson note in several newspapers the theft of the Duchess of Brookdale's emerald collection. While discussing the robbery, they are led by several innocuous clues to a meeting with the Prime Minister of the tiny country of Rovinia, who explains that the prior week's death of King Stephan of Rovina in an automobile accident was in reality an assassination by a group of insurgents determined to overthrow the country. Stephan's son, Prince Nikolas, who has been in Britain incognito since childhood, receiving a public school education, must now return to Rovinia to assume leadership of the country. The Prime Minister asks Holmes to escort Nikolas to Algiers, where he can be safely taken to Rovinia, and the detective agrees over Watson's protestations. At the airport later that night, Holmes and Watson meet Nikolas and discover their planned air transportation has unexpectedly broken down, leaving only a three-seat plane available. Suspecting sabotage, Holmes directs Watson to serve as a decoy by taking a Swedish liner to Alexandria, where he will later rendezvous with him and the prince. On board the S.S. Friesland , Watson meets a young American singer, Sheila Woodbury, who is sent off with a portfolio full of important musical arrangements by her manager. After the voyage gets underway, Watson is shocked to read a news bulletin describing the crash of a small three-seater airplane. Believing Holmes dead, Watson initially ignores the steward Sanford's request to minister to a stricken passenger. When he does respond, he discovers Nikolas and Holmes, who, deducing the likelihood of more sabotage, arranged to be secreted aboard the Friesland . Settling into the journey, Holmes becomes suspicious of Sheila, who is startled at discovering the detective on board and quick to form a romantic attachment to Nikolas, who is introduced as Watson's nephew. During an unexpected stop in Lisbon, the ship is boarded by three men, Gregor, Mirko and a mute, Gubec, who appear aware of Holmes' assignment and the true identity of Nikolas. Shortly after their arrival, Mirko attempts to stab Holmes, but is foiled by the detective, who recognizes him as a well-known circus artist, performing a knife throwing act. A wealthy passenger, Agatha Dunham, plans a party for the last night of the voyage, during which Holmes believes Gregor and his group will make another attempt on Nikolas. Sheila continues behaving suspiciously, repeatedly declining to part with her portfolio, and Holmes determines she is carrying the stolen Brookdale emeralds. When confronted, Sheila admits she is the unwitting courier for her jewel thief manager. At the Dunham party, Holmes prevents a bomb planted in a party favor from going off and accuses Gregor of the attempt on Nikolas. As the ship docks outside Alexandria, Holmes takes Nikolas below to prepare for their departure and sends Watson to meet the prince's escorts. As soon as he departs, Gregor, Mirko and Gubec break into Holmes' cabin, tie him up and take Nikolas. Watson returns with the Rovinian representatives and is horrified to discover the prince's kidnapping. Holmes calmly informs the group that Nikolas is safe, and reveals that Sanford the steward is the true prince, and "Nikolas" an arranged impostor. Holmes contacts the shore police in time for Gregor and his group to be arrested, and as the real Nikolas departs with his escorts, Holmes and Watson are at last free to take their belated holiday

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