Die Stimme des Terrors

Voice of Terror as the first Holmes foray against the Nazis wasn't too bad, and certainly is very watchable simply as a film. Maybe it would have been better if a fantasy scene had been tacked onto the beginning showing how they'd been kidnapped by Moriarty who had discovered the secret of time travel to dump the pair into WW2. I don't recommend watching this straight after Adventures, although as no further adjustment is needed for The Secret Weapon breezing through the remaining Universals does me no harm! But as previously posted, updating Shakespeare into any time - even the future - is OK, and also operas such as La Boheme are similarly always tinkered with too. They call it Arty, I call it trying to save money on costumes and sets!

VOT on its own merits: dark and smoky atmospheric images, beautiful use of nitrate b&w , an interesting subplot with the interplay between Kitty and Meade, and a stirring finale meant to spur people into risking their lives. "We'll remember" is the consolation if death is the result.

Rathbone needed a haircut, Bruce representing an England he obviously didn't know was "unchanging" - because England was changing as they spoke, Daniell and Denny were excellent as usual, Gomez was perfect in his role as Satan's man in London, and Evelyn Ankers never looked lovelier, even as a prostitute! I'm slightly surprised that Rathbone himself wanted the update, but all things taken I'm rather glad the series was moved to 1942!