Sherlock Holmes and the Deadly Necklace (German: Sherlock Holmes und das Halsband des Todes) is a 1962 black-and-white mystery film directed by Terence Fisher. It was a West German-French-Italian international co-production. The film starred Christopher Lee as Sherlock Holmes and Thorley Walters as Dr. Watson. Curt Siodmak wrote the screenplay, based on characters created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
Holmes and Watson try to solve the case of the theft of Cleopatra's necklace after it is found by archaeologists in Egypt. They soon discover that the evil professor Moriarty is behind it all.
Sherlock Holmes and the Deadly Necklace contains examples of:
- Absurdly Spacious Sewer: Moriarty's men attack the police van transporting the necklace from the sewers when it is stopped over a manhole.
- Animal Assassin: Moriarty attempts to dispose of Holmes with a snake in the hidden compartment where he is hiding the necklace.
- Armed Blag: Moriarty's gang steal the necklace while it is being transported in a police van from Scotland Yard to the auction rooms.
- Ash Face: Watson's face is comically blackened while he is listening at the chimney at the Hare and Eagle, and Moriarty lights a fire in the fireplace.
- Auction: The climax takes place at an auction of Egyptian antiquities. Moriarty, who had expected his gang to steal Cleopatra's necklace as it was being transported to the auction, is astounded when Holmes assures its arrival and subsequent sale.
- Bad Guy Bar: The Hare and Eagle is apparently a gathering place for the sweepings of the streets of London.
- Battle Butler: Moriarty's chauffeur is a hulking brute named Charles who acts as Moriarty's enforcer.
- Blade Enthusiast: Holmes poses as one to infiltrate Moriaty's gang. When Charles pats him down, he pulls a large number of knives out of his pockets.
- Character Name and the Noun Phrase
- Couldn't Find a Pen: Trapped in a secret room and dying, Blackburn uses his wedding ring to scratch the letters 'M O R' on the wall as a Dying Message.
- Curtain Camouflage: Holmes hides behind a curtain when he is searching Moriarty's house and Moriarty returns home.
- Detectives Follow Footprints: Holmes points out a trail of bloody footprints to Inspector Cooper that lead to the buried clothes.
- Dying Clue: Jenkins collapses on Holmes' doorstep and and is brought inside. Before dying, he gasps out the word "hare" and makes a flapping motion with his hands. Later, Blackburn is murdered inside a secret room and uses his wedding ring to scratch the letters M O R.
- Eyepatch of Power: Holmes wears one as part of his disguise to infiltrate Moriarty's gang.
- Harbinger of Impending Doom: The plot kicks off when the fatally wounded Jenkins collapses on Sherlock Holmes' doorstep and manages to pass on a cryptic Dying Clue before expiring.
- High-Class Glass: Professor Moriarty sports a monocle.
- MacGuffin: The eponymous necklace could be almost anything. Its only vital characteristics are that it is valuable and that Moriarty wants it.
- MacGuffin Title
- Master of Disguise: Holmes dons several disguises over the course of the movie.
- Sword Cane: Moriarty carries a walking stick that fires handleless knives.
