A Study in Terror

Plot

Although it is based on Conan Doyle's characters, the story is an original one, which has the famous detective on the trail of Jack the Ripper. In the dark alleys of nineteenth century London, the notorious Jack the Ripper committed a series of gruesome murders. The story of A Study in Terror challenges Sherlock Holmes to solve these horrific crimes. This leads Holmes through a trail of aristocracy, blackmail, and family insanity. Unlike Scotland Yard, and the real-life story, Holmes exposes the identity of the Ripper.

Cast

John Neville as Sherlock Holmes

Donald Houston as Dr. Watson

John Fraser as Edward Osborne, Lord Carfax / Jack the Ripper

Anthony Quayle as Doctor Murray

Barbara Windsor as Annie Chapman

Adrienne Corri as Angela Osborne

Frank Finlay as Inspector Lestrade

Judi Dench as Sally Young

Charles Régnier as Joseph Beck (as Charles Regnier)

Cecil Parker as Prime Minister

Barry Jones as Duke of Shires

Robert Morley as Mycroft Holmes

Dudley Foster as Home Secretary

Georgia Brown as The Singer

Peter Carsten as Max Steiner

Christiane Maybach as Polly Nichols

Kay Walsh as Cathy Eddowes

John Cairney as Michael Osborne

Edina Ronay as Mary Jane Kelly

Avis Bunnage as Landlady

Barbara Leake as Mrs. Hudson

Patrick Newell as PC Benson

Norma Foster as Elizabeth Stride

Terry Downes as Chunky

Reception

A Study in Terror was released with reviews mixed to positive. Critics criticised the incorrect chronological order of murders carried out by the Ripper, but praised the strong performances from the cast for a low budget film. A Study in Terror received praise regarding John Neville and Donald Houston's portrayal of Holmes and Watson, comparing it to Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce's portrayals of the duo in the 1939-1946 Sherlock Holmes film series.

Post-release history

In 1966, the film was made into a novel by Ellery Queen and Paul W. Fairman. The novelisation is unusual in that it adds a framing story wherein Ellery Queen reads a manuscript that re-tells the actions of the film. The framing story was written by Ellery Queen and the novelisation of the film itself by Fairman. Several plot points, including most notably the identity of the murderer, were altered for the novel.

The Holmes-Ripper idea was later taken up in Murder by Decree (1978), in which Frank Finlay reprised his role as Lestrade and Anthony Quayle once again had an important part (though this time as Sir Charles Warren of Scotland Yard).

The film inspired the writing of Sherlock Holmes's War of the Worlds, blending the story of Sherlock Holmes and the world of H.G Wells' science fiction novel The War of the Worlds.

Soundtrack

A Study in Terror (1965) was composed by John Scott in his first feature film score conducting the Hollywood Symphony Orchestra (HSO 333)