Sherlock Holmes and the Deadly Necklace (1962)

Sherlock Holmes and the Deadly Necklace is a brisk, old-school mystery that feels like slipping into a foggy Victorian backstreet—moody, elegant, and happily unhurried in its pleasures. Christopher Lee brings a cool, commanding intelligence to Holmes, while Thorley Walters’ Watson isn’t just comic relief but a warmly human counterbalance, and Hans Söhnker lends Moriarty a satisfying steeliness that keeps the tension humming. The hunt for Cleopatra’s stolen necklace gives the film a pulpy, treasure-chase kick, and the atmosphere and cinematography do a lot of the heavy lifting, bathing the story in shadowy intrigue. It’s not the most intricate Holmes ever put on screen, but if you’re on the fence and you like classic, watchable thrillers with strong performances and a cozy sense of menace, this one earns an evening.

Sherlock Holmes and the Deadly Necklace wants to be a brisk, globe-trotting Holmes caper with exotic treasure-hunt stakes, and you can see the appeal of that old-school setup. The problem is the execution: the dubbing is so intrusive it keeps pulling you out of scenes, and the script tangles itself into a convoluted mystery that rarely feels clever or satisfying. Direction and pacing swing wildly, making the whole thing feel more like a patchwork co-production than a confident thriller. If you’re a Holmes completist or you enjoy bargain-basement Euro curiosities, you might find some charm in its atmosphere, but anyone expecting sharp deduction, polished storytelling, or strong performances will likely feel shortchanged.