Sherlock Holmes And The Deadly Necklace (1962)

The renowned detective Sherlock Holmes (Christopher Lee), assisted by his loyal companion Dr. Watson (Thorley Walters), takes on his nemesis Professor Moriarty (Hans Sohnker) in regards to a priceless stolen necklace thought to have belonged to Cleopatra. Very loosely based on VALLEY OF FEAR by Arthur Conan Doyle and directed by Hammer veteran Terence Fisher from a screenplay by Curt Siodmak (I WALKED WITH A ZOMBIE) though it appears other hands reworked Siodmak's script. This Anglo-German (more German than Anglo) production seems to be a product of too many cooks in the kitchen. It doesn't feel like an authentic Holmes mystery. The entire cast (even the British actors) are dubbed which hampers Lee's otherwise fine performance as Holmes. The movie is often incoherent. I still don't get the motive behind the murder of Wolfgang Lukschy's character. All one can do is commiserate on what could have been if Fisher and Lee were allowed to do their jobs. Watchable ..... just. With lovely Senta Berger, Ivan Desny, Leon Askin and Hans Nielsen.