**Possible Plot Spoilers**
The fictional world of Sherlock Holmes meets the factual one of Jack the Ripper, as the world's most famous detective investigates the world's most famous unsolved murders.
The slightly camp approach to Sherlock Holmes is not in evidence here and we are presented with a relatively straight thriller, abounding with atmosphere and surprisingly graphic murders.
'A Study in Terror' marked the attempt of Compton, a sexploitation film company, to break into the mainstream horror market. As such they seem to have put a lot of effort into the film with many beneficial results. The cast is very good and littered with quality names in supporting roles ( Anthony Quayle, Robert Morley, Frank Finlay, etc.), whilst the storyline offers surprising depth.
The Jack the Ripper storyline bases itself on fact to a degree, with the real victims names used as characters and the theory concerning an aristocratic cover-up explored. As a murder-mystery the film plays extremely well. A variety of characters are introduced as possible suspects and the fog-shrouded street locations are used effectively. Whilst no classic, the film still ranks as one of the best to feature Conan Doyle's master detective.
MOST MEMORABLE SCENE - a squawking Barbara Windsor, about to become the next Ripper victim, offering a freebie to Chunky the slaughterman and being turned down.
The fictional world of Sherlock Holmes meets the factual one of Jack the Ripper, as the world's most famous detective investigates the world's most famous unsolved murders.
The slightly camp approach to Sherlock Holmes is not in evidence here and we are presented with a relatively straight thriller, abounding with atmosphere and surprisingly graphic murders.
'A Study in Terror' marked the attempt of Compton, a sexploitation film company, to break into the mainstream horror market. As such they seem to have put a lot of effort into the film with many beneficial results. The cast is very good and littered with quality names in supporting roles ( Anthony Quayle, Robert Morley, Frank Finlay, etc.), whilst the storyline offers surprising depth.
The Jack the Ripper storyline bases itself on fact to a degree, with the real victims names used as characters and the theory concerning an aristocratic cover-up explored. As a murder-mystery the film plays extremely well. A variety of characters are introduced as possible suspects and the fog-shrouded street locations are used effectively. Whilst no classic, the film still ranks as one of the best to feature Conan Doyle's master detective.
MOST MEMORABLE SCENE - a squawking Barbara Windsor, about to become the next Ripper victim, offering a freebie to Chunky the slaughterman and being turned down.