The Crucifer of Blood *** (1991, Charlton Heston, Richard Johnson, Susannah Harker, Simon Callow, John Castle, Edward Fox) – Classic Movie Review 2584

All-American actor Charlton Heston (born plain John Carter) dons the British sleuth deerstalker and gets to play Sherlock Holmes for a surprisingly successful Sir Arthur Conan Doyle outing. It is tensely and atmospherically directed by his own son, Fraser Clarke Heston, who also writes the intelligent script.

The plot, based on the novel The Sign of Four, may be third-hand Arthur Conan Doyle as is adapted from Paul Giovanni’s 1970s Broadway stage play. But all the classic Holmes ingredients are carefully in place, while the yarn is given backbone by practised British regulars Richard Johnson (Dr Watson), Simon Callow (Inspector Lestrade), John Castle and Edward Fox.

Susannah Harker plays Irene St Claire, who enlists the help of Holmes and Watson for her father (Castle ), a veteran of the Great Indian Mutiny, now a hopeless opium addict. The mystery is tied to a blood pact of secrecy made in India.

Also in the cast are Clive Wood, James Coyle, Kaleem Janjua, Stefan Kalipha, Kiran Shah, Sidney Livingstone and Lloyd McGuire.

It proves a sleek and entertaining filmed for TV jaunt through fog-bound Victorian London, with a notable score by Carl Davis.

British actor Richard Johnson, who appeared in such films as Deadlier than the Male, Khartoum, The Haunting and The Pumpkin Eater but turned down an offer to play James Bond in Dr No, died on June 6 2015, aged 87.  Johnson, who was married to actress Kim Novak in the 1960s, died after a short illness at the Royal Marsden Hospital in Chelsea, London.

© Derek Winnert 2015 Classic Movie Review 2584

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