TERROR BY NIGHT. Universal Pictures, 1946. Basil Rathbone, Nigel Bruce, Alan Mowbray, Dennis Hoey, Renee Godfrey. Screenplay: Frank Gruber, based on characters created by Arthur Conan Doyle. Director: Roy William Neill.

   Sherlock Holmes is hired to guard the fabulous “Star of Rhodesia” diamond, being taken back to Scotland by train, but murder is committed under his nose instead. Dr. Watson tries his hand at investigating, in competition with Inspector Lestrade, to little avail.

   The first half of this movie is splendid – there is something about murder on a train to bring out the detective in anyone -– but the story falls apart when the perpetrator is identified with absolutely no detective work being done at all. Sheer frustration.