Holmes (Basil Rathbone) and Watson (Nigel Bruce) are at see in Pursuit to Algiers. Roy William Neill continues to direct and produce the entries, which they seem to be cranking out like clockwork.

The duo find themselves on babysitting duty this time out, as they are asked to accompany Prince Nikolas (Leslie Vincent) home to Algiers when his schooling in England is completed. His father was assassinated, and Holmes is determined to keep him safe.

Things don’t go smoothly, and Holmes and the Prince head out by small plane, while Watson masquerades as the prince aboard an ocean liner. Holmes things there’s more going on here than is seen at first glance.

While aboard the liner, Watson receives word that Holmes’ plan has gone down. Watson is very upset, and he seems to have his hands full with a number of possible villains, and dangers. But Holmes is aboard, in disguise!

And Holmes will have to keep his charge safe amidst all the trouble. Nikolas pretends to be Watson’s nephew. Holmes deduces that a lovely brunette who has charmed Watson, Sheila (Marjorie Riordan), is one of the villains and is the thief that stole an important jewel that is mentioned at the beginning of the story.

There are assassins aboard, distractions deductions, and abductions, but in the end, it all ends up pretty well for Holmes, Watson and Nikolas.

There’s a lot going on in this one, most of it is just meant to throw off the viewer with red herrings. And over all, it’s a bit of a simple adventure for Holmes. But it will have to be simple, because once again, the film runs for barely an hour.

It’s all about misdirection, red herrings, and disguises, and while a bit of a romp, it doesn’t have the same sense of insightful deductions and gravitas that the earlier films seemed to have.

They are fun films, but I’m bothered by the fact that they let Watson think Holmes was dead, again. It’s a cruel trick, and seems designed to make Bruce’s Watson look a bit of the fool. And his character, his loyalty and friendship deserve a bit more than that. Adversely, I don’t think we really needed to see him singing.

The journey is almost at a close, there are two more adventures to go, and while I am loving the chemistry and the characterization that Rathbone and Bruce bring to the roles, I find myself wishing for just a little more from story, from the mystery, from what we know and love Holmes for.

Still, it is good fun, and makes for a nice matinee.