The House of Fear

The House of Fear Original Theatrical Poster Country USA Directed by Roy William Neill Release Date 1945 Studio Universal Pictures Main Cast Character Actor Sherlock Holmes Basil Rathbone Dr. Watson Nigel Bruce Bruce Alastair Aubrey Mather Inspector Lestrade Dennis Hoey Dr. Simon Merivale Paul Cavanagh Alan Cosgrave Holmes Herbert Captain John Simpson Harry Cording Mr. Chalmers Gavin Muir

The House of Fear is an American 1945 detective movie, directed by Roy William Neill and starring Basil Rathbone as Sherlock Holmes and Nigel Bruce as Dr. Watson. This is the tenth installment to the series of fourteen Sherlock Holmes films starring Rathbone and Bruce. The story is loosely adapted from Arthur Conan Doyle's "The Adventure of the Five Orange Pips". Holmes investigates a series of murders among a group of men, calling themselves "The Good Comrades", living in the remote Scottish castle. Before each murder the victim received an envelope with several orange pips.

The following weapons were used in the film The House of Fear:

Webley Bulldog

Webley Bulldog revolvers are seen in hands of Sherlock Holmes (Basil Rathbone), Dr. Watson (Nigel Bruce) and Inspector Lestrade (Dennis Hoey). Due to numerous continuity errors, Bulldogs (likely a single prop reused) constantly switch to other revolvers, described below.

Webley British Bulldog - .45 caliber - 1870s

Watson sleeps with his Bulldog in hand.

Watson picks up the revolver that he dropped of the floor when being attacked (a lobby card (see below) shows the revolver on the table).

Holmes holds a Webley. In next moment the revolver switches to a Colt DS.

Lestrade holds a Webley Bulldog (instead of previously seen top-break Iver Johnson) and Capt. Simpson's Colt DS.

Holmes holds a Bulldog on a promotional image.

Same scene is seen on a lobby card. Strangely, the revolver is painted gold.

A lobby card shows Watson's revolver on the table (in the movie it falls on the floor).

Colt Detective Special

Colt Detective Special revolvers (also likely a single prop reused) are seen in hands of Sherlock Holmes (Basil Rathbone), Dr. Watson (Nigel Bruce), Captain John Simpson (Harry Cording) and Inspector Lestrade (Dennis Hoey), several times switching from and to another revolvers.

Colt Detective Special 1st Gen with Square Butt - .38 Special

When Watson returns from outside, his Webley Bulldog switches to a Colt Detective Special due to another continuity error (and when he goes outside, he is briefly seen with a top-break revolver).

Troubled Watson holds the revolver.

Watson blindly fires at each and every suspictious shadow.

Holmes, who holds a Webley Bulldog in previous moment, now is seen with a Colt DS.

Capt. Simpson draws his Colt and tries to shoot at Lestrade...

...but Holmes wounds Simpson at hand.

Lestrade opens the cylinder of Simpson's Colt and counts the rounds.

Lestrade with his Iver Johnson (again switching from a Bulldog) and Simpson's Colt.

Iver Johnson Safety Automatic

Inspector Lestrade (Dennis Hoey) carries a top-break revolver, most likely an Iver Johnson Safety Automatic. Due to a continuity error, this revolver is hold by Holmes in one scene.

Iver Johnson Safety Automatic - .38 S&W

Lestrade holds his revolver when he finds Holmes searching in a storeroom.

Holmes holds same revolver when he and Lestrade returns from the investigation of the murder of Alec MacGregor.

Holmes and Lestrade find out that the sounds of gunshots were result of Watson's blindly firing at each and every suspictious shadow.

Lestrade againt holds the top-break revolver when he arrests "The Good Comrades" who faked their deaths.

The muzzle of Lestrade's revolver is seen. In next moment this revolver switches to a Webley Bulldog due to another continuity error.

And then the revolver switches back to Iver Johnson.

Lestrade holds the Iver Johnson revolver during the arrest of "The Good Comrades" on a promotional image.

Same scene on a lobby card.