The Masks of Death

Years after retiring to a quiet life, Sherlock Holmes is drawn back into detective work when a string of baffling deaths appears to have no visible cause. Scotland Yard asks him to look into the inexplicable fatalities while a supposedly allied noble, Graf Udo Von Felseck, hires him to locate a missing young prince whose disappearance could spark international conflict. As Holmes and Dr. Watson follow clues old and new, the case weaves together medical mystery and political intrigue, with personal loyalties and hidden motives complicating the path to truth. The story keeps its central surprises intact, focusing on investigation and character rather than sensational reveals.

This was a 1984 television film directed by Roy Ward Baker, adapted from material by Arthur Conan Doyle with contributions from N.J. Crisp and Anthony Hinds. Peter Cushing headlined as Sherlock Holmes, supported by John Mills, Anne Baxter, Ray Milland, and Anton Diffring, giving the production a veteran, theatrical feel.

The film did not attract major awards or nominations and remained a modest entry in Holmes adaptations, more often noted by genre historians than by mainstream award bodies.

Among Sherlock Holmes fans the movie is remembered for boasting a distinguished, older cast and for being one of Peter Cushing's later portrayals of the detective. It occasionally crops up in discussions about screen interpretations of Holmes, especially when comparing mid 20th century television treatments to later, more modern takes.

Critical response was mixed, and general audience ratings are modest, the film holding a vote average of 5.231 out of 10 from a small sample. Reviewers tended to praise the performances and period atmosphere while noting a slow pace and conventional plotting. The themes center on aging, duty, and political deception, with the thriller elements leaning on character interactions more than spectacle.