Sherlock Holmes - E23: The Case of the Christmas Pudding
30min | Crime, Drama, Mystery | TV Series (1954–1955)
When a serial killer is sentenced to death, he issues a threat that he will kill Sherlock Holmes before he himself is executed.
Stars: Ronald Howard, Howard Marion-Crawford, Archie Duncan
30min | Crime, Drama, Mystery | TV Series (1954–1955)
When a serial killer is sentenced to death, he issues a threat that he will kill Sherlock Holmes before he himself is executed.
Stars: Ronald Howard, Howard Marion-Crawford, Archie Duncan
Category
🎥
Short filmTranscript
00:30JOHN HENRY NORTON
00:59You have been tried and have been found guilty of murder in the first degree.
01:04It is never with pleasure that this court meets our punishment,
01:08no matter how richly deserved.
01:11How much more painful becomes the task in this season of goodwill toward men.
01:16Nevertheless, it only remains for me to ask
01:20if you have anything to say before I pass sentence upon you.
01:30John Henry Norton.
01:32You shall be returned to the place from whence you were taken.
01:36And from there, at the time and place to be arranged,
01:40you shall be hanged by the neck until you are dead.
01:44And may God have mercy upon your soul.
01:50Remove the prisoner.
02:00John!
02:03Never mind, my love.
02:05Just remember to bring me my Christmas pudding.
02:08John!
02:12There's a long way between a sentence and the end of a rope, Mr. Holmes.
02:16I'll kill you before I die!
02:23I swear it!
02:26Court's adjourned.
02:50Well, what a way to begin Christmas.
02:53My Christmas began the moment that man was out of sight.
02:57Yet Mrs. Norton, No. 6, still believes in him.
03:00It's incredible, isn't it?
03:02Testimonial to his charm, Watson.
03:04Charm being the first requisite of every blue beard.
03:07Yes, let me see. What is it? Three widows, two spinsters?
03:10You really had him the one before last.
03:12Yes, and I would have if the star witness hadn't bolted.
03:19Holmes, that thread he made against you...
03:23Oh, Watson, remind me to buy another A-string, will you?
03:26Of course, I know it's all ridiculous,
03:28but why do you think he should indulge in such a bluff?
03:31Well, you know, the criminal mind travels in devious channels, Watson.
03:36However, don't worry, old chap,
03:38because if he sends me cyanide, I just won't take it.
03:43Well, let me play you a carol, Watson.
03:57I'm Mrs. Norton.
03:59Oh, thank you, Watson.
04:05What is it?
04:11Soon...
04:13I'll be back.
04:15I'll be back.
04:17I'll be back.
04:19I'll be back.
04:21I'll be back.
04:23I'll be back.
04:25Soon...
04:26Well, what does that mean?
04:28John Henry Norton, striking terror.
04:32From prison?
04:34He has friends outside.
04:36What are you going to do?
04:37I'm going to Newgate Prison.
04:42We've taken every possible precaution, Mr. Holmes.
04:45For example, his food is served already cut,
04:48bones removed on wooden dishes, wooden spoons and forks.
04:51All the furniture, still, is fastened down.
04:54You can seat yourself, if you wish.
04:56Thank you, I should like to.
05:04Christmas gifts for the inmates.
05:06Every parcel will be properly examined before it's handed on.
05:09I see. Any for Norton?
05:11None so far. This way, please.
05:48What do you want?
05:49Just an inspection. Stay where you are.
05:54I said soon, Holmes.
05:56But not quite this soon.
06:02Just wait.
06:06I'll get you.
06:08Your neck.
06:10Between these two hands.
06:15How often do inspectors bed him?
06:17Every morning and evening.
06:19Thank you, I think I've seen enough.
06:22Don't get too worried, Mr. Holmes.
06:24In just ten days, it'll all be over.
06:26Yes, of course.
06:28Soon, Holmes! Soon!
06:30Soon, Holmes! Soon!
06:44Well, I must say, that visit put my mind at ease.
06:47It did?
06:49And did yours?
06:51Norton's whole career has been built on his ability to inspire confidence.
06:55I believe him, Watson.
06:57What?
06:59You mean, you think he's going to kill you?
07:02I believe he's going to try.
07:04But, my dear friend, you've seen it yourself.
07:06How could he get out?
07:08That's the question, Watson.
07:13Come in.
07:19Mrs. Norton, sir.
07:23Mrs. Norton?
07:25How do you do, sir?
07:27You have a present for your husband?
07:29Just this, sir. A pudding I made for my husband.
07:31May I give it to him, please?
07:33All parcels for prisoners have to be inspected, Mrs. Norton.
07:36Yes, sir, that's what the guard said.
07:38Here it is.
07:50I'm not very much of a cook, sir,
07:52but I do make a nice Christmas pudding.
07:54I'm afraid I shall have to spoil its looks a bit.
07:56Still, I expect it will taste just as good.
08:20There we are.
08:23May I? I did so want it to look nice.
08:26Of course. Go ahead.
08:44Simmons?
08:47Yes, sir?
08:49Mrs. Norton may see the prisoner.
08:51And may I take this to him myself, sir?
08:53Well, I think we can make an exception in your case, Mrs. Norton.
08:57Yes, you may.
08:59Take her along, Simmons.
09:01Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.
09:05Wait!
09:07I'll take her myself.
09:17You have a visitor, Norton.
09:21John.
09:23I brought your Christmas pudding.
09:25May I?
09:28There's brandy in it, and caramel.
09:30Just the way you like it, John.
09:32You're sweet and thoughtful, Beth.
09:34I've been looking forward to this.
09:36I'm afraid it's cut up a bit, Norton,
09:38but your wife's not responsible for that.
09:40Regulations, you know.
09:42May I?
09:44Is there anything else you want that I can bring you?
09:46No, my dear. Nothing, thanks.
09:48This is all the Christmas present I want.
09:50Thanks for letting her bring it to me, Gordon.
09:53Goodbye, John.
09:55Goodbye.
10:14Goodbye.
10:30An ominous cloud continued to hang over our Baker Street flat
10:34for all that either of us could do to dispel it.
10:38It was Christmas,
10:40but there was still the condemned man's threat.
10:43If Holmes didn't make light of it, how could I?
10:46Merry Christmas, sir.
10:48And a very merry Christmas to you.
10:50Thank you, sir. Go on, old girl.
11:05It's you.
11:09Anything wrong?
11:12I see you've brought it.
11:14Yes, well, no Christmas is complete without a yule log,
11:18even if they do have to cut it up to fit city flats.
11:24Now then, Holmes, what's all this greeting me with a revolver?
11:27Is it Norton?
11:29Do you believe in intuition, Watson?
11:32What, you mean six cents, Nathalie?
11:35Yes.
11:37Why?
11:39Well, I was going...
11:42It doesn't matter.
11:45It's this weather, you know.
11:49You think he's going to escape, don't you?
11:51What? He was still in prison at 4 o'clock.
11:55Oh, I see what you mean, Watson.
11:57You mean one mustn't underestimate the resourcefulness of men like Norton.
12:01No, naturally. Of course not.
12:03Mm-hm.
12:06Watson, I'd take it very kindly if you could...
12:11well, clear out of here for a week or so.
12:15Take a room at a hotel.
12:17Oh? Why?
12:19Well, I've some research work to do on blood types,
12:23and I think I'd get through it much more quickly on my own.
12:26I'll foot the bill, of course.
12:28Nonsense.
12:30All the same, I wish you'd go.
12:32Nonsense.
12:34I insist, Watson.
12:36There's no reason at all why you should risk your life.
12:41Look here, old man.
12:43Your danger is quite enough for me.
12:45Now, not another word, eh?
12:48I'll, uh, make some tea.
12:50A nice, hot cup of tea.
12:52Wonderful for the intuition.
14:32Oh!
15:02Oh!
15:33KNOCKING ON DOOR
15:56Who is it?
15:58It's Luce, Mr Holmes, the governor of Newbridge Cairns.
16:03Come in, sir.
16:08Mr Holmes, I've come to tell you...
16:10That Norton has escaped.
16:13In view of his threats against your life,
16:15I felt you should be warned at once.
16:17What's more, I brought a policeman to stand guard at your entrance door all night.
16:21Thank you. That's very thoughtful of you, governor.
16:24We're scouring the city for him now, but, well, in this fog...
16:27Yes, of course, of course. I understand.
16:29When did he escape?
16:31He was in his bunk around 2 o'clock,
16:33so it must have been between then and 2.30.
16:36How did he get out?
16:38The bars of his cell window were sawn through.
16:40Don't ask me how he managed it.
16:42He used his blanket to slide down to freedom.
16:44But I'm beginning back.
16:46The smith here will take orders from you till he's relieved.
16:49I'm sorry, Mr Holmes.
16:51Good night, Dr Watson. Good night, governor.
16:53Come, smith. Take your post.
17:02How on earth did he get hold of a hacksaw?
17:04That's not important now, Watson.
17:06I want you to do something for me.
17:08Really?
17:10Norton is probably counting on the support of his wife.
17:12I want you to go to their house and make quite certain
17:15that he gets no help from that quarter.
17:17But the police will be there already.
17:19We can't be sure of that.
17:21You see, the police are probably working on the theory
17:23that that's the last place on earth he'd go.
17:26I see. You think he may be counting on them.
17:28All right, I'll go directly. I'm ready.
17:30All right, I'll go directly. I'm ready.
18:31It took me some time,
18:33what with the fog and the difficulty of getting a cab,
18:35to reach Mrs Norton's flat.
18:37When I arrived, the police were already there,
18:39making sure that Mrs Norton did not leave.
18:42Of course, Holmes had known they would be,
18:45and I suddenly realized he had pushed me out of the flat
18:48so that I would not be exposed to danger.
18:50I started back at once.
19:01Robertson here.
19:03Smith here.
19:05They sent me down here to see if everything was all right.
19:07All quiet.
19:10Both of them up there?
19:12No. The doctor went after Norton's home.
19:14Uh-huh.
19:16Mr Holder's alone now.
19:18Snug in bed while you stand here shivering, eh?
19:20The fog does get into one's bones.
19:22Would you like a cup of tea?
19:24Not after.
19:26Listen, I'll take over.
19:28There's a cabman's shelter over on the next street.
19:30The tea's hot and strong.
19:32Just had a cup myself.
19:34Thanks. And keep your eyes open.
19:36They say that Mrs Norton's a rough one.
19:38I can handle him.
19:40Won't be more than ten minutes.
19:42Oh, don't hurry. Take your time.
19:58Mr Holmes?
20:00Yes?
20:02I have a message for you from the warden, sir.
20:04Should I slip it under the door?
20:06It's all right. I'll open the door.
20:28Mr Holmes?
20:30Yes? Over here.
20:32You can leave the message on the table there.
20:34Yes, sir.
20:40I'm holding a gun, Mr Holmes.
20:42Don't move.
20:54I told you I'd get you, Mr Holmes.
20:58Now they'll get me.
21:00But I don't care.
21:02I've had my revenge.
21:20Officer, this is John Norton, the man you want.
21:22Take him away.
21:24Holmes!
21:26Are you all right?
21:28Perfectly all right, thank you, Watson.
21:38Well, I must say that Mr Norton,
21:40besides being an authority on poisons,
21:42was also a deadly shot.
21:48Well, what happened?
21:50Well, I was waiting here for him, and when he arrived,
21:52he, uh, he destroyed what he thought was me.
21:58So that's why you sent me
22:00on that fool's errand.
22:02Well, I thought it was safer for you.
22:04But you might have been killed!
22:06Really, Holmes, you must leave this sort of thing
22:08to people who are more used to it.
22:10Oh, now, really, Watson, you don't mean to say that you're...
22:12Now, you listen to me.
22:14The next time this sort of thing happens,
22:16I'm going to have you locked up for your own good.
22:18A very idea. I'm absolutely furious.
22:20Why, I... I...
22:22I just don't know.
22:24Sometimes I think you just need a nurse!
22:28Someone pass him a hacksaw. I want that man.
22:30It's up to you to find him.
22:32I'll give you 24 hours.
22:34Otherwise, every god who was on duty in that wing will be dismissed.
22:36Do you understand? But, sir...
22:38Find him! Those are orders.
22:50Come in, Mr. Holmes.
22:52Dr. Watson.
22:56I've just issued an ultimatum to my staff.
22:58I want them to find the man who passed,
23:00not in that hacksaw.
23:02Yes, sir, so we heard.
23:04I couldn't have believed that I'd had a man
23:06working for me who could be bribed.
23:08But that's the only explanation.
23:10Perhaps, and then again, perhaps not.
23:12There were some packages on this table.
23:14Gifts for the prisoners.
23:16Has anything arrived subsequently?
23:18Has anything arrived subsequently for Norton?
23:20Yes, a pudding.
23:22But I examined it myself.
23:24Well, that's hardly the place to hide a hacksaw, Holmes.
23:26No, I suppose not, Watson.
23:28Might we, uh...
23:30inspect the cell, please?
23:32If you wish, but you won't find anything there to help you.
23:34This way.
23:48Oh, his pudding came in that.
23:54Here's your answer, Governor.
23:56Oh, come now, Holmes.
23:58A cardboard box with a bit of fancy string round it.
24:00Who passed this to Norton?
24:02I did myself.
24:04After inspecting it, of course.
24:06Well, uh, this is what he used
24:08to saw through the bars with.
24:10That?
24:12Well, that's the only explanation I have.
24:14Well, that's the only explanation I have.
24:16That?
24:18Watch.
24:28Now take a look at that.
24:32Well, how's that possible?
24:34What's the hardest substance known?
24:36Um, a diamond.
24:38Well, this sort of string
24:40is usually made to glitter with an application of powdered glass.
24:42But if a section of it
24:44is made on a stronger base
24:46with a coating of diamond dust instead,
24:48then you have a very effective
24:50cutting tool indeed.
24:52And you gave it to Norton yourself,
24:54Governor.
24:58It's extraordinary.
25:00Not extraordinary at all, my dear Watson.
25:02Really quite ordinary.
25:04After all,
25:06diamond dust has been cutting
25:08steel for a good many years.
25:10Hmm.
25:12Shall we go?
25:16Oh, Merry Christmas, Governor.
25:18Of course.
25:20Merry Christmas,
25:22Dr. Holmes, Mr.
25:24Mr. Holmes,
25:26Dr. Watson.
25:28A very Merry Christmas.
25:42Merry Christmas.
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