In a Scottish town, a group of 7 men created a club called the Good Comrades. Recently, one of the comrades received an envelope that contained 6 orange pips. Soon after, he died a horrible death. Then an envelope arrived for another comrade, this time with 5 orange pips. He too died a horrible death. It was at this point that the insurance company called upon Sherlock Holmes (Basil Rathbone). Each man had life insurance which was paid to the surviving members of Good Comrades; they suspect foul play by one of the remaining members. Holmes and Watson (Nigel Bruce) arrive to investigate. There is reason to suspect everyone. Despite their presence, the envelopes of orange pips come and horrible deaths follow. Can Holmes uncover the culprit before more men die horribly?
The story bears little resemblance to The Adventure of The Five Orange Pips. Most of the Good Comrades aren't good; Holmes even noted that one of them had gotten away with murder through a legal loophole, a fact that put him on the top of the suspect list. The idea of 7 men living in a remote castle seems bizarre to a modern viewer. Maybe that was more typical in a bygone era. Lestrade (Dennis Hoey) arrives to bumble around and contrast with Holmes' keen observations.
Entertaining to watch but disappointing as a whodunit. Holmes only catches the villain because the villain took an action that, in retrospect, makes no sense. Holmes can explain everything at that point but had been helpless to prevent the continuing murders. Though not a great movie, it is always fun to watch Rathbone and Bruce.
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