The Assyrian Rejuvenator

Donald Sinden was a noted Shakespearean actor. However most people knew him for light comedy which he effortlessly excelled at. He certainly gives a fruity performance played somewhat for laughs as Romney Pringle.

Like Horace Dorrington, this rival of Sherlock Holmes was another amoral dodgy detective. His first aim was always to line his own pockets.

It takes a thief to catch a thief. Sergeant Hawkins asks Pringle to go after a conman called Henry Jacobs who is selling an elixir to restore lost youth called the Assyrian Rejuvenator.

Pringle quickly persuades Jacobs to scarper and he sees an opportunity make a nice profit by taking over his operation and the contents of his safe. The money is used by Pringle to clear his bank overdraft.

The blighter also leads on Doris who was heavily involved in the scam with Jacobs. Poor Doris she is smittened with Pringle.

Whereas Dorrington came a cropper with his scheming. Pringle looks like he comes out smelling of roses. He also makes money out of an amorous old duffer Colonel Sandstream who got the portion to impress a music hall artiste Suzy Shepherd and hires Pringle to get the scoundrel Jacobs.

Pringle should be a proper rascal but thanks to Sinden who also gets to dress up as an older character, there is a roguish charm to him. There is a lovely performance from Alethea Charlton as Doris. Many people would know her as the cavewoman in the first ever Doctor Who adventure, An Unearthly Child.