DRESSED TO KILL-1946 –Basil Rathbone & Nigel Bruce played Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson respectively for the final time in the last of the series produced by Universal Pictures.
This time Holmes investigates the connection between some small music boxes and some stolen 5 pound minting plates. Patricia Morison (who later became a Broadway star) plays the ruthless and cunning villainess who manages to outwit Holmes at one point and nearly has him asphyxiated! Watson does his usual bumbling but it’s one of the weakest entries despite being helmed by producer/director William Roy Neill (who’d worked on the series since 1943). The famous duo discuss another Holmes case “A Scandal In Bohemia” throughout the film (although Universal never adapted that story) and one crucial scene is actually taken from it. Also featured are Holmes Herbert, Ian Wolfe and Mary Gordon once again as Mrs. Hudson, the housekeeper.
Conspicuously absent is Dennis Hoey as Inspector LeStrade.
After this Rathbone refused to sign another contract to appear in the Holmes role. Since he was so identified with the character (a major reason why he wouldn’t re-sign) Universal dropped the whole series entirely! Though he would continue to make other films and even win a Tony Award in 1948 (for THE HEIRESS) the role of Holmes would always dog Rathbone. However according to The Internet Movie Database he planned to re-create the role and reunite with Nigel Bruce for a stage play in the 1950’s but Bruce died before the plan was realized.
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