Sherlock Is Back!

 

 (imdb)

SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE SECRET WEAPON1942-Sherlock Holmes (Basil Rathbone) smuggles bomb inventor Dr. Toben (William Post Jr.) out of Nazi occupied France. Once safe at 221 Baker Street, the ingrate sneaks out to see a girlfriend and give her a letter. On the way back, he's attacked. He survives and the next day there is a demonstration of his new aerial bomb. For some reason he doesn't want to divulge the secret and gives 4 parts to 4 different scientists (one is played by Henry Victor). Later Holmes deduces that Prof. Moriarty (Lionel Atwill) has kidnapped Toben. Holmes adopts several disguises in this modern WW 2 propaganda mystery and has a weird haircut. It marks the first appearance of Inspector Lestrade (Dennis Hoey) who isn't as pompous as in later films. 

Of course, Nigel Bruce is back as Dr. Watson as is Mary Gordon as Mrs. Hudson. There are unbilled appearances by Rudolph Anders, Whit Bissell, Veda Ann Borg, Paul Bryar, Harry Cording, James Craven, Paul Fix and Michael Mark. 

This is the first Holmes adventure directed by Roy William Neil, who'd go on to produce and direct the rest of the series.

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Holmes Is Back!

PURSUIT TO ALGIERS-1945-Sherlock Holmes (Basil Rathbone) and Dr. Watson (Nigel Bruce) are planning a vacation in Scotland. After some mumbo-jumbo about fish & chips, a committee wants Holmes to escort Prince Nicolas (Leslie Vincent), young heir to the throne of his native country Rovenia. The intrepid duo split up with the doctor taking a boat to the Mediterranean while Holmes takes a mysterious airline ride. For a short time Watson believes Holmes is dead but he shows up on board alive with Nicolas who then pretends to be Watson's nephew. A sinister trio, Gregor (Rex Evans), Mirko (Martin Kosleck) and Gubec (Wee Willie Davis) are after the prince. A woman named Shelia (Marjorie Riordan) carries the stolen jewels of a duchess. A twist ending reveals who the real future king is. Final scene seems edited.

 Once again this “modern day” Holmes mystery was produced and directed by Roy William Neill. PURSUIT makes mention of several “unrecorded” Holmes cases including “The Giant Rat of Sumatra”. It's also the only entry that has no scenes at the Baker Street flat so Mrs. Hudson doesn't appear. John Abbot has a small role though.

This was the 12th of 14 Holmes/Watson stories produced by Universal. TERROR BY NIGHT was next.

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Quick Hound

HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES-1972-Many people seem to have forgotten this TV movie version of the famous A. Conan Doyle story was ever made. 

It features Stewart Granger as Sherlock Holmes and Bernard Fox as Dr. Watson. They are not the best actors to play the team but for a TV movie they aren’t bad. Capt. Kirk himself William “Canadian Ham” Shatner is the suspicious and smirk George Stapleton and also plays the doomed Richard Baskerville in a pre-credit flashback. Also with Anthony Zerbe, Sally Ann Howes and Allan Caillou as Inspector Lestrade. Director Barry Crane was a busy TV director at the the time.

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Elementary My Dear Blogger

TERROR BY NIGHT-Universal-1946-Murder On The Orient Express Sherlock Holmes style. Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce return as Arthur Conan Doyle’s famous duo.

Holmes is called in to protect the famed “Star Of India”. Nearly all of the story takes place on a moving train bound for Scotland. Of course, the diamond gets stolen and there are a few murders, most from a poison dart. Suspects naturally, abound. A mysterious woman (Vivian Vedder) with a coffin (that has a secret compartment), a conductor (the always creepy Skelton Knaggs), a cranky professor (Frederick Worlock) and Watson’s old friend (Alan Mowbray) are all suspects. Holmes deduces that it could be the work of Col. Sebastian Moran, a former henchman of the insidious Dr. Moriarty! But no one knows what he looks like! Inspector LeStrade (Dennis Hoey) is on board too and he and Holmes actually work together for a change. Watson is his usual incompetent self until the climax where he actually helps out a bit!

This was the second to last entry in the very successful series, all of them (since SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE SECRET WEAPON in 1942) directed (and produced and even occasionally written) by Roy William Neil, the underrated veteran responsible for THE BLACK ROOM (1935), FRANKENSTEIN MEETS THE WOLF MAN (1943) and a host of others. Sadly, he died later in ’46 at the age of 59 after making two more pictures. Screenwriter Frank Gruber wrote MASK OF DIMITRIOS (1944) and the last Holmes effort DRESSED TO KILL. Make-up was provided by the soon to be released master Jack Pierce.

Because this blog is up in the air and backwards, I reviewed the last Rathbone/Holmes movie first. Here's the link in case you are interested:

http://moviemeltdown.blogspot.com/2008/07/curse-of-mr-basilbone.html

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The Curse of Mr. Basilbone

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.

"A consultant is someone who saves his client almost enough money to pay his fee"-Arnold Glasgow

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