OK. What was in the water back in 1939? Was there a conspiracy to make, like, a HUNDRED movies that would last for all time?

Gone With The Wind, Gunga Din, Wizard of Oz, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington...there's like two dozen more that you'd know by name...
...and THIS was made then TOO?

Inconceivable!

Anyways, this film is a great place to get to know Sherlock Holmes by way of Basil Rathbone. I can't imagine anyone else in the role (although others honestly have done a fine job) and when I read the novels, I 'see' him.

I love the interplay between Holmes and Nigel Bruce's Dr. Watson...they simply have the parts nailed. Nailed, nailed, nailed.

The breathless story involves, among other things, Professor Moriarty (of course), a diabolical nefarious "crime of the century", a mysterious woman, men of dubious intentions, a smattering of murders, and trying to find a fiddle note that irritates houseflies.

This is one of those movies that will have you saying, after it's over, "they sure don't make 'em like they used to!"

After seeing this, I went out and bought ALL of the remaining, lovingly remastered Rathbone/Bruce films, and plan on spending a few lazy Sunday afternoons with Mr. Holmes.

Fans of the Basil Rathbone-Nigel Bruce "Sherlock Holmes" series have a particular fondness for this 1939 Fox release -- the last period adventure before Holmes and Dr. Watson re-emerged in a World War II setting at Universal Studios. Fox's high production values make this particular Holmes caper a standout, with classic performances from Rathbone, Bruce and George Zucco (as Professor Moriarty). Thanks to an excellent 35mm print from the UCLA Film and Television Archive, the newly remastered DVD is a definite keeper for devotees of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

I grew up with this version of Sherlock Holmes - every Sunday afternoon I was glued to the TV as the masterful Mr Holmes solved yet another mystery. OK, for Sherlock Holmes purists, the Basil Rathbone version of Sherlock may be loathsome, but I found them to be wonderful film noir. This movie, like Hound of the Baskervilles is set in the original Victorian time period, unlike the later Rathbone version movies. Growing up seeing Holmes take on the Nazis, I guess gave me a comofortable vision of Holmes that Baskervilles and this movie lacks - I guess I'm not all that interested in Vicotrian England setting, so for me Baskervilles and this movie were someone disappointing. Nevertheless, the fact that it was Rathbone and Bruce made up for that short comming. I love Bruce's Dr. Watson. Bungling - perhaps, but still never more loyal a servent could Holmes hope to have.

For me, a must to add to my collection of wonderful Sunday Afternoon Mysteries memories.

This movie is all about atmosphere, with a good adventure and three first-rate performances. Sherlock Holmes faces off against Professor Moriarty in Victorian London. There are cobblestone streets, swirling fog, hanson cabs rushing through the night, strange camera angles, dramatic lighting, struggles in silhouette, a fiendish plot and death. Moriarty (George Zucco) is determined to bring down his mortal enemy, Holmes (Basil Rathbone), and in doing so also pull off the crime of the century. A cats paw in all this is a wealthy young woman played by Ida Lupino.

I'm convinced that Mel Gibson channels Zucco whenever Gibson makes his eyes look crazy; Zucco must have been the master he learned from. Zucco actually underplays a little which makes his Moriarty very effective. Ida Lupino, in my opinion, was a teriffic actress who developed into a strong-willed woman capable of taking on a lot of senior Hollywood suits. She became a good director. She could play innocent (as she does here) or she could play the willful slut (see her in The Light That Failed), but she always had a lot of intelligence lurking behind her eyes. Rathbone, in his second film as Holmes, nails the part. He's smart, a little arrogant, a little sympathetic, and shows some humor. Unfortunately, the studio chose Nigel Bruce to turn John Watson into a buffoon. At one point Watson waddles around crying, "Holmes, Holmes, this is important!" Many people, I know, love the Holmes/Watson series, but for me within a movie or two Rathbone and Bruce had become the vaudeville act of Holmes & Watson. I'll take Christopher Plummer and James Mason as my favorites, with Jeremy Brettt and Edward Hardwicke as very close seconds.

But even with that said, this is quite a nostalgic and effective movie. The DVD restoration is excellent and makes it a pleasure to watch. There's an audio commentary by Richard Valley, evidently a Holmes fan/scholar, that I didn't listen to.

Adapted from a stage play based on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's works, "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes" stands on its own as classic entertainment for detective fans of all ages, and may well represent the peak of the vintage 14-film series from the 1930's and 40's featuring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce as Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson.

As the legendary sleuth, Basil Rathbone further illustrates his mastery of the role with a dominating performance, which even includes a vaudeville song & dance turn in disguise. Nigel Bruce offers ample support as the ever-loyal Dr. Watson, who doesn't appear as the bumbling sidekick he would later become in the series. Ida Lupino portrays Holmes' latest client, Ann Brandon, while George Zucco appears as this film's devious Professor Moriarty.

Set authentically in the Victorian era, the story begins with Moriarty managing to elude justice (in the form of a hangman's noose) once again on a legal technicality, despite Holmes' best efforts. Afterwards, two separate plots (one of murder, one of theft) are soon rapidly afoot, but only Holmes realizes that Moriarty is somehow manipulating these diabolical events from behind the scenes.

Amidst the sinister fog of London's nights, Holmes is subsequently pushed to his limits attempting to keep his lovely client out of harm's way from a ruthless assassin, while trying to locate Moriarty in time in order to thwart his arch-nemesis' greatest scheme yet.

Lovingly restored by UCLA, this film is greatly entertaining and highly recommended!