Reviews (8)

Sherlock Holmes 3 video Collector's Set
I am sorry, but bad prints and Extended Play do not make a collector's set. Sherlock Holmes is a wonderful series of movies, but it deserves to be sold in Standard Play. I find the EP format and less than adequate picture to be in insult to my viewing enjoyment.

BASIL RATHBONE is SHERLOCK HOLMES
We have all the Sherlock Holmes films with Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce. IN addition, we have the radio broadcasts, too. Anyhoo--- I think the 3 film presented with this 3-pak are DRESSED TO KILL (the musical boxes sent from prison contain more than a catchy toon.), TERROR BY NIGHT: ( Holmes and Watson are trying to protect the a diamond, Star of Rhodesia) THE SECRET WEAPON: (based on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's "THE DANCING MEN" Holmes and Watson are trying to save a missing scientist who's invention could determine the outcome of WWII.)

Someone mentioned the VOICE OF TERROR (that's the Nazi radio announcer who predicts disasters moments before they occur.) But, I have yet to see that in a 3-pak. Great movies, always. All 14 of them.

Sherlock Holmes 3 Video Collector's Set
Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce are the best!

Dressed to Kill is memorable for the hidden clues in the unlikeliest of places. With it's well developed story line, this movie is a good view. Terror By Night is suspensful and keeps the viewer guessing. Also a great movie. Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon is a great wartime suspense film. All in all these films make for a great trio.

Great!
The Rathbone/Bruce Sherlock Holmes movies are among the best works to ever come out of Hollywood. All of the Americanized Holmes moves are excellent, with the exception of Terror by Night. Simple and low budget, yet supremely entertaining even after repeated viewings. There never has been another like the great Basil Rathbone, one of the cinema's very best character actors.

Dressed to Kill
As I already think any Sherlock Holmes film that Basil Rathbone plays in is great this particular film is wonderful. It is Basil Rathbone's last Sherlock Holmes movie and he played the hero very superbly. It is about 3 musical boxes that hold the key to a long time mystery. Holmes makes one of his rare mistakes, but triumphs anyway, Dr. Watson is as hilarious (without meaning to) as ever. It is a very cleverly thought out plot with many intellectual and deductive reasonings. ... Read more

Reviews (17)

It's Holmes Against Moriarty--and the Nazis!
Although the first two movies Basil Rathbone made as Sherlock Holmes ("The Hound of the Baskervilles" and "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes") were in the original Victorian setting, Hollywood subsequently decided that even Holmes could pitch in during the propaganda years of World War II. And so, he donned modern dress and rode about in fast cars in pursuit of Nazi collaborators, aided as ever by Dr. Watson (Nigel Bruce), who oddly enough was still wearing a suspiciously Edwardian collar.

"Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon" is one such vehicle. Somewhat prophetically, the secret weapon is a type of super bomb and its inventor is a much-sought-after fellow. So Holmes goes over to the mainland to fetch him and bring him to the right side, England. While the inventor is very glad to be rescued from the Nazis by Holmes, for some inexplicable reason, he keeps leaving the flat, giving Basil Rathbone an opportunity to put on greasepaint and go scouring the wharves for this guy in cognito as a toughened seaman. That's actually the second disguise BR wears; before the movie's over, he'll indulge a few more times. Well, the upshot is that with all of his goings-about, the stupid inventor eventually gets kidnapped by Holmes' nemesis, Dr. Moriarty (Lionel Atwill), who of course puts him to the screws to get info out of him. Will Holmes get there in time? Since this review is being written in English not German, I think you can figure it out for yourself.

Rathbone does a pretty good job in his various incarnations; actually, what strikes me most about him aren't his disguises, but his rather unique coiffure when he's being just plain Holmes. It is a style where the locks around his temples are brushed forward, not back, to make him look as though he were just about to set his hair in curlers. I know he does sport this hairdo again in "SH in Washington", but sad to say, this attempt to make Sherlock Holmes a trendsetter in the world of hairstyles came to naught. Ah well, what he does well, he does well, and so after the culprits are rounded up, Holmes ends the piece by reciting from the "this blessed isle" speech of "Richard II", demonstrating once again that British pluck that did indeed forestall Nazi domination. Not great cinema, but fine for easy viewing.

Rathbone, gloriously brilliant as Sherlock Holmes
The second film in Universal's series of Sherlock Holmes adventures starring Basil Rathbone as the Great Detective and Nigel Bruce as Dr. Watson, "Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon" was one of several titles in the series to fall into the public domain, hence its availability over the years in numerous bargain bin editions of poor quality. Thanks to UCLA's restoration program, this title is now available in all its original black and white glory.

Like Universal's first entry in the series, this one drags Holmes out of his original Victorian era habitat to match wits with the Nazis. But those disappointed with the modernization gimmick should be happy to learn that Holmes' arch-nemesis Professor Moriarty is on hand, as well, this time in the person of the magnificent Lionel Atwill who brought his creepy elegance to some of the best films Universal made in the 40s.

The plot has little to do with "The Dancing Men," the Arthur Conan Doyle story referred to in the credits, and this film is neither as visually striking or as well-written as "Sherlock Holmes and the Voice of Terror," or most of the 10 films to come, but it has Rathbone, incadescently brilliant as the greatest master detective of them all, and that's enough to make it a winner.

Brian W. Fairbanks

This is NOT the UCLA restored version!!
Despite what several customers have written (one even chastising others for slamming this DVD "when it hasn't even been released yet") this is NOT THE RESTORED VERSION, this is the dupey, scratched, and horrid sounding transfer that's been around for several years. MPI, not Focus Film, is the distributor of the new restored versions of this series. That said, if you come across a used copy of this version cheap (and I mean CHEAP!!) it has a few nice extras not found on the MPI, like the re-issue trailer (ironically looking better than the feature itself on this disc), and a generous helping of Rathbone / Bruce radio shows that are fun. But for the feature itself the UCLA restoration is the ONLY way to go.

The Needle to the Last, eh Holmes?
It's one of the paradoxes of Basil Rathbone's wartime anti-Nazi Sherlock Holmes films (Voice of Terror, SH in Washington, and this one) that while the plots and settings are mostly terrible, he is so good in them. Despite a bizarre wind-swept hairstyle meant to make him look younger, he blazes through every scene with so much bite and attack that you hardly register how flimsy the plots are. Here he also has great acting rapport with Lionel Atwill, who makes a wonderfully repulsive Professor Moriarty -- a heavy lidded cockroach with nice hints of sadism and depravity (it may not have been acting, kids). At the climax, changed into a lab coat in order to drain Rathbone's blood "drop by drop," he's as over-the-top sinister as Seinfeld's arch-nemesis Newman. The movie itself is ancient kiddie matinee fare, but it benefits from director Roy William Neill's attention to staging and atmosphere. It also looks fairly sharp in this UCLA restoration -- don't even think of buying any other edition, all of them faded, choppy public-domain prints.

This Version will be better than Any previously available.
I am frustrated that reviews of past DVD releases of this title are listed under this upcoming restored version. This is ludicrous and laziness on the part of someone!!! How can a review be asking customers to not buy this edition when it hasn't even been released to the public yet!! Furthermore it slams the quality of an upcoming RESTORED VERSION. WAKE UP!!!!!
I am writing this pre-review to express my Great Expectations and excitement over the upcoming DVD release of the 14 Sherlock Holmes movies made by Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce.
For those of us who have loved and worn out our VHS versions of these films, I am sure that I speak for many of us in expressing incredible anticipation and near shock that someone has finally recognized the need to release a "restored version" of these timeless classics.
We are told that they have been "Preserved and restored in 35mm by the UCLA Film and Television Archive." This is marvelous and I have already pre-ordered Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 from MPI Home Video.
I so hope that the entire 14 movies, are ultimately released in restored condition. Especially the rarest of them, "The Scarlet Claw" which has rarely been shown on televison and only been available on VHS sporadically.
To me and many others I know, Basil Rathbone is the definative Holmes. Not just because he looks alarmingly similar -as much as is humanly possible- to Sidney Pagets drawings of Holmes from the Strand Magazine illustrations, but mostly we love Rathbone because he portrayed the same Holmes that we as readers get through the buffer of Dr. Watson explaining away not magnifying Holmes' shortcomings.
Jeremy Brett chose to amplify every negative aspect of Holmes' personality that in the written versions Watson explained away. Rathbone's Holmes has been demeaned visciously over the past years and hopefully the respect and dignity that he gave his portrayals will be seen in all their accuracy and glory with these new digitally restored releases. ... these will have to be the best quality versions of these classics ever released...so for all of us who have cursed the incomprehensibly awful releases of these films over the years...our time has almost come. Show your support for this effort by ordering a restored version of American Film Histroy.
Much Thanks to UCLA, MPI, and Whoever was ultimately responsible for the idea of doing this!!!! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

For the Fans of Pre-Code Hollywood
It's refreshing to see some of the pre-code movies make it on to DVD. Granted, if you're looking for high quality sound and resolution, you may be sorely disappointed. "Of Human Bondage" (1934) is taken from W. Somerset Maugham's novel and is directed by John Cromwell. If you have never seen this movie, you have a treat in store for you. Watch as Bette Davis rockets into the spotlight with her immortal line to Leslie Howard "I'd like to kiss ya, but I just washed my hair." "Millie" (1931) is a the story of a romance that leads to murder. Starring Helen Twelvetrees and a very young Joan Blondell."Kept Husbands" (1931) had the ads that blazed "Every Inch a Man-Bought Body and Soul by His Wife!" Dorothy Mackaill and Joel McCrea star.They don't call these "The Risque Years" without good reason.

An alright video
This video is an "alright" compilation of three pre code films, the video quality is nothing to brag about, though understandable due to the age of the films and the wear on the source material. The sound is acceptable once again with relation to the age of the film. If you are a fan of these films this will probably be the best presentation of them available. If your not a particular fan and just looking for good movies to watch from the thirties I would probably recomend against this one. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Another good episode...
It is remarkable to me just how much these early Sherlock Holmes' movies influenced the later James Bond films. Ian Fleming makes reference to Sherlock in From Russia With Love, where the Russians refer to the English as having a Sherlock Holmes mentality with regard to James Bond within the British Secret Service.

More remarkable to me is the trademark of - as Dr. Evil would put it - putting Sherlock Holmes in an easily escapable situation by planning an overly elaborate and exotic death and then not actually witnessing his demise but assuming that all goes to plan. I mean, this is Sherlock-Freaking-Holmes here, don't you think that he's going to think of a way out of that garage?

At this stage in the game, without Professor Moriarity to chase around, Holmes is usually pitted against a femme fatale, as in the case of this movie. It is another pleasant mystery in which Holmes must crack a code and then rescue the MacGuffin before the bad guys do. I especially appreciate the nod to Samuel Johnson and Boswell, whose relationship was the precursor to Holmes and Watson.

Name That Tune
Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce star in their final film as Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. This time, the duo is on the tracks of a gang stealing music boxes that mysteriously hold key information that will lead to much money. The music boxes are made in prison by a bank robber, who encodes the clues, but they are sold at an auction before his partners can buy them. There's nothing they won't do to get their hands on the boxes, including murder. There's not much new in this film that hasn't been seen in the other films of the series, although the music box angle is an interesting way of transferring information. Rathbone doesn't play this one with much energy ... maybe he was getting tired of the role, while Bruce is his usual, bumbling self. Although hardly the best in the series, fans of the duo will want to check it out.

Their final engagement
Not one of the best in the series of the Rathbone/Bruce series but none the less one of the classics. If your a Basil Rathbone fan as many of you are, this one is a good one to add to your collection. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

The FIRST Dungeons and Dragons adventure!
This film, intended for kids, was a movie house favorite back in the 1960's. A handsome young man in love with the princess of his land takes on the quest to save her after she is kidnapped by an evil magician. There is some wonderful stuff here. A witch mother with a two headed servant, a special sword, armor and steed intended for Sir George when he reached manhood and a group of famous knights as companions for the quest who are from all over Europe. There is also some great campish humor in this film, especially when the "French" knight is drawn away by a pretty damsel singing in french and when he attempts to kiss her she turns into a horrible one eyed-monster, and upon being saved by Sir George he states: "I should have realized that such a beautiful woman would not be up so early in the morning!" The film also features silly ogres who throw logs like nine pins but get dizzy and fall over from watching a horse run in circles, the usual servant/sinister midgets who seem to terrify people by just standing around holding up their clenched hands and laughing mockingly,vaporous pools of death that knights on horseback seem to automatically lose their balance and fall into to die, caves full of ghostly witches that only the faith of an Irishman can confront and a genuinely good Dragon full of fire breathing fury at the end that is killed by our hero as he is about to feed on our princess. Classic stuff, darkly filmed in spots but deserves to be recognized as perhaps one of the earliest "questing" movies that a lot of fantasy minded gamers and movie makers were to benefit from some 35 years later.

SWORDS AND SORCERY
When watching a movie like "The Magic Sword", you have to smile at the camp and amateurism that often frequents a film like this. Bert I. Gordon did his first color movie with this one, and for the time it was made, the special effects are above average for this time. The dragon is hilarious; as are the conehead ripoffs. But, Estelle Winwood, what a wonderfully zany actress she was, and she steals the movie whenever she's on. Gary Lockwood, undeniably a hunk, is not the world's greatest actor here, although he went on to gain respect in the t.v. series, "The Lieutenant" and the movie, "2001." Anne Helm looks lovely but no more range than a Barbie Doll. Basil Rathbone is effectively hammy in his role as Lodac the evil sorcerer. One question though: they were supposed to encounter seven curses, I missed one somewhere?
Cheesy but enjoyable.

Cheesy rescue the princess from the sorcerer's dragon movie
Apparently Ray Harryhausen's big success with "The 7th Voyage of Sinbad" inspired all sorts of sword and sorcery epics (filmed in Cinemascope). Case in point would be this 1962 film, "The Magic Sword," a three-word title that makes the S&S genre perfectly clear. The film is directed and co-written by Bert I. Gordon, who gave us "The Cyclops," "The Amazing Colossal Man," and "Earth vs. the Spider," and actually ends up being one of his better efforts, helped, no doubt, by the money put into the film for color and special effects. But keep in mind that the rest of those films are really bad. "The Magic Sword" also stars the aging Basil Rathbone as the sorcerer, Lodac, and the young Gary Lockwood of "2001" fame as the hero, Sir George. Rathbone does well when he appears on screens, but the rest of the cast is not up to his level and the special effects are average at best (although the dragon at the end is the best of the bunch).

The story is by the numbers for this genre. Sir George has been raised by a witch named Sybil (Estelle Windwood), and has used her magic to spy on the beautiful Princess Helene (Anne Helm). She ends up being abducted by Lodac who plans to feed her to the aforementioned dragon. When the King (Merritt Stone) does the old bit about who ever rescues his daughter gets her hand in marriage, Sir George is off on his quest to the evil sorcerer's castle. Our hero is aided and abetted by six knights that he restores from being petrified. This is good because they have to face seven curses from Lodac and having seven knights makes it sound fair but we all know this is going to get down to just--ALL TOGETHER NOW--Sir George and the Dragon. Along the way Gordon to throw all sorts of witches, ogres, helpful little people, and the like at our band of heroes. I am sorry I missed it when "The Magic Sword" played on "Mystery Science Theater 3000" because this film is a natural for that venue. Still, this cheesy film can be enjoyed as such without the silhouetted talking heads.

Brings back memories
I am so glad I found this video. I've been trying to find out the title to this movie for a long time and when I found out that they still sell the video, I jumped on it right away.

I first saw this movie when I was a kid. I've always remembered the knights that came back to life to help the hero and I always found that fascinating. It's a kid's film and if your kid isn't too spoiled by the high-tech special effects of today, then I think they will like this movie.

THE MAGIC SWORD
I enjoyed this moviw trwemendously when I was a child. The fantasy of the movie at the time was very exciting. The idea that a night could have magic used to help him find himself, was a good pretense for a movie. I still remember this movie today as if I'd just finished watching it. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Another good episode...
It is remarkable to me just how much these early Sherlock Holmes' movies influenced the later James Bond films. Ian Fleming makes reference to Sherlock in From Russia With Love, where the Russians refer to the English as having a Sherlock Holmes mentality with regard to James Bond within the British Secret Service.

More remarkable to me is the trademark of - as Dr. Evil would put it - putting Sherlock Holmes in an easily escapable situation by planning an overly elaborate and exotic death and then not actually witnessing his demise but assuming that all goes to plan. I mean, this is Sherlock-Freaking-Holmes here, don't you think that he's going to think of a way out of that garage?

At this stage in the game, without Professor Moriarity to chase around, Holmes is usually pitted against a femme fatale, as in the case of this movie. It is another pleasant mystery in which Holmes must crack a code and then rescue the MacGuffin before the bad guys do. I especially appreciate the nod to Samuel Johnson and Boswell, whose relationship was the precursor to Holmes and Watson.

Name That Tune
Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce star in their final film as Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. This time, the duo is on the tracks of a gang stealing music boxes that mysteriously hold key information that will lead to much money. The music boxes are made in prison by a bank robber, who encodes the clues, but they are sold at an auction before his partners can buy them. There's nothing they won't do to get their hands on the boxes, including murder. There's not much new in this film that hasn't been seen in the other films of the series, although the music box angle is an interesting way of transferring information. Rathbone doesn't play this one with much energy ... maybe he was getting tired of the role, while Bruce is his usual, bumbling self. Although hardly the best in the series, fans of the duo will want to check it out.

Their final engagement
Not one of the best in the series of the Rathbone/Bruce series but none the less one of the classics. If your a Basil Rathbone fan as many of you are, this one is a good one to add to your collection. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Sweet & romantic classic
Set in France, this romantic non-musical stars Ginger Rogers as Arlette, a young pick-pocket who falls in love with a handsome diplomat (Jean Pierre Aumont). Fresh out of pick pocket school, Arlette gets caught on her first professional attempt and ends up at an embassy ball where she is blackmailed into stealing a watch from a young diplomat.
To her surprise, she not only succeeds in stealing his watch but also in stealing his heart as he easily falls for her beauty and charm. Enchanted by him herself, Arlette tries to hide the truth from him but can't do it for very long.
Watch Basil Rathbone in a brief but funny performance as the professor of the pick pocket school, and enjoy the great on-screen chemistry between Rogers and Aumont.

Cute, charming rainy day movie
Ignore Maltin for once, and check out this little seen gem. Silly at first, but it gradually grows on you. Rogers plays a young run-away, desperately turning to crime to survive the streets of Paris. Basil Rathbone is the owner and operator of a rather unique school for pickpockets she unwittingly stumbles upon.

After receiving some prelimanary training on the art of theft Rogers is sent out into Paris to repay Rathbone's investment. Things get compilcated though as she is caught trying to lift a man's tie-pin on her very first day. Instead of turning her in to the police, the man comissions her to make a lift at a high society ball. Her mark turns out to be a handsome French Diplomat, and the plot then follows their various misadventures as they fight, argue, and fall in love.

Jean Pierre, playing the diplomat, has great chemistry with Rogers, and we get to see the great Basil Rathbone as head master at a school for pickpockets. The plot manages to stay surprising, and the dialogue is above average. Rogers (in a rare non-dancing role) is very charming and handles the comedy well. All in all, a well made film perfect for old-movie lovers. B+

Voulez Vous en Asprin?
As the French comedy "Battement de Coeur," this must have been oh so charmant. Mais. En Anglais, and directed by the torpid Sam Wood, it's the epitome of an old movie on the late, late show. Ginger Rogers tries hard but this is her umteenth version of "Cinderella" and the strain is starting to show... Basil Rathbone jumps at the chance to play something besides Sherlock Holmes, but as so often, his comedy style consists of raised eyebrows and scampering around the set. Not the finest hour of either of these two great stars. Quelle drag, n'est ce pas?

Charming, old-fashioned fun
After encountering an early-morning broadcast of this film years ago, I had to track down a copy to own. Those who prefer Rogers in musicals may not enjoy this, but those who like to see her stretch and take on unusual, challenging roles should enjoy her winsome performance here as--of all things!--a pickpocket in training. Her Fagin/Svengali is the consummately nasty Basil Rathbone, but in this sweetly old-fashioned story true love conquers all obstacles. This isn't a classic of the calibre of Kitty Foyle or Bachelor Mother, but it's got a quiet, wistful charm of its own. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Quality definitely not worth the price.
Unless you're an obsessive Rathbone/Holmes fan I'd recommend that you not buy this video. First of all, the case and the labeling looks like some amateur made it in their home. Which I wouldn't care too much about the labeling if the quality of the tape were good but it isn't. The sound isn't bad, although it is distorted in one spot, but the picture looks like a copy of a copy. If the tape only cost [a few] dollars, I might recommend it, but for 14, it's way overpriced. Save your money.

You Can't Go Wrong With A Basil/Nigel Flick!
"Terror by Night" (1946; 60 minutes) is the 13th, and next-to-last, entry in the Basil Rathbone/Nigel Bruce series of Sherlock Holmes films produced between 1939 and 1946. This one isn't my favorite in the series, but a good one nevertheless. Even the poorest ones in the series are hoisted up immeasurably just by the presence of the two leads: Basil Rathbone (as the master detective himself) and Nigel Bruce (as Dr. John H. Watson). "Terror" takes place entirely aboard a train, with murder and mystery along for the ride! Out of the fourteen films made in this excellent series of Holmes Classics, I would rank this one as my 6th favorite. The ones I deem even more entertaining would be ..... #1.) The Hound of the Baskervilles [the first title with Rathbone as Sherlock; 1939], #2.) The House of Fear, #3.) Sherlock Holmes Faces Death, #4.) The Scarlet Claw, and #5.) The Woman In Green. All of these films generate a vivid atmosphere of mystery and suspense. Hopefully, all 14 of these timeless Holmes classics will be made available on DVD soon. ... Read more

Reviews (140)

The BEST action/adventure film ever made.
Errol Flynn at his best...swashbuckling at its best...action and adventure galore. This film is simply the best of the genre. The casting is perfect, from Flynn in the best role of his career, to Herbert Mundin as Much the Miller's son. The 3-strip color photography remains as vibrant today as when it was released 61 years ago. The dialogue between Flynn and Oliva de Havilland, between Flynn and Basil Rathbone, between Flynn and Claude Rains, is always lively, always fun. And Miss de Havilland's costumes are absolutely gorgeous, as is she.

The film moves, never stops, and you are never bored. If you watch this movie alongside Kevin Costner's ill-advised Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves, you realize why one should never try to improve on perfection.

As the New York Times said in its original review in 1938, this film entertains everyone from 8 to 80. No argument here!

The Greatest Robin Hood ,Flynn now a fantastic WB DVD set!
Warner Brothers (WB) Studios has begun meticulously digitally restoring its action classics of the 1930's & 40's under the "Two Disc Special Edition" Series. This 1938 TECHNICOLOR (awesome) film "The Adventures of Robin Hood" starring Errol Flynn, Olivia deHavilland, Basil Rathbone & Claude Rains is still the best rendition of this fictionalized English tale.

Warner Brothers has given us with this 2 Disc set the complete movie theatre experience circa 1938. DISC 1 - First we get a complete "Night at the Movies" program. Introduction by film critic Leonard Maltin explaining for your 10 cent investment what you got in a 1938 movie house. Next the entire continous show with; coming attraction, news reel, Bugs Bunny Cartoon, short subject feature and then the main feature, "The Adventures of Robin Hood". This is a totally ingenius idea!!! Also on Disc 1 - you have 12 Errol Flynn movie trailers and finally an indepth feature commentary by film historian Rudy Belhmer.

Disc 2 - Includes 3 hours of everything about Robin Hood, the movie, the stars, documentaries, cartoons, and a most informative documentary about TECHNICOLOR and why even today it still was the best color process ever.

I love this fun filled DVD set. My hat is off to Warner Brothers for their dedication to the golden age of Hollywood and bring back the grandest of movies for us to see again & again better than their original release. Enjoy.

great movie ....second DVD is amaaazing!
This is more a review of the package than the movie , which is a classic and extremely well presented on disc one....vivid colors , crisp images....not a complaint there....and the bonus features are very good....a comprehensive set of Errol Flynn movie trailers...WB night at the movies....(an exhausting Rudy Belmer commentary track that will have you gasping for air).
the SECOND disc is just ridiculous in its amount of archival coverage..
a wonderful documentary on the movie
a great feature on the history of Technicolor....
two very fun looney tunes cartoons with a Robin Hood theme...
outtakes from the movie!
home movies shot during filming!
a long lost Errol Flynn movie about yachting..
and a positively thrilling short film about archer Howard Hill...
and more.
HOURS of fun and informative viewing on disc two alone!
Warners should be congratulated for such a comprehensive set ....buy this and encourage them to keep this type of content coming!!!

Errol Flynn: Truly The Sheerwood Forest outlaw
One of the Greatest action/adventure films of the 20th century. The epic swashbuckling adventure of one of history's greatest heroes.the dashing Errol Flynn as Robin Hood or as they also call him "Sir Robin of Locksley" was perfect. He was what a swashbuckler should be and probably the greatest of all swashbucklers. Basil Rathbone and Claude Rains were brilliant as Robin's foes, Sir Guy and Prince John. Oliva DeHavilland was glamorous as the love of Robin Hood, Maid Marian. My Favorite scene was Robin and Sir Guy's sword fight during King Richard's return. Flynn and Rathbone two of cinema's sword fighting experts. I love the sound of sword clangling. If your looking for a classic film or a swashbuckler film, this is a great one. Because this a film that created Pirates of the Carribean, "Long Live King Richard."

The Kids Loved It!
This was one that our boys (ages 7 and 10) watched with their grandfather, who caught it in the theatres when it first came out. It's hard to say who enjoyed it more! A fun, spirited and utterly charming film, this one has aged beautifully. Everyone loved the bonus features, too. The DVD transfer is exceptional. Add some popcorn, and you've got a wonderful mulitgenerational hit that will enchant the whole family. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

The FIRST Dungeons and Dragons adventure!
This film, intended for kids, was a movie house favorite back in the 1960's. A handsome young man in love with the princess of his land takes on the quest to save her after she is kidnapped by an evil magician. There is some wonderful stuff here. A witch mother with a two headed servant, a special sword, armor and steed intended for Sir George when he reached manhood and a group of famous knights as companions for the quest who are from all over Europe. There is also some great campish humor in this film, especially when the "French" knight is drawn away by a pretty damsel singing in french and when he attempts to kiss her she turns into a horrible one eyed-monster, and upon being saved by Sir George he states: "I should have realized that such a beautiful woman would not be up so early in the morning!" The film also features silly ogres who throw logs like nine pins but get dizzy and fall over from watching a horse run in circles, the usual servant/sinister midgets who seem to terrify people by just standing around holding up their clenched hands and laughing mockingly,vaporous pools of death that knights on horseback seem to automatically lose their balance and fall into to die, caves full of ghostly witches that only the faith of an Irishman can confront and a genuinely good Dragon full of fire breathing fury at the end that is killed by our hero as he is about to feed on our princess. Classic stuff, darkly filmed in spots but deserves to be recognized as perhaps one of the earliest "questing" movies that a lot of fantasy minded gamers and movie makers were to benefit from some 35 years later.

SWORDS AND SORCERY
When watching a movie like "The Magic Sword", you have to smile at the camp and amateurism that often frequents a film like this. Bert I. Gordon did his first color movie with this one, and for the time it was made, the special effects are above average for this time. The dragon is hilarious; as are the conehead ripoffs. But, Estelle Winwood, what a wonderfully zany actress she was, and she steals the movie whenever she's on. Gary Lockwood, undeniably a hunk, is not the world's greatest actor here, although he went on to gain respect in the t.v. series, "The Lieutenant" and the movie, "2001." Anne Helm looks lovely but no more range than a Barbie Doll. Basil Rathbone is effectively hammy in his role as Lodac the evil sorcerer. One question though: they were supposed to encounter seven curses, I missed one somewhere?
Cheesy but enjoyable.

Cheesy rescue the princess from the sorcerer's dragon movie
Apparently Ray Harryhausen's big success with "The 7th Voyage of Sinbad" inspired all sorts of sword and sorcery epics (filmed in Cinemascope). Case in point would be this 1962 film, "The Magic Sword," a three-word title that makes the S&S genre perfectly clear. The film is directed and co-written by Bert I. Gordon, who gave us "The Cyclops," "The Amazing Colossal Man," and "Earth vs. the Spider," and actually ends up being one of his better efforts, helped, no doubt, by the money put into the film for color and special effects. But keep in mind that the rest of those films are really bad. "The Magic Sword" also stars the aging Basil Rathbone as the sorcerer, Lodac, and the young Gary Lockwood of "2001" fame as the hero, Sir George. Rathbone does well when he appears on screens, but the rest of the cast is not up to his level and the special effects are average at best (although the dragon at the end is the best of the bunch).

The story is by the numbers for this genre. Sir George has been raised by a witch named Sybil (Estelle Windwood), and has used her magic to spy on the beautiful Princess Helene (Anne Helm). She ends up being abducted by Lodac who plans to feed her to the aforementioned dragon. When the King (Merritt Stone) does the old bit about who ever rescues his daughter gets her hand in marriage, Sir George is off on his quest to the evil sorcerer's castle. Our hero is aided and abetted by six knights that he restores from being petrified. This is good because they have to face seven curses from Lodac and having seven knights makes it sound fair but we all know this is going to get down to just--ALL TOGETHER NOW--Sir George and the Dragon. Along the way Gordon to throw all sorts of witches, ogres, helpful little people, and the like at our band of heroes. I am sorry I missed it when "The Magic Sword" played on "Mystery Science Theater 3000" because this film is a natural for that venue. Still, this cheesy film can be enjoyed as such without the silhouetted talking heads.

Brings back memories
I am so glad I found this video. I've been trying to find out the title to this movie for a long time and when I found out that they still sell the video, I jumped on it right away.

I first saw this movie when I was a kid. I've always remembered the knights that came back to life to help the hero and I always found that fascinating. It's a kid's film and if your kid isn't too spoiled by the high-tech special effects of today, then I think they will like this movie.

THE MAGIC SWORD
I enjoyed this moviw trwemendously when I was a child. The fantasy of the movie at the time was very exciting. The idea that a night could have magic used to help him find himself, was a good pretense for a movie. I still remember this movie today as if I'd just finished watching it. ... Read more

Reviews (17)

It's Holmes Against Moriarty--and the Nazis!
Although the first two movies Basil Rathbone made as Sherlock Holmes ("The Hound of the Baskervilles" and "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes") were in the original Victorian setting, Hollywood subsequently decided that even Holmes could pitch in during the propaganda years of World War II. And so, he donned modern dress and rode about in fast cars in pursuit of Nazi collaborators, aided as ever by Dr. Watson (Nigel Bruce), who oddly enough was still wearing a suspiciously Edwardian collar.

"Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon" is one such vehicle. Somewhat prophetically, the secret weapon is a type of super bomb and its inventor is a much-sought-after fellow. So Holmes goes over to the mainland to fetch him and bring him to the right side, England. While the inventor is very glad to be rescued from the Nazis by Holmes, for some inexplicable reason, he keeps leaving the flat, giving Basil Rathbone an opportunity to put on greasepaint and go scouring the wharves for this guy in cognito as a toughened seaman. That's actually the second disguise BR wears; before the movie's over, he'll indulge a few more times. Well, the upshot is that with all of his goings-about, the stupid inventor eventually gets kidnapped by Holmes' nemesis, Dr. Moriarty (Lionel Atwill), who of course puts him to the screws to get info out of him. Will Holmes get there in time? Since this review is being written in English not German, I think you can figure it out for yourself.

Rathbone does a pretty good job in his various incarnations; actually, what strikes me most about him aren't his disguises, but his rather unique coiffure when he's being just plain Holmes. It is a style where the locks around his temples are brushed forward, not back, to make him look as though he were just about to set his hair in curlers. I know he does sport this hairdo again in "SH in Washington", but sad to say, this attempt to make Sherlock Holmes a trendsetter in the world of hairstyles came to naught. Ah well, what he does well, he does well, and so after the culprits are rounded up, Holmes ends the piece by reciting from the "this blessed isle" speech of "Richard II", demonstrating once again that British pluck that did indeed forestall Nazi domination. Not great cinema, but fine for easy viewing.

Rathbone, gloriously brilliant as Sherlock Holmes
The second film in Universal's series of Sherlock Holmes adventures starring Basil Rathbone as the Great Detective and Nigel Bruce as Dr. Watson, "Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon" was one of several titles in the series to fall into the public domain, hence its availability over the years in numerous bargain bin editions of poor quality. Thanks to UCLA's restoration program, this title is now available in all its original black and white glory.

Like Universal's first entry in the series, this one drags Holmes out of his original Victorian era habitat to match wits with the Nazis. But those disappointed with the modernization gimmick should be happy to learn that Holmes' arch-nemesis Professor Moriarty is on hand, as well, this time in the person of the magnificent Lionel Atwill who brought his creepy elegance to some of the best films Universal made in the 40s.

The plot has little to do with "The Dancing Men," the Arthur Conan Doyle story referred to in the credits, and this film is neither as visually striking or as well-written as "Sherlock Holmes and the Voice of Terror," or most of the 10 films to come, but it has Rathbone, incadescently brilliant as the greatest master detective of them all, and that's enough to make it a winner.

Brian W. Fairbanks

This is NOT the UCLA restored version!!
Despite what several customers have written (one even chastising others for slamming this DVD "when it hasn't even been released yet") this is NOT THE RESTORED VERSION, this is the dupey, scratched, and horrid sounding transfer that's been around for several years. MPI, not Focus Film, is the distributor of the new restored versions of this series. That said, if you come across a used copy of this version cheap (and I mean CHEAP!!) it has a few nice extras not found on the MPI, like the re-issue trailer (ironically looking better than the feature itself on this disc), and a generous helping of Rathbone / Bruce radio shows that are fun. But for the feature itself the UCLA restoration is the ONLY way to go.

The Needle to the Last, eh Holmes?
It's one of the paradoxes of Basil Rathbone's wartime anti-Nazi Sherlock Holmes films (Voice of Terror, SH in Washington, and this one) that while the plots and settings are mostly terrible, he is so good in them. Despite a bizarre wind-swept hairstyle meant to make him look younger, he blazes through every scene with so much bite and attack that you hardly register how flimsy the plots are. Here he also has great acting rapport with Lionel Atwill, who makes a wonderfully repulsive Professor Moriarty -- a heavy lidded cockroach with nice hints of sadism and depravity (it may not have been acting, kids). At the climax, changed into a lab coat in order to drain Rathbone's blood "drop by drop," he's as over-the-top sinister as Seinfeld's arch-nemesis Newman. The movie itself is ancient kiddie matinee fare, but it benefits from director Roy William Neill's attention to staging and atmosphere. It also looks fairly sharp in this UCLA restoration -- don't even think of buying any other edition, all of them faded, choppy public-domain prints.

This Version will be better than Any previously available.
I am frustrated that reviews of past DVD releases of this title are listed under this upcoming restored version. This is ludicrous and laziness on the part of someone!!! How can a review be asking customers to not buy this edition when it hasn't even been released to the public yet!! Furthermore it slams the quality of an upcoming RESTORED VERSION. WAKE UP!!!!!
I am writing this pre-review to express my Great Expectations and excitement over the upcoming DVD release of the 14 Sherlock Holmes movies made by Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce.
For those of us who have loved and worn out our VHS versions of these films, I am sure that I speak for many of us in expressing incredible anticipation and near shock that someone has finally recognized the need to release a "restored version" of these timeless classics.
We are told that they have been "Preserved and restored in 35mm by the UCLA Film and Television Archive." This is marvelous and I have already pre-ordered Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 from MPI Home Video.
I so hope that the entire 14 movies, are ultimately released in restored condition. Especially the rarest of them, "The Scarlet Claw" which has rarely been shown on televison and only been available on VHS sporadically.
To me and many others I know, Basil Rathbone is the definative Holmes. Not just because he looks alarmingly similar -as much as is humanly possible- to Sidney Pagets drawings of Holmes from the Strand Magazine illustrations, but mostly we love Rathbone because he portrayed the same Holmes that we as readers get through the buffer of Dr. Watson explaining away not magnifying Holmes' shortcomings.
Jeremy Brett chose to amplify every negative aspect of Holmes' personality that in the written versions Watson explained away. Rathbone's Holmes has been demeaned visciously over the past years and hopefully the respect and dignity that he gave his portrayals will be seen in all their accuracy and glory with these new digitally restored releases. ... these will have to be the best quality versions of these classics ever released...so for all of us who have cursed the incomprehensibly awful releases of these films over the years...our time has almost come. Show your support for this effort by ordering a restored version of American Film Histroy.
Much Thanks to UCLA, MPI, and Whoever was ultimately responsible for the idea of doing this!!!! ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Nothing less than 4 stars
As a great fan of original Sherlock Holmes episodes I think pretty much all of Sherlock Holmes are 4 out of 5 stars. But I think this one might be 41/2 stars. With a origial plot that any criminal would like to do (if you hypnotism really worked on someone who didn't want to be hypnotized.) Ever since I was seven-years-old I liked this movie more than some color movies and loved the radio episodes starring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce. You should a least see this movie some how.

From The Back of The MY Box. I changed some word around
"The original Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson are back once again doing battle against a contemporary day Jack the Ripper! The clues left next to the scene of the crime point a finger at a major member of Parliament, but Holmes believes there's something a bit odd going on possibly his arch nemesis, Professor Moriarty might somehow involved! The trail leads the world's record detective to a group of blackmailers using the shadowy art of hypnotism, and as previously deuced, led by the evil professor! Woman In Green is a great detective story, full of trilling mystery and wonderful story telling."

Cast list

WOMAN IN GREEN Staring BASIL RATHBONE? NIGEL BRUCE With HILLARY BROOKE? PAUL CAVANAGH HENDRY DANIELL? EVE AMBER SALLY SHEPHERD ? MATTEW BOULTON Based on the Characters Created by SIR ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE Produced and Directed by ROY WILLIAM NEIL

Nearing the End
Rathbone and Bruce made 14 Holmes and Watson films; it's a real shame that four of the weakest are in the public domain and keep turning up while the rest are out of print. This one, from late in the series, at least has the virtue of a script by Bertram Millhauser, who wrote the best of them and was most responsible for the distinctive tone of the series: sly humor mixed with slightly horrific mystery. Two of his most memorable creations, the Spider Woman and the Creeper, went on to lives of their own in other Universal horror movies. As for The Woman in Green, it's a blend of Jack the Ripper and Conan Doyle's "The Empty House," with a nice film noir ambience and some clever twists. Unfortunately, the ending is lame and one senses the fact that, after seven years, 10 films, and hundreds of radio broadcasts, Rathbone has begun to weary of playing Holmes. Film trivia note: someone colorized this a few years ago, and didn't even bother to put Hillary Brooke in a green dress. Go figure.

Henry Daniell as Professor Moriarty
The title of this Sherlock Holmes adventure, "Woman in Green," refers to the character played by Hillary Brooke (who previously had a minor supporting role in "Voice of Terror"), but the star villain is actually Holmes' arch-nemesis, the diabolical Professor Moriarty. The last time he clashed with the great detective in "Secret Weapon," the greatest criminal mastermind in all of fiction plunged to his death in an elevator shaft. And yet his resurrection here, never explained, doesn't really feel like a cheat, certainly not with the great Henry Daniell in the role. Few actors could convey evil as effectively, and he makes you believe Moriarty could survive anything. In his autobiography, Basil Rathbone praised Daniell's Moriarty as the best, high praise indeed when one considers his competition includes both George Zucco and Lionel Atwill.

Daniell's presence is the one element that elevates this otherwise standard Holmes thriller to a position near the top of the heap. Still, the standard was pretty high with this series thanks to the superb direction of Roy William Neill and the always electrifying performance of Basil Rathbone. Less appealing this time around is Nigel Bruce's Dr. Watson who bumbles more than ever and, in an amusing yet somehow cruel scene, is publicly humiliated when he's hypnotized for laughs after protesting that anyone with even an "ounce of character" could never be put under a spell. By this time in the series, one wishes the good doctor was shown a bit more respect.

Predictable fun
Dead women are missing fingers all over London. The police are baffled as there is no pattern to the madness. Sherlock Holms on the other hand knows that it is the alleged to be dead Moriarty and the fingers point to a more sinister crime.

Holmes Squares Off Against the Best Moriarty
Yes, after having seen Lionel Atwill and George Zucco step up to the plate as the nefarious master criminal Moriarty, I can safely say that Henry Daniell brings the most to the role. ....

As slight as the story line may be (hypnotized men of means/rank are made to believe they committed murder and then are blackmailed), I must recommend you study the acting very carefully. Rathbone (Holmes), Bruce (Watson) and Daniell (Moriarty) are really doing an awful lot in the way of characterization. I love how Rathbone just hides a smile when he looks at the dunderheadings of Bruce.... These men are real pros, imbuing the scene with real tension. Daniell is particularly good, when his mouth drawn up grimly as he spars verbally with Rathbone. ...

I enjoyed "The Woman in Green" much more than I had expected to, thanks to the first-rate acting. Nice to know that some childhood favorites still hold up when you see them years later! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Legendary Sherlock Holmes Movies VHS Cassette Review
Although the casting and acting are right on the money (as you'd expect, and usually get from classic Hollywood films), I'm sorry to say that the quality of the video itself is not up to snuff.
The picture is fuzzy, and the soundtrack unclear. This Canadian made video looks as if it was boot-legged in someone's home using amateur equipment.
Before I ordered this title, I kinda thought that three movies on one cassette for such a low price was too good to be true - I was right. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Elementary...
It had been years since I saw Basil Rathbone as Sherlock Holmes. It is always a good idea to trace something that has become a cliché back to its source. For better or worse, the character of Holmes will forever be inextricably linked to Rathbone.

The action in this film is similar to The Lady Vanishes or Murder on the Orient Express. Sherlock is hired to guard a valuable diamond. Of course someone is murdered on the train and he must solve the crime.

Watching this film feels, in a sense, like coming home. Sherlock is THE iconic detective and when he's around, you never worry too much because you are sure no one is going to get the better of him. He is a direct precursor to James Bond, except with more emphasis on intelligence. In many ways it is more entertaining to watch these old films than more modern entertainments. Here you know the acting is going to be good and the dialogue snappy. The film moves along at a brisk pace - in fact, it is so short it wouldn't even be considered a feature by today's standards. Nigel Bruce's Watson may not be as Arthur Conan Doyle imagined him, but it makes sense in the film series: one needs a comic counterpoint to Holmes' dry wit.

However old these films get, I find them very enjoyable.

The DVD itself is bare necessity, but the picture is good enough and the cost is very inexpensive.

One of the Best Holmes
Next to the brilliant Scarlet Claw(undoubtedly the best in the series) this is one of my faves in the series with Rathbone & Bruce. The entire film(with the exception of the very beginning and end) takes place on a speeding train from London to Edinborough. The plot(be sure to watch Rathbone's slight-of-hand!) involves a diamond called the Star of Rhodesia, and there are many strange characters on the train.There is some good comic relief as Dr. Watson conducts an interview with one of the passengers who is addicted to the study of mathematics(like Col. Sebastian Moran--Another Holmes Foe!). If you are a fan of Universal horror, you will recognize that same old stock footage of the train station and scenes of train speeding into the night(used a decade earlier in The Black Cat), and Lestrade is along for this one. I always enjoyed Dennis Hoey as Lestrade.It is interesting in that we do not ever find ourselves at 221 B-Baker Street in this one. I am a confirmed Sidney Toler Charlie Chan addict as well, and be sure to read my reviews on that subject!

A ticket to mystery
This is not the best of the Basil Rathbone, Nigel Bruce pairings but nonetheless this is an enjoyable outing.
Terror by Night is one of those I put on late at night to watch curled up on the sofa with a cat by my side. The rhythm of the train and the steadfast bond between Holmes, Watson and Lestrade creates one of the most relaxing murder mysteries ever put on film. The deliberate pace may not please all, but to those with a taste for it this is the mystery equivalent of a good house wine.

Murder on the Scotland Express
The 11th film in Universal's series of Sherlock Holmes films starring Basil Rathbone as the Great Detective and Nigel Bruce as his faithful companion, Dr. Watson.

With only one more film to go following this 1946 release, it's not surprising that there's little fresh about this entry, but it hardly matters. The draw is still Rathbone and Bruce, as well as Dennis Hoey's Inspector LeStrade, all of whom deliver typically energetic performances.

The setting is novel, though, with Holmes and Watson aboard a train bound from London to Edinburgh, acting as bodyguards for the "Star of Rhodesia," a precious jewel whose owner is murdered.

Of course, a train is the perfect setting for a mystery, but as "Murder on the Orient Express" would prove twenty-eight years later, the claustrophobic atmosphere severely limits the action. But with a brisk running time of only 60 minutes, "Terror by Night" never threatens to bore.

Brian W. Fairbanks

A must for all Sherlock Holmes fans
If you are a fan of Basil Rathbone as Sherlock Holmes then this DVD will complete your collection of this actor's works. The picture quality of the film is far better than the VHS. The picture is clearer and the sounds are crisper. Some people may think it is not one of the best pictures Basil made, but no Sherlock Holmes collection will be complete without it. Basil and Nigel Bruce give such a wonderful performance that it grows on you every time you watch it. I have been waiting a long time to see all 14 movies on DVD, and I am happy to see that dream become a reality ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Another good episode...
It is remarkable to me just how much these early Sherlock Holmes' movies influenced the later James Bond films. Ian Fleming makes reference to Sherlock in From Russia With Love, where the Russians refer to the English as having a Sherlock Holmes mentality with regard to James Bond within the British Secret Service.

More remarkable to me is the trademark of - as Dr. Evil would put it - putting Sherlock Holmes in an easily escapable situation by planning an overly elaborate and exotic death and then not actually witnessing his demise but assuming that all goes to plan. I mean, this is Sherlock-Freaking-Holmes here, don't you think that he's going to think of a way out of that garage?

At this stage in the game, without Professor Moriarity to chase around, Holmes is usually pitted against a femme fatale, as in the case of this movie. It is another pleasant mystery in which Holmes must crack a code and then rescue the MacGuffin before the bad guys do. I especially appreciate the nod to Samuel Johnson and Boswell, whose relationship was the precursor to Holmes and Watson.

Name That Tune
Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce star in their final film as Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. This time, the duo is on the tracks of a gang stealing music boxes that mysteriously hold key information that will lead to much money. The music boxes are made in prison by a bank robber, who encodes the clues, but they are sold at an auction before his partners can buy them. There's nothing they won't do to get their hands on the boxes, including murder. There's not much new in this film that hasn't been seen in the other films of the series, although the music box angle is an interesting way of transferring information. Rathbone doesn't play this one with much energy ... maybe he was getting tired of the role, while Bruce is his usual, bumbling self. Although hardly the best in the series, fans of the duo will want to check it out.

Their final engagement
Not one of the best in the series of the Rathbone/Bruce series but none the less one of the classics. If your a Basil Rathbone fan as many of you are, this one is a good one to add to your collection. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Nothing less than 4 stars
As a great fan of original Sherlock Holmes episodes I think pretty much all of Sherlock Holmes are 4 out of 5 stars. But I think this one might be 41/2 stars. With a origial plot that any criminal would like to do (if you hypnotism really worked on someone who didn't want to be hypnotized.) Ever since I was seven-years-old I liked this movie more than some color movies and loved the radio episodes starring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce. You should a least see this movie some how.

From The Back of The MY Box. I changed some word around
"The original Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson are back once again doing battle against a contemporary day Jack the Ripper! The clues left next to the scene of the crime point a finger at a major member of Parliament, but Holmes believes there's something a bit odd going on possibly his arch nemesis, Professor Moriarty might somehow involved! The trail leads the world's record detective to a group of blackmailers using the shadowy art of hypnotism, and as previously deuced, led by the evil professor! Woman In Green is a great detective story, full of trilling mystery and wonderful story telling."

Cast list

WOMAN IN GREEN Staring BASIL RATHBONE? NIGEL BRUCE With HILLARY BROOKE? PAUL CAVANAGH HENDRY DANIELL? EVE AMBER SALLY SHEPHERD ? MATTEW BOULTON Based on the Characters Created by SIR ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE Produced and Directed by ROY WILLIAM NEIL

Nearing the End
Rathbone and Bruce made 14 Holmes and Watson films; it's a real shame that four of the weakest are in the public domain and keep turning up while the rest are out of print. This one, from late in the series, at least has the virtue of a script by Bertram Millhauser, who wrote the best of them and was most responsible for the distinctive tone of the series: sly humor mixed with slightly horrific mystery. Two of his most memorable creations, the Spider Woman and the Creeper, went on to lives of their own in other Universal horror movies. As for The Woman in Green, it's a blend of Jack the Ripper and Conan Doyle's "The Empty House," with a nice film noir ambience and some clever twists. Unfortunately, the ending is lame and one senses the fact that, after seven years, 10 films, and hundreds of radio broadcasts, Rathbone has begun to weary of playing Holmes. Film trivia note: someone colorized this a few years ago, and didn't even bother to put Hillary Brooke in a green dress. Go figure.

Henry Daniell as Professor Moriarty
The title of this Sherlock Holmes adventure, "Woman in Green," refers to the character played by Hillary Brooke (who previously had a minor supporting role in "Voice of Terror"), but the star villain is actually Holmes' arch-nemesis, the diabolical Professor Moriarty. The last time he clashed with the great detective in "Secret Weapon," the greatest criminal mastermind in all of fiction plunged to his death in an elevator shaft. And yet his resurrection here, never explained, doesn't really feel like a cheat, certainly not with the great Henry Daniell in the role. Few actors could convey evil as effectively, and he makes you believe Moriarty could survive anything. In his autobiography, Basil Rathbone praised Daniell's Moriarty as the best, high praise indeed when one considers his competition includes both George Zucco and Lionel Atwill.

Daniell's presence is the one element that elevates this otherwise standard Holmes thriller to a position near the top of the heap. Still, the standard was pretty high with this series thanks to the superb direction of Roy William Neill and the always electrifying performance of Basil Rathbone. Less appealing this time around is Nigel Bruce's Dr. Watson who bumbles more than ever and, in an amusing yet somehow cruel scene, is publicly humiliated when he's hypnotized for laughs after protesting that anyone with even an "ounce of character" could never be put under a spell. By this time in the series, one wishes the good doctor was shown a bit more respect.

Predictable fun
Dead women are missing fingers all over London. The police are baffled as there is no pattern to the madness. Sherlock Holms on the other hand knows that it is the alleged to be dead Moriarty and the fingers point to a more sinister crime.

Holmes Squares Off Against the Best Moriarty
Yes, after having seen Lionel Atwill and George Zucco step up to the plate as the nefarious master criminal Moriarty, I can safely say that Henry Daniell brings the most to the role. ....

As slight as the story line may be (hypnotized men of means/rank are made to believe they committed murder and then are blackmailed), I must recommend you study the acting very carefully. Rathbone (Holmes), Bruce (Watson) and Daniell (Moriarty) are really doing an awful lot in the way of characterization. I love how Rathbone just hides a smile when he looks at the dunderheadings of Bruce.... These men are real pros, imbuing the scene with real tension. Daniell is particularly good, when his mouth drawn up grimly as he spars verbally with Rathbone. ...

I enjoyed "The Woman in Green" much more than I had expected to, thanks to the first-rate acting. Nice to know that some childhood favorites still hold up when you see them years later! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

RARE GEM
Based upon the novel PHILOMEL COTTAGE by the great Agatha Christie, this film proves to be a top-notch thriller with brilliant acting between Harding and Rathbone. The plot has Harding justly suspecting Rathbone of wanting to murder her for her money and a clever cat and mouse game ensues, which is thrilling to watch. When Harding (who had just won the lottery) sits down to dinner, knowing the servant has been sent off, the doors are locked and she's all alone with Rathbone in their remote country cottage, it's very scary: she realises what she's married. Ann Harding, all but forgotten today, was a beautifully genteel actress who could really act as well; it's a shame more of her old movies aren't yet on video (I caught THE LIFE OF VERGIE WINTERS one night on TV and she was magnificent!) The direction by Rowland V. Lee is excelle