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 (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)

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 (41)

Tyrone Power at his best!
During the age when swashbuckling action films were the most popular form of entertainment, there arose from Twentieth Century Fox an adventure film that topped all others. This film was "The Mark of Zorro" starring Tyrone Power and Basil Rathbone. The daring masked avenger cloaked in black has been an American legend for 80 years, and many films have been produced starring the masked fox. However, I believe that this film is the best Zorro production ever made.

The setting is Spanish California in 1820. Don Diego Vega (Tyrone Power), an expert fencer of Madrid an in the elite training corps, is summoned back to Los Angeles by his fahter, Don Alejandro (Montagu Love), the alcalde. Upon arriving home, Diego learns his father has been run out of office by Capitan Esteban Pasquale (Basil Rathbone). Esteban holds in his hand the perfect puppet, a superstitious, greedy alcalde, Luis Quintero (J. Edward Bromberg). However, Diego pretends to be a fop, unmotivated to fight the capitan, befriending the alcalde and his wife Inez (Gale Sondergaard). However, Diego soon dons the mask of a daring hero, identifying himself as Zorro. Zorro terrorizes the alcalde and robs Esteban of the money he has robbed from the peons. Zorro and a local padre (Eugene Pallete) work to return the money to the citizens of Los Angeles. Diego/Zorro also falls in love with the beautiful Lolita Quintero (Linda Darnell), the niece of the alcalde. She cares nothing for her father's plans, her full support to Zorro. However, when the padre is arrested, Diego abandons his mask and leads the caballeros on a revolt.

This film added into the Zorro figure a new trait. In most Zorro stories, Zorro forces his enemies to return stolen money themselves. This Zorro, more serious, delivers the gold himself. This is a definate classic.

Of course, the film has it's problems. Power spends less time as Zorro and more time as Diego. Zorro only battles one soldier, the main battle occuring between Esteban and Diego. However, dispite minor errors, this film is an undisputed classic, and cannot not be missed by Zorro fans.

The supreme Zorro film
After the success of Warner Brothers "The Adventures of Robin Hood," starring Errol Flynn, Twentieth Century Fox released a film of their namesake, "The Mark of Zorro," starring Tyrone Power. It was a box office hit, and is a classic of it's time. While not in color, and wary of action, this film holds up as, in my opinion, the best of the Zorro films.

In the 1800's, the Spanish Empire rules California. Don Diego Vega (Tyrone Power), is "the best fencer of Madrid." He is ordered home by his father, Don Alejandro. Upon arrival, he hears that the alcalde is an evil tyrant. But Diego's fahter is the alcalde!
Diego learns from Capitan Esteban Pasquale (Basil Rathbone) that his father resigned, and that Luis B. Quintero (J. Edward Bromberg). Both Esteban and Quintero are worthless land theives, taxing the peons into pverty to fill their own pockets. However, Diego suddenly appears to have lost his swordsman skills, now acting foppish and peaceful, much to Alejandro's dissapointment. However, Deigo soon becomes the black-clad Zorro, a daring freedom fighter rescuing both the rich and poor from the tyrants. To disguise himself, he must remain foppish. Only the padre Felipe (Eugene Pallette) knows his true identity, along with Diego's fiance Lolita Quintero (Linda Darnell), a kind girl against her uncle and his henchman. However, when Fray Felipe is arrested as Zorro for trying to defend the mission taxes, Diego abandons both disguises and leads the caballeros and peons to battle, personally taking on Esteban in a spectacular showdown.

"The Mark of Zorro" was bassed on three stories. One was Johnston McCulley's original Zorro story. Unlike the Fairbanks film, the theme here focuses on saving the people from corruption, rather than defending Lolita. Another was Douglas Faribanks's "The Mark of Zorro" (1920). The other was "The Adventures of Robin Hood." Basil Rathbone and Eugene Pallette had roles in the Robin Hood film before starring in "The Mark of Zorro." Zorro here as a Robin Hood characteristic: he steals tax money and returns it to the people. Most Zorros force their enemies to give the money back themselves.

Sword battles in this film occur mainly between Diego and Esteban. The fencing in this movie is excellent. Rathbone is one of the best fencer's of all time, as is Power. The Zorro in this film is the closest thing ever that fits the Zorro legacy. This is a beautiful colassic, one than cannot be missed.

the classic fox period
the films of 20th century fox had a sheen unlike the other studios output.
one of their main stars; tyrone power (an underrated star today)was an embodiment of this sylized sheen.
he was different than errol flynn. while you always sensed flynn's bad boy personality even when he played squaeky clean heroes, power was far more an actor and his performances always seem more professionally toned. he is more 'with the film' than standing out against it and this may be the reason for the lack of appreciation for him.
this film is the shining example to the hollywood of old.
its excellence was predictable when you mix the beauty of power and darenll with the down right fun villany of rathbone, the music of newman, the goya toned cinematography and the virtually flawless direction of mamoulian.
sadly, its the like of which we wont see again for numerous reasons.
NOW, IF FOX WOULD DIG INTO THEIR ARCHIVES AND RELEASE POWER'S BEST ACTING IN FILM; NIGHTMARE ALLEY' a film that has never even seen the light of vhs.

Zorro the fey blade.
Tyrone Power's Zorro is both effeminate and masculine, one moment the picture of delicate and fey passiveness and the next the masculine caballero of legend. The film has held up well, mostly due to the excellent swordplay and Power's magnetic persona. The lack of actual Spanish actors will be noticeable and perhaps offensive to today's audience, although in 1940 it was probably a minor point at best. The DVD transfer could have been better, although it is generally grain-free and vivid. A 60-year old film can only look so good, after all. A fine version of the Zorro legend, lacking somewhat in political correctness but making up for it in sentiment and charm.

Movies - and Ty Power - don't get better than this!
Beautiful faces, gorgeous b&w photography, an array of old Hollywood's best character actors, brawling and tumultous fight scenes, probably the best sword fight ever filmed, and a rousing musical score that must have sent people almost dancing out of theaters with big smiles on their faces in 1940 - and will still make you smile in your living room. And dialogue laced with wit and humor as well as drama. Now THIS is what a Hollywood action movie should be!

This is one of the all-time best. Got the blues? This ought to chase them right away. Really got the blues? Try a double-feature of this with Flynn's The Adventures of Robin Hood. And you can keep all the Wars and Treks in the stars. They are made by mere children as compared to these old pros.

Why doesn't Tyrone Power have a cult of his own today? He was handsome and versatile, and a good actor whose performances hold up better than many of his competitors'. Ty Power's the Man! ... 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 (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 (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 (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 (6)

Corman splices Rathbone into Soviet Sci-fi
This is for those of you who have a taste for the strange, esoteric joys of B moviemaking. Notorious cheapie producer Roger Corman has evidently bought an interesting, serious sci-fi opus made in the '50s behind the Iron Curtain, dubbed it into English and added brief scenes of the great thespian Basil Rathbone and Faith (This Island Earth) Domergue and it comes off like something David Lynch would dream up! It makes no sense, but it's fascinating! Rathbone's diction is so veddy erudite (though noticeably slurred in one scene), and he seems bored and bummed out, but he's got the MAGIC- even though his scenes are shot entirely seperate from everyone else in the movie. Domergue, gorgeous just a few years before, is unrecognizable- something dreadful was happening to this actress to make her so haggard and listless. She "communicates" with cosmonauts on Venus through a microphone on a panel, and halfway through, removes her lab coat to reveal her once stunning figure in a sweater. After that, the two English-speaking actors are not seen again (they dub in some dialogue to "explain" what happened to Domergue). The cosmonauts are obviously from another movie. They all look so Slavic it's amazing (kind of resemble young Charles Bronson): short noses, long upper lips, wide, stern mouths, beetling brows, and craggy cheeks, but with teased Kremlin-style pompadores like TV evangelists (what is it with Communism and high hair, does it represent Progress?) The prop designs are pure Workers' Paradise Futurism: retro-cool (to us) spacesuits, and a robot that looks like it lumbered out of a Socialist Realist poster. Whatever language they're speaking, the consonants and vowels roughly match up with the English translation, but the dialogue is delivered so monotonously by the dubbers, and the "philosophical" discussions are so awkwardly pointless, that the odd phrasing and long, inappropriate pauses make for a very weird dialogue track. There's an impressive Brontosaurus (basically stationary), a nifty man-eating plant, some ridiculous men in rubber dinosaur suits and a "pteradactyl" that looks like a vulcanized rubber Muppet, but the coolest thing is the hovering, bubble-topped land-rover they ride around in. Get the Diamond Entertainment version that has "First Spaceship on Venus" on the same DVD- the transfer is basically in magenta and gray, panned and scanned by a guy who obviously wanted to get home early, and in one scene there's a green, horn-shaped piece of crud that gets stuck in the film gate for about 20 seconds, but I got it for under $7, and I was spellbound.

Voyage to the Prehistoric Planet
The movie was surprisingly poor for a 1965 film. The story line was meandering. The special effects were hokey and Basil Rathbone was on screen about a total of 15 minutes for the entire movie. Overall compared to other SF films of this time period, it sucked. Don't fall for the Amazon.com hype. There are much better films to buy on DVD. This is not one of them.

Dont Let The Title Fool You
This film is much better than it looks. Its a film about the exploration of Venus and its really good especially if you factor in when it was made. The scenes with Basil Rathbone at the lunar base are definitely a little hokey and I didnt recognize Faith Dominque (This Island Earth) at first, but the rest of the film is great! The plot is basicly explore Venus and rescue the first team that landed and got into trouble. The explorers have a really neat hover craft that they travel in to save their comrades. There is a tough metal robot that is realistic. Dinosaurs and other nasties try to make a meal of various crew members without success. Its just an all around fun film along the gendre of First Spaceship to Venus. The special effects are innovative and impressive especially considering the time when the film was made. I saw this film when I was a kid and was happy to make its reacquaintance. If you like classic science fiction, you will love this film.

Take a Soviet science fiction film, add new scenes, stir...
Okay, according to my research "Voyage to a Prehistoric Planet" is a Roger Corman production that uses footage from a 1962 Soviet science fiction film produced by the Leningrad Studio of Popular Science Fiction films and entitled "Planeta Bur" (variously translated as "Planet of Storms" and "Storm Planet," but more accurately titled at one point "Cosmonauts on Venus"). This Soviet film was apparently strong on production design, but weak on the plot: Cosmonauts and their robot, that plays dance music, land on Venus looking for intelligent life but only find dinosaurs, killer plants, and, of course, a volcanic eruption. As the crew departs an intelligent Venusian watches they leave. Anyhow, much of the footage from the Venus sequences was used in "Voyage to the Prehistoric Planet" in 1965, intercut with new material from writer/director John Sebastian (a pseudonym of Curtis Harrington), which does not really constitute a remake of the Soviet film, but which is certainly in the ballpark. Some of the "Planeta Bur" footage was used in another Corman production, "Voyage to the Planet of Prehistoric Women" (1966, a.k.a. "Gill Woman), which was Peter Bogdanovich's directorial debut courtsey of the Roger Corman apprenticeship program.

"Voyage to a Prehistoric Planet" stars Basil Rathbone as Professor Hartman, who is in charge of Earth's expedition of three ships to Venus, even though he is back on a Moon Base. One of the ships is taken out by a meteor while another crashes on Venus, leaving the third to rescue it (good thing they sent three ships, huh?). There is one beautiful women in the crew, played by Faith Domergue, but she does not get to go down on the planet. That is because the footage of the astronauts is really of the cosmonauts from the Soviet film, and they did not have a woman in their crew. Got it? Anyhow, two of men from the rocket in orbit, along with their robot, go down to the surface to rescue the crew from the rocket that crashed. There they encounter, well, dinosaurs, killer planets, and, of course, a volcanic eruption. Meanwhile, the big question down on Venus is whether the planet is inhabited by beautiful women. This question might be more than wishful thinking, because some of the boys think they hearing a woman's voice singing.

I have to admit that all things considered I would be more interested in seeing "Planeta Bur," even without subtitles, than "Voyage to a Prehistoric Planet" (I have a question about that title: do you have to have "humans" to have history? Because these "dinosaurs" are probably a lot smarter than these humans so maybe they have some sort of oral history going at this point). There are just too many unintentional laughs in this film to ever take it seriously and the cutting back and forth between the old and the new is no where as smooth as it is in, say, the original "Godzilla" with Raymond Burr. Of course, there is something to be said for a "remake" that includes so much footage from the original. But I will stop now. This is a party movie, not something for the serious connoisseur.

Only if you're REALLY loaded
Dreadful patched-together thing, assembled from a Russian movie which was cut up to include el-cheapo Roger Corman style sequences featuring Faith Domergue (who appears almost comatose) and Basil Rathbone (who leans on things a lot). The rest of the cast is Russian, and the rest of the movie is dubbed, very clumsily indeed. The film has an overall reddish tinge (outer space is inexplicably fire engine red) and the DVD was mastered from a really terrible film copy. The plot points are horribly obvious, the special effects are garbagey, and the film moves at a glacially slow pace. I can only imagine what it was like before Corman cut it to its current length!

That being said, the robot IS cool, as is the air-car. The vision of Venus is hilarious, especially considering what we know now, and the idea of calling the robot "Robot John" and addressing him as if he were a particularly stupid child is peculiar to say the least.

Overall this is pretty dang awful. I like bad movies but...this might just be irredeemable. If the MST 3K crew were still working, this would be perfect fodder for them, and with a sufficient amount of beer and three witty friends, you might be able to have a fun evening. But there are much better bad movies out there than this one to make fun of. ... Read more

Reviews (60)

Charming and Hilarious Re-telling of the Robin Hood Story
I am not a great Danny Kaye fan, but this movie is one the the very funniest I've ever seen. Everything about it is excellent, from the production values to the songs & lyrics, from the fine quality of actors to the charm and wit of the dialogue and the story. There is literally nothing wrong with this movie. It is fit for all audiences, from the youngest to the oldest members of your family. I remember the first time I saw it, being struck by the fact that all the actors seemed to be having an absolutely marvellous time. Particularly during the Jester's first call at entertaining the court...unforgettable and sheer delight. Every single person on camera looked like they were having a wonderful time just being there. I hadn't seen anything like such a fine emsemble cast since 'All About Eve.' I think it must have been because there were no bad lines, no bad parts, no scenes that didn't work, and everyone had a chance to shine. Having a good material to work with really does make a world of difference. Stars Danny Kaye, Angela Landsbury, Basil Rathbone, and a host of marvellous British actors whose names are right now escaping my memory. Buy it. Keep it. Enjoy it for years.

The Brew that is True...
If one is tired of baudy bathroom humor of the typical comedies one finds today, perhaps "The Court Jester" will satisfy your comical thirst. Set in England during the time of chivalry and knighthood this musical comedy stars Danny Kaye as a ne'er do well circus performer who ends up out"fox"ing the dastardly villains, getting the girl and saving the real king's butt (so to speak). Glynis Johns plays Maid Jean whose stunning beauty and big eyes just make you melt (wow, I wish I'd been born earlier). Basil Rathbone is his typical bad self as the evil Ravenhurst playing it to the hilt! This film pulls out all the comical stops from tongue twisters to hypnosis, magnetism and even a Zorro sword play spoof with Rathbone! This is Danny Kaye's finest and funniest comedy! A must see movie!

Comedy Could Not Better Be!
In the history of the movies, fewer things are more amusing than watching Danny Kaye behave as Danny Kaye. Watching his films was a wonderful part of my childhood,and I remember being at home from High School on the day of his passing. I'm very glad for the legacy he has left us to enjoy.
In "The Court Jester" he couldn't be more in his element as he amuses us with his usual patter numbers clever, tounge-twisting lyrics and sword play, and moves us with his loving care of the orphaned infant heir to the English throne. The scene of his lullabying the baby was shown as a tribute to him at the end of "Entertainment Tonight" the weekend after his death and it was a fitting tribute to him, his love of children, and the childlike sense of wonder he brought to all of his films.
As Kaye's love interest, Jean, a charismatic Glynis Johns is highly complimentary.She is not the sterotypical woman of medeival times, but having been raised as a boy, has a lot of cunning, ingenuity, and an occassional bit of brawn as the leader of those in rebellion against Cecil Parker's evil King.
Angela Lansbury's Princess Gwendolyn longs for true love rather than an arranged marriage. She is firm and decisive in many ways, as she helps bring the tale to a positive conclusion.
As the sourceress, Mildred Natwick leads into some of the film's funniest scenes, including the notorious "Pellet with the poison is in the vessel with the pestle" routine that has become a classic.
Hubert Hawkins' cleverness in seizing the real Court Jester,(John Carradine, a man whom I could never really think of as funny) who was very arrogant, disguising himself in his clothes, and using his tounge-twisting dialogue with the King to cover his tracks is also a riot.
Basil Rathbone as the evil henchmen is a refined villian. It's amusing the way Kaye kept pushing his name out of the way during the opening credits, and I have wondered how often Hawkins' accelerated knighthood ceremony had to be rehearsed before those on the set could stop laughing.

Although the film overlooks the fact that a person can't be hypnotized against their will, the way Hubert Hawkins is, the comedy is generally light, and goofy, doesen't get any saucier than the exposure of an infant's backside, and children will love it.
And as Hawkins reassures us at the beginning,"What starts like a scary tale ends like a fairy tale, and life couldn't possibly better be!"

So funny your cheeks will ache from laughing!!
This is one of Danny Kaye's best. He was so talented and his comic timing is impeccable. The "chalice from the palace" scene is so funny that I have not forgotten it over the years. This movie will get you out of the blues in no time.

You will go and buy this movie and do it like that (snap)!
This is my favorite movie of all time. When I was a kid Danny Kaye movies played every Sunday morning and we would wait the few months until it came around again.

I have never stopped laughing at the scenes, the funny interplay between Danny Kaye and the court and his continual buffonery.

Even kids will love this movie. It starts with a dance routine which is almost like Robin Hood Men in Tights. That is quaint, yet the next scene will take you in and take you on the funniest rides of all time.

Kaye, disquised as an old man who is hard of hearing having a scream fest with the captain of the guard. This few minutes is one of the funniest scenes I have ever witnessed. Then there are just funny scenes that will make you split your sides with laughter from there on out.

The wit it took to bring together this cast and the concept of the movie seems that it will never be outdated.

What Danny Kaye and the rest do here is ascend age and time making this movie appeal to any age group, young or old. I have seen a young family start off thinking this was a silly movie then, taken by the first comedic interaction, launch into continuous laughter. I laugh getting a kick out of watching everyone else laugh too.

This movie is a must for any DVD or VHS library. Share it with your friends, watch it when you are a little too stressed out to do anything else to lighten up your day.

The plays on words, the different fast paced situational scenes that will have you thinking; 'how clever...,' even when you think that Hawkins/Giacommo is at his end, then it gets even funnier. The Chalis with the poisly has the pellet with the pesly......

This movie is so fast paced that you cannot believe you have sat there and laughed for the better part of 90 minutes. The great thing about the DVD, you do not have to worry about watching this over and over again and wearing it out.

This movie has great color and scenery. The imagery is wonderful. You wonder if they really were in a castle.

Laugh and love this movie......I recommend it for school, church and family activities. It is a classic that may become more well known with time. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

GOOD QUALITY
This Marengo disc is a good buy. The quality while not perfect does not make the eyes or ears vomit. Like other reviewers have stated, The Women In Green is the nicest of the two. Dressed To Kill seems washed out and there is not enough distinction between the blacks and whites. Both movies are very watchable. I did not hear any annoying hissing in either movie.

THE GAME IS AFOOT
There is only one Holmes... Basil... and Nigel is the perfect foil... Dr. Watson. I have watched this DVD three times this year and have loved every minute of it... all three times! I read several reviews panning this DVD right before I wrote this and feel like maybe the competition is sandbagging this company... The Woman in Green is a SUPERB print and the sound is crystal clear as far as I can tell... Dressed to kill was a "Lighter" print than Dressed... but still it was very watchable, and the sound was perfect so I certainly am either going blind or something is 'Afoot' which I suspect... the DVD is a bargain for the price and if you love Holmes I would say buy it, you really won't be disappointed.

The Baker Street Boys
Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce are at it again in these two films. If you are a fanatic as I am you will enjoy these two very nice films. The print of The Woman in Green is superb the other print is what I would call very good. One print is lighter than the other but I can imagine it is hard to find these old films. Marengo has done a nice job on the sound... there is virtually no hiss, pops or crackels, etc. I persona