Directed by Roy William
Neill, written by Bertram Milhauser, based on the works of Sir Arthur Conan
Doyle
Starring Basil Rathbone,
Nigel Bruce, Gale Sondergaard and Dennis Hoey
1943
A rash of strange
suicides plague London, but Sherlock Holmes thinks they’re murders! So he fakes
his own death, goes undercover as an Indian guy, going head to head against –
THE SPIDER WOMAN!
For whatever reason some
of the Basil Rathbone Sherlock Holmes films are considered part of the list of
Universal horror films, and this is one of them. They’re all good, some better
than others, but each feature great performances from Rathbone as Holmes and
Bruce as Watson, so they’re a joy to watch. This time out the villain is
particularly great, as played by the elegant and evil Gale Sondergaard. Holmes’
use of brownface is a little disturbing, as is the involvement of one of
Sondergaard’s accomplices, a “pygmy.” Still, it’s a fun (if not horrifying)
adventure and fine entry into the Holmes series.
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