1939

85m

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes

Summary

Having once again avoided criminal conviction, Professor Moriarity develops a murderous plan to “finish off” his last major nemesis, Sherlock Holmes, by making him fail to prevent the perfect crime. Does it involve a family curse, the crown jewels of England, or something else…

Cast

Basil Rathbone

Sherlock Holmes

Nigel Bruce

Dr. Watson

Ida Lupino

Ann Brandon

Alan Marshal

Jerrold Hunter

Terry Kilburn

Billy

George Zucco

Professor Moriarty

Henry Stephenson

Sir Ronald Ramsgate

E. E. Clive

Inspector Bristol

Arthur Hohl

Henchman Bassick

May Beatty

Mrs. Jameson, Brandon Housekeeper

Peter Willes

Lloyd Brandon

Mary Gordon

Mrs. Hudson

Holmes Herbert

Justice of the Court

George Regas

Henchman Mateo

Mary Forbes

Lady Conyngham

Frank Dawson

Dawes, Moriarty's servant

William Austin

Inquisitive Stranger

Anthony Kemble-Cooper

Tony Conyngham

Leonard Mudie

Barrows - Moriarty's Attorney (uncredited)

Robert Nobel

Foreman of the Jury (uncredited)

Ivan F. Simpson

Gates - Trial Prosecutor (uncredited)

Neil Fitzgerald

Clerk of the Court (uncredited)

Frank Baker

Tompkins (uncredited)

Denis Greene

Denis Green (uncredited)

Robert Cory

Tower Sentry (uncredited)

Gordon Hart

Guard (uncredited)

Keith Hitchcock

Constable (uncredited)

Ivo Henderson

Bobby (uncredited)

Leyland Hodgson

Bobby (uncredited)

Boyd Irwin

Bobby (uncredited)

Charles Irwin

Marine Sergeant (uncredited)

Robert R. Stephenson

Cabby (uncredited)

Harry Cording

Second Fake Constable (uncredited)

Eric Wilton

Conyngham Butler (uncredited)

Frank Benson

Cockney (uncredited)

Ted Billings

Pub Customer (uncredited)

Herbert Evans

Scotland Yard Man (uncredited)

Crew

Director

Alfred L. Werker

Characters

Arthur Conan Doyle

Screenplay

Edwin Blum

Screenplay

William Absalom Drake

Theatre Play

William Gillette

Reviews

Geronimo1967

June 22, 2022

My personal favourite of these Rathbone/Bruce combinations. This time, the fiendishly clever Professor Moriarty (George Zucco) intends the crime of the century and so has Holmes and Watson distracted by an ominous series of murders whilst he sets about perpetrating his true desire. Henry Stephenson also chips into this accomplished murder-mystery that keeps you guessing for quite a while. The atmosphere of a foggy London all adds to the dramatic effect of this film and Rathbone and Bruce are clearly now on their way to establishing their own, definitive, characterisations of their fictional alter-egos.