The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1939)

Alfred L. Werker directed this second Basil Rathbone & Nigel Bruce Sherlock Homes & Dr. Watson film, released the same year(1939) features the first use of arch-enemy Professor Moriarty(played by George Zucco) who here has a plan to steal the crown jewels of England, which Holmes is determined to prevent, though the cunning Moriarty ends up embarrassing him at one point! Ida Lupino costars as a client of Holmes, being threatened by Moriarty. Basil Rathbone is once again the highlight, as the story(an amalgam of different elements taken from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's stories) is muddled, and like its predecessor, doesn't bear scrutiny, but still remains acceptable viewing.

THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES (20th Century-Fox, 1939), directed by Alfred Werker, reunites the classic screen pairing of Basil Rathbone (Holmes) and Nigel Bruce (Watson) from THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES (1939). Following the basic "Adventure" title pattern for 1938 releases of THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD (Warners) and THE ADVENTURES OF MARCO POLO (Samuel Goldwyn), starring Errol Flynn and Gary Cooper respectively, both featuring Rathbone in villainous support, this latest product, with Rathbone in control, may not be Sherlock Holmes taking ocean voyage with Captain Blood, but another atmospheric mystery. Credited as being based on the play by William Gillette, the same Gillette who specialized in playing Holmes on stage and once on screen (1916), this immediate sequel benefits highly by pitting the master mind Holmes against criminal mind Professor Moriarty. Before the story gets underway, a written passage from Holmes' diary, dated May 9, 1894, fills the screen, revealing the basic element of the plot: "In all my life I have encountered only one man whom I can truthfully call the very genius of evil - Professor Moriarty. For eleven years, he has eluded me. All the rest who opposed him are dead. He is the most dangerous criminal England has ever known." So begins "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes." The story opens in the courtroom where Professor Moriarty (George Zucco), on trial for murder, is found "not guilty" by the jury of his peers. Moments later, Sherlock Holmes (Basil Rathone) arrives with new incriminating evidence to send Moriarty to prison, but it is too late. The case has been dismissed and Moriarty free to go. As Moriarty offers Holmes a carriage ride in his taxi back to his Baker Street lodging (a tense moment where enemies sit side by side having a "friendly" conversation together), the master criminal tells the ace detective of his intentions to someday commit the crime of the century, and that he won't know it. Later at his residence, Holmes and his loyal assistant, Doctor Watson (Nigel Bruce), are visited first by Sir Ronald Ramsgate (Henry Stephenson), Constable of the Crown Jewels, asking Holmes to assist him as security guards arrive to bring the Star of Dehli to the Tower of London; then by Ann Brandon (Ida Lupino), a damsel disturbed by some intense drawing addressed to her brother, Lloyd (Peter Willes). In fear that Lloyd might be murdered in the same manner as her father ten years ago, Ann asks Holmes for assistance. Jerrold Hunter (Alan Marshal), her brother's personal attorney, enters the scene, telling Holmes that Ann is being melodramatic about the whole thing. Ann's theory, however, is proved correct when Lloyd is found murdered and Hunter the prime suspect. While Holmes and Watson encounter more puzzling elements, Moriarty attempts on carrying on his threat with a diabolical scheme to discredit Holmes.As in most sequels, comparisons and similarities are distinguished between the two. HOUND and ADVENTURES each provide authentic reproduction of 19th century London plus some really haunting atmospheric night-time settings. There's even a mysterious stalker, in this instance, a club footed gaucho roaming about, which allows Holmes to once more submit his client to danger so to reveal both its identity and motive. With Holmes being the master of disguises, he gets to play a cockney entertainer singing "By the Seaside" at a dinner party. This highly amusing sequence was clipped into the TV documentary series, "That's Hollywood" (ABC, 1977) where its narrator, Tom Bosley, in a half hour episode tribute to Sherlock Holmes movies, said this to be Rathbone's personal favorite of all his Holmes disguises. Aside from Mary Gordon briefly reprising her role of Mrs. Hudson, new characters are introduced, ranging from Billy (Terry Kilburn), a youngster wanting to someday become another Sherlock Holmes; E.E. Clive the police inspector, not Lestrade as often found in Holmes stories, but one named Bristol. Also in support are Arthur Hohl (Bessick); Mary Forbes (Lady Conygham); Frank Dawson (Dawes, Moriarty's butler); and May Beatty (Mrs. Jamison). Of those in this accomplished cast, George Zucco is truly memorable as Moriarty. Though Lionel Atwill and Henry Daniell individually enacted the sinister role of Moriarty once in the upcoming modern-day "Sherlock Holmes" installments for Universal (1942-46), Zucco is without a doubt an excellent portrayal. One wonders why Zucco, who would menace Holmes again in SHERLOCK HOLMES IN WASHINGTON (1943), assumed a different portrayal rather than having another go round as Moriarty.For Holmes devotees, THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES is quite elementary. Frequently broadcast on commercial television in the 70s, 80s and 90s, and found either on video cassette and DVD, it remains one of the favorites in the "Holmes" series. On Christmas Day, 2009, this and other "Holmes" capers featuring Rathbone and Bruce, premiered on Turner Classic Movies as part of its tribute to author Arthur Conan Doyle's created characters. And so the legend lives on. (***1/2)

Another excellent outing for Rathbone and Bruce as Holmes and Watson. This time Holmes faces his most well known nemesis Moriarty. The film begins with Moriarty being found innocent of murder, with Holmes bursting into the courtroom just a few seconds too late. After the courtroom scene we see Holmes and Moriarty talking together like real competitors, without the hate you'd find between most enemies. They certainly have admiration for each other, and this admiration makes the film so enjoyable. Despite the fact that people's lives and reputations are at risk, you can easily tell they enjoy competing with each other. Moriarty then sends Holmes on a number of wild goose chases to conceal his real crime. I did like seeing Moriarty by himself and his love for plants. His clearly showed him as having a limited connection with humans. A simple act of not watering his plants also showed his talents are similar to Holmes'. Unfortunately, telling the audience that the mysteries are wild goose chases means we are waiting for Holmes to catch up with us. Like the previous effort the setting becomes a character in itself. The occupied streets of London are just as cold, dark, and sinister as the moors. This kind of makes the murders even more devilish. Watson is used more for comedic relief, which is annoying at times, as he ends up getting blamed for things that go wrong. Rathbone is at the centre stage here and he holds it well. He is always calm, but adds a sense of urgency when needed to heighten our excitement. His disguise was once again brilliant, and I didn't guess it this time. A great stylish offering.

Returning from his initial outing as Britain's greatest detective, in "The Hound of the Baskervilles" (also 1939), super-sleuthing Basil Rathbone (as Sherlock Holmes) witnesses the murderous acquittal afforded wickedly criminal George Zucco (as Professor Moriarty). To wit, Prof. Zucco proceeds with plans to commit "the crime of the century," and steal the United Kingdom's Crown Jewels… Meanwhile, Mr. Rathbone is visited by beautiful young Ida Lupino (as Ann Brandon), who fears her brother will be murdered, as her father was a decade earlier. Ms. Lupino's fiancé and lawyer, handsome Alan Marshal (as Jerrold Hunter), doesn't want Holmes on the case - which seems to give away the story, but winds up being another part of the neatly plotted mystery...Cinematographer Leon Shamroy, director Alfred Werker, and a team of unfortunately uncredited soundtrack musicians - Cyril J. Mockridge, David Buttolph, Walter Scharf, David Raksin, and Robert Russell Bennett - create a suspenseful, foggy Victorian London town for the characters. And, Rathbone sings his hit version of "I Do Like To Be Beside the Seaside"! Note that "the kid" Terry Kilburn (as Billy) takes over the character played by Charlie Chaplin in William Gillette's original 1899 stage version. While not based on an Arthur Conan Doyle story, this early film series entry is one of the best-produced. It's classic Rathbone, with ever-present sidekick Nigel Bruce (as Doctor Watson) herein receiving the line, "Elementary, my dear Watson." ******** The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (9/1/39) Alfred Werker ~ Basil Rathbone, Nigel Bruce, Ida Lupino, George Zucco