The Woman in Green (1945)

"The Woman in Green" is a considerable return to form for the Basil Rathbone Holmes movies. This entry has a good story and it marks the third screen appearance of the master criminal Professor Moriarty. The character is played well by Henry Daniell and there's a scene involving he and Rathbone where some of the dialogue from the story "The Final Problem" is used. It is taken from the section where Holmes and Moriarty have a confrontation at Baker Street. The scene where a demonstration of hypnotism is carried out is a highlight. Inspector Lestrade is absent but his replacement is OK. The climax is a good one and includes a couple of humorous touches.

Hillary Brooke blesses this movie with her ineffable ease and subtlety, while Holmes watches for the public good. The movie is stylish and enjoyable (despite the absurd script, with some quite stupid subject matter, though it began well, with forebodings of a Ripper copycat), and Henry Daniell as Moriarty is vastly superior to the workmanlike Rathbone; Moriarty gives dignity to every scene he's in. Now to be fair, even in the stories, the mastermind was unlike all the rest, a less good idea of the author, but here Rathbone gets saddled with an over-the-top script, and the movie feels like another episode in one of the '60s TV series. Rathbone's role resembles a Dr. Who, with that unmistakable proletarian drive, an intellectualized proletarian, with none of the _reclusiveness nor the intensity (that gave him a certain eeriness) of the literary Holmes, Rathbone's Holmes is unintellectual and even a bit placid, save for the occasional bursts of energy, another person altogether, although, at Lydia's home, he looks a bit like Poe, the writer; but otherwise, his Watson is almost better. Rathbone is a good actor, here he is simply out-shined, surpassed by others in the cast.Genre-wise, it's not a mystery movie, but a melodrama, albeit a 'Universal' picture, immeasurably helped by some of the actors (H. Brooke, Daniell, Bruce). Apart from the script (a pure love letter to '40s melodramatic rubbish), it's an exciting movie, nicely crafted, with fine cast, production values, and directing; that is: they each stood for their rights, and worked with what they had, and got through.

Basil Rathbone Started to Show a bit of Age in the Previous Film as He does here, as His Face began to Sag a bit and the Eyes Sunken. But that is just the Human Condition and the Point is Only Made to Show that the Great Actor and Iconic Sherlock Holmes was Human and might have Contributed Somewhat to His Admittance, Off Screen, that He was becoming Weary of the Role. Maybe He just Refused to Admit that He was just Aging.But the Good Fellow Traveled On with Nigel Bruce as Watson in this Very Good and Entertaining Entry with some Excellent Mood and Lighting, a Gruesome Crime Spree, and a Slinky, Sophisticated Female Foe. And oh yes, Moriarty (Henry Daniell) is Resurrected for Added Gravitas.Holmes is Offered Cannabis, but Prefers a Pain Pill and Watson is Mesmerized at the Mesmer Club and is Assured that one of HIs legs is Waterproof. It is at the Club where Holmes meets Hillary Brooke, the Titled Character, and the End Game is Afoot.Enjoyable Episode with a bit of Bite and a Few Striking Scenes, the Abandon Dark House, the Hypnosis Floating Flower Scenes, and a Chilling Opening Act Featuring Paul Cavanaugh. Holmes Verbal Abuse of Watson in this One is Minimal to Nonexistent.

Anytime Sherlock Holmes meets Moriarty, he knows he's up against his greatest rival. This time, the mystery concerns a blackmail plot that convinces hypnotized victims that they might be serial killers. "The most hideous case since Jack the Ripper", a Scotland Yard detective notes, just as Holmes claimed in "Spider Woman". This time, Henry Daniell (so memorable in the same year's "The Body Snatcher") is Moriarty, back from the grave to lead the gang of killers using a weapon so vile and cruel it rivals Sweeney Todd's razors in hideousness. There's the usual bumbling humour by Nigel Bruce as Watson and intelligent observations by Holmes to make this one an enjoyable entry in the series. The ending is positively chilling.