Pluskylang Great Film overall

SpecialsTarget Disturbing yet enthralling

filippaberry84 I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

Abegail Noëlle While it is a pity that the story wasn't told with more visual finesse, this is trivial compared to our real-world problems. It takes a good movie to put that into perspective.

utgard14 Sherlock Holmes' arch-nemesis Professor Moriarty (George Zucco) orchestrates a plot to keep Holmes busy while he commits the crime of the century. Second of the Basil Rathbone Sherlock Holmes series and the last at Fox. Considered by many (not me) to be the best of the Rathbone Holmes films. Rathbone is pitch perfect as Holmes. Bruce, in my opinion, is perfect as Watson. I know that ruffles the feathers of purists who don't appreciate Bruce's comic Watson but I find him endearing and an incredible asset to the series. Zucco is a great Moriarty but I kept wishing there was more of him throughout the film. He was the first of several actors to play Moriarty in the series, my favorite being Henry Daniell. Ida Lupino, never the strongest actress, does fine here. The rest of the supporting cast is good, with the always enjoyable E.E. Clive a standout. The series would move to Universal three years after this. While I enjoy both of the Fox films immensely, I prefer the Universal ones. But then, I'm a fan of Universal and their style during the 1940s in particular.

binapiraeus This second movie of the film serial with Basil Rathbone starring as Sherlock Holmes is no less suspenseful than the first, "The Hound of the Baskervilles"; in this case, the creepy atmosphere of London's dark, foggy streets provides the adequate atmosphere. And this time we also get to know (again) Holmes' arch-enemy Professor Moriarty, magnificently portrayed by 'shady' character actor George Zucco.Moriarty has just been acquitted once more of a murder charge, and in all his megalomania he promises Holmes that this time he'll really make the 'coup' of the century - and predicts that not even Holmes will be able to stop him... Now, just like Holmes is able to put himself in Moriarty and his thoughts, so is the criminal mastermind vice versa: he develops a 'double plan', to divert Holmes' restless mind with a 'usual' murder case - while he's planning to steal the crown jewels from the Tower! So, Holmes and his 'sidekick' Watson share the jobs, very conveniently for Holmes: he protects pretty, frightened young Ann Brandon (Ida Lupino, who shows her great talent even from this early role on!), whose brother has just been murdered and now her own life is being threatened; while Watson carefully oversees the procedure of a new stone being added to the well guarded jewels collection - only something goes wrong there, and Holmes has got to step in himself, and even get somewhat violent in another breathtaking climax face to face with Moriarty...A VERY worthy sequel for the series, this movie (again being set in a wonderfully nostalgic recreation of London at the turn of the 20th century) again proves Basil Rathbone as a perfect choice for the title role, and gives him a chance to show ALL facets of his huge talent: he even does a very funny 'Gay Nineties' style vaudeville act! Generally, all the really frightening atmosphere (some nightly scenes make it look almost pre-noir) is lit up quite a couple of times by light humor, which is very welcome at moments when shivers are running down your spine... One more example of the absolute CLASSIC 'Sherlock Holmes' movies, no doubt!

lugonian 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)

sol1218 **SPOILERS** Professor Moriarty, George Zucco, did it again! Just when it looks like curtains for him he managed to beat a murder rap that would have sent his sorry neck straight to the London Gallows. It was only because his arch enemy the great Sherlock Holmes, Basil Rathbone, couldn't get to the courtroom on time with evidence that would have completely contradicted Moriarty's alibi that got him acquitted of murder.Knowing that it's only a matter of time before Holmes gets the goods, as well as the hangman's rope, on him Moriarty concocts a devious plan to the destroy Holmes reputation as a great detective one's in for all. Something that would be worse then death for him! By throwing a fake pass in him having Lloyd Brandon, Peter Willis, murdered by his paid goons Moriarty, being the sneak that he is, is planning to pull off a quarterback sneak, within inches of the goal line, and score the big one in heisting the British Royal Family's Crown Jewels locked securely in the Tower of London. Knowing how Holmes' mind works Moriarty plans to send him on a wild goose chase all throughout London in finding Brandon's killer while he with his famous beard shaved off, and impersonating a London Bobbi or policeman, breaks into the Tower of London and checks out with the Crown Jewels!One of Sherlock Holmes' most baffling and difficult cases to crack in that he's up against a determined Professor Moriarty who uses all his criminal genius to make make a monkey out of Holmes and look foolish in the eyes of the British public that think the world of him.***SPOILERS*** Despite all of Holmes' efforts to save Lloyd's life he ends up getting it, in the neck, in front of dozens of witnesses on a crowded London street! This has Lloyd's kid sister Ann, Ida Lupino, terrified in that she'll be targeted next by her brother's murderer! Since she was sent the same death threat, in a letter, that he got just before he was murdered! In the end it was Sherlock Holmes' brilliant powers of deduction that uncovered Moriarty's evil plan to destroy his reputation as a great, if not the greatest, English detective. As Holmes brilliantly concluded what's the big deal about some garden verity murder, which he committed dozens during his criminal career, to Moriarty when he was planning to pull of the crime of the century! Something that would not only make newspaper headlines but be forever talked about and studied in police and military academy's the world over for years to come. It was by the boastful Moriarty bagging to Holmes what he was going to do in advance that tipped off the great detective to watch out for any false flags, like a simple murder, and not try to be fooled by them. Which in fact Holmes wasn't!P.S In fact the crime of the century was actually pulled off the very day that the film "The Advantures of Sherlock Holmes" was released to the public; September 1, 1939! It was on that very day that Adolph Hitler sent his panzer and infantry divisions into Poland which started the bloodiest war in all of recorder history: World War II!